West London rivals Fulham provide our final derby opponents of the campaign, with both sides knowing that this will be a Premier League fixture again next season.
They have had a decent campaign – securing safety a while ago and also reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Fulham have the ninth best home record in the division, but the fifth worst away record, with only Everton, Luton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United picking up fewer points on the road.
Their three away wins have come at Everton (1-0) on the opening day of the season, at Manchester United (2-1) in February, and at West Ham (2-0) in their last away game three weeks ago.
WHO’S IN CHARGE
Marco Silva replaced Scott Parker at the helm at Fulham in July 2021, making him now the 11th longest-serving manager in all four divisions and sixth longest in the Premier League.
He led the Cottagers to the Championship title in his first season, meaning they were the fourth Premier League team he had managed after previous spells in charge of Hull, Watford and Everton.
Silva started his managerial career in his native Portugal with Estoril, before moving on to Sporting and then going to Greece to manage Olympiacos.
He spent his playing career as a right-back in Portugal, starting at Belenenses and finishing with Estoril, for whom he made the most appearances of his career, during which he played for nine clubs.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
Saturday will be Fulham’s third visit to the Gtech after losing their first two.
The first was in October 2020, played without fans because of the Covid lockdown, when we won 3-0 to reach the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Marcus Forss gave us the lead in the 37th minute and a second half double from Said Benrahma – including a brilliant second which proved to be his last goal for the club – took us comfortably through.
Then we won last season’s league game 3-2 on a Monday night in March.
Ethan Pinnock gave us an early lead, but Manor Solomon equalised shortly before half-time.
Ivan Toney restored the lead early in the second half with his 22nd successful penalty out of 22 for us and Kevin Schade set up a late third for Mathias Jensen, before Carlos Vinicius hit a consolation for Fulham deep into stoppage-time.
We stayed ninth in the table – one point and two places behind Fulham.
We lost last season’s away game early in the season when the Cottagers also won 3-2.
Bobby Decordova-Reid put them ahead in the first minute from close range and Joao Palhinha headed in a second, before Christian Norgaard volleyed us back into it from Bryan Mbeumo’s corner just before half-time.
Ivan Toney had two efforts disallowed before finally equalising for us from Yoane Wissa’s cutback, but Aleksandar Mitrovic had the final say – heading in a 90th-minute winner.
We gained revenge for that defeat earlier this season when in another August meeting, we triumphed 3-0 at the Cottage.
Yoanne Wissa gave us the lead on the stroke of half-time and Bryan Mbeumo doubled the lead from the spot midway through the second half after Tim Ream had been sent off for conceding the penalty by fouling Wissa. Mbeumo made it three in stoppage time after good work by Kristoffer Ajer.
Before we were both in the Premier League, our previous meeting was the 2020 Championship play-off final which Fulham won 2-1 after extra-time at a deserted Wembley.
All the goals came in extra-time with a double by Joe Bryan proving enough for them to win promotion, despite Henrik Dalsgaard’s late consolation.
Championship
Brentford had the upper hand in the five seasons in which we met in the Championship.
We won both the 2014/15 matches – 2-1 at home (Jota in the last minute) and 4-1 at the Cottage (in front of 6,000 travelling Bees), although we did lose a second round Capital One Cup tie 1-0 at Griffin Park.
We drew 2-2 at Fulham just before Christmas the following season, before winning the return 3-0 at the end of the campaign.
In 2016/17, the Cottagers grabbed their only league win so far in this series in a televised GP enounter, as a goal in each half from Sone Aluko and Tom Cairney, in second half stoppage time, gave them a 2-0 win.
A first half penalty save by Daniel Bentley from Tom Cairney, and a stop from the follow-up, ensured the Bees drew 1-1 at Fulham at the end of April. Cairney gave them an early lead but Nico Yennaris equalised after a one-two with Konstantin Kerschbaumer.
In 2017/18, despite Neeskens Kebano putting Fulham ahead midway through the first half at GP, Sergi Canos quickly equalised and then Romaine Sawyers put us ahead shortly after half-time. Denis Odoi was then sent off before Ollie Watkins’ third sealed a 3-1 win.
Aleksander Mitrovic put Fulham ahead in the 70th minute of the late-season return, but Neal Maupay’s last-gasp equaliser earned us a point in a 1-1 draw.
