Dean Smith laid into referee Paul Tierney as he revealed that the official refused to shake his hand.

The Bees head coach felt that Brentford were denied a stonewall penalty when Kamo Mokotjo was brought down in the box by Adam Clayton. The South African picked himself up and Tierney refused to point to the spot.

Smith wasn't happy with the decision but, when he tried to get a reason from the official, was brushed off, leaving the Bees' head coach seething.

“I thought it was a stonewall penalty,” he said. “I've not had an explanation because the referee refused to shake my hand.

“He didn't want to indulge any discussion and refused to shake my hand. I have never known it before. I'll be speaking to PGMOL about it for sure.”

Kamo Mokotjo

“I'd had no indication that was a problem. He said nothing has changed in terms of penalties and walk off.

“I don't think I've heard of it happening elsewhere either.”

Smith felt that his Brentford side deserved more than the point they picked up as Yoann Barbet and Ollie Watkins' goals to put the Bees 1-0 and 2-1 up were cancelled out by Martin Braithwaite and Fabio.

Smith reflected: “I thought the performance merited more. To take the lead twice and not come away with three points is disappointing.

“I was pleased with how we controlled the game and the way we pressed against a Middlesbrough team, winning the ball back high up the pitch. The only thing was the final ball which let us down.”

Yoann Barbet

Barbet left the Boro defence sheepish as he was given the freedom of the penalty area to head home.

Smith said: “It was something we've worked on. It was a set-piece that came off. You could hear the disappointment from the Middlesbrough fans who didn't expect a performance from Brentford and then get surprised when they see us play.”

Although Braithwaite levelled, Brentford didn't read the script that most felt was going to be played out by facing wave after wave of Boro attacks and retook the lead when Watkins turned the ball home.

However, it wasn't to be as Fabio was there at the back post to slam home a second equaliser.

Smith added: “We showed great character and got the lead again with a well worked goal. I felt we needed more legs out there and then we took control of it.

“They win the ball 60 yards away, break and score. We recovered well but it was a good give and a go and a good pull back.

“I'd have made the subsitutions again. They were putting us under pressure and needed to get back on the ball. It's Nico's third in a week and Kamo's first since Norwich.”

The result leaves Brentford in 20th place but Smith is not concerned about the league position at this juncture.

He explained: “We're not worried about the league position because we've been playing well. The wins will come.

“That was as good a performance we've had. We played Aston Villa off the park and impressed at Sheffield Wednesday.”