The Tanner Report: Burnley 2 Fulham 3
You would have to be a Fulham fan aged over 90 to be present the last time that Fulham won at Burnley at Turf Moor which happened in the early 1950s, 75 years ago. Fulham broke the hoodoo last night but there were many paradoxes.
Fulham’s Harry Wilson is on hot form with 4 goals in our last 7 games, yet he might have gone to Leeds at the beginning of the season, unsure – as he was – of a place. Made captain of his native Wales against North Macedonia, he responded with a hat trick and has not looked back since.
His left foot is a wand and he struck the ball with it to give Fulham the lead at Spurs.
Against Crystal Palace he went even better, floating the ball into the corner after a well worked move. Against Burnley, he made one goal with a corner and scored another.
But for his contribution – and some fine shot stopping from keeper Bernd Leno – it might have been a different outcome.
Émile Smith Roae has looked sharper this season and, in a side that does not score too many goals, his attacking the box will be an asset – as it was when Burnley’s left back Hartman failed to deal with a corner and Émile struck.
Fulham, who lack a decisive header of the ball, looked vulnerable at corners. Having established a 3-2 lead, we rather hung on when Burnley pulled one back. Burnley are managed by Scott Parker, an ex-player and coach of Fulham, who looks like he is heading for his third relegation – two of them with us. Another irony.
With 20 points, Fulham should be safe but we will be losing Alex Isobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze – for next week’s visit (in the Caribou Cup) to holders Newcastle, then 2 London derbies versus West Ham and Crystal Palace – to the Africa Cup of Nations shortly. Cuença Drop and Lukic are adequate replacements and Kevin will probably get an outing too. Antonee Robinson came back after a long lay-off and looked a tad rusty.
The only area where we look threadbare is up front, where Raul Jimenez toils on his own, whilst Rodrigo Muniz is side-lined through injury.
