Ellery Balcombe was the penalty shootout hero as he saved two spot-kicks on his debut to send Brentford through to the third round of the Carabao Cup following a 1-1 draw with Newport County at Rodney Parade.

After a goalless opening 87 minutes, Mathias Jensen looked like he’d struck the decisive blow when he converted Keane Lewis-Potter’s cut-back from close range.

However, substitute Kiban Rai headed home a leveller six minutes into added-time to take the game to spot-kicks.

Adam Lewis hit the post for Newport before Balcombe denied Nathan Wood and Bryn Morris low to his right while Brentford - through Bryan Mbuemo, Yoane Wissa and Lewis-Potter - were perfect from 12 yards to book their spot in the last 32.

Balcombe, Olakigbe and Yarmoliuk make first competitive starts as Frank shuffles the pack at Rodney Parade

Thomas Frank made nine changes from the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, with Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt the two to retain their starting spots.

Ben Mee made his first outing of the season following a leg injury, while there were debuts for Balcombe and Michael Olakigbe as well as a first Brentford start for Yehor Yarmoliuk in midfield.

Brentford: Balcombe; Roerslev, Zanka, Mee (Hickey 77), Ajer; Janelt, Onyeka (Jensen 62), Yarmoliuk (Brierley 78); Lewis-Potter, Olakigbe (Wissa 62), Schade (Mbeumo 62)

Subs not used: Flekken, Hickey, Collins, Ji-soo, Brierley, Adedokun

Newport County: Maxted; Seberry, Clarke, Delaney, Lewis; Wildig (Bennett 64), Morris; Bondswell (Payne 82), Charsley (Wood 64), Waite; Bogle (Palmer-Houlden 64, Rai 67)

Subs not used: Townsend, Drysdale, McLoughlin

Brentford struggle to convert possession into clear-cut chances

The pattern of play from the outset was what you would expect: Brentford dominating possession with Newport happy to sit in and use the physicality of Omar Bogle on the break.

Captain for the night Janelt had to be alert early on to cut out Bogle’s ball meant for Aaron Wildig inside the area but that was a rare moment of threat to Balcombe in goal.

Another of those making his first Brentford appearance, Olakigbe fashioned the Bees’ first opening of the half. His quick feet took him away from a clutch of defenders and allowed him to find Janelt, and the German’s return ball was just overhit allowing Jonny Maxted to gather.

Schade flicked an Olakigbe centre across the face of goal before Brentford’s best chance of the half. Lewis-Potter did everything right, nodding Schade’s cross from the left back from where it came over, only for Harry Charsley to retreat on to the line and head clear.

A low Kristoffer Ajer shot was easily gathered by Maxted and Schade had an effort deflected wide as Brentford threatened to get up a real head of steam.

However, as the half progressed the hosts grew into the game and should have gone in ahead. James Clarke looped a header tamely into Balcombe’s arms before the home side had their guilt-edged opportunity. It fell to Charsley but he planted his header from eight yards across goal and wide under no pressure.

Bryn Morris’s shot was charged down on the edge of the box while at the other end Schade curled high and wide as the two sides went in level.

Rai’s last-gasp header sends the tie to spot-kicks

The pattern of the game didn’t change much after the break, Brentford still dominated on the ball while Newport looked to play on the counter.

A driving run from deep by Schade opened up a shooting opportunity for Olakigbe but his effort was blocked at source.

There was a worrying moment shortly after as Schade and Maxted collided heavily while both going for Lewis-Potter’s cross. Thankfully, after a long period of treatment both players were fine to continue.

Olakigbe worked his way into the box and flashed across the face of goal but that was one of very few sights of goal in the opening 15 minutes of the half.

Frank turned to his bench on the hour mark, introducing Mbeumo, Wissa and Jensen. That move almost paid instant dividends as Wissa switched play out to Mbeumo on the right and he cut inside and brought a fine save out of Maxted at his near post.

Newport’s keeper made another crucial intervention, diving full length to turn the ball away from Wissa on the edge of the six-yard box. The striker’s slip at the other end allowed Scot Bennett to pick up a loose ball but his effort curled narrowly wide of the post with Balcombe at full stretch.

Wissa nodded a free-kick straight into the arms of Maxted before Brentford thought they had won the tie with three minutes remaining.

Lewis-Potter did superbly to hook Mbeumo’s deep cross back into the six-yard box where Jensen reacted fastest to beat Lewis to the ball and tap home.

The hosts threw everything at the Bees in the closing stages and grabbed what was, on the balance of the game, a deserved leveller when Rai beat Ajer to a centre from the left and planted his header past Balcombe from eight yards.

Bees hold their nerve to progress to the third round

The home crowd greeted the full-time whistle with great celebrations but the mood was quickly dampened when Lewis dragged his penalty on to the foot of the left-hand upright.

The next four penalties all went the same way, low to the keeper’s right. However, while Mbeumo’s and Wissa’s found the back of the net, Wood and Morris were denied by Balcombe giving Lewis-Potter a chance to send Brentford through, which he took calmly.

Frank hails Balcombe after memorable debut

Head coach Thomas Frank was full of praise for Ellery Balcombe, whose penalty heroics helped Brentford into the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The 23-year-old made two saves during the shootout, over a decade after he first joined the club.

“He was superb,” said Frank. “I think he played a good game; I’m so pleased for him. After the game I saw his mum was in the stand and the fans were singing his name. I almost got emotional because he has been here since he was eight.

“I asked Kevin [O’Connor] to say a few words to him because he is the one who will have that feeling and that emotion in him. He knows what it is like to be at this club for many years. That was a nice moment for him personally at the end and he got a very nice applause from the players and the staff.

“He deserved that; it’s not been a straight forward journey. He’s been working very hard and he’s in a good place, so I am pleased for him.”

Balcombe: I went into the shootout with confidence

Frank spoke of his confidence before the shootout with Ellery Balcombe in goal, a feeling the 23-year-old also experienced under the lights at Rodney Parade.

“I definitely felt the same," he said. "I like to think I’m decent at penalties, so I was full of confidence going into the shootout.

“Kevin [O’Connor] was definitely part of it as well. Kev knew I was going to save a couple of penalties so going into it that just gave me even more confidence.

“I’ve been here a long time, since I was eight, so to finally get a debut, I can’t really describe the feeling. My mum was here so I’m delighted she was here to see that.”