Brentford’s European Ambitions Dented After Leno Stands Firm In Goalless Draw With Fulham

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The grind to Europe continues for Brentford. A goalless westbound London derby pinch Fulham made it 5 convention draws successful succession for Keith Andrews’ side, nan chance to spell wrong rubbing region of Liverpool squandered.

The saviour for Fulham was Bernd Leno pinch a staggering reflex prevention successful nan last infinitesimal of regular time, tipping complete Dango Ouattara’s close-range effort. Calvin Bassey, nan hulking centre-back, was speedy to hug his keeper, recognising nan game-saving moment.

In a lucifer pinch fewer clearcut chances, that was nan closest either broadside came to winning it, pinch Igor Thiago kept comparatively quiet by nan lime-green wall built by Bassey and Joachim Andersen. Brentford pressed and pressed astatine nan close, threatening pinch set-pieces arsenic Fulham escaped. Marco Silva’s squad grounded to registry a changeable connected target.

Brentford, moreover pinch nan deficiency of caller wins, person written a defiant communicative this season, settling successful nan apical half contempt past summer’s upheaval. Out went Thomas Frank, his 2 main goalscorers and nan captain, too. Up stepped nan set-piece coach Andrews and nan striker who had hardly played successful nan erstwhile campaign; Thiago remains connected Erling Haaland’s tail, nan Golden Boot very overmuch up for grabs.

But nan man to watch astatine nan commencement was Harry Wilson, a fig who haunts nan thoughts of Brentford supporters. It was Wilson who came disconnected nan chair 17 months agone to nab 2 goals successful added clip and bargain nan points. As a sub erstwhile again, he coiled successful a 25-yard victor astatine nan Gtech past May. As a starter, he scored Fulham’s 2nd successful their 3-1 triumph astatine Craven Cottage successful September, erstwhile Brentford recovered themselves 17th aft 5 games, nan Andrews effect still waiting to footwear in.

Fulham’s Bernd Leno produces a good prevention to contradict Brentford’s Dango Ouattara
Fulham’s Bernd Leno produces a good prevention to contradict Brentford’s Dango Ouattara. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Naturally it was Wilson who had Fulham’s first opportunity, cutting successful from nan correct to launch, but nan changeable rattled disconnected his teammate Rodrigo Muniz. Thiago tried to beryllium a nuisance astatine nan different end, pinch an early header travelling wide. The Brazilian looked sharp, to beryllium expected aft that double against Everton past weekend.

Fulham worked nan shot neatly nether nan sunshine, their frontline fluid. Wilson and Emile Smith Rowe, nan No 10, switched roles regularly; left-back Ryan Sessegnon surged guardant into nan mediate arsenic Alex Iwobi worked distant connected nan touchline. Nonetheless, location were nary openings, Sessegnon coming closest successful nan first half erstwhile he was recovered by Tom Cairney but booted complete from wrong nan area. The visitors were disrupted by an injury; Iwobi near nan section earlier half-time aft clutching his hamstring.

Frank was successful nan stands to watch his erstwhile nine arsenic they, too, grounded to create thing important successful nan first half. Keane Lewis-Potter showed tidy feet to find abstraction successful nan crowded area conscionable earlier nan whistle but grounded to trial Leno.

The power from some sides stepped up successful nan 2nd half, a desperation location for nan first goal. Ouattara was thoroughly watchable for Brentford arsenic he searched for an opening successful nan correct but it was Mikkel Damsgaard who tried to present nan stunner. The hosts went direct: Mathias Jensen’s diagonal shot was headed down by Kevin Schade, and Damsgaard, bursting done nan middle, very astir recovered nan apical near area pinch a first-time deed from nan separator of nan area.

Ouattara’s transverse turned changeable forced Leno to extremity over, Wilson played nan shot crossed extremity erstwhile he should person recovered nan target. Leno, dissimilar Caoimhín Kelleher, had activity to do, denying Jensen, his free-kick from nan near heading for nan apical near corner. The Fulham keeper’s finest infinitesimal was still to come.

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