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The Tanner Report: Fulham 3 Swansea 1

Fulham got back to winning ways after a run of 1 point in 3 games with an emphatic home win over Swansea.

As the defeats to Blackpool and then Reading reminded us, there is no place for complacency and like these two teams Swansea were in the Premiership not so long ago.

Alex Mitrovic was the star man with a hat trick lifting his tally to 10 goals but Jean Michel Seri and Dennis Odoi played big roles too.

Fulham had 6 key players missing (Kenny Tete, Terence Kangolo and Antonee Robinson in defence, Fabio Carvalho, Tom Cairney and Josh Onomah in midfield) so we must also mention the depth of the squad.

I would also like to pay tribute to Roger Hunt who passed in the week.

In many ways he was the exact opposite of Jimmy Greaves.

Greaves was the more natural goal scorer and had a swagger.

Roger Hunt had to work at his game but his club and international strike rate of a goal every 2 games was impressive.

He was particularly good in the air often heading downward at the feet of a keeper. He was more of an Alf Ramsay player.

This now leaves three remaining from the boys of ‘66, one of whom is our very own George Cohen whose nephew Ben was also a World Cup winner.

In the week a Fulham fan who lives near to me and is moving bequeathed me his programme collection.

Time was when the programme was the primary – indeed only – source of information on your team but now with the internet information is all the more accessible.

I spent a happy hour dipping into the collection starting with season 2008/9.

Laurie Sanchez was appointed after the dismissal of Chris Coleman the previous Easter.

By the end of 2008 Laurie Sanchez’s Fulham had only won two games – against Bolton and Reading – and he was fired.

Along came the blessed Roy Hodgson who masterminded yet another survival with a final win at Portsmouth.

The following season we reached the Europa Cup final.  I’ve been invited to a football dinner with Roy next month and can thank him personally.

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About Alan Tanner

After a distinguished military service in the Catering Corps, Alan Tanner did well in mufti with his chamois as a window cleaner. Sadly he had to retire after falling from the fifth floor of Danny Murphy's mock Tudor home. He spends his retirement watching and writing about his beloved Fulham whom he has supported for over 50 years. The Alan Tanner Report is sponsored by Tanner Crystal Clear Ltd, Window Cleaners to the Gentry. More Posts