Fulham Holds Brentford to Goalless Draw as Leno's Late Save Secures Point

A 0-0 draw between Brentford and Fulham has left both teams with mixed emotions, as a spectacular last-minute save by Bernd Leno denied the Bees a spot in the top six. The match, a west London derby, was largely uneventful until stoppage time when Dango Ouattara thought he had scored the winner, only to be thwarted by Leno's incredible reflexes. Nathan Collins then headed another golden chance wide from the resulting corner, leaving Brentford frustrated. Leno's heroics earned him the Player of the Match award, and he expressed his delight, saying, 'These moments in the last minute are always the best.' The draw means Brentford moves level with sixth-placed Chelsea, but they could be overtaken by teams below them. Fulham, meanwhile, faces an uphill task to reach the European places, having failed to register a shot on target all game. The Cottagers had won the last three derbies between the two teams but were unable to capitalize on their chances, with Ryan Sessegnon blazing over a good opening in the first half. Brentford had the better chances throughout, with Igor Thiago heading an early opportunity wide, and Keane Lewis-Potter scooping a golden chance over just before halftime. In the second period, Mikkel Damsgaard clipped over from outside the box, and Lewis-Potter's goalbound hit Thiago from Michael Kayode's long throw. The Bees then missed two golden chances to win it in stoppage time through Ouattara and Collins. A fifth straight draw for Brentford has raised questions about their European bid, with their lack of options and significant injury list causing concerns. Fulham head coach Marco Silva expressed his disappointment, saying, 'When you come here, you come with a mission to win the game.' Brentford head coach Keith Andrews, on the other hand, remains optimistic, saying, 'This game showcases for me where we've come in the space of seven months.' The draw has left both teams with work to do in their pursuit of European football next season.