Brentford 0-0 Crystal Palace: Player ratings from London derby draw
By Sean Walsh
From Brentford Community Stadium - Brentford ended a run of five straight Premier League losses with a 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace.
The hosts were incensed they weren't awarded a penalty after a quarter of an hour when the ball clearly struck the arm of Marc Guehi from a long throw, but referee Simon Hooper believed he had been pushed and a free kick was given to Palace instead after a VAR check.
Bryan Mbeumo should have given Brentford the lead ten minutes later when slipped through by Sergi Canos, but his toe poke was tame and straight at Vicente Guaita.
The Bees broke Palace down again when Mathias Jensen's low cross looked destined to be tapped home by Yoane Wissa, but Joel Ward did just enough to put him off.
Brentford were let off the hook when Christian Norgaard gifted possession to Odsonne Edouard in midfield and he released Jordan Ayew, but the Ghanaian's effort sailed harmlessly high and wide.
Ward then allowed the hosts a similar opportunity allowing Mbeumo to race in behind, but his pull-back was met by a yellow shirt rather than a red-and-white one.
An action-packed first half nearly ended with a Brentford goal, but Canos couldn't keep his header down from Mbeumo's delicious cross.
Substitute Josh Dasilva nearly made an impact midway through the second half after beating Tyrick Mitchell at the byline, but his cutback just evaded Wissa and Palace were able to clear.
Canos was lucky to escape a second yellow card when he brought down Wilfried Zaha on the counter, while the Ivorian went down under a challenge from Rico Henry in the box in stoppage time, but his protests were dismissed.
David Raya - hardly tested all game - made a great stop to deny Palace with the final kick of the game and the spoils were shared.
Brentford player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
David Raya (GK) - 7/10 - It's rather helpful for Brentford to have a goalkeeper back that's so comfortable on the ball.
Kristoffer Ajer (CB) - 6/10 - His bursting runs help offer the Bees a new dimension. Played the final 15 minutes in some discomfort.
Pontus Jansson (CB) - 6/10 - A dominant day in the air for the skipper.
Ethan Pinnock (CB) - 7/10 - Defended on the front foot and was tidy on the floor.
2. Wing-backs & midfielders
Sergi Canos (RWB) - 2/10 - A torrid afternoon for the Spaniard in which he was a liability at both ends. Should have received a second yellow for his clumsy challenge on Zaha.
Mathias Jensen (CM) - 7/10 - His creativity was useful and would have had more of an impact if he didn't have to hold Canos' hand.
Christian Norgaard (CM) - 6/10 - Made several key recoveries and challenges.
Vitaly Janelt (CM) - 5/10 - Physical and up for the fight but didn't provide much else.
Rico Henry (LWB) - 5/10 - Like Canos, was lucky not to be punished by Zaha.
3. Forwards
Bryan Mbeumo (CF) - 3/10 - His touches couldn't stick and he spurned some of the best chances of the afternoon.
Yoane Wissa (CF) - 5/10 - Worked hard and won the ball high up the pitch but found too little in way of goal-mouth action.
4. Substitutes
Josh Dasilva (CM, 62' for Janelt) - 7/10 - His first home game in front of fans since 2020. His directness was beneficial to the Bees.
Saman Ghoddos (CF, 81' for Wissa) - 5/10 - Had a short-lived spell up front before being shifted to wing-back.
Shandon Baptiste (AM, 86' for Canos) - N/A
Crystal Palace player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Vicente Guaita (GK) - 8/10 - Swept up well and was equal to everything thrown at him.
Joel Ward (RB) - 6/10 - Given some early scares but generally fared well.
Marc Guehi (CB) - 8/10 - Fortunate not to concede an early penalty but was pretty much flawless from there on in.
Joachim Andersen (CB) - 8/10 - Similarly staunch at the back.
Tyrick Mitchell (LB) - 6/10 - Like Ward bounced back from an early spell of Brentford pressure to have a fine game.
6. Midfielders
Will Hughes (CM) - 5/10 - A tidy and yet ugly performance at the base of midfield, sweeping up and getting stuck in.
Conor Gallagher (CM) - 4/10 - You'd have expected the Chelsea loanee to have offered more on the ball.
Jeffrey Schlupp (CM) - 6/10 - If Palace were going to make something from midfield, it was going to come through Schlupp.
7. Forwards
Jordan Ayew (RW) - 3/10 - Skied one of Palace's only decent chances and then disappeared.
Odsonne Edouard (CF) - 4/10 - Caused some trouble in the first half but offered little else.
Wilfried Zaha (LW) - 7/10 - The best outfielder on the pitch but didn't create too much in dangerous areas.
8. Substitutes
James McArthur (CM, 66' for Hughes) - 6/10
Jean-Philippe Mateta (CF, 72' for Edouard) - 5/10
Michael Olise (RW, 77' for Ayew) - 6/10
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