All Said and done in last few minutes of Cottage collision
SAID BENRAHMA and Emiliano Marcondes stepped up for the Bees – after they saw Bryan Mbeumo fail a coronavirus test.
Dramatic late goals clinched a vital victory for Brentford in a huge derby promotion clash.
It was virtually a must-win game for Brentford, who now retain their chance of automatic promotion.
And they managed it without Mbeumo, who tested positive in the last-but-one round of tests – kept secret by manager Thomas Frank to throw Fulham off the scent.
The appearance of Marcondes off the bench in the 70th minute was decisive. He set up Benrahma in the 88th minute, and then fired home himself in stoppage time.
The home defeat for Fulham
– who have not beaten Brentford at Craven Cottage for 30 years – was a huge blow to their own hopes of finishing in the top two.
Bees boss Frank was delighted with Marcondes’ show. He said: “I spoke to Emiliano on Thursday and told him he would have a big role. If he plays like that when he comes on, he makes a case for 90 minutes.”
After 105 days away from competition Josh DaSilva had the first shot in anger for the visitors, bringing a sprawling save from Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak.
At the other end Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Championship top scorer, had an early header from Neeskens Kebano’s cross.
And Fulham came within a couple of inches of taking the lead in the 16th minute. Harrison Reed fed Bobby Decordova-Reid, and his shot beat David Raya but smashed against the crossbar.
Rodak saved well from Tarique Fosu-Henry, as Ollie Watkins and Benrahma started to come alive before the break.
After half-time Fulham looked sharper. Anthony Knockaert and Decordova-Reid almost fashioned a chance for Mitrovic, and the Serb then hit the target but saw his effort ruled out for offside.
Raya then pulled off a point-blank save from Mitrovic’s closerange header to deny him a 24th goal of the interrupted season.
And the forward could have done better with a late header.
But Brentford saved the best until late.
First sub Marcondes crossed from the right and Benrahma steered the ball home from a tight angle.
And then Marcondes himself sealed a vital victory after the favour was returned with the second in the first minute of stoppage time.
Fulham boss Scott Parker said: “We have not manged to get a result and it is bitterly disappointing.”