The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Everton 3
The walk alongside the Thames from Putney Bridge is often heralded as the loveliest way to à football stadium.
Yesterday I walked in a different direction – along the towpath from Hammersmith – and it was no less lovely.
Blocks of flats have been built where one flat must cost £1 million and, in the river, skulls and eights were out.
Eventually you arrived at Craven Cottage with the new stand resembling an airport terminal.
For all that, it was all rather crowded and uncomfortable and my mood not helped by a 3-1 defeat.
Fulham suffered from the loss of Sasa Lukic and skipper Antonee Robinson, but on a hot day the performance was lethargic. Fulham’s early lead through Raul Jimenez (heading an excellent cross from Emile Smith Rowe) was eradicated by a shot that took a deflection in the last minute of the first half.
Everton added two in the second half, with Bernd Leno in goal uncharacteristically at fault for the third.
In the great debate on attendance at a match versus watching it on television, I came out for the latter as I learned from the highlights that the deflection came off Pereira; that Harry Wilson might have scored a brace; and why VAR was overruled for a late handball.
Fulham’s chances of qualifying for European competition have receded but, given our lack of squad depth, this may be no Bad Thing.
