Fulham manager Marco Silva knows how difficult our derby with Brentford is going to be, but is very motivated to give the home fans a “great feeling” on Monday night.
The Bees currently sit one place above Fulham in ninth, but victory at Craven Cottage would see us leapfrog our neighbours in the Premier League standings.
“A very good side,” assessed Silva. “I think they have been consistent the last few seasons, the way they have been playing many years with most of the same players, the same manager, showing the consistency that this league demands.
“A London derby, local derby, is always more special, probably more intense, and it’s always a tough game. Away or at home against them, it’s always a tough game, like it’s always the same for them to play against us.
“We want to give the great feeling to our fans, that is to win a local derby. We know what we are going to face, we know that it’s a little bit more special to the fans, and what we want to give really is what they deserve from the Monday Night Football.”
Brentford’s matches have been nothing if not entertaining this season, with fans witnessing 36 goals in their nine outings – a league high.
“It's true that they have been scoring many goals, but at the same time conceding, too,” Silva said. “Slightly different to what we have been seeing the past few seasons.
“They are always a threat in the attack line – [Keane] Lewis-Potter in a good moment, and of course [Yoane] Wissa and [Bryan] Mbeumo, and the player that is going to play behind the three up front. Normally it’s a player that can punish and can be a threat as well.
“They have good players in the attack line, always solid, and most of the time playing with four central defenders in the back four as well. Strong in the set-pieces, too.
“It's going to be a good derby, I believe, both teams trying to win the game.”
Thomas Frank was very complimentary of the job done by Silva in his pre-match press conference, and our Head Coach was quick to reciprocate.
“Top, top, top job,” he replied when asked how Frank had done in his six years in Hounslow.
“Brilliant job, from the Championship, what he's been doing in that football club, the way he's been able always to add different things.
“They try to still be consistent as a team, but you can see [they’re] a little bit more open, scoring more goals than the previous seasons.
“You can compare the same story to us as well, losing important players, selling important players, [but] being able to rebuild again.
“There are similar things between both sides in that aspect, to sometimes sell their best players and to go again, to try to rebuild, to try to put some young players and fresh players inside.
“But yes, it’s been a great, great job from him. He's a top person, he's always really nice to play against and to share some ideas before and after the match.
“I have to be really complimentary about him as well, because as a person, top, and I think his job speaks for itself.”