Fulham 0-2 Brentford: Chelsea target Said Benrahma and Emiliano Marcondes strike

The frenetic pace at which the Championship is usually played at might not yet be back but the excitement, general chaos and sheer unpredictability of it is.

For the best part of 88 minutes, Fulham had appeared the more likely side to claim their first three points following the return of second tier football and close the gap on West Brom in second.

But then this wouldn’t be the madcap league that it is if everything had a logical conclusion. 

Said Benrahma scored late on to help Brentford to a victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage

Benrahma celebrates his 88th minute goal for Brentford against London rivals Fulham

Emiliano Marcondes of Brentford scored the second goal of the game for Brentford

Two minutes of normal time were left on the clock when Said Benrahma, the player who Chelsea among many other of Premier League’s big hitters have eyes on, snuck into the six-yard box to convert substitute Emiliano Marcondes’ cross. Three minutes later and Benrahma set up Marcondes to seal what was hardly a convincing victory to move Brentford to within a point of Fulham.

Such a victory would usually be met with jubilant away supporters celebrating but these are strange times and Brentford’s players opted for a more subdued approach in front of visiting club staff.

A further reminder of the effects of coronavirus, as if it were needed, came in the form Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo missing the game after testing positive ahead of the match. ‘Come on boys,’ Mbeumo tweeted as he watched from home.

Tariqe Fosu took his place on the right side of Brentford’s front three with Ollie Watkins and Benrahma.

Their threat was largely nullified for the opening stages as Fulham adapted better to the rather expected slower tempo.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, a little unrecognisable with a full head of hair but no less fiery in his approach on the pitch, did much of the early leg work for Fulham, hassling and harrying Pontus Jansson as he went about his business.

Not only did Fulham take to a more patient style of play, they also carved out a couple of good chances that with more composure could have resulted in them taking a comfortable lead.

Bobby Reid struck the crossbar after Harrison Reed played him into space on the left side of Brentford’s penalty area.

Anthony Knockaert was in a fine position 25 yards out when the ball came back to him but his curling effort went over goalkeeper David Raya and his top left corner.

Usually those near misses would be greeted with gasps but instead they have been replaced with solitary claps from supporters turned stewards.

The lack of supporters does, though, give those in the stadium a level of insight you wouldn’t otherwise have if it was even a quarter full.

‘He was always going to do that,’ shouted Watkins as Neeskens Kebano dropped his shoulder and raced past Henrik Dalsgaard down the right side of Brentford’s defence.

A rather high-pitched squeal came from Mitrovic as he tussled with Jansson before confronting referee James Linington. It prompted a few knowing smiles as did Odoi shouting ‘oh s**t’ as the ball slipped out of his hands while taking a throw-in.

Benrahma showed glimpses of why interest in him is high but ended a fairly average first half for him and his team-mates with a cross that caused Fulham’s defence no danger at all.

Knockaert was proving one of Fulham’s better performers and his nifty footwork allowed him to cleverly play in Reid but he opted to try and find Mitrovic in the six-yard box rather than shoot, which allowed Dalsgaard to intercept and clear.

Mitrovic had the ball in the net after slotting in Reid’s low cross but he was offside when he started his run and the goal was disallowed. 

Fulham’s top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic was unable to put Brentford to the sword on Saturday

The rustiness of some of the players started to show as the game neared the 80-minute mark.

Reed, who had dictated a lot of Fulham’s play in midfield, was forced off after pulling up with what appeared to be cramp.

‘Dig deep,’ Harry Arter said as he ran onto the pitch to replace his team-mate.

Words of advice that were better followed by Brentford’s pairing of Benrahma and Marcondes who decided the match with two clinical finishes which Fulham’s attackers had failed to apply throughout.