Andy Scott hailed Marcus Bean as an underrated yet invaluable member of his side following Saturday's goalless draw at Wycombe.

Bean has come under the microscope more than most after dropping down two divisions in the summer to join Brentford from Blackpool.

And his season got off to a slow start, following a poor display at Bury and a sending off at Swansea in the first week, after which he was dropped to the bench.

But since coming back into the side, the former QPR man has slowly but surely started to make his mark in the middle.

And the Wycombe game, where he started alongside Craig Pead following Kevin O'Connor's red card against Dagenham, was his best by far in a Bees shirt.

Bees boss Scott said: "Marcus Bean is a team player. Every single player in that dressing room appreciates what Marcus does, and I certainly do.

"Maybe not everyone sees what he does or appreciates it. They're watching a game of football, but I'm watching my players, and the videos, and see how many breakaways he breaks up, the number of second balls he wins and how he keeps the ball moving.

"He's invaluable to the side, but that goes for everyone who played today.

"Craig Pead had a fitness test before the game, and it had been very doubtful whether he would play, which would have given us a big problem.

"But he was excellent, both he and Marcus Bean. You could see their ability on the ball, but the other side of it certainly doesn't go unnoticed by me."

With leaders Wycombe having kept six successive clean sheets, and Brentford conceding none in four of their last six games, a goalless draw was no huge surprise.

The chances were fairly even, with centre-back Alan Bennett twice going close for Brentford, who were denied a penalty when former Bee John Mousinho handed in the box.

And it was Scott's men who had the better of the play too, particularly in the second-half, earning a point.

BEES: Hamer, Newton, Johnson, Bennett, Wilson, Bean, Pead, Williams, Elder, MacDonald, Poole (Dickson, 78). Subs not used: Seb Brown, Phillips, Ademola, Ochoa. ATTENDANCE: 5,289