Jota is hit n’ miss as Bees blow big chance

BRENTFORD ..0 WOLVES .......... 0

BOTTOM club Brentford had to settle for a point despite dominating for long spells against big-spending Wolves.

The Bees came closest to breaking the deadlock when star man and Middlesbrough and West Ham target Jota sidefooted against the post just before the break.

And top-scorer Neal Maupay wasted a glorious chance when he blazed over from three yards with the goal gaping after Romaine Sawyers’ neat header set him up.

Bees skipper Nico Yennaris fired a 20-yard effort just over in the second minute.

And Wolves keeper John Ruddy dived full stretch to tip Sawyers’ 30-yard thunderbolt wide of the post.

Ollie Watkins almost made Ruddy pay for a moment of madness, though, when he fired his goal-kick against his own defender – but Watkins fizzed his angled drive wide.

Ruben Vinagre forced Daniel Bentley into a smart low save and the Bees keeper had to be quick off his line to deny Leo Bonatini.

Brentford were doing all the pressing but Wolves, with record signing Ruben Neves pulling the strings, were a threat on the counter-attack.

The home side should have scored in the 39th minute when Watkins fed Maupay wide left and his pass fell invitingly for Jota but the Spaniard’s right-foot effort hit the post.

Both sides came close in the second half with Sawyers sending a late effort over the bar and Nouha Dicko somehow heading Diogo Jota’s cross upwards instead of into the net in injury time.

Wolves chief Nuno Espirito Santo said: “It was a good game between two teams trying to play quality football.

“I said Brentford would be very difficult to beat and they were. They had good chances so a point is good.”

The Bees are still looking for their first league win of the season but boss Dean Smith said: “Our performance was really good and we gave them plenty of problems.

“Normally you’d put your house on Jota scoring the chance he had today but at the other end I’m pleased the boys got the clean sheet their performance deserved.”