Bees come from behind to beat west London rivals
Brentford up to fourth after late win
Cardiff see off 10-man Reading
Pearce was sent off in the first half
Image source, Getty ImagesRoss McCormack has done his bit since signing for Fulham for £11m from Leeds in the summer. As well as finding the net, he has provided six goals for the club this season. He just needs his mates to chip in a bit more...
The opening few minutes have been like the first round in a boxing match as both sides feel each other out without going for the jugular. The hosts are enjoying most of the ball but are yet to threaten.
The sold out signs are up at Griffin Park for the first time this season and you get the feeling it may happen more frequently in the months to come if Brentford continue their impressive start to the season.
Brentford in the Premier League?
Game on in Wales as well. We will let you when any major incidents happen here.
Fulham may be second in the Championship form guide over the past six games but there are signs to suggest they could struggle at Griffin Park.
Brentford have won three of their last four home games, drawing the other one, with their last home defeat against Norwich on 16 September.
The Cottagers have won only one of their last six away games, but did win 1-0 at Griffin Park in the Capital One Cup on 26 August.
We are under way...
The teams are out at a very loud Griffin Park, with both managers clearly looking forward to what is to come.
Brentford boss Mark Warburton on Sky Sports: It is testament to the hard work of these players, these are the games we worked hard to achieve."
Fulham boss Kit Symons: "We respect Brentford fully and we know we will have to be at our best to get anything from tonight. It is a local derby and it means so much to both sets of fans."
Image source, Getty ImagesSorry Brentford fans but runs always have to come to an end. Maybe this year?
If Cardiff or Reading are realistically harbouring promotion hopes, they better find some consistent form and quick.
The Royals, under the management of Nigel Adkins, have at least won two of their last four, but that follows a run of seven winless matches in all competitions.
Cardiff, who saw Russell Slade replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as boss in October, have only won one of their last four matches but have won four in a row at home. A win for the Bluebirds would move to within two points of the play-offs.
Both will fancy their chances of getting back in the mix but they need to close the gap soon.
Image source, Getty ImagesForget blaming the Michael Jackson statue for Fulham's woes, surely their managerial instability had had a lot more to do with it?
Kit Symons is their fourth manager since the start of last season, following the dismissals of Martin Jol, Rene Meulensteen and Felix Magath.
At last though they seem to have found someone the supporters can connect with. After more than 100 appearances for the club as a player, he is at least in a good starting place.
Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live
"From a players' perspective, we're torn apart for the way we behave and act because we're role models. So I think it's poor that some members of the hierarchy are behaving this way and saying things that they're saying. It's disappointing to say the least.
"Wigan captain Emmerson Boyce has spoke positively about Malky Mackay's arrival. Boyce has been at that club for as long as I can remember and huge part of that club's history, lifting the FA Cup for them.
"He doesn't deserve to be in this position. What else is he going to say? I doubt he will turn around and say I'm not going to play for this club."
Listen to BBC Radio 5 live reviewing more of the events in football over the past few days and previewing the Premier League matches to come by clicking on the Live coverage tab at the top of the page.
So, what has happened to Fulham?
After relegation from the Premier League for the first time in 13 years last season, Fulham were tipped by most for an instant return after spending in the region of £11m on Leeds's Ross McCormack.
But, seven defeats in a winless first eight Championship matches, left them rock bottom as boss Felix Magath paid the price with his job - having only been in charge since February.
Under the stewardship of former defender Kit Symons, things are now on the up and, unbeaten in their last six league matches, Fulham have climbed to 17th. Too late for a promotion charge? They are only nine points adrift.
Image source, BrentfordBrentford on Twitter:, external It's the calm before the storm here at Griffin Park.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat a story Brentford's rise has been under boss Mark Warburton.
The Bees were promoted to football's second-tier for the first time since 1993 last season and are now in the Championship play-off zone after three straight wins.
The club are set to move into a new 20,000-seater stadium at Lionel Road for the start of the 2016-17 campaign and are desperate to establish themselves in this league, where they have spent only eight seasons since the end of the World War Two.
Not a bad start.
BBC Radio 5 live
Manchester United travel to the Emirates Stadium tomorrow in the Premier League as just one of a number of mouth-watering matches. Tune into BBC Radio 5 live now to hear all the matches previewed. You can listen to by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of the page.
Cardiff's international duo Anthony Pilkington and Kenwyne Jones start while Bruno Ecuele Manga and Mats Daehli are on the bench after international duty.
Injuries rule Jamie Mackie (hamstring) and Pavel Pogrebnyak (knee) out of the side for Reading.
Cardiff: Marshall, Brayford, Turner, S Morrison, Connolly, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Pilkington, le Fondre, Macheda. Subs. Fabio, Ecuele Manga, Adeyemi, Jones, Daehli, R Morrison, Moore.
Reading: Federici, Kelly, Gunter (C), Pearce, Hector, Norwood, Williams, Robson-Kanu, Obita, Murray, Cox. Subs. Andersen, Cummings, Cooper, Tshibola, Taylor, McCleary, Blackman
With Brentford boss Mark Warburton taking his side into the Championship play-off places, having given up a career in banking, it got me thinking about career changes.
Are there any football players or managers you think would be well suited to another profession? Maybe some have already made a surprise shift?
Let us know via #bbcfootball, on the BBC Sport Facebook page or text 81111 (UK users only).
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you ever fancy a career change but wonder whether it is realistic, take Brentford boss Mark Warburton as an inspiration.
After spending the majority of his playing days with non-league side Enfield FC, he changed directions and became a City trader after retirement.
He turned his back on the cash though to move back into football with Watford's academy and the rest is history, having guided Brentford to promotion and to sixth in the Championship.
Brentford midfielder Jonathan Douglas returns from suspension for their clash with neighbours Fulham.
Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is fit after a thumb injury and starts.
Brentford: Button, Odubajo, Craig, Dean, Bidwell, Douglas, Diagouraga, Toral, Judge, Pritchard, Gray. Subs. Bonham, Saunders, Dallas, Tarkowski, Jota, Smith, Proschwitz
Fulham: Bettinelli; Zverotic, Bodurov, Burn, Stafylidis; Parker; Christensen, Williams; Ruiz; Rodallega, McCormack. Subs. Kiraly, Hutchinson, Roberts, Woodrow, Eisfeld, Dembele, Hyndman
Image source, Getty ImagesCardiff City owner Vincent Tan has been in the news again today, accusing Wigan counterpart Dave Whelan of being "a racist".
The Malaysian businessman criticised Whelan for using derogatory comments about Jews and the word "chink" in an interview with a national newspaper.
Whelan has denied being racist, but Tan said: "I think he insulted the dignity of all Jewish people. I think he insulted the dignity of Chinese."
"This is a racist chairman hiring a racist manager," Tan told BBC Sport's David Ornstein. "I hope that stops at two racists in Wigan, not snowballing to 2,000 or 20,000 racists in Wigan."
BBC Radio 5 live
The Weekend Football Preview is under way on BBC Radio 5 live, where Mark Chapman is previewing the weekend's football with former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas and ex-England man Paul Ince.
It has certainly been a busy couple of days with Sheffield United retracting their offer for convicted rapist Ched Evans to train at their club, Malky Mackay returning to management at Wigan and Latics owner Dave Whelan being accused of being a racist by Cardiff chief Vincent Tan.
All will be discussed on the show this evening as well as the Premier League action ahead this weekend. It promises to be a lively one. You can listen by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of the page.
