Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale produced a string of impressive saves to hold Brentford to their first goalless draw for 60 games.

Brighton were second best for much of the game and needed Stockdale to be at his best late on to deny Alan Judge twice and James Tarkowski to make sure they left Griffin Park with anything at all.

And the point was not enough to take Brighton back to the top of the Championship having lost just once this season. 

Brentford winger Alan Judge (left) was impressive for the hosts in their Boxing Day clash against Brighton

Brighton’s Rajiv van La Parra (right), on loan from Wolves, holds on to possession ahead of Judge

Brentford manager Dean Smith was pleased with his sides performance but frustrated they were unable to take all three points.

He said: ‘I thought we were the better, I have seen a lot of Brighton this season and they are a very good team but we made them look average. We were excellent.

‘Out attitude, application, intensity and how we played was excellent and the only thing missing was the ball going in the back of the net.

‘Their goalkeeper was excellent and made some really good saves. He certainly kept them in the game, the save from Tarkowski was excellent.’

Having lost for the first time in the league this season to Middlesbrough last week, Brighton must have been dreading this trip to Brentford having failed to win on Boxing Day at the previous seven attempts.

And it was Brentford who started the brighter when John Swift saw his early attempt blocked from the edge of the area.

With League leaders Middlesbrough not playing after their game at Blackburn was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, Brighton had the chance to return to the top of the table.

But they did not have their first real chance of the game until the second half when Jamie Murphy was found unmarked in the box but he curled his shot just wide of the top corner after good work from Beram Kayal.

But then came the Stockdale show as he first denied Judge as he cut inside from the right and fired a powerful shot that the Brighton keeper had to be alert to tip over.

Minutes later Stockdale pulled off an even better save to deny Tarkowski. The one-time England keeper was at full stretch to tip the ball round the post when a goal looked on the cards.

Brighton centre back Lewis Dunk chases down Brentford winger Sergi Canos (right) at Griffin Park

Brentford defender James Tarkowski prepares to pass the ball as Dale Stephens hunts his opponent down

Dean Smith (centre) watches the game from the touchline as Brighton manager Chris Hughton also looks on

Having had a quiet match, Stockdale pulled off a third excellent save in the last quarter of the game, this time he dived to his left to deny Judge again, this time from the left of the area.

And at the death German substitute Philipp Hofmann’s header was comfortably saved by Stockdale.

It is the first time that Brentford have been involved in a goalless draw side drawing 0-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in October last year.

Bruno applauds the travelling fans (left) at Griffin Park as Inigo Calderon (right) holds on to possession 

And Brighton boss Chris Hughton was relieved not to suffer back to back defeats, he said: ‘I think we owe the point more to the team, they had two good chances and we had one, but when you need the keeper to pull out a save for you, then he certainly did. I thought one of them was a particularly good save down to his right.

‘The team had to dig deep to get a point today. We have conceded a lot of goals by our standards in the last few games, but when we have needed our goalkeeper to stand up he has done that.’