‘Middlesbrough aren’t boring, this is the most attractive team I’ve ever had’ says Neil Warnock

Both sides had their chances but wayward finishing and two resolute defences meant a stalemate was the fairest outcome.

Boro have shipped five goals all season and scored just nine, but Warnock is unrepentant.

He said: “We’re not in the slightest bit negative. I think we play quite attractive football that people like to watch.

“This is the best team I’ve had football-wise and I don’t think we’re boring, but we are frustrated that we don’t have someone knocking 20 goals in.

“I couldn’t ask any more of them today. They gave me absolutely everything, we finished strongly and there was only one team going to win it at the end.”

Warnock was delighted that his tactics forced Brentford to abandon their usual slick passing game for a more direct approach as the game wore on.

“You come to places like this and you have to be happy to have restricted them to very few chances. It was nice to see Brentford go long ball in the end,” he said.

Warnock also paid tribute to his defensive lynchpins of Dael Fry and Paddy McNair.

He said: “Dael was like a Rolls Royce today and Paddy, well Paddy is Paddy.

“But it’s a group thing and I’m proud of our defensive record because the boys have worked really hard at it.

“They looked good in pre-season and they have just blossomed from there.”

Middlesbrough grew in belief in the dying stages,forcing Mads Bech Sorensen into a series of crucial blocks. Lewis Wing thought he had won it for the visitors in added time, but his quick turn and snapshot from the tightest of angles was palmed over by David Raya.

Brentford: Raya, Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Sorensen, Henry, Jensen, Janelt (Fosu 79), Da Silva, Mbeumo (Forss 67), Toney, Canos (Ghoddos 74). Unused subtitutes: Thompson, Marcondes, Daniels, Stevens.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Bola, Howson, Tavernier, Spence, Wing, Coulson (Johnson 79), Akpom (Assombalonga 79). Unused substitutes: Browne, Wood-Gordon, Roberts, Stojanovic.

Referee: J Linnington (Isle of Wight).

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