The Tanner Report : Fulham 3 Preston 1
Fulham’s comfortable and complete victory over in-form Preston, only one place below us, keep us in the play-off race. The three teams above us -Sheffield Wednesday, Reading and Leeds – all won so there is still a gap in points to overcome.
It was a good week for Fulham with Stefan Jokatovic extending his contract for 2 years, Tom Cairney winning an award as the EFL player of the season and the chairman’s son Tony appointed Director of Football Operations and Vice Chairman. Readers will know I remain to be convinced by analytics but criticism has been made of the Chairman’s absence so it’s reassuring that his son will be hands-on. On the playing side things were not so good: Lucas Piazon will be out for the rest of the season with a broken jaw. Ayite was also injured at Cardiff: Chris Marin was not even on the bench. Playing 3 fleet of foot forwards in Kebano, Oluko and Ayite does over-balance the side and we do need a big target man up front. Martin would be the man except he has opted for Derby even though they are now 5 points behind Fulham, with an inferior goal difference and one game more, their hopes of a play-off rapidly diminishing.
Coach Jokatovic did recall Chris Martin flanked by Oluko and Kebano. Cairney and Stefan Johansen played behind the forwards with Kevin MacDonald behind them. The full backs were changed again with Ryan Fredericks returning and 16 year old sensation Ryan Sessegnon came in. The defensive pairing was Ream and Kalas at least providing some consistency of selection but Ream whenever he comes up against a big forward always looks vulnerable. The system worked well and Fulham soon established their supremacy. Our goal, similar in style to that scored at Cardiff, came when a cutback from Kebano was struck home by Oluko. Martin added a second in the second half after a fine surging run and pass from Fredericks, Martin found space and clipped the ball in the corner. We had a few worries when the Everton loanee Macready punctured our defence with a clinical pass for Tom Barkhuizen to equalise. Kebano put the issue beyond doubt when his low shot went between keeper’s Maxwell’s legs.
Fulham play Leeds at home and Newcastle away the following Saturday. These two games will define whether we really have a play-off chance as after that there are only 10 games left.
