Sone Aluko and Tom Cairney strikes give Slavisa Jokanovic’s team narrow win in west London derby

Bees won their derby with QPR last week but couldn’t continue good form against Cottagers

FULHAM won the battle of west London with a comfortable win at Griffin Park thanks to a first-half Sone Aluko strike and an injury-time Tom Cairney strike.

Days after beating QPR, the Bees wanted to prove themselves the top boys on the manor but they were beaten on their own patch by Slavisa Jokanovic’s men.

Stefan Johansen enjoyed himself down the right flank and he provided the ammo for the opener on 36 minutes. His wing-wizardry set up Aluko who took an instinctive shot that busy Bees keeper David Bentley parried.

But the Nigeria international reacted quickest to the save and prodded home before the defence realised he was wolfing down the cherry with his second attempt.

Seconds before the break, Fulham could have been on the home straight when Cairney – who had bossed everything in the first half – rifled at goal and drew another good save.

On the hour the Bees should have levelled when Josh Clarke had two identical chances.

The winger should have buried his first on the counter-attack but he shot too true and straight and David Button was never going to be undone in the Fulham goal.

And it was deja vu seconds later when another rapid Brentford move left Clarke eyeballing Button but again the shot was basic and the save was simple.

And Cairney wrapped up a man-of-the-match performance in injury time when Brentford’s defence was gaping and he crashed home from close range.