Match Report Fulham (0) 0-2 (0) Brentford Championship Match Day 38 at Craven Cottage Saturday 20th June 2020    KO: 12:45 Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

Match Stats	Fulham	Brentford
Goals	(0) 0	2 (0)
Scorers	-	Benrahma 88
	-	Marcondes 90'+1
,
Goal attempts	9	13
On target	4	5
Shooting Accuracy	44%	38%
Possession	48%	52%
Passes	440	472
Passes Success	82%	82%
Crosses	20	21
Crosses Success	30%	33%
Corners	2	5
Tackles	25	16
Tackles Success	28%	44%
Saves	3	4
Fouls	11	12
Offsides	5	0
Yellows	1	1
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Brentford breathed new life into their bid for automatic promotion after late goals from Said Benrahma and Emiliano Marcondes secured a 2-0 victory at west London rivals Fulham.

In the first Championship game for more than three months since the league was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Fulham's Bobby Decordova-Reid struck the crossbar in the 15th minute before the hosts saw Aleksander Mitrovic's goal correctly disallowed for offside early in the second half.

But Brentford, who were without Bryan Mbeumodue due to a positive coronavirus test, struck late as substitute Marcondes set up Benrahma's 88th-minute opener before converting in stoppage time (90+1) to seal what could prove to be a crucial three points.

Victory sees Thomas Frank's side move one point behind Fulham in third and seven behind second-placed West Brom, who host Birmingham, live on Sky Sports Football at 3pm.

Defeat is a blow to Fulham's own automatic promotion hopes as they stay six points adrift of West Brom and seven back from league leaders Leeds, who travel to Cardiff City on Sunday, also on Sky Sports (kick-off 12pm).

Fulham started brightly with Neeskens Kebano's cross picking out Mitrovic, but the Championship's top goalscorer could not power his header past David Raya, who made a comfortable save.

Minutes later, Harrison Reed's brilliantly disguised reverse pass released Decordova-Reid, but the midfielder's shot rebounded off the crossbar before Anthony Knockaert's curling effort drifted wide of Raya's far post.

Brentford, with their intricate attacking play, were always a threat to Fulham's back line and Marek Rodak had to be alert to keep out Tariqe Fosu's powerful effort at his near post.

Fosu then turned creator but Ollie Watkins could not test Rodak with his attempted diving header, before Christian Norgaard saw a well-struck effort deflected wide from the edge of the area.

Fulham had the ball in the back of the net shortly after the interval, only for the offside flag to thwart a furious Mitrovic.

The Serbia striker latched onto Decordova-Reid's through ball before calmly finishing past Raya, but the assistant's raised flag stopped the celebrations.

Brentford started to take control late on. Replacement Shandon Baptiste broke free on the left, cutting into the box - and only a timely intervention from Rodak denied Watkins a tap-in from close range.

The visitors were not to be denied however, and Marcondes stunned Fulham with an inviting cross to the far post where Benrahma tapped home.

And as Fulham pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages, Marcondes wrapped up the victory, cutting in off the wing and firing home in style to seal an important victory.

Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan, Reed (Arter 80, Cairney, Knockaert (Jasper 89), De Cordova-Reid (Johansen 89), Kebano (Cavaleiro 72), Mitrovic

Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Le Marchand, Christie, S. Sessegnon, McDonald

Booked: Arter (90,d),

Brentford: Martin, Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Jensen (Marcondes 70), Norgaard, Josh Dasilva (Castillo 85), Fosu-Henry (Baptiste 70), Watkins, Benrahma

Unused substitutes: Daniels, Thompson, Jeanvier, Rasmussen, Mokotjo, Dervisoglu

Goals:
Benrahma 88( left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emiliano Marcondes with a cross.)
Marcondes 90+1(left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma following a fast break.)

Booked: Dasilva (37,f),

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

Attendance: N/A