Brentford 2-3 Fulham: Cottagers’ second-half fightback keeps European hopes alive

Fulham host Manchester City on the final day of the season, but Brighton can end the Cottagers’ hopes of an eighth-place finish on Monday if they beat champions Liverpool at Amex Stadium.

Had City beaten Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday and gone on to finish in the top six, the team that came eighth would have qualified for next season’s Uefa Conference League.

However, that team will now need Chelsea to finish seventh and beat Real Betis in this season’s Uefa Conference League final on 28 May to clinch a place in the competition.

Speaking before the game, Fulham manager Marco Silva had called on his players to show a reaction to last weekend’s poor second-half performance at home to Everton, who triumphed 3-1 to inflict a fourth defeat in five games on his team.

The combination play between Traore and Jimenez caused Brentford plenty of problems as they made a bright start, with the Mexican twice going close to giving them an early lead before his header squirmed under Flekken.

While Silva will be frustrated with the manner of the Bees’ first-half goals, he will be thrilled with his team’s response against a side who had lost only two of their last 12 top-flight games.

Club captain Cairney, who had replaced Sander Berge at half-time, celebrated wildly in front of the away end after nodding the Cottagers level with only the 34-year-old’s second league goal of the campaign.

“I know very well what Tom can give us,” Silva told BBC Match of the Day. “I know what he can do.

“He made a massive impact. With him on the pitch and on the ball, we are at peace.”

Fulham fans were soon celebrating again when Wilson’s left-footed drive found the bottom corner, earning the visitors their first league double over their London neighbours since 1947-48.