The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Manchester United 2
It’s curious but true that matches against the same opposition follow similar patterns.
Fulham/Manchester Utd games are invariably entertaining and decided by a moment of individual brilliance by the Reds.
This was true of last night’s encounter.
Fulham took an early lead when Ade Lookman sprang the offside trap and beat de Gea with an angled shot.
United equalised when Alphonse Areola spilled a Bruno Hernandes cross to the awaiting Edison Cavani who banged it home.
The decider came in the second half.
Paul Pogba received the ball well outside the penalty box.
Seemingly he had few options but chose to shoot and his drive flew past Areola for what proved the winner.
After a difficult cycle of Spurs away and Chelsea and Man Utd at the Cottage Fulham are on the road again in the Premier with crucial games at Brighton this Wednesday and WBA the weekend after.
These two games with the opportunity to take and deny points to teams down there with us are going to be crucial.
When Pargie came a-calling pre-match I asked him what his beloved Racing Post predicted.
They foresaw a draw first half/win second half Manchester United which proved the case.
It made me fearful that Fulham would not withstand pressure from the away side who have improved dramatically over the past few months.
Yet as ever Fulham had sufficient chances to draw which were not taken. This is a deficiency that Head Coach Scott Parker must address and we hope for some activity in the transfer window.
A real positive was the best game to date from Ruben Loftus Cheek.
He rediscovered the form that won him an England place in the World Cup semi final v Croatia.
Sadly for all his imperiousness in midfield his two goal attempts in the box failed.
A late header from Alex Mitrovic struck a United defender and trickled past the wrong side of the post. We are not getting the rub of the green either.
