Fulham

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Remember, remember the fourth of November.

A good derby needs fireworks - and there were plenty on Monday night as we finally made injury time work in our favour.

The show-stopping explosions came from the most unlikely of sources. Harry Wilson has been impressing for Wales for months, but can’t crack into the embarrassment of attacking riches we have in our starting XI. However, last night he reminded us what he’s capable of, and turned the West London derby on its head.

Fulham versus Brentford is a tussle that is largely overlooked, but it’s got plenty of needle. The clubs are geographically close, and the supporters love to get one over on each other.

But in the past decade we’ve not had the better of our noisy neighbours, winning just four out of 17 meetings before Monday, compared to the Bees’ eight victories. In fact, Monday’s win was only our second at home in 34 years.

The fact we won by far the most important of our clashes, at Wembley in the play-off final, obscures these facts, but it was important this week to put in a performance that illustrated where we all think this side is headed under Marco Silva

And there were plenty of whizzes, bangs, and pops on the night. Reiss Nelson answered calls for him to start by being a pocket rocket, charging at Brentford and causing all sorts of problems. Kenny Tete knew it was a derby from the off, hustling and harrying.

And then there was Wilson himself, subbed on by Silva with less than 10 minutes to go, determined to show he still has that spark that can propel him back into first team contention.

Derby done and dusted, it’s onto Crystal Palace. Get a result there, and who knows how high we can shoot up the table.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

The statistics show that there can be little argument Fulham were the dominant side against Brentford and got what they deserved.

But as Marco Silva said in his post-match interview, you don't always get what you deserve in football.

The home side had a total of 26 shots, compared to Brentford's five, but needed two goals in stoppage time to finally make their dominance count.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Fulham and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans:

Ben: Phenomenal performance in almost very department and our ability to win the ball back constantly was great. Nelson and Smith Rowe had great link-up play, but the cutting edge was so prominent. They nearly held on for it but Wilson got the win and, against Brentford, it doesn’t matter how because they’ve had the bragging rights for too long!

Bob: Frustrating! But what a player we have in Wilson. He needs to start ahead of Pereira or we'll lose him in the January window. Robinson is superb - he has amazing pace for a big guy and is another one we need to keep. We have the ability in the players we have, they just need to finish better. Too many wasted chances. We're looking up though and so we should.

Joseph: It is obvious that we were really dominant up top, but given that we had 26 shots, and only scored two, means that we really need to work on our shooting. We also need a better set-piece coach desperately - we still haven't scored from a corner this season. Brentford defended brilliantly, and good luck to them.

Andy: Fantastic result. Thought we weren't going to be able to break them down even though we set up camp in their half the whole second half. Sat watching it in an Icelandic pub and won over locals to supporting Fulham. Now we celebrate!

Brentford fans:

Tim: Weird substitution choices and a complete lack of possession or attacking intent in the second half did it for us. It wasn't so much Fulham's press, it was more our lack of ability to complete more than two passes. Another failure to keep a clean sheet is the biggest worry.

Will: What a gutting result. To hold on to 1-0 until stoppage time and let two in... it's just horrible. Feel like we sat back and you just can't absorb the pressure of that many shots, even if only half-chances, and expect to keep points. Our subs were ineffective, and theirs stole the show. Fair play to Fulham, though - they never gave up.

Paul: So tired of the Bees being so negative. Got what they deserved, I'm afraid. The whole team was very poor. You can't park the bus for 90 minutes - show some adventure. Just hope home form continues otherwise it's the Championship.

Gary: We were poor from the start and very fortunate to go in front from a great Janelt goal. It was downhill after that apart from backs-to-the-wall defending. Very poor all round - no control of the ball, no progression, no attack. It was all coming from Fulham. Worst I have seen Brentford play for a long long time. Must do much better and very soon!

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Fulham boss Marco Silva says he knows it has been hard for match-winner Harry Wilson to deal with a lack of minutes so far in the Premier League.

The Wales international has not yet started a game and his heroics in the dramatic late win over Brentford on Monday will mean it is going to be harder to leave him out.

After the match, Silva was pictured speaking to Wilson as the team celebrated.

"I said that he deserved the moment. It's been tough for him and I know it," Silva said.

