Fulham ought to take inspiration from Brentford – the Bees’ success with out Ivan Toney exhibits how they will cope after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s departure

It’s an odd thought, that Marco Silva might need taken solace from his facet succumbing to one thing of a shellacking by their west London rivals.

Whereas Fulham’s toothless efficiency in opposition to Brentford could have added to the ache of shedding Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Silva solely needed to look to the group working riot in entrance of him for proof that such a blow doesn’t must be deadly.

Ivan Toney’s suspension till January was meant to hobble Brentford, however as an alternative they’ve hit the bottom working this season. 

What’s extra spectacular nonetheless is that Thomas Frank has managed it with none summer season additions up entrance, with the Bees’ aggressive and direct type getting the perfect out of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, a pair who have already got 5 objectives to their identify after two matches.

Three got here right here as Brentford strolled to victory. Wissa seized on a surprising error by Issa Diop to open the scoring, Mbeumo made it two from the penalty spot after which wrapped issues up after a medical counter-attack.

Fulham boss Marco Silva has a striker drawback to resolve after struggling for objectives in his facet’s opening two video games

Aleksandar Mitrovic has departed to safe a big-money transfer to the riches of Saudi Arabia

Silva admitted it could be a case of make do and mend in the case of changing Mitrovic’s objectives. That’s worrying information for Fulham followers. 

New No 9 Raul Jimenez has not scored within the league since March — 2022, that’s — and by no means regarded prone to change that right here. 

However Silva insisted he might restore the Mexican to former glories, simply as he had achieved with Mitrovic.

Brentford have thrived within the absence of Ivan Toney who’s serving a ban from soccer

Brentford have been in a position to put objectives away this season with out investing in attacking skills upfront

‘The striker market is just not simple,’ he mentioned. ‘I’m undecided if we’re going to discover the appropriate alternative. We’ll do our greatest but when we will’t, we’ll face the Premier League with the gamers we now have right here.

‘Once we arrived at this membership, the season earlier than Mitro had scored three objectives within the Premier League. Half of that season he was on the bench. 

‘The season after, he scored 43 objectives (within the Championship). He had been actually down at this membership. What we did with him, now we now have to do with the gamers we now have in our squad.’

That process appears to be like daunting — and it’s one Silva should pull off if Fulham are to remain out of hassle this yr. However Brentford have not less than proved it may be achieved.