Fulham & Brentford both out for play-off glory
Dubbed the most expensive game in football, West
London neighbours Fulham and Brentford will battle it out for the final
promotion spot from the Championship up into the Premier League this evening.
For the Cottagers it would be redemption following their relegation from the top-flight last season, however for the Bees if they were to finally get the promotion monkey off their back they would be back in the big time for the first time since 1947.
Brentford have the pressure of potentially becoming the most unsuccessful club in play-offs because a loss tonight would see them be zero from nine attempts.
Their manager Thomas Frank says that the side have an air of confidence about them going into the clash and have a front line of players that have bagged 59 goals this season – part of a team that has scored the most goals in the Championship.
"We have big ambitions and big dreams," Frank said to BBC Sport. "We believe in ourselves but need to go to Wembley confident but humble.
"They are a bigger club than us," Frank said. "This is not a mind-game, this is a fact. They got relegated from the Premier League last year and have the parachute money.
"They have experience from the final two years ago and they have more experience in their squad to play a game like this than us.
"Yes, we beat them twice [this season] and that can maybe give us a bit of confidence. But the final is another story."
For Fulham, Scott Parker has breathed new life into the side this season after he was appointed in the midst of their Premier League relegation and the manager has been impressed with what the club has achieved despite their issues last season.
"I realised that this season was going to be a massive challenge for us," Parker said.
"When teams get relegated there are big wounds, and we were in a low spell."The biggest challenge was obviously trying to implement a philosophy and install a real identity on the pitch.
"It's been a rocky road this season because you can't just have a magic wand to go from a weak mentality to fighting to win the division you are in.
"I see a massive improvement from where we were, and a team that is progressing and resilient."
Kick-off at Wembley is at 20:45 SAT.
