By Tim Dudding, at Griffin Park

Albion notched their first point of the 2009/10 season thanks to a battling goalless draw at Griffin Park.

A fiercely contested afternoon in west London saw both sides come away with a deserved share of the spoils, and for Albion, this represented their most complete display yet.

As is often the case in this compact ground, the game got off to a frenetic start, and the home side had an early sight of goal when Sam Wood escaped down the left, but Michel Kuipers got down well to save.

With Kevin McLeod and Mark Wright recalled on the flanks and Liam Dickinson up top supported by Dean Cox, Albion looked robust, and matched Brentford's physical presence in a competitive first period.

Alan Navarro forced an early save from Bees keeper Nikki Bull with a long-range effort, and at the other end, Alan Bennett volleyed straight at Kuipers.

And shortly before the break Albion had their best moment so far. McLeod sprayed a ball out wide to Mark Wright on the left, who cut back on his right foot and unleashed a powerful curling shot that Bull athletically turned over the bar.

McLeod, now on the right flank, then came close with a left-foot volley from 20 yards that only just skidded past Bull's left upright.

Albion continued to grow in stature after the break, and when Tommy Elphick was manhandled on the edge of the box McLeod had the chance to curl a free-kick from 20 yards, which came agonisingly close to creeping in the top corner.

The tigerish Andrew Crofts also got the ball in the net following a corner, but referee Trevor Kettle judged he had been too vigorous in his challenge with Bull.

Andy Scott introduced new signing Cleveland Taylor on the right, and the winger's first contribution was to whip in a low cross which Adam Virgo sliced horribly, but Kuipers saved his skipper's blushes diving low to his left.

Almost immediately Cox had a chance at the other end when a loose header fell straight to him in the area, but he dragged his volley past the post.

But as the second half wore on the chances dried up, and instead Albion fought out the remaining minutes to earn a deserved point.

It might have been a different story had Marcus Bean got anything on Taylor's injury-time cross, but as it is, Albion's campaign is up and running.

Albion: (4-4-1-1) Kuipers, Whing, Virgo, Elphick, J Wright (El-Abd 55); M Wright (Murray 64), Navarro, Crofts, McLeod (Thornhill 77); Cox; Dickinson. Subs not used: Forster, Tunnicliffe, Dicker, G Smith (GK).

Brentford: (4-4-2) Price, Foster, Bennett, Phillips, Dickson; Saunders (Taylor 64), Hunt (Bean 77), O'Connor, Wood (Kabba 80); Cort, Weston. Subs not used: Bull (GK), Osborne, Franks, Williams.

Attendance: 6950 (1650 Albion).

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Yellow cards: Murray (Albion).