Brentford made it five games unbeaten at Gtech Community Stadium with a goalless draw against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Bryan Mbeumo went closest for the Bees, striking the woodwork during the first half, while Raúl Jiménez spurned the visitors’ best chance, clearing the crossbar having been found in space by fellow second-half substitute Adama Traoré.

Mbeumo denied by crossbar during cagey first half

Thomas Frank made two changes to the side that lost to Everton the previous weekend: Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter replaced Mathias Jensen and Yoane Wissa.

The first chance fell to Fulham inside the opening 60 seconds. Calvin Bassey lofted the ball into the Brentford box, the imposing Rodrigo Muniz made first contact and Sasa Lukic’s shot deflected off Nathan Collins and out for a corner.

On eight minutes, Timothy Castagne’s cross from the right was only half cleared by Mikkel Damsgaard. Alex Iwobi took a touch to set himself and saw his well-struck effort from 20 yards dip just over the crossbar.

The Bees’ first opening was of Fulham’s own making. Willian surrendered possession in the middle third and Ivan Toney released Mbeumo who drove towards goal. Slowed by the recovering Bassey, the Cameroon international struck the crossbar via a deflection and Lewis-Potter drove the rebound straight at Bernd Leno.

Andreas Pereira blasted over the bar having been given time and space in a central position 25 yards out.

Mark Flekken then comfortably held Iwobi’s left-footed shot at his near post.

Moments later, Issa Diop’s looping header dropped kindly for Christian Nørgaard inside the visitors’ area and the Bees skipper volleyed across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

With half-time approaching, Nathan Collins released Lewis-Potter with a pinpoint crossfield pass. The former Hull man beat Castagne with a clever first touch and lifted the ball over Leno, but Diop showed good defensive instinct to cover his keeper and head to safety.

Iwobi’s cross was headed wide by João Palhinha in the final action of the first period.

Best chance falls to Jiménez as west London derby ends goalless

Three minutes after the restart, Iwobi worked the ball inside to Pereira and the Brazilian’s first-time effort from the edge of the box flew wide.

Iwobi’s hanging cross was then headed straight at Flekken by Muniz from inside the six-yard box.

As a stop-start game hit the hour mark, Castagne met Pereira’s in-swinging corner at the front post but his glancing header dropped wide.

The visitors had a big chance to take the lead on 73 minutes. Substitute Traoré, having been slipped down the right by Palhinha, shrugged off Yehor Yarmoliuk and delivered a low cross into the area. The ball took a nick off Collins and rolled perfectly into the path of Jiménez, but the forward shot wildly over the crossbar.

On 80 minutes, Traoré worked some space in the area under pressure from Reguilón and Flekken was equal to his low drive at his near post.

Kevin Schade headed over the bar as Brentford went in search of a winner, before Collins made an important block during the final seconds to prevent Antonee Robinson’s powerful drive from finding the target.

Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken; Ajer (Roerslev 45+4), Collins, Pinnock, Reguilón; Nørgaard (Onyeka 82), Damsgaard (Schade 82), Janelt (Yarmoliuk 66); Mbeumo, Toney, Lewis-Potter (Wissa 66)

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Maupay, Zanka, Ghoddos

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Lukić (Cairney 75); Iwobi (Wilson 90+2), Pereira (Decordova-Reid 75), Willian (Traoré 64); Muniz (Jiménez 64)

Subs not used: Rodák, Tete, Broja, Ream

Attendance: 17,090

Frank: We didn't have the cutting edge

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was happy with the Bees' clean sheet against Fulham, but wants to see more "cutting edge" from his side in the final two games of the campaign.

"It was a solid performance without being through the roof. Defensively, it’s always good to keep a clean sheet," said Frank.

“If you can't win, don't lose - that's been a thing we haven’t nailed enough this season. So, in that sense, I'm happy.  

“In a game where we didn’t hit our highest offensive level, it's difficult to produce enough chances to try to get the winner. There was a lot of effort, willpower and we wanted to go for the win. 

“But, on the day, we didn't have the cutting edge.” 

Pinnock: Brentford lacked special moment

Defender Ethan Pinnock labelled Brentford’s goalless draw with Fulham “a tightly contested game” and admitted the Bees lacked a “special moment” to break the deadlock in Saturday’s west London derby.

“It was a tightly contested game,” said Pinnock.

“Both teams were good in their structure and difficult to break down. It was a game of few chances. We just lacked that special moment to undo them or do something in the final third.

“The key was to try and stop the transitions. They’ve got a lot of pace up front, so from their goalkicks we wanted to get really tight. First and second balls, we had to compete. If the ball did get played over us, we had to sprint.”