Fulham showed their teeth under the floodlights here and, given these are footballers we’re 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.
This was a meeting both of local rivals and of the Premier League’s burgeoning middle class, with both teams capable of mixing their approach and in possession of squads of technically gifted yet physically imposing athletes. Silva’s tactical tinkering, shifting Harry Wilson to negate Keane Lewis-Potter down the right, linking Iwobi with Ryan Sessegnon on the left, ultimately outdid the trusted Brentford strategy of limiting opportunities to opponents and maximising set pieces. The inefficiencies with which Andrews’ men effected their strategy, however, will be of concern.
“We were the best team on the pitch, our first half was top level from the first minute,” a bullish Silva said. “We were on the front foot, we were very aggressive, we created many problems for them. 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.”
Silva was referring to the error from Josh King that continued the 18-year-old’s baptism of fire in the Premier League, just two games after his first senior goal was chalked off incorrectly by officials against Chelsea. Starting once again as Fulham’s playmaker, he came deep to collect the ball in the 20th minute, but played it blind across the pitch, leading to an interception by Mikkel Damsgaard and a cool finish past Bernd Leno. The teenager’s teammates were immediately on hand, however, Alex Iwobi wrapping an arm around King as they walked back towards halfway.
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 Sessegnon down the left helped him 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 Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, the Nigeria 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 backline, this time a scuffed header from Nathan Collins, allowed Muniz to 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 in the second half 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 appeared to arrive five minutes later after Muniz bullied his way to goal, a little too forcefully according to Michael Oliver who, at the behest of the video assistant referee, 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 as Brentford tried to force the pendulum in their direction again without success. That’s three away defeats out of three now, and eight points conceded from winning positions.
“We’re building a new team and at this level when there’s indecision it can hurt you,” Andrews said. “There was a period where they just started to get the better of us. Normally the momentum can swing that way, but I don’t feel like we managed it. If you concede one don’t concede again. I was really disappointed with the second goal.”
