Fulham vs. Brentford - 2019/20 Championship Playoff Final

Fulham plays at Wembley in the Championship playoff final for the second time in three years. This time Fulham will not have a sea of white backing them up, but instead an empty stadium to face off against their nemesis, Brentford. It would have been something to have seen what an all West London finale would have done to increase the spectacle of the match. Despite the different atmosphere, this match is no less important to the club.

Brentford has had Fulham’s number recently. Brentford and Barnsley were the only two teams to beat Fulham twice this season. Brentford was one of only three teams back in 2017-18 that Fulham didn’t get a win against.

The 1-0 scoreline from Brentford’s first win against Fulham was deceiving. It could have easily been a 4-0 win for Brentford after they sent a number of shots off the inside of the woodwork. When that match was played back in December, Hector was still not on the squad, Harrison Reed wasn’t in the lineup, and Christie was getting only his second start of the season with Dennis Odoi serving a red card suspension. That weaker Fulham defense allowed Brentford far too many opportunities. Fortunately, Fulham has a much sturdier defense now.

Fulham’s lineup will be much more similar to the team that lost 0-2 in the first match back from the restart. In that match Fulham gave Mitrovic a few opportunities to get his head on the ball and included some near-misses from De Cordova- Reid (as usual!). The defense played well until the last five minutes of the match giving up goals in the 88th and 91st minute. A draw really would have been a fair result from that match based on the balance of play, but Brentford made the most of the opportunities presented to them.

Fulham and Brentford finished level on points with Brentford’s far superior goal differential giving them the third spot. Both squads finished the season strong, but Brentford saw their first three game losing streak of the season when they closed out the regular season with losses to Stoke and Barnsley, then opened the playoffs with a loss at Swansea. The loss at home to Cardiff was Fulham’s first loss in eight matches, the last one coming at league champions, Leeds.

The big question for Fulham is who will be healthy enough to play up front. Knockaert, De Cordova-Reid, and Kamara should all be healthy. Back in 2017-18 the wait between the semi-final and the final seemed to take forever! Fulham was the hot team and I wanted them to play at Wembley ASAP! This time, I wouldn’t mind if Fulham could have another week to recover. There are still question marks around Mitrovic, Kebano, and Cavaleiro. It was heartbreaking to see Kebano’s face at the end of the Cardiff match – it was the look of someone who felt like they weren’t going to get a chance to play the game of their life in the best form of their life. Kebano has been such a force as Fulham closed out the season, it will be tragic if he can’t make an impact at Wembley. If Mitrovic and Kebano are not healthy, it would be great if Knockaert, De Cordova-Reid, Kamara, or Cavaleiro - who have 3 goals between them since mid-January - could start finding the net again.

This should be a good match between two evenly matched teams. Hopefully Fulham has learned from their mistakes in the previous two matches and the third time will be the charm.

The match will be on ESPN+ at 2:45pm EDT on Tuesday.

 

Some news on Mitro. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53603902

 

My view from the last playoff match vs. AV. Lets hope for the same result vs. Brentford! Unfortunately my view this time will not be quite as nice but the again, we are all in the same boat on that front.

 

I've started to prepare for the match. I visited my local liquor store this morning and bought some Fuller's London Pride. I've requested a few hours off work and I've hinted to my wife that it might be better if her and the kid were not there. I can't be responsible for any profanity used during the game. I just got to figure out what jersey I was wearing last final.

 

I honestly don't know how to size up this match. They've proven a tough matchup for us this season. Personnel wise, they ARE a difficult opponent, player to player. But, as I noted after the Cardiff dispatching, it's difficult for a team to beat a competitive team at or near the same level three times in the same season. That may or may not mean much in this match, but I'm gonna pretend like it is. I'm afraid for Neesken's chances of being fit for the game. Hammy's don't bounce back and heal as quickly as other injuries. I hate it for him, and I hate it for us, as he's certainly had a big break out in recent weeks. He signed with us four years ago this month, and has patiently weathered ups and downs for just this time and opportunity. Kinda sucks. But...I'd bet real money that Mitro shows up in playing boots. Josh Onomah has also stepped up big time since the restart, and AK-47 looked like the good Aboubakar Kamara against Cardiff Thursday. So I think we'll be OK offensively. I think we sink or swim with the defense. If the one that showed up in Wales last Monday is in the building, we're in good shape. If the one that showed up Thursday and July 18th against Sheffield Wednesday at the Cottage, it's gonna be a long day at the Big "W." I'll be working (unless I get the "Thames Flu" or something), so I'll probably be checking the score or sneaking a peek at the telecast here and there. If we can keep them out of our net, I like our chances...a lot. COYW!

 

I'm very jealous. Unfortunately, every-other Tuesday afternoon is the busiest time for me at work so I'm going to isolate myself from Fulham news and attempt to watch the replay a few hours later.

I think you are right about this. I'm most nervous about Fulham's corners. Parker likes to move Hector up into the box, and Odoi too if he's playing . That leaves Fulham more vulnerable to a quick counterattack (which Brentford is very good at) since Hector has many good qualities, but speed is not one of them. Brentford scored their second goal in that exact situation last time out.

 

Hope this is correct from Parker:

“We’re full strength,” he confirmed. “Everyone’s fit for tomorrow night.

“I’ve got a full squad to pick from so now it’s down to me to work out the best dynamics to try and win the football match.

“But in terms of injuries, and where the squad is, everyone’s fit, everyone’s trained over the last few days, so we’re all good.”

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/august/03/head-coach-presser

 

Fulham 1-0.

 

Fulham is attempting to do something that hasn't been done in 24 years - win the playoffs, go back down, and win the playoffs again. In 1992 and 1993, Leicester City lost in the finals, then in 1994 appearing in their third consecutive final they won promotion. They went immediately back down, but won promotion again in the 1996 playoff.

Fulham is attempting to NOT do something that was done 8 years ago - win the playoffs, go back down, and lose in the playoff final the following season. Blackpool won promotion through the playoffs in 2010, went back down, and then lost in the 2012 final to West Ham.

Brentford's only appearance in the playoffs was in 2015 when they went out in the Semi-final round to Middlesbrough 5-1 on aggregate.

 

MATCH DAY!!!!!!! COYW!!!

 

is it game time yet?

 

Bragging rights for years on the line for
two clubs separated by 4 miles. COYW

 

slowest. morning. ever.

 

I did 6 hours of work, went to vote, now only celebrating a Fulham victory left on my to do list.

 

should jump over to chat

 

COYW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111


(hi guys)

 

@LaxAttack Cheers Lax!! Was texting Tim throughout, fingers crossed we’ll be able to do a F&H match viewing next season.

Can’t wait to see the highlights w/GJ play by play!!