A fantastic season had put Brentford in UEFA Champions League qualification contention with six games left to play heading into this clash, something that was far from expected when Thomas Frank was replaced by Keith Andrews as head coach last summer.
Fulham, though, only trailed the Bees by three points ahead of kick-off as they chased a European spot themselves.
With plenty on the line, it was perhaps unsurprising to see a cagey affair played out in the first half, with neither side creating many chances.
The hosts were more dangerous, as Igor Thiago headed wide and Dango Ouattara had a shot comfortably saved before Keane Lewis-Potter shot over the crossbar from close range with the best opening before the break.
At the other end, Ryan Sessegnon fired over from a similar position as Fulham’s run without a goal in the first half of away matches extended to 10 games across all competitions.
The second half developed in much the same way, with both sides unable to exert any sustained pressure.
Once more, Brentford were slightly more threatening, and Mikkel Damsgaard went close to breaking the deadlock when volleying just wide from Kevin Schade’s knockdown.
Nathan Collins was next to try his luck, yet he could only nod past the post from a corner.
Ultimately, though, there was a distinct lack of intensity on show here, despite just four miles separating the two clubs, and nobody could argue when the points were eventually shared.
Still, Bernd Leno did produce a stunning stop late on to deny Ouattara in what was undoubtedly the stand-out moment of the encounter.
The result means Brentford miss out on the opportunity to move above Chelsea into sixth ahead of the Blues’ Saturday night clash with Manchester United, while they have now drawn five league games in a row for the first time since 1957.
Meanwhile, Fulham remain in 12th, still in the continental conversation, but suffering from a run of five PL games without a win.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lewis Keane-Potter (Brentford)
