The Tanner Report: Swansea 1 Fulham 2

This was Fulham’s fourth consecutive win and inevitably attention focusses on Alex Mitrovic who scored both goals, bringing his season total to fourteen.

I would however prefer to concentrate on our defence which has conceded two goals in that run.

After the opening few games the perceived wisdom from fan and analyst was that whilst Fulham would score goals they would also concede with their passing game in their own third.

Two changes have happened since then and for both we must credit Scott Parker. The first was to change tactics by hitting Alex Mitrovic more directly with less pussyfooting by the back four.

The second was the replacement of Marcus Bettinelli by Marek Rodak.

We certainly needed our Slovenia keeper in the first half as, but for his shot-stopping, we may have well been two down. Instead we were two up in smash and grab raids on Swansea.

We are also managing the game better. After Swansea pulled one back, ironically after 2 defensive lapses when the marking was poor from a cross and Rodak might have palmed the ball away for a corner, we more or less shut the Swans out.

So we are now third and above us WBA and Leeds who visit on the 21st December are feeling our hot breath.