Town missed a succession of second-half chances as they drew 1-1 at home with fellow play-off challengers Brentford. Daryl Murphy put the Blues ahead in the ninth minute via his 22nd goal of the season, Jonathan Douglas hit back for the Bees, before the Blues failed to take numerous opportunities to win it in the second half with Murphy missing a gilt-edged chance just after half-time.

Town boss Mick McCarthy recalled keeper Dean Gerken in place of Bartosz Bialkowski, one of four changes to the team which lost at Leeds.

While the back four was unchanges, Richard Chaplow came in on the right of midfield with Jay Tabb in the centre with Cole Skuse and Jonny Parr on the left. Murphy and Freddie Sears returned up front.

Brentford struck the first shot of the game in the third minute, one-time Town target Alan Judge cutting in from the left before hitting a low effort wide of Gerken’s right post.

As at Griffin Park on Boxing Day, Town scored with their first chance of the match, although on this occasion after nine minutes rather than 18 seconds.

Chaplow sent over a deep cross from the right, Christophe Berra nodded downwards towards goal, and Murphy added the final touch off the post at close range to claim his 22nd goal of the season and end his four-game mini-goal drought.

Four minutes after the Blues had taken the lead Sears was sent through the middle, battling with Liam Moore but was unable to shake the defender off and eventually his shot hit a defender.

The Blues kept up the pressure and on 13 Murphy almost made the most of Bees keeper David Button rushing out of his goal to the left chasing Tommy Smith’s long ball, but the Irishman hit his shot into the side-netting from a very tight angle.

On 15 Chaplow played Parr into a promising position on the left of the area but the Norwegian smashed his low shot across the face of goal.

Gerken, playing his first game since suffering a groin problem in the warm-up at Blackpool in November, was first called into action in the 23rd minute when he dived away to his left to claim Alex Pritchard’s 25-yard strike.

But two minutes later the visitors were on terms. Space was cleverly worked for Judge to cross from the right, Gerken superbly saved Stuart Dallas’s low far-post volley but Bees skipper Jonathan Douglas reacted quickly to nod home the rebound.

Brentford weren’t far from a second in the 31st minute when Judge got ahead of Parr to flick a Pritchard left-wing cross wide at the far post.

Two minutes later, the Bees failed to deal with a Tabb freekick in from the left but the ball just wouldn’t fall for Sears and then Mings. On 37 Pritchard picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Skuse.

The Bees had been on top since equalising but the Blues created an opportunity in the 38th minute, Sears crossing from the right to Murphy, who was just unable to work the ball into a position from which he could shoot.

There was controversy in the 41st minute when Murphy played in Parr from the right, sending the Norwegian through towards goal on the edge of the box where he was awkwardly felled by Moses Odubajo.

Referee Scott Duncan looked to have a big decision to make but instead pulled play back to penalise Murphy - perhaps for handball - much the surprise and annoyance of the home crowd.

The Bees went close to going in front soon, Andre Gray turning Pritchard’s cross from the right only just wide after Judge had seized on a weak Mings header.

Just before the break, Tabb broke quickly following a poorly worked Brentford corner, finding Sears on the right. The ex-Colchester man crossed low to Chaplow, whose shot was saved by Button and Tabb and Murphy were unable to get onto the rebound.

The 1-1 scoreline at the break was a reasonable reflection of a game which had swung one way and then the other with both teams having had chances to add to their goal.

The Blues might have had it sealed had they taken their opportunities straight after Murphy had put them in the lead, but the Bees came back into it and deserved their equaliser when it came and had chances to get themselves in front before the break.

Less than a minute after the restart the Blues should have been back in front. Parr escaped down the left of the area and cut the ball across to Murphy, who was a matter of feet out. But, with the goal gaping, somehow the Championship’s top scorer slid in and diverted the ball over the bar when a goal seemed certain.

A minute later, Sears saw a shot blocked, then after Town had made rather heavy weather of clearing a Brentford corner from the left, Douglas was booked for a foul on Parr.

The Blues should have got their noses back in front again in the 57th minute when Tabb found Berra in space on the left of the area following a corner. The Scottish international played a low ball across the six-yard box but no one was there to add the final touch.

Town continued to look the more threatening team, Mings pulling off a clever turn on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot through to Button.

Soon after, Sears battled with Odubajo after a ball had been played through the middle, the Town striker eventually fouling the defender, then the ex-Leyton Orient man did well to get back to dispossess the Blues frontman after he had been played in on the left.

Town boss McCarthy made a double substitution in the 64th minute with Chaplow and Sears replaced by Teddy Bishop and Chris Wood. The decision to replace the lively Sears was met with a chorus of boos from the Blues support.

