Regularly bracketed together, holding the same ambition of European football for the first time, Brentford continue to hold the advantage. The chase may come down to one of these much-admired teams and Bournemouth were frustrated by a 13th drawn game of the season. On a midweek night where the Premier League resembles Prem Rugby, all hustle, grappling, kicking for territory and physicality closing off creativity, Brentford toughed it out.
The Bees remain the only team in the Premier League that Bournemouth have never beaten.
Bournemouth have not beaten Brentford in the regular season since August 2014, their sole victory coming in vain in the first leg of the 2021 Championship playoff.
Following Saturday lunchtime’s stormy draw with Sunderland, Andoni Iraola beefed up his starting lineup with Ryan Christie and Evanilson, forgoing the grace of Eli Junior Kroupi and David Brooks. Keith Andrews made three changes from that controversial, video-assisted 4-3 win at Burnley, including the return of Caoimhin Kelleher, who is a new father.
Fighting out a breathless duel with Adrien Truffert, Dango Ouattara was making his first return to the Vitality, his £42.5m fee softening the welcome from his former fans, getting rather too used to farewells. Brentford’s future has greater certainty, with Andrews contracted until 2032, while Andoni Iraola’s deal expires this June.
