Harry Wilson hauntedBrentfordonce again as Fulham scored twice in two minutes to come from behind and claim west London bragging rights at the Gtech Community Stadium. Wilson scored a stoppage-time double in November’s reverse fixture to snatch victory and his 70th-minute effort, moments after Tom Cairney equalised, proved decisive.
Raúl Jiménez had opened the scoring for the visitors before Bryan Mbeumo – who had a first-half penalty saved – and Yoane Wissa both netted their 19th goals of the campaign. Cairney, who is yet to be offered a new deal at Craven Cottage with his contract expiring in the summer, forced parity before his fellow substitute Wilson repeated his heroics.
Both sides have been vying for an eighth-place finish and what is now an outside possibility of a Conference League spot in recent weeks, after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win.
Wissa squandered a golden chance from a one-on-one at one end moments beforeFulhamconverted in the 16th minute. Adama Traoré, whose contract at Craven Cottage was extended by a year this week, whipped in a looping delivery and Jiménez produced enough power on his header to prevent Mark Flekken from keeping the ball out.
The crowd was playing its part in a feisty affair, with both sides opting to go end to end. But it was Brentford who pounced not long after Jiménez’s goal to level the scores in the 22nd minute. Traoré went from hero to villain when he had his pocket picked in midfield and Wissa linked with Mbeumo on the right of the box before the latter drilled his effort with his weaker right foot into the bottom-left corner.
Minutes later Joachim Andersen brought Kevin Schade down in the area but Mbeumo saw his penalty saved by Bernd Leno. Brentford’s persistence was eventually rewarded, however, with their physical advantage paying dividends off a set piece. Fulham failed to deal with a long throw and the Brentford captain, Christian Nørgaard, was on hand at the back post to nod his effort through the palms of Leno before Wissa prodded the ball over the line.
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Fulham forced a 68th-minute leveller through Cairney, who nodded home from close range. Two minutes later, shouts of “shoot” from the away fans rung around the stadium, with Wilson obliging with a curved effort from distance that left Flekken rooted to the spot.