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David Button enjoyed his Brentford return

last updated Monday 07th November 2016, 9:40 PM


Fulham Football Club


 Fulham keeper David Button
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Fulham keeper David Button was told to prepare for pelters on his Griffin Park return. It’s just a shame the Brentford manager didn’t bother telling his players to put bullets in their guns.

The blunt Bees made it an easy first game back at the club he left under a cloud in the summer for Fulham’s imposing goalkeeper.

Dean Smith warned his former keeper to get ready for a tough night from the crowd but the terrace verbals were pretty much the only thing Button had to contend with.

Rare derby delight for Fulham was never in doubt as they continue to surpass expectations, the first time they have won away on a Friday night since March 2001’s trip to Tranmere.

They sealed a fourth away victory of the season after class act Tom Cairney, too good for the Championship, iced the cake in time added on.

Sone Aluko bundled the ball home in the first half and boss Slavisa Jokanovic had more good news for their fans who must fear January offers for their star midfielder.

“I guarantee Cairney is going to stay with us,” the Serbian said.

“He is very important – he is a Premier League player but to move forward we must keep him.

“I’m very happy, it was a very good night for us. It’s always very difficult to play in this stadium but we played well. We had motivation and personality.

“We have made some kind of progress since I came here but it’s step by step – we are more solid and more organised. It’s our fifth clean sheet, last season it was only four.”

Smith, by contrast, was deflated a week on from out-playing west London’s current Championship third-wheel, QPR.

“We had too many five or six out of tens of the pitch,” the Bees boss complained.

“At this level you get beat if that’s the case. Last week we had a lot of eights and that was the big difference.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half, we weren’t at our game. There was spirit there in the second half but in this league the first goal is very important. We played into their hands.”

Fulham looked fresher in the first half. More zip and more guile, they should have gone in front in the 22nd minute as Cairney tucked a ball through perfectly for Stefan Johansen.

The Norwegian, 25, went first time instead of taking a touch and Daniel Bentley dealt comfortably.

Brentford weren’t playing like a team who dispatch their neighbours with ease so regularly as Aluko was let off the leash.

The Fulham juggernaut which ripped title-chasing Huddersfield apart at the seams last Saturday appeared to have some miles left on the clock.

Aluko couldn’t be contained again and when Bentley pushed the attacker’s shot back into his path, he got a second stab and the ball trickled in.

Cairney nearly rattled in a second, but once again Bentley was equal to it.

A flurry of early second-half Brentford corners offered home hope as Button got his first taste of the action on the hour.

Fulham’s Scott Malone took his eyes off Josh Clarke but the keeper’s wrists were solid.

Three minutes later Button repeated the trick from closer range. Playing now exclusively on the break, Fulham still threatened.

Eventually Cairney’s quality was afforded the freedom of Griffin Park, he went through the gears and drove the ball beyond Bentley.

A Rolls Royce of a finish.



















Source Ealing Times
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