We did the double in 2019/20 with Bryan Mbeumo’s 22nd-minute goal enough for us to win 1-0 in our last Griffin Park meeting just before Christmas.
The return was the first match to be postponed because of the Covid suspension – and then was the first game played after matches resumed. Goals in the last three minutes from Said Benrahma and Emiliano Marcondes gave us a 2-0 victory in a match played in the middle of June.
OPPOSITION VIEW
BBC London presenter and commentator Emma Jones analyses Fulham’s season, looks ahead to the next campaign and recalls previous derbies between the sides.
Q – How would you assess Fulham’s season?
A – A lot of people might have expected Fulham to struggle, particularly because they lost Aleksandar Mitrovic so close the start of the season, without any time to replace him. It was also important that they held on to players like Joao Palhinha and Willian, and got goals out of Raul Jimenez and more recently Rodrigo Muniz. Marco Silva has said that because they lost Mitro, the fact they’ve not only managed to survive in the Premier League but have comfortably done so, is even more impressive than what they achieved last season.
Q – Having re-established themselves as a Premier League club, what are the club aiming for next season?
A – Fulham fans will fondly remember playing – and almost winning a trophy – in Europe in the not so distant past. However Marco Silva says he doesn’t currently have the budget of the sides who are more regularly competing for those European spots. But with a bit more investment that could be a realistic ambition next season
Q – How important is keeping Marco Silva to the club’s future?
A – He was offered a job in Saudi Arabia last summer, but said he wanted to stay in the Premier League, which he believes is the best league in the world. He’s been able to build a team that responds so well to him as a manager. You only have to look at how his work with, and his belief in, Rodrigo Muniz has transformed him as a player. Or the improved performances and impact of players like Andreas Pereira. It does mean he will continue to be linked with other jobs , so keeping him happy at Fulham is vital
Q – Where do they need to strengthen over the summer and do you foresee any major departures?
A – Tosin is definitely leaving. Having come so close to joining Bayern Munich, there might be a big money move away for Joao Palhinha. While an impressive season from Antonee Robinson means he is being linked with other clubs, including Liverpool. Others like Kenny Tete might look for more regular football elsewhere. So there will be players who need replacing. And although Fulham have found others goalscorers in Mitrovic’s absence this season, a striker is likely to be high on the shopping list this summer.
Q – What are your memories of past west London derbies between the sides?
A – I immediately think of that Play-Off final at an empty Wembley, and those goals from Joe Bryan. Especially after Brentford had won home and away in the league that season – without conceding a goal. While more recently, I was also the commentator for BBC Radio London as Brentford claimed a comfortable win at Craven Cottage right at the start of this season ( after a controversial red card for Tim Ream ! )
Q – Finally can you give me a possible Fulham line-up and formation please?
A – GK – Leno
Defence – Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson
Defensive Midfield – Palhinha, Lukic
Attacking midfield – Iwobi, Pereira, Decordova-Reid
Striker – Muniz
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE
If you can’t get to the Brentford Community Stadium for Saturday’s sold out 3pm kick-off and want Brentford commentary, audio coverage is available via Buzz Box for free.
Coverage starts half an hour before kick-off and is advert-free, with Mark Burridge and guest.
There will also be live commentary on BBC Radio London with Phil Parry and Steve Brown.
PUBS IN BRENTFORD AND TRAVEL NEWS
For Fulham fans coming to the Gtech Community Stadium, there are plenty of pub options pre and post-match and all are most welcoming and away-fan-friendly (as it should be).
The pub areas are split into two zones. There is the area around Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium. The pubs there are still very busy on match day frequented by Bees locals before heading down the road to the stadium at Kew Bridge which is only 15 mins walk.
Then there is the area in and around the stadium in Kew Bridge.
It is possible, if you have a good early start, to savour a few pubs in and around Griffin Park and Brentford zone before heading off to the pubs in the Kew zone or even vice versa if you so fancy.
Pubs in Griffin Park/Brentford zone
When at Griffin Park, Brentford was well known for its four pubs – one on each corner of the ground. Three are still operating.