Gerken saved Pritchard’s 25-yard freekick after Town had made their change but the visitors had threatened rarely since the break with the Blues having had more than enough chances to restore their lead.

Town had another excellent opportunity to score soon afterwards when Murphy was sent through on goal by Mings’s long ball but keeper Button saved with his left hand. Seconds later, Wood was flagged offside when in behind the Bees’ backline when he seemed to have timed his run correctly.

Murphy hit a low shot from the right of the area as the Blues kept up the pressure, then at the other end Gray hit a looping effort straight at Gerken after seizing on a Town error.

The chances continued to come and Wood should have netted his first goal for the Blues in the 76th minute, the New Zealand international nodding Bishop’s right-wing cross wide at the near post.

With nine minutes left on the clock Toumani Diagouraga was booked for pulling back Wood, prior to Town having another chance to go back in front. Bishop found himself space inside the area and hit a shot which Button saved.

Parr was yellow-carded for a foul, then Odubajo joined him in the book for a foul on the Norwegian.

Brentford carved out a rare second-half chance in the final minute of scheduled time when Pritchard was fed inside the area but Smith got a cross superbly to block.

Town continued to push for a winner in five minutes of injury time but the goal which would take them back into the play-off zone wouldn’t come.

The points ought to have been sealed well before that in what had been a thoroughly entertaining game, however, with the Blues having failed to convert at least four good second-half chances, Murphy’s miss just after the break the most glaring.

Town remain seventh, a point behind the sixth-placed Bees and five points off the automatic promotion places with a visit to Middlesbrough, who are now fourth, up next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Chaplow (Bishop 64), Parr, Tabb, Murphy, Sears (Wood 64). Unused: Bialkowski, Clarke, Anderson, Connolly, Varney.

Brentford: Button, Bidwell, Douglas, Odubajo, Dallas, Judge (Jota 67), Gray (Long 75), Diagouraga, Pritchard, Tarkowski, Moore (Dean 71). Unused: Bonham, McCormack, Toral, Smith. Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland). Attendance: 20,132 (Brentford: 1,245).

Photo: Action Images

blues1 added 17:54 - Mar 7 Yet again there are idiots on here slating Tabb, as there are every time we lose or in this case don't win a game. Grow up guys. Ur either not true fans or were clearly not at today's game. Tabb played very well today. Get off his back guys. He wears the blue and white of itfc. Either back the team or bugger off and support some1 else. Criticism when due is one thing. Using some1 as a scapegoat is in warranted

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toxtethblue added 17:56 - Mar 7 Head 1970, your post of 17:39 is the only post I cant vote on. Is that because you are criticizing Tabb? Conspiracy's abound...
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bluelady added 17:57 - Mar 7 Why change the keeper he is not the issue its the awful defence in front of either of them... Smith was again a liability, he CANNOT play on the right, chambers is not a right back... Sort that you can have however you want in goal!!! As for Sears I thought whilst he was on pitch we played some of our better football all season, took him off - hoof ball! I thing tabb had a good game tbh and I'm not his biggest fan!! Wood is average at best clearly not match fit. For first 40 mins Chaplow was very good, excellent corner for goal so why he went short with the next baffles me!!! Sadly today our substitutions and unbalanced back four cost us the game.. There defence and keeper were awful we needed to run at them and we would have scored!!

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bluesince84 added 17:58 - Mar 7 hahaha 'jay Tabb is outstanding' and ' one of the best players in the league is Johnny parr' THEN WHY NOT START HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! joker,
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Miles added 17:59 - Mar 7 @head1970 I agree his set pieces are poor and I think somebody else should be taking them. That aside he kept us ticking at times and along with the rest of the midfield intercepted play so many times to put as back on the front foot. He had quick decision which created chances for us from free kicks when he played a simple short pass early on to catch the brentford defence out. He's just the scapegoat for the club right now. I'm not even a huge fan of Tabb but he isn't the reason we didn't win today or in the last couple games and people need to give it a rest.

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toxtethblue added 17:59 - Mar 7 blues1 - his dead ball delivery was woeful all game. As ever. One of the biggest chances of the match at the end of the first half - he had an age to thread a decent ball and played it at Chaplow instead of in front of him. Had the ball been decent it would probably have led to a 1 on 1. He works hard, runs round like a chicken with his head cut off but how much does he actually acheive?

