Five things we learned from Brentford's 2-2 draw at Cardiff

Racic - stepping up to the plate

Injuries thrust the young centreback Luka Racic into Thomas Frank’s starting line-up.

Missing Pontus Jansson and Julian Jeanvier, Racic lined up alongside Ethan Pinnock, who in truth is still finding his feet at this level.

Despite his inexperience, the 20-year-old looked like a seasoned veteran at the back.

Showing a good reading of the game, pace that few knew he had, not to mention the neat finish he has in his locker, the Dane equipped himself well against a physical Cardiff City outfit and has proven he’s capable of stepping up to challenge for a starting berth even when all the backline are injury free.

Wingbacks - issues at both ends

Being a modern wing back is possibly the most difficult position to play this day and age.

You’re required to get forward at every opportunity whilst prioritising not conceding at the other end.

In Henrik Dalsgaard and Rico Henry, Thomas Frank has players who have the fitness to get up and down the flank, but against Cardiff there were question marks over both their defending and their attacking qualities.  

Dalsgaard was punished twice at the back post after being caught out by Junior Hoilett and Joe Ralls, worryingly they were two of the shortest players on the pitch.

That is a concern especially as Frank revealed post-match that he knew what threat Cardiff had to offer from set pieces and long-throws.

Henry continues to frustrate. He gets into great positions frequently, often linking up with Said Benrahma as they venture forward.

The issue is with Henry is that his delivery is more often than not, found wanting.

On top of that, for such an attacking left-back, in such an attacking team, is a return of no goals and just two assists in 38 appearances this season acceptable?

Emiliano 'the enigma' Marcondes

Possibly the most frustrating player in a Bees shirt.

The amount of times the talented Dane lost possession in good areas was criminal.

And what was worse was the lack of desire shown in winning the ball back.

One example of this was when Bryan Mbeumo raced 30-yards beyond the midfielder to retrieve possession as Marcondes ambled back.

You sense he feels he’s earned the right to showboat before a ball is kicked, sadly against a no-frills Cardiff City side this wasn’t the case.

The sooner there’s more competition in midfield, when Jensen and Mokotjo are fit, the better.

Who’d be a ref?

It’s impossible for officials to keep everyone happy, but it’s not often that both sets of fans sympathise with the other.

Decisions at the Cardiff City Stadium you could say evened themselves out, but that’s not to say it’s right.

How Will Vaulks stayed on the pitch after a clear knee to Christian Norgaard’s is incredible, as was Simon Hooper’s reluctance to award the Bluebird’s a penalty after three legitimate claims also baffled.

I understand one or two decisions being missed, or incorrectly called, but it seems this season there’s a lot more than one or two occurring each week, in each game.

Surely VAR is now required.

Cardiff – ‘you up for it?’

Thomas Frank summed it up perfectly, ‘Cardiff did what they’re good at.’

Neil Harris’s big, physical and passionate outfit hussled, harried and got under the Brentford players’ skins.

The altercation involving Vaulks and Norgaard you sensed asked the Bees if they were really up for the fight, the answer of course was clear.

In a fight for promotion, that’s where you’d need you Jansson’s and Mokotjo’s, players who don’t hide.