The Tanner Report: Preston NE 1 Fulham 1
This was our second successive draw and a lacklustre performance.
After taking a first half lead when defender Tim Ream converted Jean Michel Seri’s free kick from close in we gradually lost our grip on the game.
Preston’s equaliser came after two handballs assisted the ball in to the net but – in the absence of VAR – the referee can only give what he saw. All was revealed on TV.
The Sky commentators argued that, on the balance of play, it was deserved but that’s not the point.
I have seen many a game where a team survives a battering to emerge with the points.
Head coach Marco Silva could not disguise his frustration and matters became tetchy on the field.
Having a cold myself and feeling tired and weary in the legs, I do believe the bug that laid low the Fulham group partially explains this inert performance but we are still top of the Championship with a widening gap to WBA in third place.
The ghost of Jimmy Hill survives.
A Fulham player and Chairman and Coventry manager, the Sky Blues came back from 2 down to earn a draw at Bournemouth.
Scott Parker’s side did not have a better week than us with 2 draws but we both meet at Craven Cottage next Friday for the clash of the season.
It would be spicy enough but it heralds Scott Parker’s return to Fulham.
The Fulham faithful are usually appreciative of successful old boys but we will wait and see …
Finally I hope Tracey Crouch’s fan-led investigation into football will have something to say about the scheduling of fixtures to suit TV.
I was amazed and impressed by the number of Fulham fans who made a 12-30pm kick off in Preston.
I don’t know how you make a Boxing Day game when there are no trains, or indeed how Bournemouth fans will get back to their homes after our game finishes well into the night this Friday.
