Football

Fulham vs Brentford Player Ratings: Wissa and Mbuemo put Cottagers to the sword

August 19, 2023 5:14 pm

  • Yoane Wissa grabbed the only goal during a first half of very few good chances.
  • Tim Ream was sent off and Mbuemo doubled Brentford’s lead with the resulting penalty and then grabbed his second – and Brentford’s third – of the game in the dying embers.
  • Brentford grab their first win of the season, while Fulham fall to a defeat for the first time.

Fulham Player Ratings: Andreas Pereira was Fulham’s one-man band

Bernd Leno 5/10 – Comfortable with the ball at his feet. Was seen scrambling for Wissa’s goal.

 Kenny Tete 6/10 – The full-back’s deliveries were strong throughout and played high and wide when attacking.

 Tim Ream 3/10 – Dealt well with crosses into the box. Sent off.

 Issa Diop 3.5/10 – Had two of Fulham’s earliest chances and then gifted Brentford for their first goal. An afternoon to forget.

 Antonee Robinson 4/10 – Alert to Wissa’s goal-bound effort but struggled otherwise. Caught out way too often.

 Harrison Reed 5.5/10 – Often dropped deep to cover marauding defenders and looked strong.

 Sasa Lukic 4.5/10 – Gave away sloppy fouls. Not involved enough.

 Andreas Pereira 7/10 – Fulham’s livewire. Dictated play and his deliveries caused persistent problems. Needed more support.

 Harry Wilson 4.5/10 – Started off sloppy and continually struggled to get a foothold of the game.

 Raul Jimenez 4/10 – Was often isolated and failed to make an impact. Not quite on Aleksandar Mitrovic’s level yet.

 Bobby Reid 3.5/10 – Anonymous. Hooked early.

 Substitutes

 Willian 4.5/10 – Active but to no avail.

 Joao Palhinha 5.5/10 – Should have started. Yellowed.

 Calvin Bassey 5/10 – Fulham looked more assured defensively with him on the pitch.

Adama Traore – N/A

 Rodrigo Muniz – N/A

Brentford Player Ratings: Yoane Wissa led the line brilliantly

Mark Flekken 5.5/10 – Shaky start thanks to Thomas Frank’s risky playing style. Eased into proceedings.

 Aaron Hickey 5.5/10 – Struggled. Picked up the game’s first yellow.

 Nathan Collins 7/10 – Fantastic block in the first half. Looked defensively sound.

 Ethan Pinnock 6.5/10 – Tidy enough. Had little to do, mind.

 Rico Henry 7/10 – Composed. Threatening going forward and strong defensively, too.

 Mathias Jensen 6.5/10 – Almost scored a surprise free kick. Spreaded passes like it was no one’s business.

Christian Norgaard 6/10 – Kept things ticking over.

 Vitaly Janelt 5/10 – Really quiet. Was he even playing?

 Bryan Mbuemo 7/10 – Quiet first half. Scored two but wasn’t at his best.

 Yoane Wissa 7.5/10 – Fluffed a chance and then scored just minutes later. Ivan Toney who?

 Kevin Schade 6/10 – Had little joy on the left flank. Operated through the middle in the second stage.

 Substitutes

 Keane Lewis-Potter 3/10 – Added a bit of excitement.

 Joshua Dasilva 1/10 – Injured.

 Mads Roerslev 2/10 – Quiet.

 Mikkel Damsgaard 3/10 – Kept it busy in the middle.

 Kristoffer Ajer – N/A

Yoane Wissa
Photo by Icon sport

Fulham vs Brentford match summary and highlights

Brentford came out the blocks, though Fulham quickly took charge and were stringing pass sequences together nicely while conserving their energy.

Mark Flekken had a heart-in-the-mouth moment early on as his lacklustre turn was cut out, resulting in a corner. The resulting whipped-in set piece from Andreas Pereira dropped to Issa Diop, which was hurled over the upright.

Both sides struggled to optimise their final third threat to the maximum in the opening half an hour but enjoyed respective periods of control in deeper areas.

With seven minutes left to play, Yoane Wissa scuffed a chance to put the visitors ahead in what had been a poor first-half in terms of gilt-edged chances. But then, the centre-forward found the back of the net as Dop’s wailing pass was capitalised on.

The away side then doubled their lead from the spot as Bryan Mbuemo emphatically placed it past a hapless Bernd Leno after Tim Ream brought down Wissa in the area. The Cameroonian then bagged his second of the affair in the last moments of the game.

Substitute Ajer’s marauding run ended with a cutback to an isolated Mbuemo, who slotted it home. He can’t get an easier chance this season.

Brentford continue their defeat-less streak in the league, while Fulham cancel out their winning start against Everton.

Player of the Match: Yoane Wissa

Flourished in the new-look Brighton front line in Ivan Toney’s absence. Mbuemo had a quiet afternoon (bar his two goals) which meant that Wissa’s goal and penalty win was all the sweeter. A livewire for Frank’s side, Wissa caused the Fulham back line plenty of problems and was at hand to pounce on Diop’s poor back pass.

Toney may be out for a while so the Bees will be glad Wissa is stepping up to the plate in a time of need. This could have gone to Mbuemo for his goals but Wissa’s overall influence was much, much greater.

 

 

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