The Tanner Report: Fulham 2 Aston Villa 0
Even Fulham’s biggest half empty of the glass – even quarter – pessimist must have been satisfied that Fulham, by beating Villa coming into the game on the back of 7 successive wins and 7 points ahead of us in 2nd place, were reined in and tethered. Fulham can now not just be confident of the play-offs but also to have real go for the automatic place. Much was made of the ensuing cycle of games against the leading teams -Bristol City, Wolves, Derby Sheffield Utd and Preston – but we have a good record against the better teams and a worse one against teams well below us whom we will encounter before the end of the season. So the job may not be done till we go to Birmingham for the last game of the season.
Villa had two key players absent – Jack Grealish who pulls the strings in midfield and the Ghanaian international Asamoh who always seems to score against us. However, they have a big squad and the substitute for Asamoh Bjarnason was their best player, making several surging runs. Moreover their defence had not conceded a goal in their last 3 games. Their game plan was clear: man mark Ryan Sessegnon and close the channels for Fulham’s full backs’ Matt Targett and Ryan Fredericks to advance offensively. It worked effectively in the first half with Fulham only having one chance when (on loan from Newcastle) Alex Mitrovic’s downward header went just wide.
It’s difficult to maintain such a tactic for 90 minutes and by the beginning of the second half Fredericks was using his pace to get forward. On one such run he pulled the ball back from the line to roughly the penalty spot.
Sessegnon had shaken off his marker and his shot on the turn put us one up. The goal showcased all the skill set of Sessegnon, just 17: His clever positional sense, ability to find space in the box, and calm execution with his weaker right foot. Once Villa were one down they had to revise their tactics but it was Fulham who were in their pomp.
Villa Keeper Sam Johnstone, on loan from Manchester Utd, who had looked an excellent prospect, took a diagonal free kick which landed at the feet of Floyd Ayite. He trapped the ball instantly and measured his 45 yard shot into the empty net. 2-0.
Fulham might have had added another in the best moment of the match, beginning with a flowing run from Frederck and cross, Ayite dummying a shot, Mitrovic’s s one was parried, the ball went loose, Sessesgnon chipped it back into the box and Ayite’s header from 5 yards was over the bar. Nonetheless we were worthy and comfortable winners.
I was down on the coast at Worthing for the family celebration of Auntie Peggy’s 80th. I promised the wife that I would be in Brighton by 7-30 for the celebratory meal. I booked a car back and arrived at 7-15. To add my ha’pporth to there great Rust debate, I was pleased that I was at Craven Cottage. Good as the commentary of Jim McGulllion is on the website, I would have missed the atmosphere in the stadium, seeing my friends, and the celebration of the two goals.
