#PLStories- Thomas Frank heaps praise on referee Thomas Bramall after Bournemouth clash #BRENTFORDFC

BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank moved to praise referee Thomas Bramall for the way he refereed Saturday's clash at Vitality Stadium. Cherries and Brentford played out a goalless draw in the club's first ever meeting in the top flight. But it was referee Bramall at the centre of attention for two of the game's biggest flashpoints, opting not to award Cherries a penalty on two separate occasions. The hosts claimed for a spot-kick during the first half when Jordan Zemura went down under Kris Ajer's challenge. Having not given a penalty, Bramall was referred to the pitchside monitor by VAR John Brooks. After a lengthy review, Bramall opted to stick with his initial decision and award a goal kick. Then, in the dying seconds of the contest, Cherries gave loud appeals when a ball flew up onto the arm of Brentford midfield Mathias Jensen inside the box. Again Bramall was unmoved and the game ended level. Bramall was taking charge of just his second Premier League match, his first coming when Fulham hosted Brighton in August. Asked for his thoughts on the penalty claims, Frank said: "First, I would like to praise Thomas Bramall for his job. "A young ref, I don’t know how many games he’s reffed in the Premier League. But every game in the Premier League is important. "You can say Liverpool v City, but I think Bournemouth v Brentford is equally as important for both teams. "His character and calm head in a very, very stressful moment. You know when you’re called over to the monitor, it’s a very decisive decision for the game. "And we know, all of us in this room, nine times out of 10, most likely it will be a pen. But he stuck to his decision. "I think that says a lot about him. I’m not in doubt that’s not a pen. So I think that was very well done from him. "The only mistake he made was he was a little bit unclear whether he was giving a penalty or a goal-kick." He added: "It was definitely not a penalty. "The way I see it, he (Ajer) definitely touched the ball and then Zemura is falling over him." Quizzed on Cherries' second penalty claim, Frank said: "That was a penalty two years ago. Then we luckily changed the rules. "I hated that rule two years ago, because I think everyone is working so hard and then a randomness that would’ve given a penalty two years ago. "So I’m so glad we got that out of the game, because I think that’s the most fair thing. So definitely not a penalty."