Cardiff striker Adam Le Fondre is dragged down by Alex Pearce as he looks set to shoot and the referee points to the spot.

There is the half-time whistle. Fulham will probably be relieved to get in at the break level, but, had Hugo Rodallega been on radar, it could have been even better.

A good half and you get the feeling the best is yet to come.

And that is what happens when you don't take your chances. Fulham break down the left and look certain to break the scoring as Ross McCormack's cross from the left finds Hugo Rodallega unmarked just eight yards from goal. The striker has to score but his header is too close to goalkeeper David Button and turned away. What. A. Chance.

This is fast turning into the Marcus Bettinelli show. The Fulham stopper does well to dive to his right and turn Alan Judge's free-kick wide.

Chance for Brentford as they are awarded a free-kick 20 yards out from goal...

Craig Noone almost doubles Cardiff's lead but his strike is kept out by Adam Federici. Reading growing frustrated by their Welsh hosts.

Huge shouts by the home fans as Brentford's rangy midfielder Toumani Diagouraga goes down under the challenge of Kostas Stafylidis as he looks to break into the penalty box. The challenge was made outside the penalty area but, looking at the replay, Diagouraga has made an awful lot of that. Good decision by the officials.

Ten minutes left of the first half at Griffin Park as Fulham start to enjoy more of the possession. Brentford could regret their early missed chances.

Reading almost hit back through midfielder Jordan Obita. His low strike is palmed away by Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall. Hal Robson-Kanu also goes close as the Royals react well to going behind.

Fulham defender Dan Burn is cautioned for getting involved in a bit of a melee in the Brentford box as they wait for the visitors to swing a corner in from the right. The pushing and shoving continues with Burn as the cross comes in but is cleared.

Brentford break quickly but Toumani Diagouraga's goal-bound shot from 20 yards is brilliantly turned wide by goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The Fulham stopper has been a busy man.

A prime example of Fulham's pace on the break as Harley Dean is booked for hacking down Hugo Rodallega. The defender was never going to win that race fairly...

Another good opportunity wasted by the hosts. Andre Gray latches on to Nikolay Bodurov's error but, with Alan Judge racing clear, his pass is poor and cut out for Fulham's defence. A sloppy final ball is proving Brentford's problem so far.

A real barn-storming opening 25 minutes from Brentford but so far to no avail. Fulham are being out battled but, as has been shown one or twice, the visitors will always have a threat offensively.

Cardiff's good start is rewarded as Peter Whittingham's corner is diverted into his own net by Reading defender Alex Pearce. Fortuitous but the hosts will take it.

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Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli gets down low to parry Jon Toral's header wide.

From the resulting corner a loose ball finds itself at Jonathan Douglas's feet just yards from goal but, at an angle, he drills the ball wide. Should do better.

Adam Le Fondre and Anthony Pilkington have gone close for Cardiff in the opening 20 minutes as manager Russell Slade looks for a fifth home win on the trot.

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Against the run of play, Fulham almost take the lead. Hugo Rodallega chases down a hopeful punt to pressure Brentford's defence and Ross McCormack picks up the loose ball 20 yards out. His shot is heading goal wards but defender Harlee Dean does well to throw his body in the way to block. A warning to the hosts - if they needed one - of Fulham's explosive attacking threat.

Fulham are yet to get into this match yet. This time, Moses Odubajo's deep cross from the right is gratefully collected by goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The Cottagers need to get their foot on the ball.

Even closer for the hosts as Andre Gray does well to win the ball down the right. His deep cross finds Alex Pritchard at the far post but his shot is deflected over. Pressure from the Bees.

Fulham fans are doing their bit to make this a real West London derby atmosphere.

They are almost silenced though as Alan Judge races clear of the visitors's defence with the ball. The linesman's flag is raised for offisde but that is close.