The view from the away end (Photo: Ben Bird)
A superb stoppage time save from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno denied Dango Ouattaro and held Brentford to a sixth successive draw in all competitions as a dour west London derby finished goalless at the GTech Community Stadium this lunchtime. The German international terrifically tipped a close range effort from the former AFC Bournemouth forward over the crossbar to prevent the Bees from moving to within touching distance of Liverpool in the race for Champions’ League football. Calvin Bassey and Joachim Andersen immediately embraced the ex-Arsenal custodian – recognising the importance of what must be a contender for save of the season.
Fulham’s first choice centre back pairing did well to keep Brazilian international Igor Thiago, who is just a single goal behind Erling Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts, quiet. The lime-green shirted visitors enjoyed much more of the possession but failed to register a single shot on target. Harry Wilson, who scored three times as Fulham completed a double over Brentford last season and was on target again in their 3-1 win at Craven Cottage in September, saw an effort blocked by the far from fully fit Rodrigo Muniz in the first half whilst Ryan Sessegnon, excellent in defence having been preferred to Antonee Robinson at left back, fired over before half time.
Thiago sent a header wide from a set-piece inside the first ten minutes, before the recalled Sasa Lukic was booked for a cynical foul. Sessegnon shot over the bar after being released inside the penalty area by a perceptive pass from the evergreen Tom Cairney, but Fulham’s fluency suffered after Alex Iwobi succumbed to a hamstring injury four minutes before half time. Brentford, watched by their injured skipper Jordan Henderson and former manager Thomas Frank, huffed and puffed but failed to create a clear-cut chance with left back Lewis Kean-Potter squandering their best opportunity from eight yards before the break after tidy footwork had fashioned a shooting chance in a crowded box.
The Bees were much more direct after the interval. A diagonal punt from Mattias Jensen was flicked on by Kevin Schade and Danish international Mikkel Damsgaard volleyed wide of the near post from the edge of the area. Lukic, who had a goal disallowed at Anfield seven days ago early in the second half, lost his composure when pulling the trigger after a pretty passing move before an alert Leno turned over Ouattara’s cross-cum-shot. Wilson fired across goal when the Welshman should have hit the target after a rapid Fulham break but it was Keith Andrews’ side who finished the stronger.
Leno scurried across his line again to keep out a curling free-kick from Jensen that threatened to creep into the top corner before he kept out Ouattra from point-blank range to preserve a point for Marco Silva’s men. Brentford’s first run of five consecutive league stalemates since 1957 leaves them behind sixth-placed Chelsea on goal difference ahead of a trip to Old Trafford in eight days time. It was a much better point for Fulham, who now sit in twelfth place, three points behind Brentford having played a game more. The spring seems to have slipped from their step in the closing weeks of the campaign once again, however, with European qualification tantalising close.
BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Keheller; Kayode, Lewis-Potter, van den Berg, Collins; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Schade, Damsgaard; Igor Thiago. Subs (not used): Valdimarsson, Hickey, Ajer, Pinnock, Stephenson, Shield, Bentt, Donovan, Nelson.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, R. Sessegnon (A. Robinson 81), Andersen, Bassey; Lukic, Cairney (Bobb 81); Wilson, Iwobi (Chukwueze 41), King (Smith Rowe 67); Muniz (Jimenez 67). Subs (not used): Lecomte, Diop, Berge, Reed.
BOOKED: Lukic.
REFEREE: Peter Bankes (Liverpool).
ATTENDANCE: 17,771