Controversy in goalless draw

Brentford earned a vital point in a 0-0 draw at Sheffield United where referee Eddie Ilderton controversially took centre stage.

Ilderton inexplicably awarded the Bees a penalty and showed Kieron Freeman a red card in the first half, despite the Blades defender clearly winning the ball. But the referee then overturned both decisions after a discussion with his linesman. It meant Brentford were rightly denied the opportunity to take the lead from the spot, and despite both teams having numerous chances, neither could break the deadlock in an entertaining clash. Most of the Bees' opportunities game in the first 20 minutes where they could have had a three-goal lead but Marcello Trotta had a shot blocked, Clayton Donaldson planted a header from the resulting corner wide and Toumani Diagouraga fired just off target. The Blades were only denied the lead by a superb last-ditch tackle from James Tarkowski which stopped Billy Paynter tapping into an empty net after Conor Coady broke clear. Then came the game's controversial incident 15 minutes before the break as Freeman superbly tackled Trotta, but Ilderton sent Bramall Lane into uproar by pointing to the spot and sending the on-loan defender off. However, after consulting his linesman Mark Dwyer, the Tyne and Wear official overturned his decision, gave a drop-ball and rescinded Freeman's red. The second half offered both sides decent chances as Trotta tested Blades keeper Mark Howard's handling from the edge of the area while Ryan Flynn curled just wide for the hosts. But the match ended in stalemate meaning the Bees move five points clear of third-placed Leyton Orient, while the Blades' optimistic play-off hopes are dented.