Impressive Fulham beat Bees in derby
Brentford 0 Fulham 2
Tom Cairney’s injury-time goal sealed a derby victory for Fulham at Griffin Park.
Sone Aluko’s first-half goal put the Whites ahead and Cairney doubled the lead with an emphatic finish after exchanging passes with Chris Martin and then skipping past Maxime Colin.
The outstanding Aluko, who has been in great form this season, struck 10 minutes before half-time.
Stefan Johansen sent the ball in from the right and Aluko followed up to score at the second attempt after his first effort had been saved by keeper Dan Bentley.
Brentford, resounding winners at QPR a week ago, were unable to produce anything like their superb performance in that west London derby.
This time they were well short of their best – and would have been two down before half-time had Lucas Piazon managed to hit the target with his follow-up after Cairney’s shot had been saved by David Button.
It was a happy return to Griffin Park for ex-Bees keeper Button, who twice denied Josh Clarke in the second half.
John Egan’s scrambled effort following a corner was cleared off the line by Martin, but Fulham were deserved winners and could have been further ahead by the time Cairney netted.
Brentford: Bentley, Colin, Dean, Egan, Bjelland, Yennaris, Woods, McEachran (Kaikai 63), Clarke (Hofmann 85), Sawyers (Vibe 72), Hogan.
Fulham: Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Sigurdsson, Malone (Ream 90), Cairney, McDonald, Johansen, Aluko (Parker 78), Piazon (Ayitéat 71), Martin.
