Late goal denies Bees after McEachran is stretchered off
Brentford 2 Bristol City 2
Brentford were denied victory by Bobby Reid’s last-gasp goal – and the injury-cursed Josh McEachran was stretchered off.
Trailing to Josh Brownhill’s early opener, the Bees levelled through Ollie Watkins’ first Championship goal and appeared to be heading for victory when another summer signing, Neal Maupay, fired home soon after coming on as a substitute.
But their night took a nasty turn for the worse when McEachran suffered what appeared to be a serious injury and City netted in the dying moments.
Beaten in their opening two league games and having made five changes, Brentford found themselves a goal down after just five minutes, when Brownhill fired home right-footed after being teed up by Famara Diedhiou.
They then dominated and got the equaliser they deserved courtesy of Watkins’ header from Jota’s cross 10 minutes into the second half.
And Maupay’s second goal since the French forward’s move from St Etienne put them ahead with 14 minutes remaining.
After Jota’s shot was blocked, Maupay belted past keeper Frank Fielding from 18 yards out.
However, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, the ball broke to Reid in a crowded penalty area and he kept his composure to earn the visitors a point.
Watkins, making his full league debut for Brentford, was lively throughout and his team had two decent shouts for a first-half penalty ignored when he went down under challenges from Korey Smith.
Fielding then saved shots from Jota and Lasse Vibe as well as a thumping volley from Romaine Sawyers.
And when Fielding kept out Henrik Dalsgaard’s far-post header from Watkins’ left-wing cross shortly before the interval, Dalsgaard fired against the outside of the woodwork from an awkward angle when trying to force home the loose ball.
But it was a far-post header which eventually hauled Brentford level.
Jota swung in a terrific cross from the right and Watkins finished emphatically.
Another Jota cross from the right – again to the far post – might have led to another goal had an unmarked Vibe been more clinical rather than try in vain to head the ball down towards Maxime Colin.
The home side continued to press and Jota continued to threaten, this time bringing another fine save from Fielding, who dived to his right to push away the Spaniard’s left-footed volley.
Jota was also involved in the second Bees goal, causing alarm in the City penalty area before the ball broke to Maupay.
McEachran played his part in an impressive Brentford performance but there are fears the former Chelsea man could be facing a long spell on the sidelines.
He was in clear distress following a midfield collision and was given oxygen before being carried from the pitch.
Subs not used: Daniels, Bjelland, Egan, Clarke.
