Brentford 0 Luton Town 0

Last updated : 07 September 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Brentford were held to a goalless draw by lowly Luton Town at Grifin Park and lost top spot in Division Two.

The Bees made one change from the side that drew 2-2 at Notts County last week, Ijah Anderson replaced Leo Roget who was sidelined with an eye injury.

Luton almost opened the scoring after five minutes a quick free-kick caught the home defence out and Dean Crowe, in the box with only Paul Smith to beat, dragged his right-foot effort wide of the left-hand post.

Five minutes later a Tony Dobson corner from the left was met by Mark McCammon at the far post, who headed across the face of the goal and Ibrahim Sonko eight yards out saw his header easily saved by the keeper.

After 22 minutes a Dobson 35-yard free-kick flew just over the bar, and two minutes later the first of the three bookings of the game was handed out when the Hatters' Steve Howard was yellow carded for a late challenge on Jay Smith.

Three minutes home defender Matt Somner was booked for a foul on Dave Bayliss.

Seven minutes from the break the Hatters almost broke the deadlock as Emmerson Boyce's cross from the right found Howard unmarked 10 yards out, his header beat keeper Smith and smacked against the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

The second half started very scrappily with both sides giving the ball away easily.

On the hour mark Russell Perrett for the visitors was booked for a crude tackle on RowanVine and after 67 minutes Anderson's pinpoint cross from the left was met by Ed Hutchinson and his header from ten yards went just over the bar.

Both sides made late substitutions but could not break the deadlock, nine minutes from time Hutchinson, 35 yards out, struck a right-foot effort that just went wide of the target and on the stroke of full time Dobson from the edge of the box saw his left-foot goalbound effort deflected for a corner.

After the match Bees manager Wally Downes said: "I thought we deserved to win, we took the game to Luton, but they deserved something out of the game.

"I was happy with a point which could be vital at the end of the season."