The Tanner Report: Fulham 0 Brighton 0
I like to predict the cliche that the media will use to describe this dreadful match and “After the Lord Mayor’s Show” springs to mind.
It’s entirely Fulhamish (the old telegram address at Craven Cottage and used to describe Fulham’s unpredictability) to play so well against Liverpool and then to be so sterile three days later.
Brighton shaded it with Adam Webster hitting the bar and Lewis Dunk going close.
Ade Lookman had Fulham’s best chance well-smothered by stand in keeper Roberto Sanchez.
Fulham can derive some satisfaction from keeping another clean sheet and getting a point when a few months ago they might have lost three.
Certainly the absence of fans made a big difference. At least we are no longer in the relegation zone but with Burnley playing tonight this might be temporary
When a match is as bad as this you notice other things.
I thought the referee Robert Jones was excellent. He ruled out one Brighton “goal” when VAR picked up a handball by Danny Welbeck prior to Adam Lallana’s shot and did not brandish the yellow card too often.
Sadly the game still did not flow.
Secondly the coverage on Amazon Prime was top notch.
I did not catch the name of the presenter but she had a cheerful way with her, brought in the two informed pundits Ellie Aluko and Jermaine Jenas and at the end – a nice touch – thanked us for watching.
Ellie Aluko, whose brother played for us, is perceptive and intelligent. She has a first class degree in law as well as becoming an international footballer playing for Chelsea and Juventus.
The commentator Ian Darke is vastly experienced and reliable and Matt Upson – once of Brighton – added to the commentary.
