The Tanner Report: Fulham 2 Ipswich 2
Against Wolves, Southampton – and now Ipswich – Fulham have earned just 2 points, but 5 against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. We do better against the big boys.
Here Ipswich, the more tenacious, deserved their draw. Before the match Pargie had called for my view. Given Fulham’s iffy home form and Ipswich having beaten Chelsea I thought the Tractor Boys could get a draw.
I also exchanged emails with an insightful Ipswich supporter.
Although I feared it would be either Issa Diop or Joachim Andersen who made a mistake, in fact it was Calvin Bassey’s haymaker of a clearance that led to Sammie Szmodics opening the scoring for the away side.
Before that Leif Davis had been fortunate to avoid a red card for he looked to be the “last man” when he felled Harry Wilson.
Although Marco Silva complained of the team losing emotional control, in truth it was he who did so. He needs to be temperate or else he will he banished to the stands.
Fulham equalised from the penalty spot when Morsey up-ended Wilson.
Once again Silva ‘list it’ but – after going to the monitor – referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot and Raul Jimenez converted.
The lead did not last long as Tim Castagne tripped Liam Delap who converted the penalty. From yet another penalty by Jimenez we equalised shortly after Ipswich’s Jack Clarke has struck the post.
I felt a draw was about right. Fulham were weak on set pieces and Tom Cairney’s best years are now behind him.
I believe Ipswich will stay up (just) and Fulham‘s next two away games (versus West Ham and Leicester) are crucial if we are to make a Conference league place or finish mid-table.