Match report: Huddersfield Town 0 - 0 Brentford FC

Sep 14 2009 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN missed the chance to close the five-point gap on League I pacesetters Charlton and Leeds as they were blanked by Brentford.

After Leeds were held goalless by Southend on Friday, leaders Charlton could only draw 1-1 at home to Southampton on Saturday.

But it was Bristol Rovers who were the beneficiaries as their 1-0 home win over Oldham put them third at Town’s expense.

What a shame that after keeping a clean sheet for the first time in 10 matches this season, the country’s top scorers going into the game for once failed to find the net.

There were opportunities, but it was hard to begrudge battling Brentford a point, which could have become three had it not been for an unlikely miss by Cleveland Taylor.

The goal was gaping when the former Carlisle man met Steve Kabba’s 73rd-minute cross, but somehow, and to the great relief of home fans in a 12,020 crowd, he sidefooted wide.

Defeat would have been harsh on Town, who haven’t featured in a goalless draw since Yeovil visited last October.

But such has been the form and freescoring power on show this term – especially at the Galpharm – Saturday’s outcome was highly disappointing.

Things began brightly enough, as Jordan Rhodes, playing against the side for whom he shone on loan last season, dispossessed centre-back Alan Bennett down the right in the eighth-minute.

His cross towards Gary Roberts was cleared, but only as far as Anthony Kay, who was lurking on the edge of the area and brought a fine save from Lewis Price with a dipping volley.

But apart from another Kay shot, this time in the 44th minute, which was awkward but safely collected by the visiting keeper, that was as good as it got for Town in a disjointed first half.