Thomas Frank was chuffed to see his Brentford side give a comprehensive account of themselves as they drew 1-1 at Millwall – despite having captain Henrik Dalsgaard sent off.

The Bees played 55 minutes with 10 men after Dalsgaard was red-carded for bringing down Ben Thompson as he charged goalwards.

Josh Dasilva curled home his first senior goal to cancel out Lee Gregory's opener, with Neil Harris' hosts remaining in relegation danger as the Bees shackled their opponents at the Den.

“[It was] a proper Championship game, I would say,” said Brentford boss Franks.

“The red card; I think it was a little bit harsh but it is what it is. After that, of course, it's a different game, but the menality and the attitude was brilliant from the players and we did what we wanted to do throughout the game.

“We still had a high line, we still tried to play – of course, we had to work even harder – but I think it was a deserved point and we had chances of opportunities to take the win.

“I would say we know, when we're on top of our game, we can be extremely good going forward. Some of the issues this season is that we haven't been consistent enough consistently, and haven't been strong enough in different spells.

“I'm very pleased proud of the boys for what they did and managed it for 60 minutes under difficult circumstances.

“In that way, I'm pleased. Of course, you always want more.”

With a quarter-of-an-hour gone, Brentford's defence were too timid as Shane Ferguson drilled a corner into the area and Alex Pearce was able to stab the ball towards Gregory, who slammed home past Luke Daniels for his 12th goal of the season.

But the Bees' response was emphatic.

Having as of yet failed to trouble David Martin in the Lions goal, Dasilva received the ball in space 25 yards out and, having been allowed time to size up his angles, curled a spectacular left-footed strike into the top corner.

With the fuse well and truly lit, the pendulum swung firmly in Millwall's direction with just over 10 minutes of the first half to go.

A booted clearance upfield set up a footrace between Thompson and Dalsgaard.

The Lions' Thompson nosed ahead in the sprint before he was brought down by the Brentford skipper on the edge of the area, referee Jeremy Simpson immediately charging to the scene to show the Danish international a straight red card.

Once Dalsgaard had departed, Wallace very nearly fired Millwall back ahead, his devilish curling free-kick palmed away low by Daniels.

But on the stroke of half-time, the Bees also came within a whisker of making it 2-1, with wing-back Sergi Canos very nearly recreating Dasilva's earlier firecracker, the Spaniard striking the crossbar with his left boot from an almost identical position.

It was Brentford who looked the more assured outfit in the second half, Dasilva's teasing low ball into the area putting the Lions defence through the wringer.

At the other end, Ferguson saw his chipped cross from the left brush against the woodwork before Brentford substitute Chiedozie Ogbene fluffed the chance to nick it for the visitors, blazing high into the stand after he was picked out by Dasilva, while Bees talisman Neal Maupay rifled an effort narrowly over the Millwall crossbar.