Blackburn 1-1 Brentford: Honours even at Ewood Park

Tom Lawrence scored a first-half equaliser as Blackburn drew 1-1 with Brentford in an entertaining game at Ewood Park in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead in the 24th minute through Lasse Vibe, who was a thorn in Blackburn's side all afternoon, but Lawrence levelled the score 13 minutes later with a freakish shot that somehow found the bottom corner.

A frenetic end to the half followed that saw David Button brilliantly tip Lawrence's drive on to a post, while Vibe and Ben Marshall both had chances to snatch the points late on.

Both sides had to settle for a point though, with Rovers only tasting defeat once at home since August and Brentford's fine recent run stretching to just one defeat in six.

Gary Bowyer recalled Corry Evans after suspension in the only change from the draw at Birmingham, while Brentford head coach Lee Carsley named an unchanged side after defeat by Hull.

After a dull opening, the visitors made the most of the first meaningful chance in the 24th minute when John Swift's pass dissected the Blackburn defence and Vibe shrugged off Shane Duffy before firing Brentford ahead with a shot that looped in off Jason Steele.

Marshall saw a shot deflected wide in a lethargic opening for Rovers who could have gone further behind after 36 minutes when Ryan Woods fed Vibe in the area but he swept his shot wide.

They were made to pay in the 37th minute as Lawrence's cross from the left touchline looked harmless enough but it evaded everybody and nestled into Button's left corner for his second of the season.

Lawrence was agonisingly close to doubling his tally for the afternoon when he found space 20 yards out and raced into the area but his fierce shot was tipped onto the post by Button.

Brentford reminded Rovers of their potency before the half ended when Alan McCormack forced a fine full-stretch save from Steele with a powerful effort 12 yards out that was heading for the right corner.

Duffy should have given Rovers the lead in the 53rd minute but headed wide with the goal at his mercy, and he continued to be in the thick of the action moments later as his superb goal-saving block denied the impressive Vibe who had sauntered wonderfully into the area.

Vibe was denied again when he received the ball in the area after a typically flowing passing move from Brentford. Nico Yennaris played a superb ball to the attacker but the legs of Steele denied him a second.

As the game entered its final stages, Marshall let fly with a thunderous 25-yard shot that Button somehow tipped away from the top corner as the scores remained level.