Hit & miss Tom points the way to play-offs
TOM CAIRNEY scored then missed a penalty as Fulham virtually booked their Championship play-off spot despite being frustrated by their west London rivals.
With Leeds also being held, it would need a 13-goal swing on the final day of the season for the Cottagers to miss out.
Cairney opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Nico Yennaris equalised 11 minutes before half-time.
Fulham laid siege but Cairney had a penalty saved and Brentford keeper Dan Bentley’s heroics ensured honours ended even.
The breakthrough came after a slick interchange saw Sone Aluko feed Ryan Sessegnon, who bore down on goal and unselfishly picked out Cairney to stroke his 12th goal of the season.
The Scotland star then fired over after more neat work involving Sessegnon and the Cottagers should have extended their lead when Floyd Ayite somehow blasted over after 24 minutes.
Brentford were being run ragged but levelled when Konstantin Kerschbaumer sent Yennaris through and the midfielder made no mistake from 20 yards.
Then on the stroke of half-time referee Darren Bond awarded a spot-kick after Yoann Barbet hauled down Stefan Johansen.
But for the ninth time this season, Fulham failed from 12 yards as Cairney was denied by Bentley, who also pounced on the rebound.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jovanovic believes they are a team to be feared.
The Serb said: “We will start thinking of the play-offs but we must not stand still.
“Are we the team to fear? Yes. We are in good form and we play with confidence. But I cannot be satisfied with the result. We made one mistake and they punished us hard.”
Brentford boss Dean Smith said: “It was a different performance than we have put on in recent weeks. It was fast-flowing and attacking football but we also had to defend resolutely at times.
“I’m really pleased to come here and get a point.
“We were down to the bare bones in the end. We lost Rico Henry while Ryan Woods also pulled up.”