Brentford’s European ambitions dented after Leno stands firm in goalless draw with Fulham

The grind to Europe continues for Brentford. A goalless west London derby with Fulham made it five league draws in succession for Keith Andrews’ side, the chance to go within touching distance of Liverpool squandered.

The saviour for Fulham was Bernd Leno with a staggering reflex save in the final minute of regular time, tipping over Dango Ouattara’s close-range effort. Calvin Bassey, the hulking centre-back, was quick to hug his keeper, recognising the game-saving moment.

In a match with few clearcut chances, that was the closest either side came to winning it, with Igor Thiago kept relatively quiet by the lime-green wall built by Bassey and Joachim Andersen. Brentford pressed and pressed at the close, threatening with set-pieces as Fulham escaped. Marco Silva’s team failed to register a shot on target.

Brentford, even with the lack of recent wins, have written a defiant story this season, settling in the top half despite last summer’s upheaval. Out went Thomas Frank, his two main goalscorers and the captain, too. Up stepped the set-piece coach Andrews and the striker who had barely played in the previous campaign; Thiago remains on Erling Haaland’s tail, the Golden Boot very much up for grabs.

But the man to watch at the start was Harry Wilson, a figure who haunts the thoughts of Brentford supporters. It was Wilson who came off the bench 17 months ago to nab two goals in added time and steal the points. As a sub once again, he curled in a 25-yard winner at the Gtech last May. As a starter, he scored Fulham’s second in their 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage in September, when Brentford found themselves 17th after five games, the Andrews effect still waiting to kick in.

Bernd Leno (centre) and the Fulham defence do enough to thwart another Brentford attack. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

Naturally it was Wilson who had Fulham’s first opportunity, cutting in from the right to launch, but the shot rattled off his teammate Rodrigo Muniz. Thiago tried to be a nuisance at the other end, with an early header travelling wide. The Brazilian looked sharp, to be expected after that double against Everton last weekend.