Fulham 3–1 Brentford
by Layth Yousif 
at Craven Cottage 

THIS particular west London derby never fails to captivate, with fans and neutrals unable to take their eyes off such a relentlessly captivating clash.

With Fulham 1-0 down to an early Mikkel Damsgaard opener for the Bees, two goals in 98 seconds from the home side before half time turned this game on its head. 

In front of 26,813 fans at this beguiling ground, on a blustery Saturday evening on the banks of the Thames, Marco Silva’s side moved to seventh spot in the Premier League, after an enthralling match-up between rivals six miles apart. 

In a fevered spell before the break, Alex Iwobi, then Harry Wilson staged a thrilling turnaround — netting with a pair of strikes that demoralised Keith Andrews’s side, who despite their lowly placing, are much better than their 17th spot indicates. Even if an Ethan Pinnock own goal five minutes after the interval put the seal on a disappointing result. 

“We were the best team on the pitch, our first half was top level from the first minute,” Silva asserted after the match. “We were on the front foot, we were very aggressive, we created many problems for them.”

The top-flight is unforgiving, as are this Fulham side, who are bursting with quality. Amid a rambunctious atmosphere, amplified by the noise coming from thousands of paper clappers that were handed out before the game, Silva’s side took control early on. 

A derby match under floodlights is always a treat at this evocative stadium. Craven Cottage still features legendary architect Archibald Leitch’s work from 1906, which the visitor can admire when viewing the beautiful wrought-iron balcony of the Cottage itself. Making it a Grade II-listed building, not to mention Premier League changing rooms — while the lattice steelwork that overlooks wooden seating ensures the Johnny Haynes stand is the oldest working football grandstand in Britain.

As noise levels grew ever louder in such a hallowed place, on 13 minutes, former Liverpool winger Wilson’s shot deflected for a corner. From the resulting dead ball, another Anfield alumnus, Bees keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, tipped away Cottagers captain Joachim Andersen’s header, the ball appearing to have taken a final touch off Brentford defender Michael Kayode. Four minutes later Sasa Lukic’s low drive flew narrowly wide.

However, against the run of play, Brentford went ahead on 19 minutes, when Damsgaard capitalised on an errant ball from rookie Josh King to make it 1-0.

The opener came following Bernd Leno’s ball to teenager King, which saw the 18-year-old attempt a careless pass across the edge of the box — only for the lurking Danish international to intercept, before slotting calmly past the Cottagers keeper and into the net. The promising youngster holding his head in his hands in shock before more experienced colleagues immediately consoled him, the scenes allowing more an indication of Fulham’s team spirit, than any inherent weaknesses at the back. 

Even if, seven minutes later Fulham hadn’t learned their lesson, Lukic casually ceding the ball to the Bees attack once again, with Kevin Schade powering into the box before lifting the ball over Leno, and the bar. 

Stung, Fulham drove forward with Ryan Sessegnon testing Kelleher with a shot the keeper could only parry. 

It was good to note the lithe but lively teenage King refused to be bowed by his earlier error, helping to supplement colleagues attacking forays further forward, as Silva’s side started to dominate in a bid to find parity.

“We conceded a goal we didn’t deserve, but the support for Josh in that moment was lovely to see and what a reaction. We kept cool and we showed our resilience,” added Fulham boss Silva.

The Cottagers finally had their reward, when, after a spell of pressure, the intelligent Iwobi fired home after a scramble in the box following Lukic’s ballooned effort created uncertainty, to make it 1-1 on 38 minutes. 

Worse was to come for a shellshocked Brentford, as a mere 98 seconds later, the influential Wilson swept the ball home from a perceptive Iwobi through-ball into the box — much to the joy of their fans at the noisy Cottage. 

Wilson, it should be recalled, grabbed two stoppage time goals to help Fulham overturn a 1-0 deficit to the Bees in last season’s memorable fixture, to ensure a 2-1 win. No wonder the delighted Fulham support sang: “It’s happened again,” as the teams went into the break mirroring last term’s scoreline. 

Any hopes of a Bees comeback were thwarted five minutes after the interval with Pinnock’s unfortunate own goal to make it 3-1. Fulham’s third coming after Sessegnon’s astute left-footed cross was whipped into the box. While those at the near post could not reach the ball, situated deeper, the Bees big No5 attempted to avoid the cross — but took his eye off the ball, which struck him as he ducked, and to his unfolding horror, looped over Kelleher, to make it three for the Cottagers.

It could have been four nine minutes later, but for referee Michael Oliver disallowing Rodrigo Muniz’s thunderbolt which flew past Kelleher at the near post. VAR sending the official to the monitor to take a look at the tangle between the Fulham No9 and Brentford captain Nathan Collins in the build-up. Home fans howled their disgust as the ‘goal’ was chalked off for a raised arm in the face, even if it was the correct decision. 

Shortly afterwards the teenage King received a rousing ovation as he made way for Kevin, the single-named 22-year-old Brazil star, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for a club record £34.6m on deadline day.

While King’s error had led to Brentford’s goal — and was also booked for simulation later on when attempting to win a penalty after coming into contact with the experienced Jordan Henderson, who was largely anonymous during his 500th Premier League match — the precocious teenager looks to be a genuine talent. The England U19 defender displaying a mature temperament as much as quick feet and an impressive turn of pace, allied with a refreshing propensity to attack from deep. One to keep an eye on. As was this game.

As the clock ticked down Wilson received hearty applause for his part in another victory over their west London rivals, replaced on 86 minutes by Jorge Cuenca, amid a flurry of late substitutions which also underlined Fulham’s strength in depth, leaving Bees boss Andrews to concede after the match: “We lacked that little bit of quality.”

The acclaim was the least the 28-year-old Welsh international Wilson deserved, as the final whistle blew not long after, with fans treated to strains of “You’re just too good to be true.” Presumably from Frankie Valli’s 1967 version of Can’t take my eyes off you, which boomed out of the Craven Cottage speakers.

As with the engaging Fulham team these days as well as their elegant home, you certainly can’t.