The Tanner Report: Blackburn 0 Fulham 1

To achieve automatic promotion you have to grind out results which Fulham have been doing and Leeds and WBA have not.

We have won by the odd goal at Birmingham, Hull and Swansea in recent months and repeated this yesterday at Ewood Park.

These type of clubs are not easy to beat. Blackburn last lostat home in September.  Fulham were up to the task. It was the Joe Bryan/Alex Mitrovic combo that once again proved fruitful with the first goal.  A low Bryan cross into the box finds Mitrovic who swivelled   to ram home

However, the real difference has been at the other end of the pitch where the imperious Michael Hector has become a dominating defender.

Behind him Marek Rodak’s shot-stopping has often made the difference.

Tom Cairney has attracted some negative reviews but he is the best striker of the ball in the team.

He had a good game at his old club ,where he was warmly received ,  as the  fulcrum of the midfield.

He may not be fully fit, he is left-sided , no acceleration – and maybe even a great Championship player but not a Premier one – but at the minute he is doing the business.

Leeds stumbled again and we are now level on points. They imploded last season and look like doing the same this.

WBA are not winning either and both teams must be casting anxious looks over their shoulders as Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Brentford just keep on winning.

We finish February with a home game against high flying Preston and in March play Leeds and Brentford within 4 days.  Bring them on .