Smith strikes late to earn Bees point

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Brentford 1 Charlton 1

Substitute Tommy Smith marked his Brentford debut with the late goal that earned Mark Warburton’s side a point in their first game in the Championship.

Charlton had taken the lead just after the hour mark when Igor Vetokele rose above flat-footed Bees keeper David Button to head home a corner.

The visitors then squandered a chance to double their lead when substitute Callum Harriot hit the bar with an open goal gaping.

That proved to be a crucial let-off as Brentford’s sustained pressure paid off, former QPR man Smith firing home from 12 yards via a heavy deflection.

Alan Judge then hit the bar with a late free-kick and Smith fired over but Bees had to settle for a point after a keenly-contested encounter.

A crowd of more than 9,600 packed into Griffin Park to see the club’s first second-tier match in 21 years.

And they were treated to some lively attacking play from the Bees early on, with Alex Pritchard looking the pick of the three new signings who started the game.

The Spurs loanee curled a low shot just wide of the far post and then a cute backheel teed up fellow new boy Moses Odubajo, but his shot lacked power.

Charlton hadn’t worried the Brentford defence until midway through the first half when George Tucudean latched on to a cleverly weighted pass but Button stood up well to deny him.

Judge saw a deflected shot clawed away by Stephen Henderson as Bees finished the first half strongly – but much of the second half belonged to Charlton.

Vetokole, who played for FC Copenhagen in last season’s Champions League, was twice denied by Button, the second occasion a fingertip save on to the post with Tucudean blazing the rebound over.

But the Bees keeper will be disappointed with his part in Charlton’s goal as he failed to deal with a simple delivery into the six yard box and Vetokele nipped ahead of him to power home a header.

Rhoys Wiggins then went close with a drive before Harriot wasted the best chance of the lot, as he hit the bar after Button had been beaten to a backpass by Vetokele.

The Bees used that escape as motivation in their hunt for an equalising goal.

And with six minutes to play, Smith worked enough space to get his shot away and it cannoned off a Charlton defender before nestling in the net.

Brentford (4-1-4-1): Button; McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas; Odubajo (Tebar 46), Judge, Pritchard (Smith 77), Dallas; Gray.
Subs not used: Dean, Yennaris, Moore, Lee.

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