The Tanner Report: Brighton 2 Fulham 1
I was Ivan Conway’s guest for this match. In 9 games Brighton have never beaten Fulham in the Premiership and did so yesterday with virtually the last kick of the match.
The traffic was bad and the car parks full so we arrived late-ish. Necessarily I had to be ‘deep cover’, sitting amongst Brighton fans. Did I learn anything more from being at the match? Not really, though on a warm spring day it was good to be out and the drive over the South Downs was attractive.
Fulham tend to get worse as the game continues, Raul Jimenez took his opening goal well, controlling a deep cross from Alex Iwobi and volleying home.
We are not proficient in defending a lead and in my opinion part of the explanation is playing only one man up front. Forwards can put pressure on the back four, but not one on his own.
Fulham were also careless in defence – Jan Pail van Hecke was unmarked to head the home the equaliser.
Was it a penalty?
In the best Arsene Wenger tradition I did not see the incident. Watching it again on Sky Highlights and Match of the Day, it certainly seemed that Joao Pedro blindsided Harrison Reed, who kicked him. Those decisions can be given or not, but the referee was inexperienced and did so. This is the third time that Fulham have conceded a goal in extra time, the other two being against West Ham at home and Everton away.
It was not an enjoyable experience, but at least not a long journey home.
My ‘school’ report would be ‘Good, but could be better’. Fulham are a respectable tenth but, without their carelessness and with some better game management. could be higher than that.
