Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a late goal to earn a win for Fulham and break Brentford hearts after the visitors’ thrilling comeback.
Fulham took an early lead through Bobby Decordova-Reid, which summer signing Joao Palhinha doubled with a header after 20 minutes.
The hosts were in full control of the situation but conceded on the stroke of half-time to give Brentford hope.
Christian Norgaard scored an excellent volley directly from a corner and Ivan Toney completed the comeback early in the second half.
But just as it seemed the two sides might settle for a point which kept them both unbeaten, Mitrovic rose highest to convert a header at the back post and steal victory for the hosts.
Decordova-Reid had Fulham in front before Brentford had hardly even blinked, let alone settled down.
Mitrovic cut a low ball square into the six-yard box, Jay Stansfield’s strike was deflected onto the bar and back into the goalmouth and Decordova-Reid broke first from the melee to tap home.
Mitrovic thought he had doubled the lead by tapping in after David Raya palmed away his header.
But the Serbian was offside from the initial cross and the goal was chalked off without delay or argument.
Palhinha did make it 2-0 just a matter of minutes later however, thumping in a fine header from Andreas Pereira’s corner.
Either of Mitrovic or Palhinha could have buried the chance, with the Whites duo queuing up to latch onto the cross.
But Portugal midfielder Palhinha delivered, clearly relishing his first goal for the south west Londoners.
The hosts had dominated the opening half-hour with precious little by way of Brentford riposte.
Yoane Wissa’s underpowered header straight at Bernd Leno offered a minor warning shot from the visitors.
And that set the tone for Frank’s men to battle back into the contest.
Norgaard’s crisp volley nestled inside the post from Mathias Jensen’s corner as Brentford troubled the scorers and struck doubt into Fulham minds.
Fulham took that 2-1 lead into half-time, but then wound up very lucky not to concede again straight after the break.
Toney drilled home on the spin to cap a fine Bees raid, only for VAR to strike off the effort for offside.
Fulham sharpened up quickly after that major reprieve, but Mitrovic saw his firm strike rebuffed by Raya after breaking clean through.
Toney had the ball in the net for a second time for Brentford just past the hour, but again the striker was offside.
Mitrovic thought he had scored after meeting Mbabu’s fine cross with a thumping header, only for Raya to produce an instinctive parry.
Just as Fulham started to fear the worst however, up popped Mitrovic to power home a far-post header and snatch back the lead at the end.
Mbabu’s influential cameo paid dividends as it was the wideman’s ball that allowed Mitrovic to bury the winner.
