SM
Man United vs. Bodo/Glimt: 4 hrs 27 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Championship
Aug 4, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Wembley Stadium
FL

Brentford
1 - 2
Fulham

Dalsgaard (120+4')
Jensen (88'), Norgaard (103')
FT
(aet)
Bryan (105', 117')
Reed (29'), Cairney (67'), Hector (98'), Knockaert (102'), Mitrovic (104'), Cavaleiro (120+2'), Rodak (120+4')

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic available for playoff final clash with Brentford

:Headline: Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic available for playoff final clash with Brentford: ID:408968: from db_amp
The Cottagers' top-scorer is available after missing both legs of the semi-final against Cardiff.

Fulham manager Scott Parker will have top goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic available for their Sky Bet Championship play-off final with Brentford.

The Serbian missed both semi-final legs against Cardiff with a hamstring injury, but has returned to training and is available for selection on Tuesday as the Cottagers look to secure a Premier League return.

Mitrovic scored 26 times in the Championship this season, the same as Brentford's Ollie Watkins, but clinched the golden boot ahead of his local rival after playing fewer minutes.

"Aleksandar is fit so we will make our decision on him," Fulham boss Parker said.

"I have a full squad to pick from, so it is now down to me to work out the best dynamics to obviously try and win the football match."

Parker is no stranger to Wembley and captained England there eight years ago against Holland, but is proud to have taken Fulham back to the venue in his first full season as a manager.

Scott Parker, right, captained England at Wembley in February 2012 against the Netherlands (Nick Potts/PA)

But the former Fulham midfielder does not believe his squad will be distracted by the occasion as they look to secure promotion.

"I am excited, there is an excitement about me and I am looking forward to the game and I am very proud," Parker added.

"Of course I have been at the football club for a long time, as a player and now in my first full season of leading the club and the team to this point so I'm very proud.

"Ultimately how I look at it is very single-minded and very focused on what is ahead. It is another football match and my experiences have taught me that all the noise and everything else that comes with big games is exactly that – just noise.

"We have a real laser focus about us and understand the job at hand and what we need to do and I feel we are in a good place to do that."

Brentford's 'BMW' strike force of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins have contributed 59 goals during the campaign, which is only five fewer than Parker's whole team were able to manage.

But the Fulham manager added: "Going forward they are a real threat, we have seen that with the front three players scoring a lot of goals so of course we understand that.

Brentford's 'BMW' strike force of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins, left, have scored 59 goals this season (John Walton/PA)

"Like I've said many times before, we concentrate on ourselves and how we can hurt and try and punish Brentford and their flaws.

"We are playing against an extremely organised team, who have done extremely well this year and there will be challenges, but I also suspect Brentford will have some challenges and hopefully they will be greater than the challenges they cause us."

In addition to promotion, bragging rights will also be up for grabs and while Fulham lost twice to Brentford this season, they did finish level on points with the Griffin Park outfit.

Parker said: "It's amazing to think we get to the 49th game of the season and it comes down to a west London derby. It probably adds a little more.

"Even as big as the game is, it is a London derby now as well so two teams who have done fantastically well this year, separated by goal difference in the league – and hopefully it will be a very good game."

amp_article__408968 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-08-03 16:23:47:
html db last update - 2020-08-03 16:23:47 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Scott Parker

Click here for more stories about Brentford

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .