Fulham and Brentford played out a dour west London derby that ended in a goalless draw at Craven Cottage this afternoon – with the action being high on passion, but devoid of any real quality.
The home side had the better of the first 45 minutes. Ara Bedrossian exemplified how fired up Fulham were to beat their local rivals by picking up the ball on the halfway line, darting away from two would-be Brentford tacklers and firing a shot at goal from just inside the box but Kevin Dearden made a good reaction stop.
Dearden surpassed that save when he kept out a thunderbolt from 30 yards when the Cypriot midfielder pulled the trigger seven minutes later – using all of his agility to tip the venomous drive over the crossbar. Brazil also blasted away from long range before the more subtle approach created an opportunity for Peter Baah, who poked his shot wide of the far post after bursting between two Brentford defenders.
Brentford controlled the second period having been anonymous as an attacking force before half time. Lee Harvey led Terry Angus something of a merry dance after he had replaced Robbie Herrera at half time and the Brentford winger had two shots saved by Stannard after he tormented the out of position centre back. Marcus Gayle nodded wide when well placed and Denny Mundee’s only real sight of goal saw him head straight into the Fulham goalkeeper’s chest. Fulham conjured up a late flurry but their beflated pressure didn’t deliver a winner as Udo Onwere and Brazil’s tame efforts were easily saved by Dearden.
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Herrera (Angus 45), G. Thomas, Morgan, Bedrossian, Onwere, Hails, Baah, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Harrison, Tierling.
BOOKED: Jupp.
BRENTFORD: Dearden; Ratcliffe, Bates, Westley, Harvey, Grainger, Statham, Smith, Mundee, Benjamin, M. Gayle. Subs (not used): Metcalf, Hutchings.
REFEREE: Roger Milford.
ATTENDANCE: 9,797.