The Griffin is closest to the old away end and has always been very popular with both home and away fans and has its regulars who still make the journey down to the new stadium from there on matchday. The New Inn is on the other side which used to also be popular with away fans before the move. The Brook pub is the other option if you want to savour a pub in and around what is left of our old home. Worth a peep if you want to reminisce about old Brentford.
About five minutes’ walk away from the old ground are two pubs which are enormously popular. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is a “lively but comfortable” pub on matchday where many of the Beesotted crew drink on matchday. Incredibly friendly and cosy, it has always welcomed away fans for years – you can wear colours but also #manners are order. The pub has been popular with a selection of away fans who fancied having a beer a few minutes further walk away from the ground without having to queue six persons deep. After the move to the new ground, The Globe has retained many of lot its regulars from the Griffin Park days and with screens throughout the pub and in its sheltered beer garden, it shows both Premier League and EFL football before and after each match.
Meanwhile around the corner, The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) is another incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs about one minute walk from The Globe. Again with a TV screen for live sports and a lovely beer garden, this is another pub frequented by “away fans in the know”.
The other pub worth checking out in the Griffin Park region is The Black Dog Beer House, formerly The Albany, on Albany Road, if you like your real ales.
There are plenty of other pubs in and around Brentford High Street including real ale pub Magpie and Crown (Brentford High Street) and the cosy Brewery Tap (Catherine Wheel Road) near the river.
For a Griffin Park area pub crawl before heading over to Kew we recommend the following: Take the Piccadilly line to Northfields station. Turn left and walk for 2 mins and you will come to The Plough (Northfields Ave). Then walk to The Lord Nelson (10 min walk from The Plough) & then The Globe (1 min walk from The Nelson) en-route before hitting The Griffin (8 min walk from The Globe) and then The Black Dog (2 mins from The Griffin). You can also try and do the other three pubs on the corner whilst down here if you fancy.
Then you can then either walk (15 minutes from The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog ) or take a train from Brentford station (which is five minutes walk away from both The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog) or a bus (237/267) to Kew Bridge.
Trains run at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour to Kew Bridge from Brentford and take 2 mins.
Pubs in the Kew Bridge zone
Right next to Kew Bridge station, you will find the Express Tavern – an ale pub with a retro feel. The pub has been refurbished in readiness for the new football season and needless to say, is popular before the match due to its close proximity to the stadium.
Across the road by the river is One Over the Ait – a spacious boozer right next to Kew Bridge. This pub is situated on the location of the now-demolished Oxford & Cambridge pub where Brentford Football Club was founded in 1889.
Across Kew Bridge and the River Thames, there are two pubs on Kew Green – the Cricketers and the Greyhound – very close to the pier where Brentford fans have embarked on their away journeys by water to F*lham, Orient, Charlton, West Ham and even Southend.
North of the river along hoity-toity Strand on the Green, you will find The Steam Packet, in an old Cafe Rouge, and The Bell. A bit further down are The City Barge and the Bulls Head – two pubs side-by-side in which you would often see Ant and Dec hanging out.
There is also The Pilot which you can get to coming out of the BACK entrance of Gunnersbury station and we believe the old John Bull pub at the front of the station has been refurbed as The Gunnersbury but we have never been there so can’t give it a or a
Transport to Brentford and Kew Bridge
With no direct trains, we recommend people jump on the tube from Kings Cross or Euston and head to Northfields or South Ealing on the Piccadilly Line.
It is only 40 mins max station by tube to station meaning you could be in a Brentford pub within an hour of embarking your train at Kings Cross, Euston or Liverpool Street.
The other station option is Gunnersbury. You can walk to the stadium from Gunnersbury tube station (District line) in 25 minutes or take a bus (H91, 237, 267, 110), but note that it is closed for entry for one hour after the match.
For the Brentford/Griffin Park pubs you can get the Piccadilly line tube to Northfields station from King’s Cross or Euston (35 minutes) then walk down to The Plough, The Globe, The Lord Nelson and The Griffin and other pubs from there.
The new stadium is around 25 minutes’ walk from South Ealing station – if you don’t fancy Gunnersbury – or you can get on the 65 bus from across the road which will drop you almost outside in 15 minutes.
You can also pick up the 65 bus from Ealing Broadway (District and Central line) which will take you to the new stadium in 25 minutes.
You can check out Transport for London’s guide to travel on the Tube and Overground.
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