Enzo le Fee scored a late penalty to rescue a point for Sunderland in a hard-fought draw with Brentford.

The French midfielder sent keeper Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way from the spot after defender Keane Lewis-Potter was punished for holding substitute Wilson Isidor in the area with eight minutes to go.

Vitaly Janelt had scored a fine goal early in the second half for Brentford after they recovered from an opening period in which Sunderland completely dominated.

Brentford remain unbeaten this season but Lewis-Potter's over-eagerness to hold Isidor ensured Sunderland avoided a second defeat of the season

The first half was goalless but there was some early drama when Dan Ballard thought he had put Sunderland in front with a fine finish.

However, new signing Kevin Danso was adjudged to be in an offside position and blocking Brentford goalkeeper Kelleher's view after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Le Fee rattled the post soon after with a fizzed strike as Sunderland looked the most likely to score in the opening 45 minutes.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews was clearly not happy at the break and he made a triple substitution with Jaidon Anthony, Yehor Yarmolyuk and Aaron Hickey on for Dango Ouattara, Mamadou Sangare and Michael Kayode.

Then they took the lead in the 57th minute minute when Sunderland's Nordi Mukiele got his head to a cross from Mikkel Damsgaard but Janelt cut across the ball brilliantly to send a shot spinning into the top corner.

Anthony thought he had a second for Brentford but referee Thomas Bramall ruled the Bees forward had kicked the ball out of a hesitant Roefs' hands and the VAR agreed after a short check.

Le Fee had missed a penalty in this fixture last season - which Brentford won 3-0 - when he tried a 'Panenka' but he kept it straight forward this time to earn his side a deserved point.

Andrews was not shy in making changes at the break and it almost secured Brentford three points.

Record signing Sangare has had rave reviews for his performances in their first two Premier League games of the season since joining from Lens but he picked up a booking in the first half and was not at his best.

Anthony was one of those half-time substitutes and the former Burnley winger wasted an early chance but showed more attacking threat.

Then Yarmolyuk played a role in the build-up to the opener before Damsgaard put in the ball which eventually led to Janelt's great finish.

Brentford remain unbeaten and if Andrews continues to show bold management then the Bees could be well placed to push on from their ninth-placed finish last season.

If they can maintain their strong record at home it will help, too. They have not lost a game on their own patch since February.

The concern for Andrews is that they have now surrendered four points from winning positions in their three games, having also conceded late in a draw away at Leeds last weekend after an opening game victory over Tottenham.

Sunderland looked like they would rue failing to take advantage of their first-half dominance.

They have recovered from an opening-weekend defeat by Ipswich to beat Fulham and now pick up this draw.

Sunderland had so much of the ball in and around Brentford's area in the opening 45 minutes with 25 touches inside the box.

Yet they failed to create many clear-cut chances apart from when Le Fee rattled the post.

They may argue Ballard's goal should have stood - and what a finish it was from the defender - but Danso was clearly blocking Kelleher.

Regis le Bris' side seemed stunned by Brentford's changes at the break and it took them a while to really get to grips with the game again in the second half.

Isidor's introduction in the 64th minute brought more of a threat while deadline day signing Malik Fofana may bring more creativity in the coming weeks after the former Lyon winger made his debut here as a second-half substitute.

Le Fee could have crumbled under the pressure after his mistake last season but he kept his cool with a fine spot-kick and a point was deserved for the visitors.

The Sunderland attacking midfielder now has 12 goal involvements in the league since the start of last season with six goals and six assists, more than any other Black Cats player.