FULHAM BRYAN’S BUZZING Mbeumo scores for fourth game on the trot
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BRYAN MBEUMO scored for the fourth game running to fire Brentford into the play-off places for the first time this season.
Thomas Frank’s buzzing Bees leapfrogged west London rivals Fulham to move up to fourth spot with a dominant display.
The 22nd-minute strike by French winger Mbeumo condemned the visitors to a third straight defeat.
Each of those defeats has been by a single goal – but this one really should not have been.
Ollie Watkins and Pontus Jansson were both denied by the post before the break.
The upright also spared Fulham keeper Marek Rodak’s blushes on 66 minutes when he fumbled a Mathias Jensen strike.
Bees boss Frank said: “That was an outstanding performance. I’m lost for words because it was very, very good.
“We were playing against a relegated Premier League side and we know they are going for a big push. Today we outplayed them but most importantly we outran them.
“I told our players that after a three-game week, if we could outrun them we would win the game.”
Fulham had started the game brightly and almost sneaked ahead on 10 minutes when Neeskens Kebano rattled a right-foot shot against the post.
That proved to be a high-water mark for Scott Parker’s visiting side.
The warning signs were there when the Bees threatened from a succession of corners on the 15-minute mark.
Seven minutes later Fulham got run over by the Bees’ BMW frontline.
Ollie Watkins held the
BRENTFORD FULHAM 7 ........ Shots on Target ......... 2 9 ........ Shots off Target ......... 9 10 ............... Corners ................. 3 6 .................. Fouls .................. 13 4 ............... Offsides .................. 1 78.1 ... Passing Success ... 79.9 443 ...... Total Passes ........ 493 47.4 ........ Possession ........ 52.6 52.7.. Territorial Adv%... 47.3 ball up in the corner, Said Benrahma delivered the far post cross and Mbeumo volleyed in his eighth of the season.
Either side of the goal Benrahma had failed to find Mbeumo and Watkins both unmarked in the box.
When Watkins was found by Mbeumo’s cross, the striker hit the post with the goal at his mercy.
Then Jensen’s corner was met by Jansson, whose header hit the upright.
Somehow Parker was able to go into half-time telling his players they are still in it. But you would not have thought it from the reaction.
Instead they were lucky to not fall further behind as Rodak saved twice from Josh Dasilva then got lucky with Jensen’s strike.
Parker said: “We were playing against a very good side – they’ll be right up there this season.
“We started well, hit the post but then you saw a team who are a bit low.
“I take responsibility and I’ll tell the players we must stick together. There’s a confidence issue, but I won’t point a finger at any of my players.”