Brentford beat 10-man Fulham in absorbing derby
Brentford 3 Fulham 1
Brentford came from a goal down to win an entertaining west London derby against a Fulham side who ended with 10 men.
Neeskens Kebano had fired the Whites ahead on 25 minutes but Sergi Canos’ deflected strike levelled not long afterwards.
Romaine Sawyers, who had come on in the first half for the injured Lasse Vibe, put the Bees in front before Fulham’s Denis Odoi was shown a second yellow card.
Ollie Watkins confirmed victory late on as Brentford were further boosted by Lewis Macleod’s first appearance since October 2016.
Fulham had started well, with Tom Cairney’s left-footed shot from just outside the box being beaten away by Bees keeper Daniel Bentley.
Brentford then suffered a double blow, as first Vibe limped off and then Kebano converted Ryan Fredericks’ fizzing low cross.
However, the hosts eventually kicked themselves into a higher gear and conjured an equaliser, Watkins feeding Canos, who worked his way into the box before firing home via a Fulham leg.
And early in the second half, Sawyers completed the turnaround by netting the rebound after Yoann Barbet had diverted Watkins’ cross on to the post.
Odoi was dismissed on 53 minutes – the centre-back, already on a yellow card and final warning, left the referee with little choice after bodychecking Watkins.
Nico Yennaris thumped a shot just wide and Whites keeper David Button pushed away Barbet’s header, while at the other end, Tom Cairney struck the crossbar as Fulham briefly threatened a revival.
Their hopes were extinguished by Brentford’s third, the excellent Watkins meeting Sawyers cross.
Brentford: Bentley; Clarke, Egan, Bjelland, Barbet; Yennaris (McEachran 79), Woods, Mokotjo; Canos (Macleod 73), Vibe (Sawyers 17), Watkins.
Subs not used: Daniels, Chatzitheodoridis, Mepham, Archibald.
Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Odoi, Sessegnon; McDonald; Norwood, Cairney; Johansen (De La Torre 77); Ojo (Graham 86), Kebano (Fonte 63).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Djalo, Kamara, Mollo.
