THE sooner Albion and Glenn Murray part company the better, even if it means loaning him out.

He does not want to be at the club and, although he is a class act at League One level, it is unhealthy to hang onto an unhappy player.

The unfortunate Murray saga took an alarming twist after a gritty first point of the season for the Seagulls.

His introduction just past the hour mark at the expense of Mark Wright was warmly received by the travelling army of supporters.

His languid style can create an impression that he is not trying but it was hard to fault Murray’s commitment during his time on the pitch.

In fact, he collected a late booking for an over-zealous challenge in pursuit of an Andrew Whing clearance.

It was consequently a little puzzling when, after most fans had left, a few vigorously heckled Murray as he returned to the pitch with his team-mates for the warm down a few minutes after the final whistle.

Tempers flared and the fans only calmed down once assistant manager Dean White, ignoring the advice of stewards, went over to speak to them.

It later transpired that Murray did not acknowledge Albion’s travelling army at the final whistle.

The same thing happened a few days earlier at Swansea, where I noticed him disappear straight down the tunnel.

Murray is not doing himself any favours by snubbing supporters in this way but I have some sympathy for his plight.

He is desperate for a move back north due to complicated domestic circumstances which, frankly, are none of our business.

It is also important to bear in mind that he continues to be plagued by hernia problems, despite travelling to Germany for surgery in the latter part of last season.

Albion have been trying to manage an awkward situation for both club and player since Murray’s summer transfer request.

There is little chance, at this stage, of them recouping the £300,000 they paid Rochdale 18 months ago, considering Murray’s injury-induced lack of activity in recent months.

Joel Lynch was loaned out after his transfer request last season, his move to Nottingham Forest eventually becoming permanent at the start of this season.

A similar course of action makes sense in Murray’s case. It would be in his interest to perform well and, if he did, his value would go back up.

The post-match drama overshadowed an encouraging point for Albion at a ground where they have been accustomed to losing, often heavily.

It was important not to be beaten again ahead of another tough trip tomorrow night to Russell Slade’s big-spending title tips Huddersfield.

Defensively, Slade’s revamped side looks pretty solid, with Tommy Elphick and Adam Virgo towers of strength in the centre.

They dealt admirably with David Hunt’s long throw-ins and the team in general coped well with promoted Brentford’s high-tempo, direct style and pace in wide areas.

It is a shame that comfortably Jake Wright’s best game so far at left-back was curtailed by a hamstring injury.

That is a headache, with Jim McNulty not scheduled to return from losing a kidney until next month, but a bigger concern is the four-and-a-half hour goal famine.

Unlike at Swansea there were a few decent efforts but shots from Alan Navarro, Mark Wright and Kevin McLeod were all from outside the box.

Albion were rarely a threat inside the Brentford penalty area, although Andrew Crofts was a little unlucky to have a header ruled out for impeding keeper Lewis Price during their most productive spell before half-time.

They are too dependent at the moment on Dean Cox for creativity. If the little man does not fire then it is difficult to see where the inspiration is going to come from.

Cox was deployed this time as a deep-lying forward, in behind Liam Dickinson, the idea being to get him on the ball more.

He was still not involved that much and ended up back out on the left, with Kevin McLeod tiring and Brentford becoming ever more direct.

We are a fortnight away from the closure of the transfer window and Slade’s squad strengthening is not over yet.

Albion remain a work in progress, Murray a troubled soul.

Albion (4-4-1-1): Kuipers; Whing, Elphick, Virgo, J. Wright (El-Abd 55); M. Wright (Murray 63), Navarro, Crofts, McLeod (Thornhill 77); Cox; Dickinson.

Subs not used: Forster, Tunnicliffe, Dicker, G. Smith.

Goals: None.

Red cards: None.

Yellow cards Murray (90) foul.

Brentford (4-4-2): Price; Foster, Phillips, Bennett, Dickson; Saunders (Taylor 63), O'Connor, Hunt (Bean 77), Wood (Kabba 80); Cort, Weston.

Subs not used: Bull, Osborne, Franks, Williams. Goals: None.

Red cards: None.

Yellow cards: None.

andy.naylor@theargus.co.uk