Michael Nelson's last-minute equaliser threw Hartlepool a slender relegation lifeline and left Brentford's automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread.
Hartlepool dug in to frustrate a blunt Brentford attack in the face of almost constant one-way traffic.
Brentford took the lead six minutes from time when Kevin O'Connor curled in a free-kick from the edge of the box.
Nelson earlier blazed over from eight yards but made amends by blasting home as Brentford failed to clear a corner.
Brentford: Nelson, O'Connor, Sodje, Turner, Frampton, Brooker (Hutchinson 90), Newman (Rhodes 63), Pratley, Tabb, Gayle, Willock (Rankin 75).
Subs Not Used: Tillen, Bankole.
Booked: Sodje, Rankin.
Goals: O'Connor 84.
Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Barron (Darren Williams 75), Nelson, Clark, Robson, Clarke (Butler 36), Sweeney, Humphreys, Proctor, Porter, Eifion Williams (Boyd 63).
Subs Not Used: Provett, Brown.
Booked: Butler.
Goals: Nelson 90.
Att: 8,725
Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).
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