Tommy Smith struck six minutes into the second-half to earn Brentford's Development Squad a point away at Birmingham City this afternoon.

The striker, who is returning from a leg injury, swept home from eight yards after good work down the right by Tyrell Miller-Rodney.

Smith's strike cancelled out an earlier Luke Armstrong goal for the hosts who could have won the game late on only for Mark Smith to brilliantly turn Wes McDonald's shot from the edge of the box.

Jon De Souza was able to name Nico Yennaris at right-back with Smith starting on the left of an attacking three behind the lone striker Bradley Clayton.

The hosts started with American international Brek Shea on the left-wing with Scotland international Andrew Shinnie playing up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

It was The Blues who started the game the better with Shea's long diagonal balls to Viv Soloman causing Brentford's defence plenty of problems.

Jermaine Udumaga curled a shot wide for Brentford while another long Shea ball released Soloman but his shot was well held by by Smith.

Raphael Calvet blocked a Shinnie header and Miller-Rodney dragged a shot wide after good play between Udumaga and Clayton as the sides continued to exchange chances.

Birmingham's high pressing game meant that Brentford were playing a lot in their own half and it was from their high press that the hosts took the lead.

A loose square ball from Yennaris to Jack Warburton was picked up by Shinnie who drove at Brentrford's defence and slid in Armstrong to fire under Smith into the bottom corner.

Brentford nearly responded instantly as Calvet struck the post from a quickly taken corner while Clayton was inches away from turning home a Yennaris cross after excellent build-up play.

Having dominated the closing stages of the first-half it was a more even start to the second period as Wes McDonald dragged a shot wide and Charlie Adams headed wide from a corner.

The hosts were made to pay for those misses as Brentford equalised six minutes into the half as Smith ghosted in from the left-hand side to sweep home Miller-Rodney's low cross.

Jon De Souza's side should have taken the lead a minute later as Udumaga shot straight at Callum Preston from 10 yards after a Clayton knock-down.

Armstrong could have put his side back ahead but he shot wide from 18 yards after Kieran Morris had allowed a cross to slip through to the striker.

Dom Bernard was in the right place to make a fine goal-saving block from Clayton and from the resulting corner Clayton's header from eight yards bounced over the bar.

Calvet managed to block Kieran Dunbar's shot behind and from the resulting corner Reece Webb shot over from the edge of the box.

Both sides were creating chances as the game entered the final quarter hour and Smith was on hand to make a magnificent flying save to turn McDonald's fierce drive from the edge of the box around the post.

Udumaga volleyed straight at Preston from 15 yards while Smith nearly undid all his good work by giving the ball away to McDonald who shot over from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy.

Liam Truslove headed over at the back post before, with the last action of the match, Greene let fly from distance but his shot flew harmlessly wide as both sides setlled for a hard earned point.

: Callum Preston; Josh Cogley, Dom Bernard, Charlie Adams, Mitch Hancox; Viv Soloman, Charlie Cooper (sub Reece Cole 71 mins), Liam Truslove, Brek Shea; Luke Armstrong (sub Kieran Dunbar 60 mins), Andrew Shinnie (sub Wes McDonald 46 mins)

: Wes McFarlane, Bobby Moseley

: Luke Armstrong 30

: Mark Smith; Nico Yennaris (sub Kieran Morris 46 mins), Daniel O'Shaughnessy, Raphael Calvet, Aaron Greene; Louis Hutton; Tyrell Miller-Rodney, Jack Warburton, Jermaine Udumaga, Tommy Smith (sub Zain Westbrooke 60 mins); Bradley Clayton

: Jordan Carey, Lionel Stone

: Kieran Morris

: Tommy Smith 51