Premier League

Leeds United 0

Brentford 0 

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Koch, Aaronson (Sinisterra 70’), Roca (Greenwood 88’), Harrison, Adams, Rodrigo (Bamford 79’), Struijk, Gnonto, Wober. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Firpo, Llorente, Rutter, Kristensen, Gelhardt.

Brentford: Raya (GK), Henry, Pinnock, Norgaard (C), Jensen, Dasilva (Janelt 60’), Mee, Toney, Mbeumo (Wissa 74’), Ajer, Roerslev. Subs not used: Strakosha (GK), Hickey, Schade, Zanka, Ghoddos, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard. 

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 36,260 

Referee: Peter Bankes

Booked: Rodrigo, Koch (Leeds) Toney, Wissa (Brentford) 

Leeds United drew at home with Brentford in a goalless encounter at Elland Road. Despite being on top for the majority of the match, the home side found a visiting goalkeeper in fine form to deny them on a number of occasions. 

There was a first Premier League start for January arrival Max Wober, who came into central defence in place of captain Liam Cooper. Fellow new signing Georginio Rutter was named on the bench. 

Brenden Aaronson had been busy throughout the half and was fouled multiple times when looking to attack. One such occasion created a good chance for Leeds, with Wober curling the free-kick opportunity narrowly over the bar.  

With 10 minutes until half time, Robin Koch put in a superb last ditch challenge to deny Brentford an opener. The ball fell to Rico Henry at the back post and rather than shoot, he looked to find Ivan Toney in space, but Koch positioned himself brilliantly to deny the chance. 

Leeds were seeing plenty of the ball and looking to create chances. Some neat interplay in and around the area created a shooting opportunity, with Luke Ayling playing Rodrigo, but the Spaniard was the first of many denied by David Raya, in the Brentford net. 

The opening 45 minutes at Elland Road had not seen too many chances, despite the hosts having much of the ball and looking to create openings, meaning the teams went in level at the interval. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Brentford 

No changes were made on either side for the second half as they reemerged from the tunnel at Elland Road looking for a first goal in the game. 

Plenty of one-touch attacking football was on show from the Whites who continued to be the team pushing forward in search of an opener. Aaronson and Marc Roca linked up well, with the former forcing Raya into a good save to deny him. 

Raya was called into action again, shortly after. United were impressing their build up and this time it was Rodrigo who unleashed on goal, only to see the Brentford stopper palm the strike away to the left. 

The Bees were thankful to their goalkeeper once again, as he produced another top save to keep Leeds out. Rodrigo showed an excellent piece of skill to break forward and played in Willy Gnonto, with Raya then making another strong save to deny the shot. 

Following that chance, Marsch went to his bench to make his first changes of the match. Having returned from injury in the midweek win over Cardiff, Luis Sinisterra was brought on in place of Aaronson - then shortly after, Patrick Bamford came on for Rodrigo as well. 

In what was becoming quite the battle for the Leeds forwards against the Bees goalie, Raya would come out on top yet again to deny Jack Harrison’s powerful strike this time, before the same two players also produced the same outcome in stoppage time.

Try as they might to find a way through in the game, the Whites ran out of time and the referee called an end to the game which meant each side went away with a point.  

FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Brentford