The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 1

In a sentence Fulham controlled 75% of this match but failed to convert that dominance into goals and might have even lost the game.

True it was new coach Marco Silva’s first game, both in charge at Fulham and in the Championship, there were injuries to Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed and no Anguissa but the performance was not such to induce hope that Fulham would make an immediate return to the top flight.

The biggest positive was new signing Harry Wilson.

He scored one – might have had another – and in his interview after the game talked intelligently that being favourites with the bookies meant little unless you knew how to overcome a Neil Warnock team.

Wilson’s tally of a goal every three games is good for a midfielder.

He does look left-sided which makes me wonder how he will gell with Tom Cairney, another left footed midfielder.

There is much hope that Alex Mitrovic will repeat the 26 goals of the promotion season but he looked sluggish yesterday.

I would conclude the jury is out with new coach Silva.

Hopefully with the return of the tenacious Reed and the creative Cairney we will have a more vigorous midfield.

There was speculation that Anguissa had played his last game and some consolation that none of the three relegated sides (WBA and Sheffield United are the others) won.

There is no VAR in the Championship.

This means that less goals will be ruled out but equally a clear foul in the penalty area on Fabio Carvalho went unpunished.

On SKY the ex-Millwall and Cardiff manager described the division as “ bonkers” and it may take some time for Silva to get to grips with it.