Gary O’Neil stakes claim for Bournemouth job as unbeaten run continues

While uncertainty surrounds the future ownership of Bournemouth, Gary O’Neil continues to bring stability on the pitch. A hard-fought draw extended the club’s unbeaten run to four games although on this occasion, the interim head coach admitted to feelings of frustration at his side’s failure to get more from the game.

Neither side possessed the cutting edge to settle the outcome, O’Neil and his players were convinced they were on the wrong end of two penalty decisions, despite the intervention of VAR.

The most contentious came in the first half when referee Thomas Bramall stood by his original decision that there had been no infringement when Jordan Zemura went down under a 20th-minute challenge from Kristoffer Ajer after reviewing the incident on the pitch side monitor.

“That’s four Var [Video Assistant Referee] decisions in my four games and all have gone against us,” said O’Neil. “Once they are sent to the screen they generally stick with the Var decision, so I was hopeful at that moment that he would give the penalty. I would have liked it but I think it's a tough call.”

Bramall also rejected Bournemouth’s appeals when the ball struck Mathias Jensen’s arm in the final minute of the match.

“That would have been a penalty two years ago,” admitted Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

There was a sense of disappointment on the part of both managers as neither side created the kind of opportunities that would have allowed them to secure victory.

As much as Bournemouth displayed the qualities of determination and resolve that have been a feature of their performances under O’Neil, they rarely threatened David Raya’s goal.

Brentford were similarly limited up front with Ivan Toney failing to make more of a number of half-chances that would have allowed him to draw a line under his disappointment at not featuring for England this week.

“For the first time in my four games there's a tinge of frustration,” admitted O’Neil, whose future is unlikely to be resolved until there is clarity about the proposed take over of the club by US businessman Bill Foley. “I felt the structure was there and we didn't quite manage to show our level with the ball.”

Frank was similarly frustrated. “If there should have been a narrow winner I think it should have been us,” he said. “Ivan had three or four half-chances. But we just didn't have the quality, we lacked the quality more or less from all my offensive players. But we lost too many games that should have been a draw. Today to get a draw and a clean sheet was important.”

Brentford started positively with Mikkel Damsgaard forcing home keeper Neto into two early saves. They were unable to build on that start, however, and Bournemouth grew into the game as the first half progressed.

The home side might have taken a 50th-minute lead had Toney not reacted well to make a goal-line clearance from Dominic Solanke’s looping header. And Bournemouth continued to trouble the visitors even after Frank made a triple substitution in a bid to spark fresh life into his side.

Ultimately, though, neither team was able to deliver the decisive blow.