Derbies are often won by the side who starts on the front foot. Brentford gained revenge for their Craven Cottage defeat back in August and were it not for Bernd Leno, Thomas Frank’s side could have built an unassailable advantage inside six minutes as they forced Fulham back from the off. The visiting goalkeeper had made two brilliant saves before being totally wrongfooted when the unfortunate Tim Ream diverted Ethan Pinnock’s effort into the opposite corner of the net. From that moment on, Marco Silva’s men were playing catch up.
They somehow went in level at the break, despite Brentford spurning a flurry of chances and glancing the woodwork twice. Manor Solomon stooped to head in his fifth goal in as many matches after Andreas Pereira’s free-kick had crashed against the crossbar, but Fulham failed to kick on in the second period. Ivan Toney, as excellent at leading the line as he is at taking penalties, restored the hosts’ lead after Anthony Taylor awarded a soft spot kick against Issa Diop and, when Mattias Jensen touched in a third from close range after substitute Kevin Schade had sped past Antonee Robinson, ‘Bees up, Fulham down’ echoed around the GTech Community Stadium.
Neither of these sides will need to worry about relegation after superb seasons – and Fulham’s return to the top flight has been remarkable given their recent woeful Premier League campaigns. Silva seethed on the sidelines as his side failed to make the most of the lion’s share of possession. He had sent on Carlos Vinicius at 2-1 in an attempt to find an equaliser but the Brazilian ended up cutting the deficit in the ninth minute of stoppage time, arcing a clever finish over David Raya after the Brentford goalkeeper had failed to gather Andreas Pereira’s speculative shot.
There wasn’t enough time for the Whites to mount another attack, but a draw would have been something of a travesty. Brentford very nearly blew their rivals away in a blistering early assault. Pereira didn’t seem up for the battle, surrendering position meekly in his own half. Toney certainly was, bringing the best out of Leno from 25 yards, but Bryan Mbeumo hadn’t appeared to bring his shooting posts. He spooned a Rico Henry cross over from close range at the back post when it seemed easier to score and was then denied by Leno’s right boot.
Silva seemed apoplectic with rage when Brentford were awarded a corner, but there was no excuse for the space Pinnock found himself in on the edge of the area when the set-play was worked short. The centre back had never scored a Premier League goal, but his snapshot struck Ream and rolled into the far corner with Leno already diving to the other side. It might have been much worse for the visitors, but Mbeumo and Tooney both grazed the woodwork with well struck free-kicks.
Instead, it was the Whites who scored next. Pereira bent a brilliant free kick of his own over the wall and past Raya from just outside the box but it bounced back off the frame of goal, falling for Solomon to head into an empty net. Sasa Lukic, perhaps still dazed from being stamped on by Toney, was fortunate to escape a second yellow card after taking out Yoane Wissa as the winger looked set to race clear. The Serbian had a difficult night in the Fulham engine – one wonders what may have happened had Joao Palhinha not wracked up ten bookings.
The decisive moment of the match came when Fulham failed to capitalise on their equaliser after the break. Instead, Taylor pointed to the spot after Diop had caught Christian Nørgaard as he sought to clear a long throw. Toney stepped forward to stroke home 22nd successful spot-kick in a row and then nearly added another when he chipped Leno from just inside the Fulham half but the ball landed on the roof of the net. Brentford did extend their lead with five minutes remaining when Cedric Soares made an awful mess of a routine ball from a throw, allowing Toney to spread the play to substitute Schade along the right flank. The German under-21 international breezed away from Robinson far too easily and picked out Jensen at the near post, who tucked home gleefully.
Vinicius followed up his header against Chelsea by demonstrating his poacher’s instinct in the ninth minute of added time. The Brazilian forward followed up when Raya spilled Periera’s shot and improvised a clever, flicked finish. It wasn’t enough for Fulham, who in a late of ways, where the masters of their own downfall tonight.
BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Raya; Hickey (Roerslev 90+1), Henry, Pinnock, Mee; Jensen, Nørgaard, Damsgaard (Janelt 76); Mbeumo (Dasilva 90+1), Wissa (Schade 77), Toney. Subs (not used): Cox, Janson, Ajer, Baptiste, Onyeka.
GOALS: Pinnock (6), Toney (pen 53), Jensen (85).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete (Cedrjic Soares 83), A. Robinson, Duffy, Ream; Reed, Lukic (Decordova-Reid 75); Wllian (Vinicius 83), Solomon (Wilson 83), Pereira; Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Wickens, Adarabioyo, Harris, James.
BOOKED: Reed, Willian, Mitrovic.
GOAL: Solomon (39), Vinicius (90+9),
REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
ATTENDANCE: 17,025
Just as in the Wolves game we were nearly blown away from the first whistle. We were lucky we weren’t 3-0 down in the first 15 minutes. I know that the players are under orders to pass out from the back, but against such a high press surely we should mix it up a bit and allow Leno to kick long. At least we’d lose possession in the opponent’s half.
I know it’s no excuse but Anthony Taylor had a shocker. Lukic should have been booked for the second foul, but the first yellow card was ridiculous. Presumably Taylor was evening things up. He blew up for a clash of heads when their player hadn’t even touched Willian’s hair let alone his head. I suppose he booked Mitro for stating the obvious. Unfortunately we got what we deserved. Let’s hope we’re up for the Arsenal. COYW
Our squad is too short, players look tired. A European cup next season would fo more harm than good, look at what is happening at West Ham.
I can’t argue with the result last night, we were second best all over the pitch. Whilst a return to European football would be fantastic, everyone should remember our target this season was survival. I’d be more than happy with a top 10 finish and if that was offered back in August, I think we’d all be more than delighted. As for Brentford, let them dream of European football, it could be a potential disaster for them with such a small squad. Lets establish ourselves first as a top 10 club, European football can wait.
All fair comment, but games ebb and flow and Brentford were arguably marginally the better side on the night.
But this was a game decided, yet again, by terrible refereeing decisions.
The penalty decison was not ‘soft’, it was wrong and ridiculous. Out of all proportion with all the tough foulung that had gone unpunished all over the pitch.
Without that, it would have been a draw, which would have been fair.
Also,Toney should have had a red card for his reckless, uncontrolled,hig boot challenge that took a chunk out of Lukic’s face. Probably Lukic should then have had a second yellow, but that si.ply reinforces the poor quality of the refereeing.
Good games are being routinely ruined by bad refereeing and VAR simply isn’t working and needs a deep re-think.
17th or above should be enough for us this season looking at our squad size (at the moment) – as has been said by Simon: look at what’s happening to Thames Ironworks… With a summer transfer window and the FFP restrictions apparently cleared (does anyone other than ‘the also-rans’ take any notice of this), I’m sure Marco will be looking at further building a squad to cement regular top half finishes and handle the extra EUFA games that could come with that. In my dreams (other than those involving mega lottery wins and supermodels) I see Tom lifting the FA cup – on a recent stadium tour I mentioned this to Les Strong (a member of the 1974 cup final team and all-round lovely bloke) – we both looked into the distance and were quiet for a few seconds.