Match Preview: Brentford v Fulham | OneFootball

Brentford welcome west London neighbours Fulham to Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Thomas Frank’s side left Craven Cottage with the bragging rights in August - Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo on target in a 3-0 victory.

Following a 1-0 defeat to Everton last time out, Brentford sit 16th in the Premier League table on 35 points. Fulham, three places and eight points better off than the Bees, drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace last weekend.

Analysis, team news, match officials and more. Here's everything you need to know before the game.

Pre-match Analysis

Alex Lawes, Playmaker Stats: Expect goals at the Gtech

Saturday’s west London derby could well be a high-scoring thriller between two sides looking to finish the season with a flourish.

In the three Premier League meetings between Brentford and Fulham, there has been a total of 13 goals.

One key difference between the sides would be the notion that Fulham have very much overperformed throughout this campaign, while the Bees have underperformed their underlying data.

That is shown by expected goals with Fulham currently one of just six teams in the entire league to have overperformed their xG with a difference of +0.52; Brentford have underperformed it by -10.94 with only Liverpool and Everton worse off so far this season.

Arguably the key man to keep an eye on in terms of his general defensive and tactical efficiency remains Fulham and Portugal international defensive midfielder João Palhinha.

The 28-year-old, who is expected to start for Roberto Martinez’s Portugal in Germany this summer at Euro 2024, has been the most prolific tackler in the Premier League with an average of 4.6 per game, while his team-mate Antonee Robinson has made the most interceptions (75).

There is perhaps a reliance on individual quality in Fulham’s defence with an overarching shape and organisation more something that Brentford focus on.

For example, there is no Brentford player in the top 10 for tackles made in the league but the Bees do still make more tackles on average as a team than Fulham.

Brentford and Fulham are the two teams with the best interception numbers in the league which could mean frequent turnovers in possession and both sides looking to strike on the counter attack.

Despite that being a relatively similar tactic, we do generally have a contrast in styles for the derby this weekend but ‘styles make fights’ to use boxing parlance and we could well be in store for another fun match-up this weekend.

Scout Report

Fulham enjoying fine season despite Mitrović departure

For the first time in over a decade, in the summer, Fulham will start a third consecutive campaign in the Premier League.

Cottagers fans have been waiting a long time for that. After four seasons in the Championship, they were promoted in 2018, but finished 19th the following term. They bounced straight back, then finished 18th.

But then, they won the title in 2022 and finished 10th, which marked their highest league finish since they finished ninth under Martin Jol in 2011/12. It had been a relentless journey to that point.

Of course, the natural reaction for many – as Brentford fans know all too well - was to then question whether the so-called ‘second-season syndrome’ would strike them down. That intensified when Aleksandar Mitrović – one of only eight men to have scored more than 100 goals for Fulham – left for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

They have, however, consolidated their place in the top flight.

On occasion, they have looked like world beaters – successive 5-0 wins against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United over the course of five days in December spring to mind – but, for the most part, their form has been steady, if unspectacular.

Only twice have they managed to string two wins together, while their longest unbeaten run in the league spanned three games and they have the fourth-worst away record in the division at the time of writing. On the flip side, that has mitigated by the fact they have the eighth-best home record.

If they win all of their remaining three games, they will match their record for most Premier League wins (15), which would take them to a their joint-second best points total (52) and, if they score three more goals, they will set a new record (56).

The in-form Rodrigo Muniz continues to impress – he has nine goals and one assist in his last 13 league games – and that gives Fulham a good chance of finishing strongly.

The Whites have continued to improve under Marco Silva – who was linked with a Saudi move himself last summer – and the Portuguese guided the club to their first League Cup semi-final in their history, where they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by eventual winners Liverpool.

Silva was rewarded with a new contact in October, which will see him through until the 2026. If he remains in post until then, he will be the first Fulham manager reach the five-year milestone since Bedford Jezzard in the 1960s.

“I feel the business is not done yet,” he said when the news was announced. “We’ve had two great seasons, and the goal is clearly there to sustain this club in the Premier League.

“It is important to feel the trust and have the support of our owners. My relationship with them has been really important in this decision. Let’s continue together on this long journey.”

In the Dugout

Marco Silva

Despite having only turned 46 last July, Marco Silva already has 13 years of managerial experience under his belt, having taken charge of more than 450 matches across three countries.

After a playing career as a right-back in his native Portugal, he was appointed director of football at Estoril in 2011, but was quickly thrust into his first role as leading man when the club endured an unfavourable start to the campaign.

Silva managed to turn the club’s fortunes around, winning the Liga de Honra and cementing a return to the Primeira Liga after a seven-year exile.

In 2014, Silva signed a four-year deal at Sporting and went on to win the Taca de Portugal, but he lasted just days over a year in charge. Shortly after the cup win, the club produced a 400-page document where they detailed the reasoning for his dismissal, with one section claiming his failure to wear a club suit during a match partly justified the decision.

A title-winning season at Olympiacos came next, before he took on a fire-fighting job at relegation-threatened Hull. Silva galvanised a Tigers team that included Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson, but ultimately could not prevent the club dropping back into the Championship and he resigned in May 2017.

That preceded time at Watford and Everton, before he joined Fulham just over two years ago.

Silva has taken charge of 136 games during his time at Craven Cottage and won the Championship title with the club two seasons ago, before guiding them to their first top-half Premier League finish since 2011/12 last year.

The Gameplan

With The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler

Peter Rutzler, Fulham reporter for The Athletic, explains how Marco Silva is likely to set up his side on Saturday:

“He pretty much sets up the same way, no matter the opponent.

“It is a 4-3-3 in possession. He likes to build up in wide areas with combinations, and out of possession it is more of a 4-4-2 block.

“They are always trying to play on the front foot, with a no.9 to link the play and put it all together and a holding midfielder in João Palhinha, who likes to sweep up and tackle everything in sight.”

Last time out v Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz

Read our full interview with Peter Rutzler here

TEAM NEWS

Frank issues Henry injury update

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has said there are no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Bees' west London derby clash with Fulham.

The same squad that travelled to Everton will be available for Saturday's game; defender Rico Henry will not be a part of that, as he continues to recover from a knee problem that has kept him out since September.

Josh Dasilva (knee) and Ben Mee (ankle) are also out for the remainder of the season.

But, on Henry, who revealed he will hopefully "be back on the grass in a couple of weeks", Frank spoke about his recovery ahead of next season.

“[Henry's] progress is going forward," Frank stated. "He’s out for the season but it’s looking good that, when we start pre-season, he should be ready to join in 100 per cent, which is the main bit for me, for now.

“So, hopefully, he can come back fit and firing ready for next season.”

Match Officials

Scott handed first Brentford assignment of the season

Referee: Graham Scott

Assistants: Darren Cann and Richard West

Fourth Official: John Busby

Video Assistant Referees: Tim Robinson and Akil Howson

Graham Scott officiated his first Premier League match, between Burnley and Aston Villa, in November 2014.

He has refereed 20 games this season, showing 88 yellow cards and three reds.

Scott’s last Brentford assignment came in September 2021. The Bees lost 1-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion at Gtech Community Stadium.

Last Meeting

Fulham 0 Brentford 3 (Premier League, 19 August 2023)

Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as Brentford secured the derby day bragging rights with a 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Yoane Wissa capitalised on an Issa Diop mistake to give Thomas Frank’s side the lead late in the first half. He was involved again just past the hour, winning the penalty which saw Mbeumo make it two.

Fulham captain Tim Ream was sent off in that incident and the Bees netted a third against the 10 men in stoppage time when Mbeumo finished off a flowing counter attack in front of the jubilant away fans.