BRENTFORD 3-2 FULHAM

Fulham were beaten 3-2 by Brentford in Monday night’s local derby at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Bees started very quickly and could have gone ahead even before Ethan Pinnock’s deflected effort in the sixth minute.

But the Whites began to exert more control on proceedings and restored parity through Manor Solomon’s header – his fifth goal in as many games – after Andreas Pereira’s free-kick came back off the post.

A contentious Ivan Toney penalty proved to be the decisive moment in the second half, with Mathias Jensen then sewing things up before Carlos Vinicius’ consolation at the death.

There were three changes to the previous XI that featured in the Premier League for Fulham, with first starts in the competition for Saša Lukić and Solomon, and a return for the fit-again Aleksandar Mitrović, who made his 200^th appearance for the Club.

Bernd Leno was called into action as early as the second minute when Toney capitalised on a loose pass and bent a shot on target from 20 yards out, which the Fulham number 17 pushed away on the stretch.

The hosts then squandered an absolute gilt-edged chance when Bryan Mbeumo somehow ballooned over from close range having been picked out by Rico Henry’s fine volleyed cross.

Brentford had absolutely flown out of the traps and had another chance through Mbeumo in the fifth minute, Leno making himself big on the angle to deny the winger.

The opener from the subsequent corner may have been fortunate, but they’d earned it. First, Aaron Hickey’s speculative hit ricocheted kindly for Pinnock, whose snapshot changed direction dramatically after cannoning off Tim Ream to wrong-foot Leno.

Fulham managed to wrestle back some control after a slow start, but it was the Bees again who had the next chance. After Jensen bought a free-kick in a central position 25 yards out, Mbeumo’s set-piece had Leno beaten but kissed the outside of the post on its way wide.

The Whites had all the possession after going behind but another Brentford free-kick had us worried 10 minutes before half-time, but thankfully Toney’s effort hit the angle of post and bar.

But it was a Fulham set-piece that brought about the next goal. After Harrison Reed was chopped in the midriff on the edge of the box, Andreas rattled the post with a superb free-kick, and Solomon reacted first to head in the equaliser after the ball came back across the face.

A barnstorming run from Kenny Tete at the start of the second half, which began with a crucial interception in his own box, culminated in Antonee Robinson pinging over a cross. Andreas was first to it but could only poke his volley over the bar.

Brentford were then given what can only be described as a soft penalty, as Issa Diop was adjudged to have caught Christian Nørgaard in the box. Leno guessed the right way but Toney’s low spot-kick had just enough power to find the back of the net.

It was one of many decisions which went against the Whites, with Mitrović picking up a booking for disagreeing with the referee’s take that Willian illegally challenged Yoane Wissa in the air.

There wasn’t much in the way of goalmouth action following the penalty, though Mitrović did have the ball taken off his head in the nick of time, before Lukić sent a shot over from distance.

Toney then tried his luck from the halfway line and was unfortunate to see his effort land on the roof of the net, though Leno probably had it covered regardless.

The home side wrapped things up late on when substitute Kevin Schade managed to spin behind Robinson in the area before cutting back to Jensen who was left with a simple finish.

David Raya was forced to keep out strikes from Mitrović and Harrison Reed as we attempted to reduce the deficit, which we eventually did in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Andreas’ fizzer had too much sauce for Raya to hold, with substitute Carlos Vinicius alert to the possibility and sending a cool finish over the stranded Raya.

Sadly there was no time left to push for another equaliser, as we left Hounslow empty handed.