Harry Wilson came off the bench to score a pair of second-half stoppage-time goals in a 2-1 win over Brentford at Craven Cottage on Monday.
Vitaly Janelt’s first-half goal combined with a sensational defensive display from Brentford over 90 minutes as the Bees appeared destined to frustrate Fulham and claim three points from this West London derby.
Bees goalkeeper Flekken was credited with 10 saves in the draw and the Bees blocked just as many attempts in collecting three points. Brentford center backs Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins combined for nearly 30 defensive actions.
Fulham pull into ninth with 15 points, three points off the top four, while Brentford stay 12th with 13 points.
Harry Wilson meets his moment
Marco Silva didn’t give Harry Wilson long to change the game, putting the Welshman into fray with just eight minutes left in the 90, but boy did he show his creativity in scoring his brace. Wilson had four goals and six assists in the Premier League last season but has done most of his running in the League Cup this season, out of favor under Silva. No more? Wilson, 27, has played just five times in the Premier League this season, going 12, 21, 3, 10, and 11 minutes. This shift may’ve included seven minutes of stoppage but will go down as the best eight-minute run of his Fulham career in the top flight, and his first brace since 2022 in the Championship.
Antonee Robinson is a force
The focus will be on Harry Wilson’s exceptional short stint but USMNT fullback Antonee Robinson is just on another level right now. Robinson piled up more than 100 touches from the left back position, the last one his best as his low-spun cross was nodded home for his third assist of the Premier League season. There are very few left backs in the Premier League who can claim to have Robinson’s status right now, and Fulham may struggle to keep hold of the 27-year-old Everton product if these performances continue as they have for more than a year at Craven Cottage.
Antonee Robinson stats for Fulham vs Brentford (from fotmob.com)
Antonee Robinson stats for Fulham vs Brentford (from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Brentford player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Brentford player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Brentford host Bournemouth at 10am ET Saturday, while Fulham visit Crystal Palace at the same time.
How to watch Fulham vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday (November 4)
Venue: Craven Cottage — London
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
Fulham vs Brentford final score: 2-1
Vitaly Janelt 24'; Harry Wilson 90+2', 90+6'
Fulham vs Brentford live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Fulham 2-1 Brentford
Harry Wilson goal — Fulham 2-1 Brentford (90+6')
Antonee Robinson surprises the Brentford back line with a smartly-spun cross, and Harry Wilson’s there again with a stooping header for what should be a 2-1 win!
Harry Wilson goal — Fulham 1-1 Brentford (90+2')
The continued emphasis on crosses pays off, as Adama Traore’s finds sub Harry Wilson for a clever, mostly-intended finish.
Subs
Thomas Frank makes three moves for Brentford, as Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, and Wissa come off for Fabio Carvalho, Mathias Jensen, and Kevin Schade.
Fulham’s changes see Kenny Tete and Raul Jimenez off for Timothy Castagne and Rodrigo Muniz. Earlier Adama Traore had replaced Ricardo Pereira.
Flekken saves Bassey
Calvin Bassey has a chance to make amends for the heavy touch that led to Brentford’s goal.
It comes atop the 18 after a 10-minute span that has essentially seen Fulham doing Man City-like possession work against the Bees’ low block.
Bassey hits a low shot toward goal but Mark Flekken stoops to collect it.
Still 1-0 Bees, 72'.
Vibe check — 60 minutes
Not much remarkable about the first quarter-hour of the second half.
Fulham have had most of the ball and both of the frame’s shot attempts, but their crosses have been wayward and there just isn’t a ton to say.
Halftime — Fulham 0-1 Brentford
All it takes is a moment, and that moment belongs to Vitaly Janelt.
Fulham have taken nine of the game’s 11 shots, hold 65% possession, and xG reads 0.50-0.13 in their favor.
Janelt, though. Zoom.
Vitaly Janelt goal! Fulham 0-1 Brentford (24th minute)
Brentford’s first real moment is fantastic.
A heavy touch at the back from Calvin Bassey gives the Bees the ball in the Fulham half.
Bernd Leno is left pawing for air after the ball makes its way from Christian Norgaard to Janelt for a vicious shot from distance.
So close!
Fulham press Brentford into a turnover outside their 18, and Sander Berge cues up Reiss Nelson.
The ex-Arsenal forward beats his man and pile drives a shot wide of the near post from close range.
Almost all Fulham to start
Aside from one glimpse of Bryan Mbeumo putting pressure on the Cottagers goal, this has been all Fulham.
Four of four shot attempts have come from Fulham, who have about 60% possession after a quarter-hour.
Fulham lineup
Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Pereira, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Brentford lineup
Flekken, van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Roerslev, Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter, Wissa, Mbeumo
Fulham team news, focus
Mexican center forward Raul jimenez is in a purple patch, inspiring hope that he can be the game-changing force he was during his best seasons at Wolves. Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, and Andreas Pereira have played good roles in cueing up Jimenez for chances.
OUT: Sasa Lukic (shoulder), Joachim Andersen (suspension), Timothy Castagne (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Carlos Vinicius (calf), Andreas Pereira (knock)
Brentford team news, focus
Bryan Mbeumo is a righteous nominee for Premier League Player of the Month, and Yoane Wissa’s health reunites two players who thrived together last season.
OUT: Josh Dasilva (knee), Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Igor Thiago (knee), Gustavo Nunes (lower back) | QUESTIONABLE: Kristoffer Ajer (foot)
Fulham vs Brentford prediction
It’s fair to expect a scrap, and we know Fulham and Brentford will get chances. The Cottagers seem more capable of dealing with strong attacking threats, but can they do it for a full 90 minutes? Fulham 1-1 Brentford.
