The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Aston Villa 3

At 1-1 Fulham were awarded a penalty which Andreas took softly and Emilio Martínez saved. This proved the turning point as Aston Villa scored two more for victory.

Although international week is tough, as Fulham lost Sasa Lukic with a shoulder injury and Antonee Robinson, Andreas, Raul Jimenez, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were al involved in tiring travel, it was a player who did not play at all – Emile Smith Rowe – who had the most ineffectual game.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph he admitted to being very shy and he may not possess the character to accompany his undoubted talent.

It was Marco Silva’s 150th match as Head Coach and he and Fulham fans and ownership must be pleased with his input as Fulham – after being a ‘‘ding-dong’ club  are now a relatively stable mid-table team.

Some criticise him for his game management, in particular his slowness to introduce substitutions in games not going Fulham’s way. He does improve players and identifies those whose careers need jump-starting.

Finally, a word on the allegations against Mohammed al Fayed. The latest victim is the captain of the ladies team. Talking to a lawyer whose windows I  clean, he maintains that (in defence of MAF) the time it took to produce the allegations, consent and the role of the victims legal team lawyers are all going to be relevant and, crucially, the fact that he is now deceased and cannot therefore defend himself. Fulham fans – whilst concerned – are still grateful to the man who transformed Fulham’s fortunes.