Substitute Raul Jimenez missed an open goal as Fulham were forced to settle for a share of the spoils despite creating the clearer of the chances in a derby draw at Brentford this afternoon.

The Mexican international blazed wildly over the bar from thirteen yards out having been perfectly picked out by Adama Traore at the back post. The former Wolves winger made a real impact after being introduced midway through the second half for the off-colour Willian and forced Mark Flekken into a sharp save at his near post after being played in by Tom Cairney, but the visitors’ stirring finish failed to produce a late winner with Antonee Robinson seeing his stoppage-time shot blocked by Nathan Collins.

Fulham saw more of the ball in what were cagey early exchanges on an overcast afternoon in Hounslow and earned a couple of corners in the first few minutes as the travelling fans sung the praises of Wembley hero Joe Bryan. Alex Iwobi drove an effort over the bar after a half-cleared cross fell kindly for the Nigerian international, but Marco Silva’s side often failed to make the right decision in the final third. Willian mystifying took all the urgency out of one attack midway through the first half by turning away from goal and playing a pass to Ivan Toney. The England international played in Bryan Mbuemo, with Calvin Bassey deflecting his shot onto the crossbar before Kean Lewis-Potter’s tame follow-up was gratefully gathered by Bernd Leno.

Joao Palhinha and Andreas Pereira both cleared the crossbar with ambitious efforts from distance before Iwobi forced a routine save from Flekken. The home side’s most potent attack saw Ethan Pinnock moonlighting as a centre forward and the defender’s deft header fashioned an opening for Christian Norgaard, whose shot flew wide of the far post despite Toney flinging himself towards the ball in a gallant attempt to turn it into the net.

Brentford came even closer from the next attack after an excellent diagonal ball from Kristoffer Ajer allowed Lewis-Potter to drift into space behind Timothy Castagne. The former Hull winger lobbed the advancing Leno but Issa Diop read the danger and got back behind his goalkeeper to head over his own crossbar. Fulham managed one final flurry before half-time only for Palhinha to nod Castagne’s cross wide and their most ferocious moment of the half saw Iwobi shatter Ajer’s nose as he tried to acrobatically clear the ball on the stroke of half time.

The Cottagers carried the greater threat after the interval, but a subdued Rodrigo Muniz could only head an inviting cross from Iwobi into the arms of Flekken. Castagne then sent a glancing header over from a corner but you got the feeling it wasn’t going to be their day when Jimenez – shortly after replacing Muniz from the bench – contrived to miss the target all together when it looked simpler to score after Traore had bundled past Brentford susbtitute Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Brentford’s brightest moment in the second half resulted in loud penalty appeals when Jimenez tangled with Toney at a corner. Those shouts were swiftly dismissed by a VAR review before Traore’s pace proved an asset when he prevented Mikkel Damsgaard from leading a dangerous home break, but a largely forgettable derby ended in the first goalless draw between these two local rivals in twenty years.

BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Flekken; Ajer (Roerslev 45+3), Regulion, Collins, Pinnock; Nørgaard (Onyeka 82), Damsgaard (Schade 82), Janelt (Yarmoliuk 66); Mbuemo, Lewis-Potter (Wissa 66), Toney. Subs (not used): Valdimarsson, Jorgensen, Ghoddas, Maupay.

BOOKED: Regulion.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Palhinha, Lukic (Cairney 75); Iwobi (Wilson 90+3), Willian (Traore 64), Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 75); Muniz (Jimenez 64). Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Ream, Broja.

BOOKED: Bassey.

REFEREE: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)

ATTENDANCE: 17,090.