The Tanner Report: Sheffield United 1 Fulham 1
Fulham finally got their first point at Bramall Lane yesterday.
Debuts were given to recent signings Aina (right back) , Adarabioyo (centre back) and Reuben Loftus Cheek (midfield).
It is most unfortunate that another signing – Joachim Andersen – looks like being out injured for several months.
A similar fate happened to Kongolo when he was signed on loan last season from Huddersfield but he never played because of injury. The Dutch international was also signed permanently in the recent transfer window.
Older fans like me will remember that one of Fulham’s legends Roger Brown also suffered an injury immediately after his transfer but became a Cottage hero in one of our best ever defensive pairings alongside Tony Gale.
Fulham started this match brightly but the home side asserted itself and were unlucky not to score.
Fulham played a flat back four with a high line and although this made us less porous defensively its also meant that Alex Mitrovic was denied supply from overlapping full backs as the line stayed static.
Fulham improved in the second half but Mitrovic, who had a game he would like to forget, missed a penalty when his shot struck the bar.
We did take the lead when Ademola Lookman dribbled through the Sheffield defence and then hit a rising shot to score.
Sadly for us keeper Areola flapped at a cross and, as the ball bobbled, Mitrovic scythed a Sheffield player down to clear it.
The referee Stuart Atwell – famous for awarding a goal that wasn’t – consulted with VAR and awarded a penalty which Billy Sharp converted.
Next week we play Crystal Palace and after them WBA. We need at least 4 points from these games.
I watched the game on BT box office for £15.
I don’t really see what the paying fuss is about. If you don’t want to pay this, don’t, but don’t expect more government handouts – which are ultimately paid by the taxpayer – to fund live football.
Michael Brown, an ex-Sheffield and Fulham player provided the analysis.
He was articulate enough but not as acute as SKY’s Championship analysts Don Goodman, Liam Rosenior and Andy Hindcliffe.
