It looked like an unlikely point for the Londoners after winger Said Benrahma was sent off with four minutes remaining for a second bookable offence.

Reading started brightly and could have taken the lead, but Bodvarsson’s glancing near-post header was cleared off the line by Bees defender Henrik Dalsgaard.

Seconds later they were a goal down, Brentford top scorer Maupay coolly slotting home his ninth of the campaign from close range after Benrahma’s drilled low cross.

Ollie Watkins came close to making it two midway through the half when he brought down Denmark international Dalsgaard’s cross at the far post with his first touch, but guided the ball just wide with his second.

Reading rallied and levelled on 26 minutes when Bentley could only parry former Brentford loanee Swift’s dipping drive into the path of Bodvarsson, who tapped home from almost on the line.

Lewis Macleod went close for Brentford just after the half-hour but his first-time snapshot from a fierce low Benrahma cross was deflected well over.

Barbet stung Royals keeper Sam Walker’s fingertips with a rare effort from outside the box to bring a half of few clear-cut chances to an end.

Brentford, for all their slick approach work and midfield domination, lacked a final killer ball to breach a resolute visiting defence that sat deep and waited for their chance to break.

And the visitors took the lead just after the hour mark when Swift’s dipping free-kick was fluffed by Bentley under his bar and crept over the line with Bodvarsson again closing in.

After seizing the advantage Reading dropped even deeper and broke the game up with a series of time-wasting tactics that incensed the Griffin Park crowd and saw referee Geoff Eltringham add on 10 minutes.

He also booked six Brentford players to Reading’s one in a game that was never dirty, but became increasingly niggly as the hosts grew frustrated by the Royals tactics.

Maupay flashed a header against the post and saw a snapshot from the edge of the box whistle just past the upright as Brentford battled to get a foothold in the game.

They lost Benrahma in the closing stages but dramatically snatched a point when Dalsgaard flicked on a near-post corner and Barbet rose to head home from almost on the line.

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