Moses Odubajo helped Brentford overcome the handicap of playing with ten men for the vast majority of the match to draw 1-1 with Birmingham City at Griffin Park on Saturday.

After captain Tony Craig was dismissed for a foul on former Bee Clayton Donaldson after a quarter of an hour, the Bees put in a spirited effort to draw level with ten minutes remaining.

In the early stages Jonathan Spector appeared to hold Andre Gray back as he went for a cross from the right, but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

Starting his first league game for the Bees, Tommy Smith did well down the left, before his cut back from inside the box was cleared.

The game’s defining moment came when Craig tangled with Donaldson inside Brentford’s penalty box. Referee Madley pointed to the spot and brandished a red card towards the Bees’ captain.

Paul Caddis sent David Button the wrong way as he fired his penalty into the bottom right corner.

As Brentford re-grouped, debutant Jota was unfortunate to be withdrawn as Harlee Dean came on the bolster the defence.

Alan McCormack broke down the right, but his cross proved too deep as it sailed past the back post and was cleared.

Birmingham missed a great chance to extend their lead when David Cotterill crossed from the right and Wes Thomas headed over the bar from six yards.

The visitors continued to look dangerous as they came close with three corners in quick succession, before Cotterill’s free kick sailed over the bar on the stroke of half time.

Ten minutes into the second half Brentford again saw strong penalty claims turned down when Jake Bidwell appeared to be fouled inside the box.

Alex Pritchard displayed great close control as he sought to make space for a shot, but his effort was blocked.

Alan Judge was the next to threaten as his low shot from 25 yards was scrambled round the post by Darren Randolph.

As the Bees continued to press for an equaliser MacCormack’s long cross field ball was headed down by James Tarkowski before Gray saw his shot blocked.

The Bees got what they deserved when the visitors carelessly gave the ball away and substitute Moses Odubajo raced away into the right side of the box and calmly slotted the ball past Randolph.

It was nothing less than Brentford deserved after playing with ten men for so long and they continued to seek the winner in the closing stages, coming up just short.

Brentford: Button, McCormack (sub Odubajo 74), Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas, Judge, Pritchard, Jota (sub Dean 17), Smith (sub Dallas h/t); Gray Subs (not used): Bonham, Tebar, Toral, Proschwitz

Attendance: 9706

Man of the Match: David Button