The corner goes all the way to the back post and Ethan Pinnock gets a touch on it.

The ball drops to Tariqe Fosu on the right flank and the Bees forward eventually gets a cross in after a good deal of persistence.

Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic eventually claims.

Sergi Canos strikes at the Bournemouth goal from 25 yards out.

It's heading well wide, but it gets a nick off Steve Cook.

The Bees get their first corner of the game, and the visitors are dangerous from set pieces.

Perfectly-timed challenge from Cherries skipper Steve Cook, who slides in to cut out a through ball intended for Marcus Forss.

Ivan Toney had looked to set his strike partner free through the middle on the counter-attack.

Another Bournemouth cross, this time from Arnaut Danjuma, who's had some good touches on the left so far.

The Bees clear, at the expense of a throw-in on the left.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at the Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth have certainly enjoying the chances to exploit space down the two wings so far.

Brentford wing-backs Mads Roerslev and Sergi Canos have invited both Adam Smith and Lloyd Kelly to have some room to put in crosses, which have produced two of the best chances so far.

It'll be interesting to see if that becomes an area Thomas Frank feels needs tightening up as this first leg progresses.

The hosts continue to threaten

Mads Roerslev heads away another cross, and then Tariqe Fosu wins a free-kick to give the Bees a bit of a breather.

Cherries captain Steve Cook goes down briefly clutching his right leg, but seems ok to continue.

LavigneFFXIV: "A whole season’s good work can be lost with a couple of poor performances, or even dumb luck."

Well that lack of consistency would have you relegated in the Premier League anyway. The play-offs give more teams a chance to go up and make for a more interesting season.

Almost the opener for Bournemouth!

Dominic Solanke gets his head on Lloyd Kelly's cross from the left at the near post.

But the Cherries striker sees his powerful effort hit the upright, with Bees keeper David Raya seemingly beaten.

Image source, Rex Features

It's been tense and somewhat cagey so far.

Both sides have been probing for openings, but the respective keepers are yet to be worked.

There's a nervous moment for the Cherries, as Ben Pearson clatters a clearance into Jefferson Lerma, but Ivan Toney commits a foul while challenging for the loose ball.

David: I don’t really agree with the play-offs. A whole season’s good work can be lost with a couple of poor performances, or even dumb luck.

Another big chance for the hosts.

Adam Smith gets behind the Bees defence on the right and pulls the ball across the box.

Philip Billing is there some 15 yards out and opens up his left foot to side-foot at goal.

But the Dane miscues and skews wide.

A Brentford man was sliding in to put him off, but you'd expect Billing to hit the target given his recent form in front of goal.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at the Vitality Stadium

Full-bloodied and energetic, if not necessarily a wide open start to this one.

Bournemouth fans "kicking every ball" as they say when their side find themselves in a 50/50 situation.

They're very much enjoying every time a refereeing decision goes their way too and almost raised the roof off the place as Jefferson Lerma launched that volley just over the crossbar!

First shot in anger from Bournemouth, as Jefferson Lerma flashes a volley just over the bar from outside the box.

There was a good defensive header just before from Sergi Canos, as the Bees wing-back beat David Brooks to a cross.

Brentford turn up the pressure in attack.

First Cameron Carter-Vickers is forced into an athletic clearance, and then Steve Cook heads away another cross.

Both sides know what is at stake, and that any error in defence could be punished.

There's little margin for error in the play-offs.

Almost an opening for the Bees, as Ivan Toney chests down a ball forward from Sergi Canos.

The control was just a touch too heavy, and Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic gathers.

Image source, Rex Features

Bournemouth start with a spell of possession, and win a free-kick on halfway as Ethan Pinnock clatters into Ben Pearson.

The home fans begin with a chant of 'We love you Bournemouth..."

Finally, no need for fake crowd noise for those watching at home.

The 2021 English Football League play-offs are under way.

Bournemouth are in their traditional black and red stripes, while Brentford are in their all-white change kit.

Can either side gain the upper hand in the first leg?

Tim Robinson is the referee on the south coast, and the sun is out after the rain earlier.

Image source, .

You can send us your thoughts on tonight's game by including #bbcefl in your tweets.

We'll include the best ones in our coverage.

It could be a tense evening for fans, but the play-offs offer brilliant entertainment for the neutral.

The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off is moments away.

Image source, Getty Images

In terms of goal threats, both Dominic Solanke and Arnaut Danjuma have netted 15 league goals for Bournemouth this season.

Wales international David Brooks offers creativity, while midfielder Philip Billing scored five times in nine outings at the end of the campaign.

After the departure of Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma at the end of last season, Ivan Toney was the man entrusted with leading the line for Brentford in 2020-21.

The former Peterborough striker has not disappointed, scoring 31 times to set a new record since the second tier was rebranded as the Championship.

After that, Sergi Canos and Bryan Mbeumo have chipped in with nine and eight league goals respectively.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth are relatively inexperienced in the play-offs compared to their opponents.

The Cherries prefer to deal in automatic promotions, and have only taken part in two play-off campaigns.

They were successful in their maiden appearance in 2003, beating Lincoln in the fourth tier final.

The Dorset club were beaten on penalties by Huddersfield in their second, and most recent, play-off campaign in the third tier in 2011.