Brentford 3-2 Fulham: Ivan Toney scores as Bees boost European hopes with win
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Ivan Toney has scored 22 consecutive penalties for Brentford
Brentford's impressive Premier League season continued as they overcame west London derby rivals Fulham at the Gtech Community Stadium to keep their hopes of European football very much alive.
Bees' striker Ivan Toney was the talisman once more, making it 22 successes out of 22 from the penalty spot for Brentford as they closed to within three points of sixth-placed Newcastle United.
Toney is playing under a cloud as he faces a ban after accepting breaking Football Association betting rules, but he was outstanding here as Brentford secured a deserved three points.
Thomas Frank's side made a lightning start and could have scored three times even before Ethan Pinnock's shot deflected off Tim Ream to put Brentford ahead after only six minutes.
Fulham are having an outstanding season of their own, and they finally gained a foothold before drawing level six minutes before the break when Israel forward Manor Solomon continued his rich vein of form, heading in the rebound after Andreas Pereira's free-kick struck the post.
Brentford regained the momentum, with both Bryan Mbeumo and Toney hitting the woodwork with free-kicks, and were awarded a 53rd-minute penalty when Issa Diop fouled Christian Norgaard.
Toney, as is his custom, beat Bernd Leno with ease.
Mathias Jensen sealed the win from close range five minutes from time following good work by Kevin Schade with Carlos Vinicius' stoppage-time goal for Fulham nothing more than a consolation.
Brentford's eyes on Europe
Brentford's supporters finished this game singing about the prospect of a place in Europe next season and why not as this remarkable story goes on?
Manager Frank has done a superb job, leading a group of players inspired by Toney, who now has 16 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions this season.
Toney's immediate future is under that cloud after alleged breaches of betting rules and there is no doubt any absence would be a huge setback, but such is the spirit, character and ability built by Frank in this side that they could yet take it in their stride.
Brentford started with so much pace and intensity they threatened to blow Fulham away, and then showed their self-belief and resilience to regather their forces after Marco Silva's side forced their way back into contention with an equaliser.
Those supporters who pack into the Gtech Community Stadium are living the dream and it shows no sign of ending yet.
Asked whether Brentford can make the European places, Frank told BBC Sport: "For me it is very important that we are allowed to dream. I always want to aim as high as possible but it is important to not get too carried away.
"We are in a good place and it is all about continuing."
Brentford 3-2 Fulham: Bees 'allowed to dream' of European qualification - Thomas Frank
Disappointing night for Fulham
Fulham still have European aspirations of their own as they have been a revelation under the guidance of Marco Silva since their return to the Premier League, but they ended well beaten by their London rivals.
Vinicius' late bundled goal gave the scoreline a flattering appearance for Fulham as it came with virtually the last kick of the game.
Silva's big players Aleksandar Mitrovic and Willian were unable to exert any influence, snuffed out by Brentford's defending, and both endured a frustrating evening.
There was hope when the prolific Solomon reacted first to Pereira's shot hitting the woodwork but Brentford soon re-asserted their authority.
Fulham remain in a superb seventh place despite this setback and must now regroup as they face Premier League leaders Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Sunday before an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Silva said: "Disappointing result of course, we wanted to fight for the three points.
"We know it was a derby, we knew the type of game they were going to play and they are strong at that type of game - a lot of challenges, a lot of duels, strong running in behind and we started sloppy.
"It was too sloppy. We didn't start aggressively enough, not brave enough and not with the quality we should have done. I am going to analyse it with the players and show them why things happen. We knew before how we should have started and we didn't start in that way."
Brentford 3-2 Fulham: Cottagers 'too sloppy' in defeat says Marco Silva
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