The Tanner Report: Fulham 3 Stoke 0

Fulham maintained their fine start with a fifth successive win in all competitions over well-placed Stoke.

Alex Mitrovic was back to form making one for Bobby Decordova-Reid and  scoring another – though he missed a penalty in extra time.

After this excellent start comparisons have been made with Jean Tigana’s promotion side.

They won 11 on the trot but similarly impressed with their movement and fluency.

I then watched the match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Our young starlet Harvey Elliott, who made his debut aged 16, moved to Liverpool and was impressive.

We had to take Liverpool to a tribunal to obtain compensation which the court did award. A few years ago West Ham were fined for poaching a young star from Charlton.

His name? Scott Parker.

The Fulham academy continues to roll out youngsters who make the grade, of which the latest to join the ranks of Ryan Sessegnon and Elliott is Fabio Carvalho.

I will always praise Scott Parker for restoring the confidence in the squad but it’s true that, his promotion side having been replaced by loanees, in the Premiership it would have been difficult to motivate these (promotion) players and a new coach like Marco Silva can start – as they say – with a clean sheet of paper.

One in particular who is making a big input is Jean Michel Seri who has played the last two seasons out on loan.