Aleksandar Mitrovic headed a late winner as Fulham beat Brentford to earn a first win in 25 top-flight London derbies.

Fulham had led after 44 seconds when Bobby Decordova-Reid tapped in from close range, before summer signing Joao Palhinha doubled their advantage with a thumping header.

Christian Norgaard may have been fortunate to avoid a red card for a late challenge on Jay Stansfield but he brought the visitors back into the game with a sweetly struck volley straight from a corner.

And Ivan Toney, who had two goals ruled out for offside, levelled just after the break in a first Premier League meeting between the two sides.

The Bees drop to fifth in the table, while a first win of the season means Fulham move up to fourth in the table.

The promoted side have made an unbeaten start to the season, but manager Marco Silva is still demanding more from his team.

“We believe in ourselves, our philosophy and in our way,” said Silva.

“It’s the most difficult and best league in the world, but once you’re here you have to challenge, you have to embrace the challenge.

“We know there will be good moments and bad moments, and we have to keep reacting.

“We’re pleased with how we’ve started the season, but we could even have had – and obviously would have wanted – more points.”

Cottagers edge entertaining derby

Brentford came into the derby in confident mood after cruising past Manchester United in their last game, but that enthusiasm quickly evaporated as Fulham took the lead in the first minute.

Premier League debutant Stansfield fired a shot, which popped up off the crossbar and Decordova-Reid turned in the loose ball to send the home fans into raptures.

Fulham went on to dominate the early stages and were worthy of a two-goal lead when the impressive Palhinha managed to produce a powerful header from a stationary jump.

It could have been worse for the Bees but Norgaard avoided punishment when he conceded a free-kick for a late challenge on Stansfield.

And it was the Danish midfielder who then pulled one back following a move off the training ground as he peeled of his marker to smash Bryan Mbeumo’s corner past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.

If Norgaard was lucky to remain on the field, so too was Palhinha, who only received a yellow for a late aerial challenge with Ben Mee which left the Brentford defender on the turf.

Brentford continued to push for the equaliser after the break and Toney surged clear twice in quick succession and shot into the bottom corner but was ruled offside, before his third attempt counted after a cushioned finish.

The hosts managed to wrestle back momentum and Mitrovic threatened twice, but his one-on-one opportunity after Norgaard’s loose backpass was well-kept out by Raya, before the Brentford keeper also palmed away a header from the Serb.

But the Fulham frontman was not to be denied late on as rose highest to power a header into the corner and seal a first win of the season for the newly-promoted side.

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Sourced From BBC