Thomas Frank Urges Brentford Fans To Show Their Best Support Against Fulham In Crucial Match

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Thomas Frank has urged Brentford fans to bring their best support on Sunday as the team aims for a historic European qualification. Although unlikely after the FA Cup final, finishing eighth might secure a Europa Conference League spot. This depends on Chelsea's result against Real Betis in their final match. Currently, Brentford is eighth in the Premier League, tied with Brighton and two points ahead of Bournemouth.

Frank acknowledges that their fate isn't entirely in their hands. "We can't control it," he stated. "Unfortunately, it's not only up to us. Right now, we're eighth with two games to go. We can win both games, we can lose both games - that's the beauty of this wonderful league." The team faces two strong opponents, starting with Fulham in a west London derby.

Brentford remains unbeaten in their last three home matches and hopes to maintain this streak before visiting Wolves on the final day. Frank emphasised the importance of fan support: "We really need the fans, they have been very good this season, and we need them at their very, very best on Sunday." Their backing is crucial for pushing the team forward.

Marco Silva is looking forward to another London derby against Brentford. The Fulham manager anticipates a competitive match given the history between the teams. In five Premier League encounters, each side has won twice with one draw. Silva remarked, "We know that we are going to be playing against a very good side, very well managed from Thomas."

Kevin Schade has been pivotal for Brentford recently, scoring four goals in his last three league appearances. Six of his last seven goals have either given Brentford the lead or secured victory. Meanwhile, Raul Jimenez is Fulham's top scorer this season with 11 goals. His recent performances have often put Fulham ahead or levelled scores.

The upcoming match holds significant importance for both clubs as they aim to end their seasons positively. Silva noted that despite being close on the table over recent seasons, both teams are eager for victory: "It's a local derby...we want to win and achieve a good result and give the fans something important next Sunday."

Historical Context and Predictions

Brentford has historically performed well against Fulham at home, winning five of their last seven league meetings there. However, inconsistency has plagued them in final home games over recent years. They have alternated between wins and losses in such matches across six campaigns.

Fulham seeks its first league double over Brentford since 1947-48 after winning 2-1 at Craven Cottage earlier this season. Despite beating Luton Town 4-2 last year, Fulham hasn't won consecutive final away league games since 2008-09.

No team has dropped more points from leading positions than Fulham this season in the Premier League—28 points lost mark their highest ever in one campaign.

The Opta win probability suggests a tight contest: Brentford stands at 48%, while Fulham is at 28.1%, with a draw at 23.9%. Both teams will be keenly aware of these odds as they prepare for Sunday's clash.