Brentford held off a second-half onslaught from Bristol City to take an unlikely share of the points.

The result meant that neither side has recorded a league win in 2003 but kept fifth-placed City in contention for a play-off place.

Scott Murray's spectacular 47th-minute overhead kick for Bristol, which came back off the crossbar, was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock.

Bees goalkeeper Paul Smith was called into action early on, to pull off fine saves from Craig Fagan and Christian Roberts to keep his side in the game.

Fagan had the best two opportunities in a scrappy first half, shooting wide early on and being denied by a good Smith save on 42 minutes.

After the interval Danny Wilson's team stepped up the tempo and should have won comfortably but they lacked composure in front of goal.

Brentford rarely threatened, but City custodian Steve Phillips did well to smother Stephen Hunt's low shot at his near post on 48 minutes.

However, Roberts did have the ball in the net on 85 minutes but fellow substitute Lee Peacock had strayed offside.

It was backs to the wall for Brentford, but they battled hard and Smith's brilliance ensured a valuable point.

Bristol City: Phillips, Carey, Coles, Hill, Bell, Murray, Burnell, Doherty, Tinnion, Beadle, Fagan.
Subs: Peacock, Brown, Stowell, Roberts, Fortune.

Brentford: Paul Smith, Dobson, Marshall, Somner, Sonko, Evans, Fullarton, Hunt, Jay Smith, Vine, O'Connor.
Subs: Constantine, Julian, McCammon, Hutchinson, Williams.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).