Brentford 3-2 Fulham: Ethan Pinnock, Ivan Toney, Mathias Jensen score as Bees boost European hopes

Brentford extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 games as they overcame west London rivals Fulham 3-2 in a high-tempo derby.

Carlos Vinícius scored a late consolation for Fulham, who remain seventh, a point above Brentford but having played two games more.

The affair exploded into life as Thomas Frank’s men, in their usual 4-3-3 at the Gtech Stadium, hassled and harried the Cottagers, with Bryan Mbeumo having three sightings of goal within as many minutes.

The first was a speculative, left-footed curler on three minutes, before a real sitter at the far post a minute later, as Rico Henry’s glorious ball was begging to be tapped home. Bernd Leno denied the winger once more as he wrestled his way into the area to poke an effort towards goal.

It was Mbuemo’s persistence and willingness to spin in behind left-back Antonee Robinson that lead to the opening goal, winning the initial corner. The set play found its way to right-back Aaron Hickey, whose mishit ricocheted into the path of Ethan Pinnock, who struck gold via a deflection inside six minutes.

Mbeumo grazed the post with a sumptuous free-kick on 17 minutes, and Toney battered the postage stamp with a thunderous effort from a similar range with a later dead ball.

Fulham grew into the contest as the opener snapped them out of their early sleepwalk, but they couldn’t make the most of their domination in possession, struggling to carve out clear-cut chances for their talismanic Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who cut a lonely figure at times in the Brentford box.

The visitors were level before the break, however, as their pressure finally told. Andreas Pereira’s rocket of a free-kick rattled the woodwork, with the rebound bundled in by in-form Manor Solomon, who got his fourth goal in as many league games.

The home side flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half, but it was the visitors with the first sighting of goal, as Pereira’s shinner span just wide of the far post.

Just a minute later, though, the Bees had the chance to get back into the driver’s seat, as Issa Diop caught the bottom of Christian Norgaard’s boot as he made a clumsy clearance.

Toney confidently dispatched the spot-kick for his 15th of the season, setting Frank’s side on their way to another morale-boosting win on home turf.

There was still time for the former Peterborough striker to attempt the unthinkable, as he tried his luck from inside his own half with 20 minutes to go, looking to catch out Leno, who had travelled some distance away from his goal. The German heaved a sigh of relief as he watched the ball nestle onto the roof of his net.

Kevin Schade, the substitute, ran rings around Robinson down the right with five minutes to go, and he had the composure to pick out the onrushing Jensen for Brentford’s third.

Brentford are now within a point of tonight’s opposition as Frank and co. continue to work miracles. How long can it last?

TALKING POINT – NO PALHINHA, NO PARTY

Joao Palhinha’s absence in the engine room was a sore miss for Fulham.

The Portuguese, suspended for this game, was replaced by January recruit Sasa Lukic, but the Cottagers’ quality, both offensively and defensively, took a hit.

Lukic himself was lucky to stay on the pitch after referee Anthony Taylor was lenient enough to not show him a second yellow for a cynical clip on Yoane Wissa on the stroke of half-time.

With no Palhinha, the hosts were able to take control of the centre of the park, with Jensen and Norgaard the steady eddies, while Mikkel Damsgaard was the more dynamic, with more licence to maraud forwards and support attacking moves.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – IVAN TONEY (BRENTFORD)

It just has to be, doesn’t it?

An all-action performance that started slowly, but ended showing just how important this man is to Brentford’s hopes.

Linking play brilliantly with his physicality and technical ability, Toney added another strike to his goalscoring tally, taking him to third in the Premier League top-scorers’ chart behind only Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

The true epitome of leader by example.

PLAYER RATINGS

Brentford: Raya 6, Hickey 7, Pinnock 7, Mee 7, Henry 6, Damsgaard 6, Norgaard 6, Jensen 6, Mbeumo 7, Toney 8, Wissa 6. Subs: Janelt 6, Schade 7, Dasilva 6, Roerslev 6.

Fulham: Leno 6, Tete 7, Diop 5, Ream 6, Robinson 6, Reed 6, Lukic 5, Solomon 7, Pereira 6 Willian 5, Mitrovic 6. Subs: Wilson 6, D-Reid 6, Vinicius 6, Cedric 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

4′: WHAT A MISS! Another chance for Mbuemo, as the Bees chip one into the channel for Henry to cross first time, and it comes for Mbeumo at the far post, who skies what should have been a tap-in!

6′: GOAL! Brentford are in front, and it’s Ethan Pinnock! Richly deserved after a ferociously fast start from the hosts. The initial Jensen corner came out to Hickey, whose mishit falls to Pinnock, and the centre-back, via Tim Ream, slices the home side ahead.

37′: CLOSE! It’s Toney this time, and he goes for the dipper with his instep, and it bends, towards the top corner, but hits the postage stamp and goes over!

39′: GOAL! Fulham are level, and it’s Manor Solomon who continues his rich vein of form! Pereira’s swerving free-kick crashes the woodwork and bounces beautifully into the path of Solomon, and the Israeli stoops down to nod home and equalise.

52′: PENALTY! Brentford have a spot kick, and Issa Diop is penalised for catching Norgaard while trying to clear! // GOAL! Ivan Toney makes no mistake, and dispatches confidently. 2-1 Brentford, and they lead again!

70′: WHAT AN EFFORT! Toney goes for one on the halfway line, looking to catch Leno out! But it just drops too high, with the German heaving a huge sigh of relief.

85′: GOAL! It’s three, and it’s Jensen! Thoroughly deserved, as the great Dane sweeps home after Kevin Schade ran Robinson ragged down the right. The high press forced the error, before Schade’s injection of pace set up Jensen to stroke home.

90+8′: GOAL! Fulham have a consolation, as Vinicius profits from the rebound.

KEY STAT