The Tanner Report: a night to remember

Fulham’s defeat of local rivals QPR was much more than winning the local bragging rights. It was the best performance since the new owner took over, the best under Kit Symons and if this form is continued we can be hopeful of the play-offs. Even more than that the passing game and interplay was a delight to watch.

Rangers were blown away from the first minute when Moussa Dembele out jumped the always flakey Rangers defence to head home Husband’s cross. Ben Pringle, whom I have always liked, scored a second from distance after excellent link up play. Ross MacCormack added the third all by half time. It reminded me of a game on August 14h 1998 when we played Manchester City on a Friday night and overwhelmed too 3-0 at half time. We scored one more to trounce our neighbours. We had so many chances, so many opportunities to pass to an unmarked man in the box that the score could have been double that.

The lovely thing for Kit is this emphatic victory was achieved without Scott Parker, Matt Smith, Marcus Bettinelli, and Jazz Richards. Mattila who played so well against Stoke in midweek and Christensen when he came on and looked good provided yet more midfield cover. Yet as a defender himself I suspect Kit will be happiest of all that he for the first time kept a clean sheet and Stermdn tethered Charlie Austin so effectively …

I have to confess that the fixture reallocation to a Friday got the better of the Tanner household arrangements .We spend more time now in our bungalow at Worthing where Mrs Tanner enjoys her Friday nights at the bingo hall and I look after the two West Highland Terriers Haynes and Leggat.

When I said the game had been moved she said I could watch it on telly and join in the Rust debate on attendance v watching. I settled down at 7 pm with my M & S lmba navarin thoughtfully cooked by my missus and a fine bottle of claret from Lidl.

I was incensed when Ross Macormack was interviewed about Moussa Dembele. He said that the pathway and lucrative move to Manchester City of Patrick Roberts would influence Dembele. I did not know club captains were agents too. The list of young players who have never made at big clubs is endless. When I looked up the Roberts sale on the Manchester City website there was no mention of him. He has to get past Silva, Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure, Delph, Sterling , and Bruyne ( I am sure I’ve missed someone) to make the team. I had mental picture of Mohammed al Fayed seeing this interview and giving him a blasting. We do have a cadre of exciting players due to the wisdom and foresight of our former owner in investing in the Academy and its a fact that some will move on. You don’t expect the club captain to advocate this though.

However this was the only blemish on an almost perfect night. I called up Ivan to watch the game. He confessed to be being too depressed by Sussex’ relegation when they only needed to draw to survive. Whilst he was full of praise for the organisational qualities of Chris Hughton, he did say that he would like Brighton to play one of Pringle, Cairney,Christensen as a creative spark. On Wednesday we play Wolves at home. If such form is maintained then we could be in the play-offs. To cheer up the disconsolate Ivan I did say what joy if we met Brighton …