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blue7579 added 18:03 - Mar 7 We are in such a good position, 5 points off the top, 10 games to go, mm and tc have have done an awesome job, but the frustration now is we should have taken advantage of other teams slip ups and we would have, had the best 11 available had been on the pitch consistently, I think we would still b contesting the top 2, unless things change ie. back 4 and tabb I think like Nigel Adkins at Southampton our manager has done an amazing job for us but this is as far as he can take us.

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Miles added 18:03 - Mar 7 @toxtethblue if you watch that chance again you'll see he actually wins the ball then runs half the pitch. He underhit the pass and let himself down with it but we created a decent chance from it after where chaplows shot is saved. Had he not done all the hard work in winning the ball that chance never happens.
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classof81 added 18:05 - Mar 7 I actually thought Tabb played very well today, arguably man of the match,so the Tabb haters can't hold him accountable for the result. A better performance than in recent weeks which is a positive, onwards to Boro where hopefully Murphs will be a bit more clinical
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jpring89 added 18:08 - Mar 7 after no win in 3 were still only 1 point out the play offs. forget the top because theres to many teams above to even think we can make the gap up. lets be thankful for the 1st time in 10 years we have something positive to play for. im still upbeat. COYB
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WashbrookBlue added 18:09 - Mar 7 Much to be positive today about our performance I felt but ultimately those glaring misses make it feel like a real missed opportunity. I am one of our midfields harshest critics - and long term this is still our biggest problem area - but today I thought all four played really well. Chaplow had a strong half, Parr excellent throughout, Skuse did what he's best at very well and Tabb made a very decent contribution (set pieces and that pass before half time aside). So, today our problems lied elsewhere I'm afraid for those who love to scapegoat. Its been a difficult week and it aint going to get any easier but I thought we were decent today and the spirit & togetherness is there still no question.

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TimmyH added 18:15 - Mar 7 As I said yesterday IF we keep a clean sheet we had a good chance of getting 3 points today...we didn't (again). Sounded like we played ok and deserved a win but unfortunately you have to take these type of opportunities at the critical part of the season at home which we were doing regularly at the non critical time of the season which I feel doesn't bode well for the rest of the campaign. We've looked average to be honest this year and yet another big game at Boro next weekend could see us slip even further behind the front runners. Still the jury is out on the team/squad whether they can withstand the pressure...only time will tell.

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bluefeast added 18:16 - Mar 7 well said wash brook ,we are not Real Madrid ,im not sure what people expect. We will show better form over the remaining 10 games than a couple of the sides above us and finish top 6. We will also have a few players back from injury to help us. One point on the negative front. Wood was ok a couple of seasons ag ,but he looks like a player who is way short on match awareness ,number of times he was either offside or on his heels etc etc. One week to freshen the legs and go again. Middlesborough wont be looking forward to playing us.

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EssexTractor added 18:20 - Mar 7 Started off brightly not allowing Brentford possession but once they had it after about 25 minutes we looked lost for awhile. We needed that early goal after the break, and the chance came but unfortunately Murphy went for it with his favoured left foot when it called for a right foot tap in. A later chance came to him and again by reference to those he has scored this season it just had to be a goal. But again no. But no serious criticism can be levelled at this man. I am sure he is feeling as gutted if not not more so than us spectators. And how many others this season have even been close enough to miss! The crowd did sense despite our lack of midfield class that our endeavour might just might see us through and with the new crowd favourite Freddie Sears making clever runs and constantly trying that was a possibility. But then he is hooked by the manager. Crowd reaction not unsurprisingly a mixture of disbelief, disappointment, anger. And so voices, justifiably were raised by the paying spectators. And what was the managers reaction to that but to turn around and to the fans exhale loudly in his gruff tones "f*** off " Yes expletives are common place at football matches but Mr MCCarthy do not in one breath ask fans to have a go at you and not the players when the ball is not running for us and then react in such a manner when such comment is made. It is becoming more apparent that to you only one opinion is justified and that is yours. Don't undo all the good you have done by retaining and expressing such pigheadedness. On the plus side Parr ran tirelessly as did the boo boys target Tabb and because many around us continue to drop points we are still in the mix, so despite the " teams performance" dropping by about 40% since we last played Brentford, a Premier League season ticket is still a possibility from next August but should we be excited or terrified at such a prospect!?

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BillBlue added 18:21 - Mar 7 The discussion appears to have moved. It appears to have centred around whether Tabb had a good or a bad game, did he solve his free kick/corner problem or did he run/work hard to no avail whereas, surely, the discussion was on whether there are better players than Tabb being left on the bench or not given an opportunity and, of course, the unbalanced side. Surely if you play people out of position and don't field your best players in what you say is a 'must win' game then you should not expect to win. Will one of you people who appear to know so much please tell me why MM set up so defensively for a must win home game?

