Numbers show how Leeds United kept Brentford's shot-shy BMW line in neutral at Griffin Park

Benrahma did get on the scoresheet, thanks to a slip by Whites keeper Kiko Casilla who failed to control a routine back-pass and let the ball roll to the Brentford winger for a tap-in finish.

Leeds hit back through captain Liam Cooper before the break and the visitors to Griffin Park showed more attacking intent than their hosts in the second half, without further reward.

The game ended 1-1 and both managers categorised it as a tight game with few clear cut chances for either side.

But given the threat posed by the 'BMW' line up front for the Bees, Leeds will be delighted with how they were dealt with.

Kalvin Phillips returned to his defensive midfield role after suspension, allowing Stuart Dallas to go to left-back, replacing Gjanni Alioski.

And the defensive unit were solid, for the main part, which the numbers show.

Benrahma has created 64 chances this season, 2.2 per game, but failed to create a single one against United, Mbuemo suffering the same fate. Watkins did make a chance, but he did not manage to get any shots off during the contest, having averaged 2.6 per game over the season. Mbuemo, likewise, had no efforts on goal.

Although the pace and trickery of Benrahma was on display, it culminated in only two successful dribbles past Leeds players. Ordinarily, he manages at least three per game. Both of his attacking team-mates were slightly above their average when it came to successfully taking visitors on with the ball, but it didn't lead to anything for Brentford.

Leeds dominated possession, with 67 per cent and passed the ball 559 times with an 81 per cent accuracy, compared to Brentford's 279 passes with a 57 per cent accuracy. The Bees chose to go direct for much of the contest, which perhaps accounts for their struggle to complete as many passes as their visitors. But it was Leeds' ability to press their opponents that forced Brentford's hand, as boss Thomas Frank admitted after the game.

"You could see when we had our goal kicks, it was man to man," he said.

"If you do that then there is no reason to play which is why we kicked it long today."

Of the seven shots Brentford attempted, only two were on target and it's difficult not to give a lot of the credit to Phillips for shutting the Bees down in the Leeds half.

He recovered the ball 14 times and once he had it, passed it well. Of his 15 long balls, 13 were successful and the big switch to Jack Harrison on the left flank was a particularly effective and easy-on-the-eye tactic throughout.

But he wasn't alone in performing well. Luke Ayling made six tackles, more than any other player on the pitch, three interceptions, two clearances and one particularly vital block to deny a shooting chance on the edge of the box.

Ben White rarely looked ruffled by the prolific front line and chipped in with four interceptions and three clearances, while his centre-half partner Cooper, Leeds' second most accurate passer behind Phillips, found the net at one end and blocked two shots at the other, clearing the ball away five times.

It was, Casilla's error aside, a defensive performance more in line with Leeds' early season form, when they compiled the meanest record in England, than recent displays. And it took the sting out of the second most potent attack in the Championship.