The Tanner Report: Chelsea 1 Fulham 0
This dreary match reminded me of the 2002 FA Cup semi-final with our West London neighbours which ended in the same score.
Chelsea just about deserved their win on Saturday but we Fulham fans were incensed that a violent challenge by Gusto on former Chelsea favourite Willian was only punished by a yellow card.
Twelve minutes later Issa Diop showed his naivety by lunging in on Raheem Sterling who went to ground.
It was a penalty but Diop should not have challenged him so.
The problem now with VAR is those at Stockley Park have lost their confidence in the face of constant and vehement criticism.
So in this game Michael Salisbury, who erred in a VAR decision involving Dominic Calvert Lewin of Everton, took the easiest option of not making a decision at all and let Anthony Gardner’s yellow card stand – the difficulty is that this was wrong.
Fulham’s shortcomings up front were also apparent, as indeed were Chelsea’s, the only difference being that Chelsea have spent a large fortune in the market.
Unlike in recent Premier seasons Fulham have more than a relegation dogfight these next few months.
On Wednesday week Liverpool come to the Cottage for the Carabou semi-final and on Saturday week Newcastle.
The last fixture was played some 70 years ago and ended Fulham 4 Newcastle 5 in what is still regarded as the finest game ever to take place at the Cottage.
Tosh Chamberlain scored a hat trick but the Magpies – Cup kings of the 1950s – ran out winners.
One only has to go back 40 years for a vintage League Cup tie v Liverpool. That took place in 1984 when Fulham, a second-tier side, held Liverpool in their pomp over 3 games.
