The Tanner Report : Fulham 1 Reading 2

4 points out of 9 over the festive period is not a productive haul and one the Cottagers may rue with the tough matches scheduled for March/April/May.

We now have lost 4 games at home. Scott Parker, diligent as he is, does not seem to produce consistency of result.

He has not been helped by an injury crisis of which the latest is Harrison Reed. Against Reading he was denied the services of Tom Cairney, Josh Onomah, Harry Arter and Alfie Mawson but we have a big, expensively assembled, squad and injuries are a fact of life.

Preston lost their entire back four and have melted away from the play-off zone.

One of the few happy memories of this defeat was midfielder Matt O’Riley.

The teenager has two feet and is elegant on the ball. He came on for Reed and off for Luca Della Torre.  I would have kept him on.

Anthony Knockaert, after a fine performance against Stoke, was at his mercurial worst. His crosses and corners rarely eluded the first defender.

Ivan Cavaleiro when he came on  was the more effective .

Later I watched WBA draw with Leeds. Both teams have put clear blue water between them and the play-off group.

Analyst Don Goodman observed they were by far the best two teams in the division so it looks like the play-offs at best for us.