"He's been so important for us. He is a top lad, a top guy and he wants to play more.

"I congratulate him and said he deserves the moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Marco Silva following the 2-1 win over Brentford: "We definitely deserved the three points. No doubts about it.

"We saw a little bit of what has been our season so far - being dominant in most of the games, the best team on the pitch most of the games and creating much more chances than the opposition side. But the reality is that, in some moments, we didn't get so far the points that we deserve from the game.

"From the first minute, on the front foot was Fulham. First 20 minutes of the game, I think we did create two or three clear chances to score. And from nowhere - they didn't have anything until that moment - the shot 25 yards from the goal, and they scored.

"The reality is that we didn't lose the confidence. We tried and tried, kept pushing them back and trying many different ways to score, and the result was really unfair at half-time.

"I told the players that we have to keep pushing hard, and it's going to be tough for [Brentford] to keep always blocking everything. I have to give credit to them. They defended really hard their box - 10 players always around their box, a lot of bodies there. But the reality is that we didn't give up.

"Normally, Harry Wilson plays more on the right-hand side. In that moment, we tried him a little bit closer to Rodrigo in the pocket areas to arrive. We know that he smells it - he has good timing to arrive in the box. We were rewarded for that."

Did you know?

• Wilson's goal is Fulham’s latest winner in a Premier League game at 96 minutes and 46 seconds.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham’s performance, external

What did you make of Brentford’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 10, he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

My first thought here was a Fulham win, until I saw Brentford won this fixture 3-0 last season. On closer inspection, they have a really good record at Craven Cottage.

They have played 12 games there since 1990, winning six and drawing five of them, so it seems to be one of their luckier grounds.

I'm going to stick with my instincts, though. Fulham were unlucky not to beat Everton last week and they have impressed me when I have seen them play this season.

I have a feeling they will get the job done this time, although it is going to be close.

Brad's prediction: 0-1

They are right next to each other in the table, so this is going to be close... but I'm going to give it to Brentford.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sasa Lukic is out until after the international break but Timothy Castagne is back in training and expected to be in the matchday squad.

• On Fulham's season so far: "The signs are there, the performances are there. The dressing room was sad after the Everton match. The way we started the season is positive. We have to punish teams more when we have good moments."

• On Alex Iwobi's new song: "I haven't listened to it! The boys were talking about it in the gym. He has a lot of talent, I'm sure it's very good."

• On Bernd Leno: "Since he joined the club, his performances have been top. In my opinion, he's one of the three best goalkeepers in the league."

• On Manchester United's new boss Ruben Amorim: "He's someone that I know well, it's always important to see a friend going in the direction that was his ambition too. He's a very good coach and I wish him all the best, just not against us."

• On Brentford: "They're a very good side, they've been consistent in the last few seasons. The way they have been playing, many years with most of the same players and the same manager, showing the consistency that this league demands."

• Silva continued: "Local derbies are more special, probably more intense, it's always a tough game. Away or at home against them is always tough. They have been scoring many goals but at the same time conceding too. They have good players on the attacking line, always solid, most of the time playing with four central defenders in the back four as well."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football ne

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Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has released his second single called 'What's Luv?'

Iwobi, who has made over 260 top-flight appearances, made history earlier this year by becoming the first Premier League footballer to have a single released, with his debut song ‘Don’t Shoot’.

"Music has always been a passion of mine, and a way for me to express myself away from football," he said. "Music is a great tool, and I’ve always used it as a productive way to share how I feel. Historically no Premier League player has brought out music with their name and face attached to it, but I like to be different and make a difference.

"Growing up in an area of London that is challenging for some people, I know how hard it can be and I’m grateful to have a platform to try and make a difference. Alongside the work we do in the community, I hope that my music is another way of proving that young people do not have to feel they have to fit in just one box.

"I want them to be encouraged to achieve their dreams, to put their focus into positive things. Creating music doesn’t take anything away from my football, it helps me switch off."

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I have got my Halloween costume sorted - I am going to dress up as Fulham in the last five minutes of a Premier League game.

Saturday saw another late horror show and more points dropped. It was an appropriate farewell to Goodison Park, a ground that - until recently - was one of our least happy hunting grounds.

