Ivan Toney’s goal drought continues as Brentford and Fulham share points

Posted Sunday, May 05, 2024 by PA

Ivan Toney’s goal drought stretched to 10 matches as Brentford fought out a 0-0 draw with west London neighbours Fulham.

The England striker found the net against Belgium in March but has not scored for the Bees since the middle of February and is now on his longest run without a club goal since playing for Peterborough in 2019.

Not that there was much riding on a distinctly low-key derby between two sides safe from relegation and nowhere near a place in Europe.

While Toney did not have a sniff at goal, Raul Jimenez should have won it for Fulham only to fire their best chance over.

Fulham had most of the ball but Brentford created the clearer opportunities during the first half, a case in point being when Willian surged forward only to turn and give the ball back to Toney.

The 28-year-old fed strike partner Bryan Mbeumo, who raced forward only to see his shot deflected on to the crossbar by a desperate challenge from Calvin Bassey.

The rebound fell to Keane Lewis-Potter, but his effort bounced straight into the arms of Cottagers keeper Bernd Leno.

Centre-half Pinnock briefly joined the Bees attack and his header across the penalty area found captain Christian Norgard, whose volley flew across goal and wide with Toney unable to get a touch at the far post.

Just before the break Keane Lewis-Potter chased a long cross-field ball towards the left corner, beat full-back Timothy Castagne and dinked an effort over Leno, but the danger was cleared by defender Issa Diop.

Fulham’s two best chances in the opening half fell to Alex Iwobi, who fizzed a drive inches over the crossbar and then embarked on a mazy run along the edge of the penalty area only to shoot straight at Mark Flekken.

The second half was all Fulham, looking for only their second win in seven short trips along the Thames.

Iwobi squared the ball to Andreas Pereira, who sidefooted his shot narrowly over from 20 yards.

Iwobi then lifted a cross to the far post, from where Rodrigo Muniz’s downward header was held by Flekken, before Castagne headed over from Pereira’s corner.

The points ought to have been Fulham’s with 15 minutes left when Adama Traore outmuscled Yehor Yarmoliuk and crossed for fellow substitute Jimenez, only for the Mexican striker to blaze a golden chance over from 15 yards out.

Flekken made a late save low down to deny Traore as the Bees held out for a point from a derby that will not live long in the memory.