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blueboy1981 added 18:21 - Mar 7 blues1 ....... shame on you for telling people to go elsewhere ....... this Club, like all Clubs, need seats that have people on them - NOT empty. People pay their dues, and therefore deserve an opinion - just like YOU. It just doesn't have to be the same as yours - but just as valid.
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Cloddyseedbed added 18:23 - Mar 7 I for one thoroughly enjoyed today's game but not the final result. Brentford did not like being put under pressure at the back and our goal was thoroughly deserved, then we let them back into it with their goal. Players unmarked in the box and for me Chambers not aware that he has a player to mark behind him. All to often he drifts into the middle forsaking his right back defensive role. But all but one person knows that now. I also thought Parr was outstanding today and I have been one of his critics. We still have no deadball specialist in the team, which is worrying. Up until the substitutions we were looking to score and creating many chances, Murphy should have claimed a hat trick and always seemed to think too long. Murphy of old would have just finished clinicly. Replacing Sears with Woods was a strange one and it disrupted the whole team. Sears always looking to play off defenders shoulders and closing them down when they had possession stopped and long balls were the order of the day. Woods for me did nothing and I felt if Sears was left on for the 90 minutes we were more likely to score. After all he was rested last game a bit so he shouldn't have burned out. Draw a disappointing result for me , I thought it should have been 4 -1 to Town. More hunger and desire was evident today but sorry, Parr in and Smith rested for me and the majority of fans I think, would make this team stronger. For all the praise that is due to Bishop he is easily knocked around and I think next year he should be a better, stronger player.

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tractorgrl added 18:27 - Mar 7 It definitely was not Murphy's day although he scored, i would have taken him off not freddie, our subs seemed to make no difference in other words they didn't make an impact/stronger more threatening team which i thought that was the reason for putting them on! That said we didn't lose it just feels like it.
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essexboy added 18:29 - Mar 7 Still the same old moaners on here,get real some of you.We are still in a great position with ten games to go.we still have to play teams above us yet and these are still the big factors.Boro won't look forward to facing us next week.Remember what MM has done at this club WITHOUT ANy SUPPORT from our owner is near on a miracle so don't forget that.We have the smallest squad in this division so its's very hard for MM to make many changes.The one glaring change that Must be made is dropping Smith.He has lost all confidence and is not a left sided player.Roll on next Saturday and stop moaning some of you.COYB

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BlueMachines added 18:30 - Mar 7 Ive moaned about Tabb. A lot. But he has been better of late and doesn't deserve the current criticism. Chaplow looked decent got the ball on the deck more than others have, no complaints. We could've won. Obviously Murphy's missed a sitter, it happens and another chance fell to Berra in the six yard box (great ball from Tabb to find him) and had it been Sears it may have been a different story. I won't complain because, today, for the first time in ages, I was entertained. MM got the deserved reaction when Sears went off. Will it make him think differently next time? Will it f***!

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warwickblue added 18:33 - Mar 7 Tabb? Two free-kicks from identical (and fairly dangerous positions). Both aimlessly floated into the arms of a grateful goalkeeper. You don't win games just by running around.
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blues1 added 18:34 - Mar 7 Blueboy. My point is that people are simply blaming Tabb every time we don't win a game. And sorry. But it don't think this club needs fans like that. Fine, criticise when its due, as I do. But too many times fans of this club just use one player as a scapegoat. At this time its Tabb. Its unfair and unwarranted. He's even being blamed for taking poor corners today even tho he didn't take them. That's how poor these so called fans are. If some1 deserves criticism I'll totally agree with them. Just don't criticise for the sake of it is what I'm saying.

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BlueMachines added 18:35 - Mar 7 @essexboy. Your last point is exactly what most of the 'moaners' are saying. And the reason they are indeed moaning. Hypocrisy at its finest!!!
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head1970 added 18:36 - Mar 7 Listen the idiots on here who what to write about the idiots on here TABB works hard there is no doubt but does he have to take all the set pieces and play the full 90 minutes every game that is why the fans are writing about him that not using him as a scapegoat it is telling the truth . When ANDERSON and SEARS are playing well they are taken off every game anyway CHAMBERS and SMITH is the biggest problem at the moment that needs to be addressed .

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blueboy1981 added 18:40 - Mar 7 'Remember what MM has done at this Club WITHOUT any SUPPORT from our owner' ----------------- what I would like to know is:- How does anyone know that ?? For all we know, he may not have asked for anymore than he has received - if he hasn't then he should have indicated just that, and voiced his displeasure with the situation. In other words - let US know more of the TRUTH, to enable better judgement from all.

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