The Tanner Report: Rotherham 0 Fulham 1
Fulham condemned Rotherham to relegation as they gritted out a win against a side who played with the brio of the condemned man eating his final meal. Crucially for the first time since September we are in a play-off place but on Tuesday we travel to Derby whilst Sheffield Wednesday whom we displaced in sixth spot play Rotherham. Over Easter weekend we play 2 fancied teams who were relegated last season Norwich away and Aston Villa at home. In such situations momentum is all.
Rotherham should have scored in the second minute and were the quicker team to settle. Fulham hardly carved out a decent chance but early in the second half Tom Cairney teed up Chris Martin who failed to convert. It was a dreadful miss but the centre forward who was booed last week playing for Scotland did try harder after that. For once the Fulham defence had a doughtier game with Ryan Fredericks at fullback making some fine interceptions and blocks and David Button capable in goal. This new found efficiency may have something to do with playing Michael Madl instead of Tim Ream alongside Tomas Kalas. After the Martin miss Rotherham very nearly scored but it was Fulham who took the advantage. After a goalmouth melee, Sone Aluko bundled the ball into the net.
We don’t have an easy game left except possibly Ipswich next Saturday (our home form against lower placed sides is erratic) as after Derby, Norwich and Aston Villa we got to Huddersfield, play Brentford at home and the final game at Sheffield Wednesday might be crucial. As Brighton found it after finishing 15 points ahead of Sheffield Wednesday but losing to them in the play-off game its not a fair system but it does provide interest to the end and if we creep into the play-offs you won’t hear too many Fulham supporters complain about it.
