Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 50

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Date: 8th April 2017

Opposition: Ipswich

Score: 3-1

Weather: shorts and T shirts by the river!

Atmosphere: as upbeat as the sunshine

Opposition fans: a very good turn out from the Ipswich fans. Luckily they left their tractors at home or traffic would be worse than usual on the Fulham Palace Road

MOTM (football): in such a harmonious team performance it's hard to pick one stand out soloist. For us, the back in form Stefan Johansen just edges the back to full fitness Floyd Ayite with Stefan's exuberant and inclusive celebration right in front of us helping make the difference

MOTM (non-football): Scott Parker's warm up got more applause than Ipswich's goal and he was all smiles and thumbs up as he acknowledged it. He is back just when we need him the most

Pub: Half time drinks overlooking the river. What a football ground!

The last time we left the Cottage, mauled and disorientated by Wolves, we felt that the international break had come at the right time. We hoped that 2 weeks off (or at least 2 weeks of change which might be as good as a rest) would restore focus and fight and Fulham would return to the fray against Rotherham fresh and fired up. If that game was played in the right way it would send a clear message to our top 6 opponents: watch your backs, Fulham are coming through.

As it was, the win against Rotherham was unconvincing but the fates conspired that we crept into sixth place. The good thing about having done so on the third attempt and without any fanfare was that it didn't feel exciting or prophetic or even much worth celebrating. It felt, to be honest, like a temporary and misleading position - more an opinion poll than an election result.

We weren't at Derby and couldn't bring ourselves to watch any "highlights" but following what sounded like an appalling performance from everyone except Ayite who set himself the personal challenge of saving our goal difference, the 6th place illusion vanished and we were left facing Ipswich in a make or break game at the Cottage. Not make or break as we've been used to of course when to break meant to tumble into the relegation zone or worse but a failure to win would more than likely end our promotion chances for this year.

Following the defensive cock ups at Pride Park Button and Ream were benched and Bettinelli and Madl brought back in. This was refreshing and Betts in particular staked his claim to a place in the starting line up for the rest of the season very impressively but the score line flatters the defence who were still shaky at times. Ipswich were unlucky not to score more and better team, say Norwich or Aston Villa for example, would feel confident lining up against a back five where chaos and calamity still feel only one misplaced pass away.

At the other end, however, things were much improved since the Wolves debacle. We are back to a quick, coordinated attack, smooth, controlled passes and a desire to win the ball back if it's lost. Ayite and StefJo were both vital to this performance with Aluko his usual busy, bustling self and McDonald standing firm behind them. Fredericks and Malone marauded from the back with the latter's goal being well taken and sealing the comfortable first half dominance.

Also key to the attack was Severus Martin who was winning headers and holding the ball up like a man who was Fulham through and through. This was great to see but Martin's allegiance is divided and his loyalties are scattered. By Friday the Dark Mark on his wrist may be burning again and his contribution will evaporate quicker than you can say "expelliarmus".

Ipswich, who played the game directly but cleanly, came out better in the second half and had they managed to score earlier the game could have taken a Blackburn-esque turn. As it was the goal was simply a blot on the defence's already damaged copybook and we walked away with 3 relatively easy points. This was a good game but not a great one and a good team performance but still, considering the trials which are to come, not a100% convincing one.

Random Musings

- why was Madl substituted? Unless he was injured this was just a waste of a sub and Ream certainly didn't play any better than Madl when he came on

- on a related subject, whilst Piazon and Kebano were the right subs to make, particularly for StefJo and Ayite who will be expected to play the better part of 180 minutes next weekend, Slav, as is his strange habit made the subs too late for them to be of any real impact

- what does Cyriac have to do to get a game? Why isn't he coming on as substitute? Has Kebano somehow learned where the bodies are buried back in Vojvodina? Does Lucas stop off at the Motspur Park Starbucks every morning and buy a tall, dark double espresso, extra hot and extra strong just as Slav likes it? (The barista rather ruins the effect of this by writing "Slavishka" on the cup)

- following the gymnastic exploits of Odoi and Kebano earlier in the season it was Kalas's turn to do a quick (and unintentional) back somersault. He's no Max Whitlock though

- this was a quiet game from Cairney who hopefully isn't running out of steam at the wrong time. Did Ayite and Johansen shine so brightly because they had to?

- Whatever Martin's faults, and there are many, from the size of his appetite to the size of his ego, we can't deny that he enjoys celebrating goals with his teammates. He may not have won over the fans but he is clearly good friends with his comrades in arms

Following Sheffield Wednesday's somewhat galling victory over Newcastle another brief flirtation with 6th place has ended although our challenge for promotion has not. Ahead of us others are faltering although we must remember they are ahead for a good reason - they have made fewer mistakes than we have and they may continue to do so.

This has been a long, hard season and tiredness is beginning to show. We have already played 3 more games than the Premier League teams will and we have 5 more to go. Hopefully our Blackburn to Derby dip in form is over and we will finish the season strongly which is all we can do - keep playing like we did against Ipswich or better, keep fighting, keep believing. This is the time to do or die, for death or glory, for the dark horse to show its colours.

One positive to remember is that our goal difference is worth an extra cliche and when this goes down to the wire (when, not if) it will count in our favour. The prescient fixtures computer picked Wednesday as our final opponents but perhaps they are not our real opposition. There is a plausible scenario where we play them at Hillsborough on 7th May then we play them again 3 weeks later on neutral territory.

The season is still in the balance. There is still all to play for.