Brentford extended their Premier League unbeaten run to 12 games and gave their European prospects a significant boost with a 3-2 win over Fulham in the West London derby.
Strikes from Ivan Toney, Ethan Pinnock and Mathias Jensen rendered Manor Solomon's header and Carlos Vinicius's late chip inconsequential, as the Bees got their just rewards for a thoroughly professional display.
Immediately taking advantage of Joao Palhinha's absence, Brentford exploded out of the blocks in front of their own fans and should have been ahead with four minutes on the clock, but Bryan Mbeumo missed an absolute sitter at the back post.
However, only two minutes later, the Bees' early dominance would be rewarded, as a scuffed Aaron Hickey shot fell kindly for Pinnock, and the centre-back's effort took a significant deflection off Tim Ream into the bottom corner.
After a brief disruption due to a flare being thrown on the pitch, the hosts continued their unrelenting assault and hit the post through Mbeumo's free kick in the 17th minute, in what would prove to be the theme of the opening 45 minutes.
© Reuters
While Fulham slowly began to grow into the game, Brentford's backline held firm - with Ben Mee sweeping up everything in sight - while Willian picked up a booking for simulation.
Another free kick in a promising area for Brentford in the 36th minute ended with Toney clipping the top corner of the woodwork, and it was an identical story for Andreas Pereira six minutes before the break.
However, on that occasion, Solomon - making his first Premier League start after a spate of super-sub outings - was in the right place at the right time to head home the rebound and level matters with his fourth Premier League goal in four games.
It would not have been a Premier League match without a dose of officiating controversy, though, as Anthony Taylor inexplicably refused to brandish a second yellow card for Sasa Lukic when the Serbian clipped a charging Yoane Wissa in first-half injury time.
Despite that perceived sense of injustice, the Bees started the second half in a similar vein to the first and were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, as Issa Diop tried to clear following a long-throw routine but only succeeded in kicking Christian Norgaard.
© Reuters
Penalty perfection personified, Toney made it 22 successful spot kicks from 22 attempts for Brentford, taking one hop before side-footing into the bottom corner beyond the desperate reach of Leno.
Still in the mood for something spectacular, Toney - clearly brimming with confidence - tried to catch Leno out with a phenomenal effort from inside the centre circle in the 69th minute, and the scrambling German breathed a sigh of relief when the ball landed on the roof of the goal.
Containing Marco Silva's side with relative ease - much to the anger of the Fulham boss - Brentford put the derby to bed in the 85th minute, as Kevin Schade burst past Antonee Robinson before cutting back for Jensen to slot home through Leno's legs.
Seemingly set to ride out a two-goal win, the Brentford mood was ever so slightly soured in the eighth minute of second-half injury time, as David Raya parried a speculative Pereira effort into the path of Vinicius, who lifted the ball over the Spanish goalkeeper with the last act of the game.
Neither seventh-placed Fulham nor ninth-placed Brentford have moved in the rankings, but Thomas Frank's side are now just one point behind their near neighbours having played two fewer games.
A trip to Everton on Saturday is next up for the Bees, while Fulham prepare to host league leaders Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
No Data Analysis info
