Notts County had to settle for a point in a disappointing 1-1 draw at mid-table Brentford.
It could have been all three for the relegation-threatened Magpies but Mark Stallard missed a great chance in the closing stages when he failed to turn Danny Allsopp’s cross home.
In a very scrappy game Allsopp had an early chance saved by Paul Smith before Stephen Hunt forced Steve Mildenhall into a fine save at the other end.
Stallard blasted a shot over the bar before the visitors took a shock lead just before the break.
Nicky Fenton headed past Smith in first-half stoppage time to stun the Bees.
However, it took Brentford just six minutes to snatch an equaliser. Mark McCammon combined well with Mark Williams and his cross deceived Mildenhall and Rowan Vine forced the ball home from close range.
The goal should have given Brentford a lift but they failed to put any real pressure on the Magpies defence in the remaining 40 minutes of the match.
Hunt wasted a good chance but it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous and Stallard should really have secured all three points with his last-gasp chance.
“At least it’s a point more than we had a three o’ clock,†said a deflated Bees boss Wally Downes after the game.
“It was a scrappy day. The season’s turned round now. After Christmas, teams know what they’re aiming to do, whether they are up the top of down the bottom, they come and play accordingly.
“That sort of freshness and freedom to play that we had earlier isn’t there now.
“We’ve got to find ways of breaking teams down and contain them.
“We’ve also got to look at other teams now, whereas before, we were cavalier and going out and playing and getting at them. Teams aren’t going to allow us to do that now - they know our style.â€