The Tanner Report : one nil to the Fulham
Two months ago, you would not ever have thought that Fulham would win 3 matches on the bounce 1-0. Yet last night’s victory achieved precisely that.
The difference has been six foot five defender Michael Hector, a loanee from Chelsea, is very much a commanding presence in the back four. Alfie Mawson, whom he replaces, has skill but nothing like his aerial ability.
Before the match Pargie called wanting to know what I thought a bet one of under 1.5 goals (whoever scored .5 of a goal?) on the basis of Middlesbrough’s recent good form, especially defensively, and Fulham being denied Alex Mitrovic.
It was a good call but he must have wondered as Fulham, for all their domination and slick passing in the first half, contrived to miss 4 very score-able chances.
Anthony Knockaert who had a fine game converted Joe Bryan’s low cross. After that Josh Onomah and Ivan Caveleiro missed 4 quite easy opportunities.
I was more pleased by the second half when Fulham did something they have not been doing for a while: they closed the game out.
One feature of Scott Parker’s selection policy is that if you play well you keep your place. There is no entitlement.
Kevin McDonald – a forgotten man last season who nearly went to Nottingham Forest – is now back in the team. Not the quickest and no left foot, he is the leader on the field, good in the air to defend set pieces and covers the back four. That is another reason for this good run.
At the risk of being a bore I repeat that WBA and Leeds are not impregnable in first and second positions.
Leeds, now that Nketiah has returned to Arsenal, look less lethal up front and last season’s poor second half will be dogging them. Fulham are 5 points behind them now and they are feeling our hot breath.
