Brentford failed to make up ground in their chase for a play-off place after drawing 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers at Griffin Park on Saturday, writes Simon Webster.

Goals from Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas gave the Bees a 2-1 lead at the break, but a defensive mix-up midway through the second half saw them concede an equaliser.

Emile Heskey had a great early chance for Bolton when he broke clear through the middle, but slotted his shot just wide of the advancing David Button and the left hand post.

Pritchard fired a free kick just over the bar for Brentford, while Liam Feeney also came close to scoring for Bolton, his shot from a right angle on the left cleared off the line.

The Bees took the lead when Andre Gray broke down the right, picked out Alan Judge, who in turn found Pritchard, with the midfielder blasting past Adam Bodgan.

However, the lead lasted only a matter of minutes as Adam Le Fondre equalised with a shot from a tight angle.

Yet the home side took the lead again before half time when Judge crossed from the right and Douglas headed home.

Brentford’s hard work in pursuit of the play-offs was undone when the defence failed to clear and Mark Davies nicked the ball off Button and placed it in the open goal.

The Bees had several chances in the closing stages, with Jake Bidwell firing into the hands of Bogdan and Douglas firing a volley over the bar.

Brentford: Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Pritchard (sub Dallas 61), Douglas, Diagouraga, Jota, Judge (sub Toral 79); Gray (sub Smith 79). Subs (not used): Bonham, Craig, McCormack, Udumaga.

Attendance: 11,813