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Fulham showed their teeth under the floodlights here and, given these are footballers we are talking about, the results were decidedly gleaming. Goals from Alex Iwobi and Harry Wilson plus an Ethan Pinnock own goal enabled Marco Silva’s men to bounce back from an early concession to take three points with something to spare. In claiming the spoils once again in this west London derby, Fulham also took some of the shine off Keith Andrews’ start as Brentford manager in the process.
Silva had used his programme notes to remind supporters of the atmosphere created at the corresponding fixture last season – a 2-1 Fulham win secured by two Wilson goals in second-half added time. “Matches under the lights at the Cottage can be special,” he wrote, adding: “In both our matches against Brentford last season, the players needed to show a lot of character.” It duly came to pass that every pre-match observation made by the canny Silva was manifest again here.
First the requirement for character, as Fulham conceded the opening goal in frustrating circumstances. A giveaway by Josh King, the 18-year-old prodigy once again starting as Fulham’s playmaker but passing blind after coming deep to collect the ball, led to an interception by Mikkel Damsgaard and a cool finish past Bernd Leno.
The error continued King’s baptism of fire in the Premier League, just two games after he saw the first senior goal of his career chalked off incorrectly by officials against Chelsea. The teenager’s teammates were immediately on hand, however, Alex Iwobi wrapping an arm around King as they walked back to the centre spot.
Iwobi went on to become the central figure in the game as Fulham dug in and fought their way back into the match. On the half-hour, his understanding with Ryan Sessegnon down the left enabled him to tee up the full-back for an effort that Caoimhín Kelleher could only spill to Rodrigo Muniz, who lofted the ball over from a tight angle. Eight minutes later Iwobi had the equaliser himself, capitalising on uncertainty among any number of Brentford defenders to turn home low under the Irish goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, the Nigerian international also had an assist to his name, as Wilson gave Fulham the lead. This was a delightful goal, in both its precision and its efficiency. More fumbling from Brentford’s back line, this time a scuffed header from Nathan Collins, saw Muniz seize the ball. The Brazilian drove forward then shifted possession to his left to Iwobi, who looked back across the pitch to where Wilson was driving infield from the right, begging for the ball.
Iwobi found him with a wonderful pass that bisected the entire Brentford backline and Wilson arrived in the box to finish first time with his left foot beyond Kelleher’s right hand.
The noise in Craven Cottage lifted a notch from that moment and the second half only saw the home side become more dominant. They got a third goal in the 50th minute thanks to Sessegnon’s left foot, a cross whipped across the line of the Brentford six-yard box causing now predictable uncertainty and ending in a stooping Pinnock turning the ball into his own net.
A fourth goal arrived five minutes later after Muniz bullied his way to goal, a little too forcefully according to Michael Oliver who, at the behest of VAR, found a trailing elbow from the Brazilian had bloodied Collins in the buildup and ordered an overturn.
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Andrews then made a series of changes and Brentford tried to force the pendulum of momentum in their direction again but with only limited success. Fulham fans got another chance to see their club record signing Kevin on the wing, his first contribution a yellow card for the beleaguered Collins who had to tug the Brazilian’s shirt to keep hold of him.
When the final whistle eventually blew it confirmed three wins on the bounce for the Cottagers in this nascent Premier League derby, and a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head.
