BRYAN DOUBLE HITS JACKPOT
Joe fires Fulham straight back up
FOR a few tortured moments, silence enveloped this deserted stadium. After 105 minutes, in which Brentford and Fulham had both refused to twist, Joe Bryan took a gamble and hit the £135million jackpot.
With the defender standing over a free-kick 40 yards from goal, everyone — including Brentford keeper David Raya — awaited the cross. Instead, Bryan curled his shot for the near post. Raya scrambled, hearts stood still and then? Bedlam on the Fulham bench.
Not content with that,, Bryan added a second when he showed howed fast feet to finish after a slick one-two.
Valiant Brentford fought ht back in vain via a header r from Henrik Dalsgaard deep in overtime but it was far too late.
And so this year-long tussle for promotion — between two sides boasting the Championship’s most prolific forwards — was eventually settled by a left back with one league goal oal before last night.
For Brentford, who have enjoyed a fairytale campaign and whohopridepride themselves on marginal gains at set pieces, the opener will sting.
As for this defeat — which extends their 73-year wait for topflight football — those wounds could take a while to heal.
Scott Parker’s Fulham were the better side for long periods last night.
They the lion’s share of the chances, Josh Onomah and winger Neeskens Kebano — heroes of their semi-final win over Cardiff — came closest before extra time.
Without a win in eight previous play-off attempts, Brentford knew defeat here would make them the worst side in the format’s history.
Heading into this final of final pushes, though, Fulham had a joker up their sleeve.
Aleksandar Mitrovic missed both legs of the semi-final through injury and he sat out the first 90 mminutes herhere, too. OnlOnl y in added time did ParkerPark call on theth Championship’s Ch golden boot winner. He has 30 minutes to do what no one else could.
Parker knew his year-long rebuild would be judged on this night alone, so the decision to leave Mitrovic on the bench was a brave one.
Yes, last week’s semi-final second-leg defeat by Cardiff was the first loss in eight Championship matches which the striker has missed this season.
But without his 26 goals, Fulham’s dreams of an immediate return to the top flight would have died long before now.
When he has been absent, Parker has needed others to provide the same blend of quality and clout.
Midfielder Onomah provided just that against Cardiff and again here he had three chances to be an early hero.
With Aboubakar Kamara leading the line tirelessly, Fulham started the quicker and on four minutes Onomah drove from the halfway line and unleashed a shot from distance.
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was equal to it but soon he gifted Parker’s side another opening. From a heavy back pass, Raya could only stab the ball to Bobby Decordova-Reid inside his own area.
Eventually the ball squirmed to Onomah, the goal gaping. Instead he looked to pass and the chance went begging.
But with Brentford struggling to gain a foothold, the midfielder didn’t have to wait long for another sight of goal.
This time, Tom Cairney’s neat reverse ball found Onomah inside the box. And this time, Raya dug out a smart one-handed save down to his right.
Although on level terms, Brentford could hardly keep the ball, let alone build any pressure. Their press was being bypassed, their 59-goal forward line was feeding off the odd long ball.
Perhaps, given the chasm in experience of occasions like this, it’s no surprise they took longer to settle.
But midway through the first half, they created a chance a last. From the right, Mathias Jensen’s teasing cross was floating towards the head of Bryan Mbeumo when Michael Hector found a vital header to avert the danger.
It was a deft touch from the centre back. Harrison Reed’s contact with Christian Norgaard’s ankle minutes later was anything but.
Sliding to collect a loose ball, studs up, the Fulham midfielder crashed into his opposite number. He was given a yellow but had VAR been in play — as Frank had demanded — Stockley Park would have had a call to make.
Without that helping hand, Brentford continued to stutter. There were none of the relentless waves of attack that have carried them this far.
Instead, it was Parker’s side — with their patient passing and neat interplay — who occasionally enlightened the game.
Then, moments into the second half, the few Fulham faces inside Wembley thought that pressure had finally paid off.
After Decordova-Reid was fouled just outside the box, Kebano fired a free-kick towards goal. Against Cardiff, he found the back of the net. Here, his effort curled just the wrong side of the post.
Frank had claimed Brentford were so ready that it wouldn’t matter what he said in the dressing room. But as his side threatened to freeze on a third shot at
promotion, they yearned for some inspiration from somewhere.
instead, on the hour, they were given another let- off. a Fulham cross from the right found its way to Decordova-reid, who brought the ball down but blazed high and wide from 10 yards out.
Frank then blinked first — breaking up his ‘BMW’ by bringing on emiliano Marcondes for Mbeumo.