Match Preview
Fulham versus Brentford
Sky Bet Championship: 2019/2020 Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium
Tuesday 4th August 2020 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Live on Sky Sports
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The 2019-20 Championship season reaches its conclusion on Tuesday as Brentford and Fulham lock horns at Wembley Stadium in the playoff final.
Fulham reached the final courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate victory over Cardiff City, while Brentford saw off another Welsh side in Swansea City by the same scoreline over two legs in the last four.
Even though Fulham's eight-game unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of Cardiff last week, the damage had already been done in the first leg and Cardiff's 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage did little to dampen the spirits of Scott Parker's men.
Curtis Nelson and Lee Tomlin netted for Cardiff either side of a Neeskens Kebano strike, but Fulham's 2-0 victory from the first leg ended up proving decisive as they kept their hopes of an immediate return to the big time alive, while dashing Cardiff's similar promotion aspirations in the process.
The Cottagers will have fond memories of their playoff final victory over Aston Villa just two years ago, but the free-scoring Brentford represents a different kettle of fish for the Cottagers who are winless in five against their Wembley opponents.
Andre Ayew had given the Swans the upper hand in the first leg, but Thomas Frank's side gave their home of 116 years the perfect send-off as Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Marcondes and Bryan Mbeumo turned the tie on its head on Wednesday evening.
The Bees were unable to celebrate with the Griffin Park faithful following their 3-1 victory on the night, but Brentford's supporters can now look forward to seeing their side step foot onto the Wembley turf in the playoff final, albeit behind closed doors.
Brentford are dreaming of a first ever promotion to the Premier League and will endeavour to end a 73-year absence from the pinnacle of English football, having last plied their trade in the top division during the 1946-47 season.
In order to do so, Frank's men will have to overcome a Fulham side looking to make an immediate return to the top flight, and the two sides could only be separated by goal difference after 46 matches in the regular season.
The atmosphere at an empty Wembley Stadium is sure to be eerie as the players emerge from the tunnel on Tuesday evening, but both Brentford and Fulham will give no thought to the abnormal circumstances as they bid to achieve victory in what is billed as the richest game in football.
Brentford came out on top in both meetings earlier in the Championship campaign, with a 1-0 victory at Griffin Park followed up by a 2-0 win in Fulham's backyard following the restart.
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Brentford are currently unbeaten in five games against Fulham (W3 D2) and have only suffered one defeat in the last 10 clashes between the sides (W6 D3).
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Fulham have lost as many games against Brentford in their last four meetings (3) as they did in the previous 12 matches beforehand (W5 D4 L3).
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Fulham have reached the Championship play-off final for the second time in the last three seasons, also beating Aston Villa 1-0 at Wembley in 2018 thanks to a Tom Cairney winner.
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Fulham have lost two of their three matches in all competitions at Wembley (beating Aston Villa in the 2018 play-off final), losing 0-2 to West Ham in the 1975 FA Cup final before a 1-3 defeat against Spurs in the Premier League.
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This will be Brentford's fourth play-off final and first since 2013 when in the third tier (1-2 defeat by Yeovil). Indeed, the Bees have lost each of their three play-off final matches and should they fail to gain promotion once more, they will have taken part in more unsuccessful play-off campaigns than any other side (currently 8, level with Sheff Utd).
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Among sides to have lost 100% of their games at Wembley, no team have played at the venue more often than Brentford (5, joint-most with Shrewsbury Town).