Tommy Smith bagged an 86th-minute equaliser as Brentford held Charlton Athletic to a 1-1 draw in their first Championship clash of the new season.
© Getty Images
Igor Vetokele's 64th-minute strike looked enough to give the Addicks an opening-day victory at Griffin Park.
However, the hosts, playing their first game in the second tier following a 21-year exile, hit back in timely fashion as Smith bagged a debut goal to rescue a point for the Bees.
It was Brentford who looked the better of both sides early on and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Alex Pritchard nearly made that dominance count by curling wide of the post on 10 minutes.
Charlton soon grew into the contest and perhaps should have gone ahead on 22 minutes, as George Tucudean spurned a one-on-one opportunity with David Button.
Goalkeeper Stephen Henderson had to be alert to preserve parity at the break, tipping Alan Judge's deflected effort wide as Brentford finished the half on a high.
Mark Warburton's side failed to build on that advantage after the interval, however, and Charlton took the lead just after the hour mark.
The hosts failed to deal with Johnnie Jackson's in-swinging cross, and Vetokele was on hand to poke home the opener for what looked like the winner.
Nevertheless, Smith, who replaced Pritchard on 80 minutes, had a significant impact as his deflected effort in the closing minutes of normal time deceived Henderson to level matters.
There was yet more drama as Judge came within the width of the woodwork from snatching all three points, with the Irishman's 25-yard free kick cannoning off the crossbar in the closing stages.
Shane Callaghan
