Fulham make the short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday with one clear mission: bring the bragging rights back to Craven Cottage.
With the sun expected to shine and the away end completely sold out, it’s set to be a fiery, full-blooded West London derby — and Marco Silva’s men know exactly what’s at stake.
Earlier this season, it took a dramatic stoppage-time winner to see off Brentford in a breathless 3-2 win at the Cottage. That night, Fulham played some of their best football of the campaign — on the front foot, fearless, and fully committed. Now, with two games left in the season, they’ll be looking to summon that same spirit against a Brentford side pushing hard for a European place.
There’s history on the line. Fulham haven’t completed a league double over Brentford since 1948 — but this derby is about more than just the records. It’s about pride, momentum, and bouncing back from a disappointing run that’s seen the Whites win just one of their last five matches. That slump has taken the shine off what’s otherwise been a solid campaign — but a win on Sunday would go a long way to restoring the mood in SW6.
Brentford, in contrast, are flying. Unbeaten in six and fresh off wins over Brighton, Forest, Manchester United and Ipswich, they’ve surged up the table into eighth and are eyeing a Europa Conference League spot. Boss Thomas Frank has even billed this clash as “the biggest game since Brentford joined the Premier League.”
They’ll have a near full-strength side too, boosted by the return of defenders Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey, though key names like Fabio Carvalho and Vitaly Janelt remain sidelined.
Silva’s thoughts
But Marco Silva believes his side are ready. The manager didn’t hold back after last weekend’s defeat, admitting he was angry with the performance — but said the players have responded with intensity and focus in training. “It’s a derby, it’s emotional, and we know what it means to our fans,” Silva said. “If we are at our best level, we’re a very difficult team to beat.”
Late decisions will be made on the fitness of Saša Lukić and Antonee Robinson, but the club has been buoyed by confirmation that Raúl Jiménez, Adama Traoré, and Harry Wilson have all had contract extensions triggered — a clear sign of faith in the current squad heading into the summer.
Emile Smith-Rowe, who featured in November’s dramatic win, says the players are “buzzing” to go again. “We know how much it means. We won at the Cottage — now we want to do it again.”
Match details
Kick-off: 3pm, Sunday 18 May
TV: Not broadcast live in the UK. Audio commentary available on FFCtv with Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.
Fulham will wear their purple away kit for the final time, and with no trains running to Kew Bridge on Sunday, travelling fans will need to plan ahead. But they’ll be there in numbers — and they’ll expect a reaction.
Prediction: Brentford 1–2 Fulham
A late winner again? Don’t rule it out. Derby day demands drama.
