Tuesday 20th April
Brentford 1 Cardiff City 1
From the BBC Sport website:
Brentford lost further ground in the race for automatic promotion as they drew at home to Cardiff City.
Kieffer Moore's penalty put Cardiff in front after Ethan Pinnock's handball.
But Cardiff could not hold on to their lead just as their goalkeeper Alex Smithies could not hold on to Tariqe Fosu's shot, letting the 25-yard effort slip through his grasp.
Brentford pressed for a late winner but struggled to create any genuine chances against their stubborn opponents.
With second-placed Watford winning at Championship leaders Norwich, Brentford are now 10 points adrift of the top two with four games left this season, having played one fewer than Watford.
Cardiff, whose manager Mick McCarthy had already described as being out of play-off contention, remain eighth in the table and are now mathematically unable to finish inside the top six.
Although Brentford were undoubtedly the team with more to play for, they initially struggled against a Cardiff side who were organised defensively and tenacious in midfield.
Eventually the hosts gained control, not at their fluent best but dominating possession and forcing their opponents deep into their own half.
Brentford had two glorious opportunities to score before the break. The first saw Ivan Toney do well to head the ball back from the byline towards to Marcus Forss, who had an almost empty net to aim at but hooked his effort over the bar.
Then the Championship's leading scorer Toney had a chance himself, latching on to Marlon Pack's misguided back-pass but seeing his shot saved by Smithies.
Brentford would come to regret those misses as they fell behind 12 minutes into the second half. Cardiff's Will Vaulks crossed a free-kick to Curtis Nelson, whose goalbound header touched Pinnock's arm and prompted referee Darren England to award a penalty which Moore converted by sending David Raya the wrong way.
The Bluebirds' lead was soon wiped out and it came as a result of a mistake from their goalkeeper Smithies, who was also at fault for one of Blackburn's goals in their 2-2 draw 10 days earlier.
Fosu tried his luck with an audacious swerving shot from 25 yards and, although it wobbled in the air, Smithies still got a hand to it but meekly allowed the ball to deflect into the net.
The goal gave Brentford a jolt of urgency to go in search of a victory but the only other save Smithies had to make was from a long-range shot by Sergi Canos.
Thomas Frank's men did not have the creativity to prise open a dogged Cardiff defence and a sixth draw from seven matches leaves Brentford staring at a second successive season in the Championship play-offs.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:
"Of course when we don't get the win it's frustrating, especially when you play to get more out of it.
"But I said to the players I was very proud of them because I think we upped our game and had the cutting edge in the final third to create the bigger chances but we didn't have the cutting edge to put them in the net.
"I value the team on four parameters - hard work, attitude, performance and togetherness - and I couldn't have asked for more."
Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy:
"I thought our first-half performance was excellent. They had one chance where Smudger [Alex Smithies] made a great save.
"Then second half we've had our backs against the wall but they're a good side and that's why they are where they are - they've had a good season.
"I feel for Smudge because he's sat in the dressing room broken-hearted but that's the life of a goalkeeper - he made a great save in the first half.
"Despite having to defend, I still thought we could nick it, so I'm pleased with the overall performance."
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