Match Preview
Fulham versus Brentford
Premiership Match Day 03 22/23 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 20th August 2022 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Peter Bankes (Lancashire)
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Fulham and Brentford head into their London derby on Saturday afternoon feeling satisfied with their start to the new Premier League campaign.
Although both clubs remain unbeaten from two games, Brentford sit two points and 10 places above their hosts in the standings courtesy of their famous triumph over Manchester United.
Last weekend Fulham managed to depart the West Midlands with a share of the spoils, extending their undefeated record ahead of facing a rival.
While Fulham's overall performance against Wolves did not match their efforts against Liverpool, Marco Silva will accept that getting points on the board is far more important with further changes to the squad expected in due course.
With trips to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur just around the corner, the Portuguese is aware that three points from this fixture would ease the pressure ahead of those two daunting trips to the North of the capital.
First of all, however, Fulham face a Brentford side who experienced one of the biggest highs in their history last weekend as they blitzed Man United with four first-half goals.
Even with United being far from their best, the manner of the demolition job felt surreal at times, Brentford capitalising on mistakes and producing moments of class in equal measure.
Thomas Frank will know that he has to retain a sense of realism regarding the trajectory of his squad, but there is currently no reason to believe that this group of players cannot challenge for the top half of the table.
Last week's display came without new arrivals Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard entering the action, and both players will only improve this team as the season progresses.
Brentford have only lost once in seven games against Fulham, that loss coming in the 2019-2020 Championship playoff final.
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This will be the first top-flight meeting between Fulham and Brentford.
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The Bees' solitary defeat in their past 19 away games against Fulham in all competitions was by 1-0 in April 1990 (W8, D10).
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Fulham's two points from their opening two Premier League fixtures this season is one more than they managed from their first six games in 2020.
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However, they could set an unwanted club record of 13 consecutive Premier League matches without a win (D4, L8).
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The Cottagers haven't won a London derby in the top flight since January 2014, a run of 24 games (D5, L19).
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Alexander Mitrovic could become the first Fulham player since Steve Sidwell in 2012 to score in the club's opening two Premier League home matches of a season.
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Brentford have won eight of their past 13 Premier League games, earning 26 points.
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The Bees can keep consecutive league clean sheets for the first time since their opening two matches of last season.
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Ivan Toney has been involved in 12 goals in his past 13 league appearances for Brentford, scoring seven goals and registering five assists.
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Josh Dasilva is looking to become the first player since Jordan Henderson in 2015 to score from outside the penalty area in three consecutive Premier League appearances.
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