Thomas Frank hailed Ivan Toney as a “special footballer” after his striker led brilliant Brentford to victory in this West London derby. And the Bees stay on course for Europe for the first time after stretching their Premier League unbeaten run to 12 matches since October.
Manor Solomon netted in his fifth consecutive game for Fulham before sub Carlos Vinicius scored late in second-half injury-time. But Toney netted his 22nd consecutive penalty for Brentford - and his 10th in the Premier League - between goals from Ethan Pinnock and Mathias Jensen to give the home side a thrilling win in the cold and rain.
The buzzing Bees are now just a point behind Fulham in seventh place. Carry on with this form and the club which had not played in the top flight for 74 years before last season will qualify for Europe next season.
“We dream and we are allowed to dream,” Frank said. “Aim as high as we can - that has been the aim since the start of the season.”
Toney has now scored 15 Premier League goals this season - more than Marcus Rashford - and only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have scored more. And the £5m signing from Peterborough also hit the woodwork with a first half free kick, nearly scored from the halfway line with a David Beckham -style shot which landed on the roof of the Fulham net and played a pass with his backside.
All as he awaits a likely lengthy FA ban for breaking betting regulations. Frank said: "He is a special footballer, I think his character is unique in terms of leadership and driving his team. It tells you a lot about his ability to have laser focus in training and games.
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"I think in general before this situation with the case going on before that unique ability to focus on games and training and he has kept doing that so that doesn't surprise me. He doesn't like the situation but he has top focus. He is the best penalty taker in the world. He is an all-around football player.”
Yoanne Wissa jokingly feigned to take the 50th-minute spot kick after Issa Diop caught Christian Norgaard in the box. But Toney stepped up to stroke his penalty past Bernd Leno - his 27th successful penalty from 28 as a pro.
"The wait doesn't matter, the longer the better really because I can get away and think of other things like being away on holiday and chilling,” he said. The busy Bees could have scored three times before Pinnock scored their quickest ever Premier League goal in the sixth minute when his shot deflected in off Tim Ream.
But Fulham drew level before the break when Andreas Pereira’s free kick hit the post and rebounded for Solomon to head home. The striker on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, who netted in the FA Cup last week, is the first ever Israeli player to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances.
Sub Kevin Schade set up Jensen to score the third through the legs of Leno after 85 minutes. Fellow sub Vinicius pulled one back in injury time after David Raya parried a shot from Andreas Pereira.
A sixth away win of the season would have lifted Fulham above Newcastle into sixth place but Marco Silva’s seven-match unbeaten run came to an end without the steadying influence of the suspended Joao Palhinha. Silva said: “It was a disappointing night for us and a disappointing performance. We cannot play a derby away from home and start the game like that.”
