Brentford held by Fulham in stalemate as Bees move to within four points of Champions League spots

Lewis Henderson
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:25:31 +0000

Brentford have been held to a 0-0 draw against noisy neighbours Fulham at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The point leaves the Bees just four points off the Champions League spots, with five games left this season.

Just three points separated the two sides heading into the contest, with European qualification firmly in the minds of both sets of supporters.

Keith Andrews' Bees remain in the Europa Conference League playoff position despite their fourth successive draw, while Marco Silva's Cottagers saw their slim continental hopes take another blow.

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The result means Brentford have avoided back-to-back home league defeats against their neighbours for the first time since April 1998.

The match appeared destined to end without a moment of genuine drama until the final minute of normal time.

Keane Lewis-Potter delivered a low cross into the Fulham penalty area, and Dango Ouattara looked certain to break the deadlock from close range.

However, Bernd Leno produced an extraordinary intervention, somehow getting fingertips to the ball and diverting it over the crossbar from point-blank range.

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The German goalkeeper's reflexes denied what seemed a certain goal and proved to be the defining moment of the afternoon.

Leno deservedly won man of the match, with the Cottagers' attack not registering a shot on target.

Alex Iwobi pulled up clutching his right hamstring in the 42nd minute, with the Nigerian international appearing visibly distressed as he left the pitch.

The winger was replaced by his compatriot Samuel Chukwueze, but concerns immediately arose that the setback could end Iwobi's season prematurely.

The Cottagers have now failed to find the net in four of their previous five fixtures, a run that has seen their continental ambitions fade.

Igor Thiago, the league's second-highest scorer with 21 goals this term, went near for the hosts when he headed narrowly wide from a corner in the 10th minute.

The Cottagers have now gone nine consecutive away matches without scoring in the first half, matching their longest such run in Premier League history.

Silva's men have managed just four first-half goals since the turn of the year, the fewest in the division during that period.

Both sides will be keeping an eye on the remaining nine fixtures across the weekend, including Newcastle United against Bournemouth and Tottenham facing Brighton.

The Magpies can leapfrog Fulham on goal difference should they beat Bournemouth, while the Cherries can go on level points with the Bees.

Brighton can go above Brentford with a victory and climb into the top six and European places.