Jordan Henderson was involved in a furious bust-up with members of Bournemouth’s coaching staff after his Brentford side drew 0-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
England international Henderson had been substituted after 62 minutes of a game in which Brentford were lucky to emerge with a point after Marcus Tavernier twice hit the post for the hosts.
But at the full-time whistle tempers boiled over with Henderson angrily clashing with the Bournemouth bench, with players and staff members from both clubs having to be held back. Managers Andoni Iraola and Keith Andrews became involved as they tried to act as peacemakers in ugly scenes before the sides headed down the tunnel.
It appeared Henderson’s issue was with Bournemouth assistant managers Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick, although that was not confirmed.
The tussle came after Bournemouth dominated the game but were held to their fourth stalemate in five matches.
Chances were in short supply in the early exchanges, although Evanilson gave the Brentford defence a scare in the 22nd minute when he raced in behind only to be forced wide by Brentford captain Nathan Collins and failing to get a shot away.
Moments later, Tavernier unleashed a curling effort from the left corner of the penalty area which flashed past Caoimhin Kelleher’s far post.
Alex Scott put a 20-yard effort over Kelleher’s crossbar 13 minutes before half-time as Bournemouth looked more likely to break the deadlock.
Bournemouth defender James Hill should have done better with a 34th-minute header over the crossbar from Rayan’s pinpoint cross.
Ryan Christie also let Brentford off the hook after being played in on goal by Evanilson’s clever pass, but he dragged the ball wide in trying to round the onrushing Kelleher.
Kelleher was called into action for the first time in first-half stoppage time, keeping our Tavernier’s shot from a tight angle with his legs after a defence-splitting pass from Scott.
Tavernier should have put Bournemouth in front early in the second half after a superb through ball by Álex Jiménez but he stumbled as he took the shot, which clipped the base of a post.
Jiménez then blasted an effort over the crossbar as Bournemouth continued to pressure the Brentford back line.
Brentford had another narrow escape in the 59th minute when Christie’s miscued shot hit Tavernier and bounced harmlessly wide.
Brentford finally had their first shot on target 18 minutes from time as Dango Outtara put a half-volley straight into the arms of Dorde Petrovic.
Sepp van den Berg then saw his header from close range from Mathias Jensen’s free-kick pushed away by Petrovic as the visitors suddenly sparked into life after a lacklustre opening 70 minutes.
Tavernier was denied by the frame of the goal again in the 77th minute when he crashed a shot against the outside of Kelleher’s post from the corner of the six-yard box.
Evanilson had a goal correctly ruled out for offside after some brilliant footwork and substitute Junior Kroupi dragged a late shot wide on a night of frustration for the south-coast outfit.
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