Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 127

[Friendsoffulham]

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 127

Date: 29th February 2020

Opposition: Preston North End

Score: 2-0

Goal scorers: OG, AK

Weather: four seasons in one leap day

Atmosphere: subdued. It is hard to enjoy a football match when someone is fighting for their life a few yards away

MOTM (football): this was a hard decision because everyone, particularly the defence, played very well but for seizing his chance with both feet, for industry up and down the pitch, team work, attacking intent and defensive skill Cyrus Christie is our winner

MOTM (non-football): most spectators spent the second half glancing between the pitch and the upsetting scenes in the middle of H6. Our thoughts are with the fan taken ill (and now hopefully recovering) and our thanks go to the amazing fellow fans, stewards and paramedics who did nothing less than save his life ❤️

Riverside stand update: a combination of the fact that the site currently contains an enormous trench and the recent bad weather means that the project has taken on a Battle of the Somme aspect. We felt for Junior who had to fish no less than 7 balls out of the mud, Hector being the culprit on most occasions

Pub: OSP

After Wednesday evening's excellent win over Swansea, the ever unpredictable Fulham could have gone one of two ways: build on the win by starting the Preston game exactly where we left off, or fail to grab the momentum and regress to slow build up play and last ditch defending. The latter is what happened after August's flawless victory over Millwall and we weren't surprised to find it happening again, partly because Preston started the game fast and well.

But, whilst this was not a particularly enjoyable match to watch, not helped by the minute by minute changes in the weather (sunshine, gale force wind, driving rain, a touch of hail, freezing temperatures, sunshine again) and the medical emergency, in retrospect Scott's game management was superb and led to the victory.

The Preston press was impressive. They were fast, energetic and relentless in attack for most of the first half. They worked very hard, were good at interceptions and equally good in defence when they needed to be. But Fulham began to weather the storm on the pitch as well as the storm in the sky. Hector showed once again his superb ability both to read the game and deal decisively with anything which came his way. Tim Ream had his best game for a while, and Arter his best game this decade.

Our flexible friend Denis Odoi switched from right back to left back as easily as most people cross the road and had another outstanding game both in defence and in roving forward with and without the ball. Cyrus Christie literally hit the ground running when he came on and didn't stop for the next 80 minutes despite getting injured himself in the second half.

After the break, Preston began to tire, the pendulum of attacking play swung to Fulham and, gradually but inexorably, with the revitalised Tom Cairney once again in command we began to win the game. Most of the play was in or around the Preston box and whilst the first goal was a little lucky it came from a very well taken corner in a whole series of corners which had already forced Preston's backs to the wall.

As usual, 1-0 didn't feel safe but, although the play could have been quicker and the passing around the box more incisive, Fulham didn't let up. There was no sitting back and inviting trouble. Scott's instructions (which weren't given on scribbled notes for a change) were clear: keep on attacking! Of course it helps when you have a master stroke on your bench: a magnificent beast of speed, athleticism and attacking prowess which you can unleash on tired defenders. The ground shook, the weather cleared, the Preston players trembled and the crowd cheered as Aboubakar Kamara entered the fray.

It would not be correct to say "and the rest is history" because Preston has one more shot in their locker which forced an excellent save from Rodak but shortly after that the ball was lofted clear, AK was poised like a sprinter in the blocks, the pass was made and the chase was on: AK with the ball, Cav and the Preston defenders racing after him. But it was like trying to catch a cheetah: the men stood no chance.

That AK had the presence of mind to pass the ball to Cav, receive it back, shoot and score speaks volumes about his new maturity and level head. Mitro, who had a solid but unspectacular game of hold up play and grappling with defenders, celebrated the goal like he had scored it himself whilst Hector was brave enough to risk getting crushed by giving AK the hug he deserved.

This was an unexciting but satisfying, business like win from a team which often makes winning look harder than it is. There should have been more wins like this during the season but better late than never and there are enough games left for this new system to have an effect.

Random musings:-

- our one complaint about Scott's game management is that we would like to have seen more of AK. He nearly always makes an impact. Surely the more minutes he has, the more of an impact he can make

- the injury to Joe Bryan is worrying. Defenders are now very thin on the ground. We wonder if there are any budding backs in the youth teams who can step up

- whilst the ref didn't have any big decisions to make he decided virtually all the small ones in Preston's favour. Not that it mattered in the end.

- it is worth recording that Fulham have become experts at the counterattack and masters of the last minute goal in the spaces of two games. What do they have in store for us next?

There are now ten games left and, although it would be nice to be closer to second, we are well placed for the run in with a play off spot now more or less assured. The remaining games are all challenging but this shouldn't concern us: this team plays well against better sides, our defence is strong and ready for anything and our attack inspired and never gives up. Most of all, Scott seems to have found a winning formula and instilled the mental toughness in the players to make it work. This wasn't an exciting game but these are exciting times: this season is going to go down to the wire.

However, football is just a game and all that really matters is that everyone who went to Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon left the ground with their hearts still beating.

https://werdsmith.com/p/rMReaxfeUNXCT

[Baston White]

Was there and this reflects a very accurate account of the game.
Keep up the good work.

[Burt]

Good stuff, a fair summary of the game, right down to the weather :)

[millsy]

A good read and accurate reflection, thanks