Bedlam. One moment of ingenuity to shatter Brentford’s resistance. Time was running out when Fulham, who had dominated from the first whistle, launched one more attack and two substitutes combined. Adama Traoré crossed and Harry Wilson, contorting his body at a ridiculous angle, produced an astonishing flicked volley to seemingly rescue a point for Marco Silva’s side.
In truth, it would have been a travesty if Brentford, ahead through a brutal strike from Vitaly Janelt midway through the second half, had won this west London derby. Thomas Frank’s side had barely played any football. They sat deep and took every opportunity to indulge in a spot of gamesmanship.
It was frustrating to watch and Fulham could have crumbled. Instead, they kept pushing. Wilson’s equaliser sparked a wild finish. Brentford almost won it, only to miss a glorious chance for 2-1. Fulham went up the other end and Antonee Robinson crossed for Wilson, whose brilliant header looped beyond Mark Flekken to earn Silva’s team their first win in four matches and sent Fulham into the top half.
This was frenetic from the start, the tackles thundering in and gaps evident at both ends. Fulham were first to threaten, Reiss Nelson forcing a smart save from Flekken, and it was impossible to quibble with the quality of their football during the opening 20 minutes. Nelson, all quick feet and elegant dribbling on his first league start since joining from Arsenal, was in an adventurous mood on the left and there was much to like about his combinations with Emile Smith Rowe, who took encouragement from how much space he was finding in between the lines.
Brentford needed to be tighter, more compact, quicker to close down Fulham’s creators. Much of the play was coming down the left, overwhelming the overworked Mads Roerslev, and more chances arrived. Robinson found Smith Rowe, whose shot was blocked, and it is unlikely that Frank will have enjoyed the moment when Nelson, rolling the ball under his feet, was allowed to glide straight through the middle, the danger subsiding only when Nathan Collins stepped across to block the winger off.
That was a reminder that Frank could trust his players not to roll over. Brentford had threatened sporadically, Robinson required to make an important tackle on Bryan Mbeumo, but they were ready to dig in. Christian Nørgaard put himself about in midfield, Flekken wound up the home fans by taking an age over every goalkick and it was not entirely surprising when the sucker punch arrived in the 24th minute.
It came from Brentford making their physicality count. They won possession in midfield with a few bruising challenges and Nørgaard found Janelt. Fulham were exposed and there was no hesitation from Janelt, the connection true as the midfielder drove through the ball with his left foot and watched it soar past Bernd Leno from 25 yards.
Brentford had something to hold on to. Fulham pressed for an equaliser, Robinson sending in a dangerous ball and Flekken saving a header from Smith Rowe, but their frustration was growing. Janelt could have doubled the lead before half-time, only for his shot to be deflected wide.
The question was whether Brentford, who lost from a goal up at Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, could finally protect a lead on the road. Fulham were still pushing them back. Alex Iwobi shot wide early in the second half and Collins had to make two more big challenges on Raul Jiménez.
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Brentford were defending well, Collins and Ethan Pinnock a powerful duo in the air, and they were looking for openings on the break. Keane Lewis-Potter was encouraged to shoot after jinking past Kenny Tete but his effort flew over.
Not much was happening, which was a problem for Fulham. Nelson left a deep cross for Robinson, who miscontrolled. Someone had to take more responsibility. Jiménez was being marked out of the game. Silva eventually turned to his bench and introduced the unpredictable Traoré.
With Brentford putting numbers behind the ball, it seemed there would be no way through. Wilson had other ideas. Craven Cottage could not believe it. The celebrations were long and loud.
