London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Championship play-off final: Brentford 1-2 Fulham (AET)

Championship play-off final: Brentford 1-2 Fulham (AET)

Fulham beat Brentford in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to two extra-time goals from Joe Bryan.

The left-back caught Bees goalkeeper David Raya off guard with a free-kick from 40 yards in the 105th minute of the game at Wembley, with the Spaniard expecting a cross and then unable to scamper back and save Bryan's skidding low effort.


Fulham will join Leeds and West Brom in the Premier League


With the Bees pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Bryan burst forward and combined with Aleksandar Mitrovic before stabbing past Raya to make the game safe with three minutes remaining.

Henrik Dalsgaard pulled a goal back with a header from eight yards out in the fourth minute of added time, but it was too late for the Bees to spark a comeback.

The goals from Bryan were two rare moments of quality and quick-thinking in an otherwise cagey encounter between the two west London rivals, which finished goalless after 90 minutes.

Scott Parker celebrated wildly at full-time having led Fulham to promotion in his first full season as manager.

The 39-year-old was unable to save them from top-flight relegation after replacing Claudio Ranieri in February 2019, but can now prepare them for a 15th campaign in the Premier League.

Parker was unable to call on top scorer Mitrovic, returning from injury, from the start - but the Serbia international showed composure to tee-up Bryan for the crucial second goal with a slick one-two inside the box.



Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was caught out by Joe Bryan's 40-yard free-kick



Ivan Cavaleiro almost made it 3-0 for Fulham in the closing stages when he was denied by Raya, and Dalsgaard's header came far too late to set up a Bees comeback.

Bryan had only scored once this season for the Whites heading into the game, but the 26-year-old ended up being the hero as his goals secured a promotion which could be worth £135m over the next three years.

Fulham show resolve to win


Parker has transformed Fulham's fortunes following their relegation last summer - as the Whites suffered 26 defeats and conceded 81 goals over the course of the 2018-19 league campaign.

They were among the favourites to go straight back up pre-season, but were unable to overhaul Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion as they stuttered at certain points of a campaign halted for three months by the coronavirus crisis.

Mitrovic missed both legs of their semi-final win against Cardiff through injury, and the Championship's golden boot winner was only fit enough for a place on the bench.



Fulham captain Tom Cairney lifted the trophy at an empty Wembley



Despite the 25-year-old's absence, Parker's side had the better chances in a low-key first 90 minutes, with Raya twice saving from Josh Onomah in the first half.

However, midfielder Harrison Reed was fortunate to only see yellow for a crunching challenge on Christian Norgaard before the break.

Neeskens Kebano sent a free-kick into the side-netting soon after the restart and Bobby Decordova-Reid stabbed an effort wide from 12 yards out.

Meanwhile, Marek Rodak's only save of note came in the second half when the Slovakian tipped over a fierce effort from Brentford's Ollie Watkins.

Bees create unwanted history


Brentford head coach Thomas Frank will be left wondering where things went wrong, as his side spurned another chance to win promotion to the top flight.

Brentford needed four points from their final two games of the season against Stoke and Barnsley to go up automatically but lost both matches to finish third.



Ollie Watkins finished joint top-scorer in the Championship with Aleksandar Mitrovic - both with 26 goals


His prolific forward line of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins had netted 59 goals between them in 2019-20, but were unable to produce clear-cut openings against a stubborn Fulham backline.

The Bees have assembled a young and attacking squad via a recruitment model largely based on analytics, but Frank will now face a battle to hang on to Watkins and Benrahma, who are likely be the subject of transfer interest from Premier League clubs.

It is Brentford's fourth play-off final defeat, and they have now failed to win promotion in nine play-off campaigns - setting a new English Football League record.

Their exile from the top flight will stretch into a 74th year as the Bees move into their new 17,500-capacity stadium at Lionel Road ahead of the start of next season.

'Struggling psychologically a year ago'



Matchwinner Joe Bryan (left) was part of the Fulham squad relegated from the Premier League


Former England midfielder Parker said he was proud that players involved in last season's disastrous Premier League campaign had bounced back.

"We've done what we've done tonight, but there's still improvement, and that's what makes me so proud and happy," he added.

"For all of the good players and everything you see, what makes me so happy I see a group of players who only a year ago were struggling psychologically, didn't have a mindset or mentality.

"I've driven this team every single day and what makes me proud is I stood on the touchline tonight and seen a team that represents what I've been saying over the last 12 months."

Brentford boss Frank was also full of praise for his side.

"First I would like to say congratulations to Fulham, Scott Parker, his coaching staff and everyone involved," the Dane said.

"Of course it's tough when you lose a final like this in a very tight game but I'm extremely proud of my players.

"We have gone from a mid-table club to a team who, in the league table, was the third-best team.

"We are very fine margins away from the Premier League, which is an incredible achievement from us."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×