Fulham promoted to the Premier League as Brentford miss out in play-off final
Posted Wednesday, August 05, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk
Fulham have booked their place in the Premier League once again after beating Brentford after extra-time in the Championship play-off final at Wembley this evening
Joe Bryan broke Brentford’s hearts with a cheeky piece of magic to fire Fulham back into the big time.
And while the Cottagers wasted millions on expensive foreign flops the last time they went up, bargain buy Bryan might just point the way forward for them now.
Just four miles separate the two west London clubs, and for 104 minutes there was nothing to choose between them here.
Then, red-faced Brentford keeper David Raya strayed too far off his line and full back Bryan beat him with a blistering and perfectly disguised 35-yard free kick.
Just to make sure, the unlikely hero added a second 12 minutes later in a dramatic finale to the richest game in football.
Bryan, a £6m signing from Bristol City back in that free-spending summer of 2018, had only scored once all season, back in September.
Joe Bryan netted both goals in added time for Fulham
But his surprise brace clinched a £135m windfall for Scott Parker’s gutsy side, who return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
And for poor Brentford, who have not played top-flight football since 1947, it meant the unfortunate tag of play-off chokers.
The Bees did score in stoppage time of extra time through Henrik Dalsgaard, but they have now failed in NINE play-off campaigns - more than any other club.
Their free-scoring ‘BMW’ front three never got out of first gear in this game, but they have a new stadium on the way, a visionary manager, and a bright future.
It was Brentford’s first play-off final since 2013, when they were stuck in the third tier, and they did not do themselves justice. But they will be back.
They had reasons to be optimistic going in having finished above Fulham on goal difference and beaten them twice, home and away.
Joe Bryan of Fulham celebrates his first goal
But even with Golden Boot winner Aleksandar Mitrovic fit enough only for a 30-minute cameo, the Cottagers had too much for Brentford.
And victory surely puts to bed any question mark over Parker’s future after recent interest from Bournemouth.
Fulham started quickly with Josh Onomah twice forcing Raya into saves but chances were few and far between in the first half.
Neeskens Kebano went close with a dipping, curling free kick from a dangerous area that hit the side netting at the start of the second half.
Brentford then wanted a penalty for a Michael Hector handball but the defender’s arm was across his chest when the ball struck him.
Thomas Frank's men tasted defeat after extra-time
Bees danger man Ollie Watkins finally tested Marek Rodak with a scorcher from 20 yards before Mitrovic finally got into the action at the end of normal time.
But Brentford continued to threaten in extra time with Hector just doing enough to put danger man Watkins off at the near post.
The tension only rose as Rodak saved a long-rage effort from Kamara and Hector blocked a shot on the turn from Mathias Jensen.
And then, finally, the breakthrough. Bryan spotted Raya way off his line and beat him with a free kick before the Bees keeper could recover.
It was brilliantly opportunistic, but the Spaniard knew he had made a huge error and hung his head.
Bryan then snatched another on the break in the 117th minute and though Dalsgaard pulled one back, it was too little too late for Brentford.
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