The discussion amongst the Fulham fanbase ahead of this west London was whether Alex Iwobi would shake off an ankle knock to play – and if Marco Silva might make changes to the side that had scraped a stoppage-time win over Leeds United on Saturday. The fans wanted to see Kevin from the start after the Brazilian’s brilliant but brief cameo as a substitute had earned Fulham’s first three points of the season. But the Portuguese head coach has always been loyal to those who have re-established the Whites as a top-flight team and opting for an unchanged side eventually saw his side batter Brentford once again.
They had to show commendable character after Josh King’s poor pass out from the back offered Mikkel Damsgaard the opportunity to put the Bees ahead. Fulham’s teenage talisman would have been forgiven for wondering whether derbies were worth the hassle after seeing a first senior goal chalked off at Stamford Bridge, but he ran rings round the visitors as Fulham assumed control. Iwobi put an arm round the shoulder of the great white hope. The Nigerian international then linked up with Ryan Sessegnon, whose shot was spilled by CaoimhÃn Kelleher, before Rodrigo Muniz shot over from a tight angle.
It took just eight minutes from the home side to level when visiting captain Nathan Collins failed to clear a deflected ball from Sasa Lukic and Iwobi drilled a low shot between the defender’s legs and past Keheller. Ninety seconds later, Muniz latched onto a horrible header from Collins and Iwobi played the perfect pass for Harry Wilson, who settled both derbies dramatically last term, to steer a left-footed shot past Keheller.
Craven Cottage’s delight was palpable and there was a third goal five minutes after the interval when Sessegnon’s superb cross into the Brentford six-yad area was sent into the Hammersmith End by a panicked Pinnock. Muniz had a fourth goal ruled out for a foul on Collins, but the Whites already had clear water. Andrews, who has now lost three league defeats away from home, sent on a succession of substitutes, including former Fulham number ten Fabio Carvalho, but the Bees were battered,
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, R. Sessegnon, Anderson; Berge, Lukic (Cairney 89); Wilson (Cuenca 86), Iwobi (Smith Rowe 80), King (Kevin 67); Muniz (Jimenez 80). Subs (not used): Lecomte, Castagne, Chukwueze, Traore.
BOOKED: King, Lukic, Leno, Kevin.
GOALS: Iwobi (38), Wilson (40), Pinnock (o.g. 50).
BRENTFORD (5-3-2): Keheller; Kaydode, Lewis-Potter (Henry 66), van den Berge, Collins, Pinnock (Ajer 74); Henderson (Janelt 74), Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard (Carvalho 87), Shade, Thiago (Ouattaro 65). Subs (not used): Vladdirson, Hickey, Jensen, Onyeka.
BOOKED: Collins.
GOAL: Damsgaard (20).
REFEREE: Michael Oliver (Ashinton)
ATTENDANCE: 26,113.
