West London Derby Preview: Fulham vs Brentford

Fulham host Brentford at Craven Cottage in a West London derby in the Premier League on Saturday night. Both clubs arrive in competitive form and will be eager to build momentum. Fulham edged Leeds United 1-0 last weekend courtesy of a late own goal, while Brentford earned a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea after striking late at the Gtech Community Stadium. Another tense finish would surprise no one.

Marco Silva’s side enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture last season, completing a league double over Brentford. They now have the chance to win three consecutive league meetings against the Bees for only the second time in history — the first run came nearly a century ago, between 1928 and 1929.

Fulham finally claimed their first league victory of the season last week and have shown resilience in their other matches. They held Brighton and Manchester United to draws, and even in defeat against Chelsea looked well organised. London derbies, however, have been less kind, with five defeats in their last seven. Still, Brentford could prove a favourable opponent once again. Last November, Harry Wilson’s stoppage-time brace secured a thrilling 2-1 win in this very fixture.

Brentford, meanwhile, have found Craven Cottage a difficult place to visit, losing two of their three Premier League matches there. Yet they will believe this is an opportunity to turn the tide. Their season so far has been inconsistent, with away defeats at Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, but home performances have offered promise. A 1-0 victory over Aston Villa and last week’s spirited comeback against Chelsea underline their ability to rise to the occasion.

Set pieces could prove decisive. Fabio Carvalho’s late equaliser against Chelsea came from a Kevin Schade long throw, and Brentford will look to exploit that weapon again. Fulham, however, boast a strong defensive record at home and are yet to concede from open play at Craven Cottage this season.

The two clubs are closely matched and their clashes last season were entertaining affairs. Both managers will see this as a fixture where points are up for grabs in the pursuit of mid-table stability, or even greater ambitions.