Bournemouth 0 Brentford 0: Cherries controversially denied penalty as Gary O’Neil stretches unbeaten start to four games
BOURNEMOUTH’S Jordan Zemura left Vitality Stadium fuming at referee Thomas Bramall’s eyesight.
The young wing back was convinced he had won a 21st minute penalty when he was taken out by Kristoffer Ajer’s high sliding tackle in the box.
Bramall’s decision not to give a spot-kick riled the home fans and Zemura until VAR said they were taking a look.
And when the rookie Premier League ref was advised to take a look at his monitor it looked odds on his eyesight wouldn’t fail him again.
After taking a couple of minutes viewing endless replays Bramall appeared to come to his senses when it looked as though he had changed his mind when he pointed to the spot.
But much to the home fans annoyance and Bees boss Thomas Frank’s relief the official was instead awarding a goal-kick as the stadium announcer declared “No penalty.”
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And much to their anger in the final seconds of stoppage time Bramall turned down another penalty appeal when the ball appeared to strike Mathias Jensen’s hand in the box.
The draw increased Bournemouth’s unbeaten run to four games following that 9-0 drubbing at Liverpool.
And it certainly enhances interim manager Gary O’Neil’s job prospects after taking six points.
The board appear to be waiting for the club to be sold before deciding who replaces Scott Parker.
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And Chris Mepham was soon walking on thin ice against his old club which would have brought back painful memories.
The Cherries defender was vilified by his own fans in 2021 play-offs when he saw red early for hauling down Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo after dwelling on the ball.
Bournemouth went down 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged semis which cost them a Wembley final place.
And with just three minutes on the clock the Wales centre-back gave the ball away to Mikkel Damsgaard who forced home goalkeeper Neto into making a picture-perfect save.
Damsgaard threatened again 12 minutes later when he shot straight at Neto after Pontus Jansson had a free header blocked from a corner.
Then we had the game’s most controversial moment which appeared to take the sting out of a match that just never took off.
Five-goal Bees top scorer Ivan Toney was bursting to hit the net again to reassure Gareth Southgate he is the man for England.
The former Peterborough striker was called up by the Three Lions boss for the first time last week but didn’t get a kick against Italy or Germany.
But Toney, who hit a hat-trick against Leeds last month, hardly got a touch in a first half that offered little goalmouth action.
The Bees top scorer found some space five minutes before the break must miss-kicked horribly when he appeared to get a nudge in the back from Adam Smith.
Just before time added on the Bees wasted another opening when Ajer nodded Damsgaard’s cross onto the top of the net.
And there was still time for Toney to foolishly lose his head after an air shot when he volleyed the ball into the crowd and rightly received a yellow card.
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But the New England man kept his head right at the start of the second half by showing his defensive qualities by nodding Jefferson Lerma’s goal-bound header over his own bar.
Toney tried his best to find the target but Bournemouth, like the visitors, defended in numbers to protect a vital If not uninspired point.
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