Joe Bryan double returns Fulham to Premier League

Brentford’s 73-year wait to return to England’s top division continues, as a goalkeeping blunder costs the west London club.

Tom Cairney of Fulham lifts the trophy as the team celebrate victory after during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final match between Brentford and Fulham at Wembley Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

In the longest of domestic seasons, stretching for 13 months, it was inevitable that the final game of this extraordinary English league campaign should require extra time, extra effort and also something extra-special. That was provided by Joe Bryan, the son of a surgeon, who rose to the occasion when Fulham needed him most, showing incisive thinking and wonderful dexterity with first a free kick worthy of winning any final and then storming forward for a second.

This was a poor climax to the Championship play-offs until Bryan delivered towards the end of the first half of extra time. The Fulham full back was left of centre, glancing right, encouraging David Raya to move to protect the far-post. It was a piece of deception, leading to a masterpiece of a set-piece. Brentford’s keeper realised Bryan’s intentions too late. He tried to scramble across, but Bryan was too quick thinking, and had whipped the ball in from 35 yards. His second ended any Brentford hopes of a recovery, and settled this high-stakes neighbourly dispute.

Joe Bryan, Scott Parker and Bobby Decordova-Reid. Picture: Getty Images

This had been a west London Derby with huge capital on the line. This was about securing the future with promotion worth one and a half Jadon Sanchos. All the hard work, all the twisting emotions of a league campaign that began 12 months and three days ago, rested on this final effort. This was about so much more than local pride; it was the golden ticket to visit Anfield, Old Trafford and all the other stately homes on the Premier League map, as well as escape the carnival of carnage that is the Championship.

Brentford were so fired up they staged a huddle before the warm-up, let alone the kick-off, and they were immediately pressing high, looking for the turnover, trying to release that formidable front line of their 4-3-3. Ollie Watkins’ pace swept him past Michael Hector, who then brought down Said Benrahma. Was this another turbo-charged Brentford start? Hector then showed impressive awareness to steer Mathias Jensen’s cross away from the incoming Bryan Mbeumo.

At the first drinks break, Thomas Frank tried to turn the ignition. He addressed his players, clutching his playbook, pointing out what he wanted tactically. Emotionally, all of Brentford knew the game-plan, the dream of returning to the top division for the first time in 73 years, back to a time when Clement Attlee was residing in Downing Street and Richard Attenborough was starring in Brighton Rock.

Over to Frank’s right, Scott Parker paced his dugout, admiring Tom Cairney dictate play from deep, turning and creating in front of his defence, combining well with Harrison Reed and the excellent Josh Onomah. Everything was in place in Parker’s attire, the tie-pin, the tailored jacket. If only the football variables could be measured and controlled.

Parker’s team still looked the more confident in a disappointing first period, still looked the team with greater familiarity with the occasion having been here two years ago. Fulham looked secure at the back, Tim Ream and then Hector intercepting. Parker applauded Ream for continually playing out. Reed then took the pressing game too far, diving in and catching Christian Norgaard, and being booked by Martin Atkinson. Such was the speed that Reed flew in, studs up on Norgaard’s ankle, that it could have been red.

Parker and his players were the more comfortable, and well aware of the huge swell of support flowing in from all the world. Fulham were inundated with good luck messages from fans tuning in from Winnipeg to Central African Republic, from “stage four curfew in Melbourne” to a fan who spent pounds 35 to get his Sky card brought by courier to his holiday home in France but it got delayed.

Bryan celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal. Picture: Getty Images

His team came close to delivering in the first half, Onomah bringing a save from David Raya, and Neeskens Kebano a scampering threat down the left. The final continued to meander, affected by the absence of supporters who would surely have demanded greater urgency. Brentford were not helped by Mbeumo being below par, venting frustration at Atkinson, then failing to control the ball, then gifting Fulham a throw. Frank had seen enough and replaced Mbeumo with Emiliano Marcondes on the hour.

Fulham tried to force the break-through, Bobby Decordova-Reid shooting over but riding their luck midway through the half. Hector handled but got away with it. Cairney went in high and late on Benrahma, a high-speed meeting of the No 10s, and the Fulham captain was fortunate to escape with only a yellow. From the resulting free kick, Marcondes drove the ball painfully over. As the Wembley clocks ticked past the 70 minute mark, Brentford went closer. Jensen, so influential against Swansea City at Griffin Park, stroked the ball in from the left, Watkins finally found a yard of space, advanced to the edge of the area and forced Marek Rodak into a pushover save.

Brentford were now more threatening, more like the fluid, attractive attacking side of the regular season. Parker turned to Mitrovic, his talisman, the most prolific force in the Championship who has been nursing a hamstring. Parker sent him down the touchline to warm up. His first change, though, was Anthony Knockaert, replacing Kebano.

Fulham supporters gather outside Craven Cottage. Picture: AFP

Nerves crept increasingly into play, the fear of a mistake adding to caution. It became even scrappier, especially when Jensen impeded the breaking Knockaert, who reacted angrily. Parker turned again to Mitrovic, who still wore his bib, still stretched his sinews in readiness.

As Mitrovic continued to prepare, then sat back on the hoardings, Knockaert tried to produce some trickery down the left, but Brentford closed him down. Finally, Mitrovic came on with three minutes of injury time announced. The Golden Boot winner was unleashed, immediately contesting an aerial ball with his usual vigour but flagged offside. As the clock ticked down towards extra time, the television hosts, including Dean Smith, who won last year’s final with Aston Villa, were already marching down towards the corner flag, clearly expecting the additional period. They were good judges. Atkinson soon blew for the end of normal time, demanding something extra of these two sides.

Mitrovic brought something extra, certainly some excess by grabbing Marcondes by the neck and pushing him over during the fall-out over Christian Norgaard’s foul on Onomah. But maybe Mitrovic’s action distracted Brentford as Bryan lined up his epic free kick. Not content with his evening’s work, Bryan then ran through, played a 1-2 with Mitrovic, and finished past Raya. Fulham were back up.

Championship play-off final: Fulham 2 (Bryan 105, 117) defeated Brentford 1 (Dalsgaard 120+4)

The Times