Match Preview
Brentford versus Fulham
Premier League MD37 24/25 at Gtech Community Stadium
Sunday 18th May KO: 15:00
Referee:
Jarred Gillett (Australia)
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Fulham and Brentford clash at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Cottagers' poor form continued at home versus a resurgent Everton last time out whilst The Bees managed a 1-0 success at the base of already-relegated Ipswich Town.
Europa League finalists in 2010 when they faced Diego Forlan's Atletico Madrid in the final, Fulham have European experience which easily overrules that of their top-eight rivals, but the West Londoners are beginning to stumble and stutter like a novice in their pursuit of the Conference League.
The Cottagers have lost four of their last five Premier League matches ahead of this weekend's trip across the capital to the Gtech Community Stadium, with the latest of those defeats arriving last time out, when goals from Vitaliy Mykolenko, Michael Keane and Beto secured a 3-1 win for Everton at Craven Cottage.
Netting the opening goal of the contest last weekend for Marco Silva's men, Raul Jimenez is returning to the heights of his Wolverhampton Wanderers days in West London, scoring 11 goals across 36 top-flight games this season, and the resurgence of the Mexican will be greatly celebrated even if Fulham fail to qualify for Europe.
Earning just three points from their last five top-flight battles, the Cottagers have slumped down to 11th place in the Premier League standings with only two games to go, knowing that they must beat Brentford on Sunday to have any chance of finishing in eighth spot on May 25.
Despite ranking just 11th in terms of away form, Silva's troops are relatively solid away from Craven Cottage, conceding just 22 goals across 18 outings, with only Arsenal (16), Brentford (21), Everton (21) and Manchester City (21) allowing fewer strikes during their respective away matches.
Following a lowly 16th-placed finish in the top flight during the 2024-25 campaign, Brentford are on course to qualify for European competition for the first time in their history, should they be able to secure their highest-ever Premier League standing over the next week.
The Bees are in red-hot form ahead of Sunday afternoon's crunch clash at the Gtech Community Stadium, enjoying a six-game unbeaten run at the top table of English football, collecting 14 points and netting a staggering 12 goals across that fruitful spell as they chase down the continental stage.
Thomas Frank's troops sealed a fourth straight success last Saturday afternoon at Portman Road, where an in-form German found the net against struggling Ipswich, with Kevin Schade squeezing his effort past Tractor Boy Alex Palmer to ensure an away-day triumph for Brentford.
Last tasting defeat in the Premier League back at St James' Park against Newcastle United in early April, the Bees are in the pole position of eighth spot as they look to pip Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Fulham to a Conference League berth, boasting 55 points from 36 contests.
Recently nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award, Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo is especially deserving of a spot in the European spotlight next season, with the Cameroonian bagging 18 goals and providing seven assists across 36 top-flight appearances.
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Fulham won the reverse fixture 2-1 in November and are vying to record their first top-flight double against the Bees. They last won both league games against them in the second tier in 1947-48.
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Brentford have won five of their last seven home league games against Fulham, with the exceptions last season's 0-0 draw and a 2-0 loss in the Championship in November 2016.
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The Whites have been beaten in four of their past five league games and are in danger of losing three in a row for the first time since December 2023.
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They have dropped a league-high 28 points from winning positions this season. It is their highest figure in a single Premier League campaign.
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Fulham's only clean sheet in their past 17 league and cup games came in March's 2-0 win against Tottenham.
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They drew six of eight top-flight matches between 1 December and 5 January but none of their 16 league fixtures since then have ended level (W7, L9).
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The Bees have won four consecutive top-flight fixtures, their longest winning run since a five-match streak in February and March 1939.
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Premier League games at the G-Tech Community Stadium have produced a league-high total of 70 goals this season (38 scored, 32 conceded), including 13 in the past two matches.
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Thomas Frank's team have scored five of the 19 Premier League goals scored immediately following throw-ins this season – no other club has more than two.
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Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are both two shy of matching Ivan Toney's club record of 20 goals in a Premier League season.
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Kevin Schade, Mbeumo and Wissa have all scored at least 10 Premier League goals this season – the only other club with three players in double figures (prior to the latest round of fixtures) is Liverpool (Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo).
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Schade has scored four goals in his last three top-flight games, as many as in his previous 20 appearances, and has netted in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time.
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Source Carter White at SportsMole/BBCSports