FULL-TIME REPORT: Blackburn Rovers 1 Brentford 1

Brentford took a deserved lead in the 24th minute through Lasse Vibe.

But they were pegged back 13 minutes later through Lawrence who then hit the post before the opening period was out.

Vibe twice went close to winning it for the Bees before Ben Marshall, Rovers’ outstanding player, forced the under-worked David Button into the save of the match late on.

The draw means Gary Bowyer’s 16th-placed side will go into the international break unbeaten in three games.

But they are now just four points above the relegation places and 11 points from the play-off positions.

Before kick-off Rovers remembered those who lost their lives in armed conflict with a minute’s silence.

The solemn atmosphere continued once the action got under way.

It was not helped, however, by a lengthy delay following an injury to Brentford striker Marco Djuricin – or by Rovers’ distinctly lacklustre performance for the first 35 minutes.

By that stage they were a goal down, John Swift threading a pass through to Vibe, who held off Shane Duffy before slotting the ball into the back of the net, despite the best efforts of Jason Steele.

While Marshall saw a shot deflect past the post, Rovers needed a spark.

And it was their on-loan Leicester City forward who provided them with one in the 37th minute.

Craig Conway took a quick throw-in to Lawrence, who shifted the ball on to his right foot and fired over a cross-shot that evaded everyone in the box and arrowed its way into the bottom corner.

Rovers, suddenly, were transformed, and Lawrence went close to scoring again when his drilled effort from just inside the area was turned on to the post by David Button.

The Bees had their chances, too, with Ryan Woods dragging the ball wide after Chris Taylor had given it away and, in the six minutes of added time, Alan McCormack forcing Steele into a fine flying save.

As the rain lashed down the opportunities dried up at the start of the second half bar from a Duffy header that flashed past the post from a Conway corner.

Not for the first time this season, the Rovers centre-back should have done better.

But Duffy made amends moments later with a brilliant block to deny Vibe.

The Denmark international was a constant threat and he would have put Brentford back in front in the 75th minute had it not been for another good stop from Steele. 

The Bees were the more composed of the two teams and Markus Olsson took a booking after substitute Sam Saunders threatened to run right through Rovers who, by that time, had brought on Nathan Delfouneso and Adam Henley.

Henley’s introduction led right-back Marshall to moving to his natural position on the left-wing.

And the man of the match so nearly put ahead Rovers in the 87th minute when he cut inside on to his right foot and let fly with a superbly struck shot that was heading for the top corner until Button spectacularly pushed it past the post.

Then, with virtually the last kick of the contest, Marshall crossed for Grant Hanley, whose header went well wide of the target.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Taylor (Delfouneso 66), Evans (Williamson 90), Akpan, Conway (Henley 72), Lawrence, Rhodes. Subs not used: Eastwood, Spurr, Kilgallon, Koita.

Booked: Olsson.

Goal: Lawrence 37.

Brentford: Button, Yennaris, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell, Woods (Canos 89), McCormack, Diagouraga, Vibe, Djuricin (Kerschbaumer 23), Swift (Saunders 72). Subs not used: Bonham, Hoffman, O’Connell, Gogia.

Booked: Yennaris, Kerschbaumer, Bidwell.

Goal: Vibe 24.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.

Attendance: 12,328 (592 away).