The stat doing the rounds is that Fulham have dropped 10 points from winning positions this season. Those points would put us hot on Manchester City's heels in second place. But football is a game of 90 minutes - and modern football is even longer than that.

These late, low moments make it so difficult to judge this season - and gauge how good this iteration of Marco Silva's Fulham really is.

One thing is clear; we will be looking up the table and not nervously down it. That is still a novel feeling. And though we finished 10th in our first season back in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago, this squad is capable of finishing higher.

Much is made of our "Hale End trio" - Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson and record signing Emile Smith Rowe - and rightly so. Iwobi is adding goals to his game as he demonstrated on Saturday, Smith Rowe is showing glimpses of his class as he continues to get up to speed, and calls for Nelson to start games are growing ever louder.

Also, late goal aside, our defence is as solid as a unit as it has been in years. Issa Diop slotted in for the colossal Joachim Andersen on Saturday and impressed. It is that sort of squad depth that will help us if we are to push on across the next 29 games.

So there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Our next three games offer a real chance to form a more solid opinion of this Fulham side. It is Brentford in the West London derby, followed by lowly duo Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Suffice to say, we will be hoping for no tricks and plenty of treats.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

There was late drama...

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And late drama...

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And late drama...

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Sometimes you just can't escape it.

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There were returns to goalscoring ways...

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And goalscoring partnerships...

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While sometimes the spoils just have to be shared...

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And after a busy day at work, sometimes you just need a lie down.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Andy: A tough watch. We were so passive. We were lucky to take a point really, but our run continues. The goal clearly meant a lot to Beto and I'm pleased for him. Young had another decent game and he showed great skill with the assist. We need to take three points against Southampton now.

Anton: We somehow drew, so that shows good character, but we were so poor. I do love Sean Dyche but he needs to figure out how to play at Goodison Park because it is just not good enough. The derby last season is the blueprint. How we set up to play works very well away, but he needs to find a new way for the home ground. It's a good job the next two matches are away.

Chris: When is Sean Dyche going to learn that with the amount of possession that Everton concede to the opposition, they are not going to win enough games to stay in the Premier League. They are simply not good enough!

Marshall: As a long-time Everton supporter, I live in hope that we will be winning games more often and move up the table. I have to say that I was quite disappointed with our performance. The only saving grace was our effort towards the end and, of course, Beto's great goal! I sometimes wonder how the team prepares during the week, to be honest.

Fulham fans

Simon: A much improved display from last week. We were easily the better team but we simply must learn to concentrate, and defend, for the whole game. With three central defenders on the pitch, giving a free header to Beto in the 94th minute is not good enough. We shouldn't always have to score more than one goal to win games.

Lucas: Disappointing result. Once again we threw it away and it is fair to say that every Fulham fan knew what would happen. It has happened time and time again. The goal was good and I thought Sander Berge was decent. It is just a shame. We need to stop allowing pressure to come on us and playing for the 1-0. Also, how many chances does Pereira need before he gets dropped?

Jim: How can you have so much possession and only one goal? I think Pereira needs to think about his team-mates. We really move well and then it falls apart in front of goal, so perhaps there ought to be some instruction about who is our "target man" and a plan for getting the ball to him.

Philip: The lack of a number nine has been a problem for two years now. We should be a top-six team but we miss so many chances that a good goalscorer would take.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

Fulham manager Marco Silva has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the draw: "It's so tough for us and players in the dressing room. We didn't give them any chances to press high. We frustrated their press. We controlled the game.

"We created clear chances to score. The result is really unfair because we should have scored one or two more goals. We had one or two chances to score again. These games are always tough when you are so much better than the opposition.

"We should have scored the second goal to completely kill their hopes. We didn't. Unfortunately for us came a moment where we should have done much better to defend the ball into the box.

"The players are down right now, but they should be proud with the way we played. The points will come for us by being more clinical, a little bit more quality in the attack. We should have scored more because we created enough.

"When I say we are down, it is because football wasn't fair this evening.

"It's not easy to come here and control the way we did it. Looking at the bigger picture, we have to be pleased with the way we have started the season. We should have more points then we have really because they [the players] deserve that.

"The way they have been playing, we probably deserve more but if you continue this way, the good things will come for us."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have dropped 10 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, only Brentford (11 points) have lost more.