My Chelsea counterpart Tim Harrison entitled his recent blog ‘Shhh! It’s the Cup Final’. There was a similar unreality about another Wembley fixture, the Championship play-off final, despite the media’s efforts to whet the public’s appetite.
We read and heard endlessly about the historical rivalry, the respective strengths of Brentford and Fulham and the unimaginable riches awaiting the winners. But nothing could replicate the packed Wembley with its songs, flags and tumultuous din that we experienced in 2018.
In my original draft of last week’s blog I admitted my total inability to predict the final’s outcome – apart from a yellow card for goalkeeper Marek Rodak. Subsequently I deleted the remark as it seemed a glib comment on a player who had contributed so much to the team’s success. In the event he survived 124 minutes of the final before earning a caution.
Most Fulham fans were content that Scott Parker had named Aleksander Mitrovic, still recovering from a hamstring injury, as a substitute though we could hardly have anticipated the role that the Serb would play in his team’s triumph.
Brentford began purposefully only to be repulsed by a well organised defence, in which Tim Ream and Michael Hector were again outstanding. At the other end Josh Onomah, Neeskens Kebano and Aboubakar Kamara harried the Bees’ rear-guard but tended to drift offside. The nearest to an early goal came in the 17th minute when Onomah tested goalkeeper David Raya.
Rico Henry unwisely felled Bobby Decordova-Reid in a location that seemed ideal for a Kebano free-kick, but his effort hit the side netting. If spectators had been present, some of the Fulham contingent would have acclaimed a goal only to be mocked by the rival fans when reality dawned.
The pace of the match increased after the interval. Denis Odoi provided Decordova-Reid with an opportunity that he spurned. My hopes that Bobby would make his name in the July/August matches remained unfulfilled though he never stopped trying.
Odoi had a fine match against Said Benrahma, who was also the victim of some ugly fouls. During the match Martin Atkinson issued seven yellow cards to Fulham, four of them in extra time. Goal chances were still rare. Committed supporters were on edge but neutrals may have been tempted to switch channels possibly to return if the game went to penalties.
In extra time both teams discarded caution and the real excitement began. In the 103rd minute Christian Noorgard fouled Onomah and in the resultant melee Aleks Mitrovic threw Emiliano Marcondes to the ground.
As Mitro had been on the field for barely ten minutes, it raised questions about his self-control but the incident might have been part of a Machiavellian scheme. As David Raya and his team-mates concentrated on the Serb Joe Bryan sent his free-kick hard and low into the Brentford net. Social distancing was promptly forgotten in the jubilant aftermath on the pitch and in homes and taverns across the globe.
Mitrovic then created a more conventional second goal as Joe Bryan swapped passes with him before slipping the ball past Raya. When Henrik Dalsgaard scored a late consolation, Marek Rodak hung on to the ball as firmly as if the game was over and he was claiming the prize for a hat-trick.
A yellow card rewarded his pointless gamesmanship – it was already too late for Brentford to equalise. If only they had finished second and won automatic promotion both clubs could have joined the Premier League next season.
Seventy-one years ago, I sneaked out of a scholarship exam (with my parents’ connivance) in time to witness George Arthur Rowley scoring the two goals that put Fulham into the top tier for the first time ever.
Back then as in 2020 the triumph belonged to the whole team and to the management. But a brace of goals from Joe Bryan – who would have predicted that? Certainly not the Evening Standard which previewed the match:
‘In the first game after lockdown both Bees goals against Fulham came down (Joe) Bryan’s side. Mbeumo ended a seven-game goal drought in the semi-final and could prove too hot to handle tonight.’ Enough said.
It is not easy to see how Scott Parker will prepare his players for the Premier League in so short a time – but then I don’t do predictions. See you next season, Tim Harrison.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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