Brentford 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Last updated : 24 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Substitute Matt Harrold kept alive Brentford's hopes of avoiding relegation with a crucial equaliser against Wycombe.

Harrold came off the bench to stab home in the 72nd minute after Nathan Tyson had put Wanderers ahead in the 54th.

His goal denied already-relegated Wycombe only their second away league win of the season but kept alive Brentford's hopes of survival.

They remain unbeaten under new boss Martin Allen, but were happy to take a point after a nervy finale in which Danny Senda really should have added to Wycombe's score.

The visitors had the better of the early chances in the game with the impressive Senda seeing a long-range shot well saved by Stuart Nelson.

Bees keeper Nelson then spilled a Tyson shot from 20 yards but recovered superbly to deny Mark Philo with a brave block.

As for the Bees, they created occasional breaks through live-wire Jay Tabb and came closest to scoring in the very last minute of the first half.

An Ibrahim Sonko long throw caused havoc and eventually Stephen Hunt fired a left-foot effort only inches wide.

Tabb also had a penalty claim turned down when he was felled on the edge of the area, but the Bees failed to take advantage after the break.

They went behind when Senda set up Tyson with a deep cross and only snatched a draw when Harrold forced home a low Hunt cross from close range.

Senda somehow hit the post for Wycombe with an open goal in front of him and Philo also wasted a late chance as the Bees held on.

Brentford boss Martin Allen said: "It's a great point for us because we didn't play well today. But that's OK because the lads can't play well all the time.

"We are unbeaten in seven games and that's a great run.

"Everybody expected Brentford to win today but Wycombe are a wounded animal and they came back and bit us. But thankfully we kept the point." Wycombe manager Tony Adams was delighted with his side's display, adding: "I thought we were unlucky not to take three points. I was very pleased with them."