Sunday Fulham Stuff - 12/12/21...

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Results

Saturday
Huddersfield	1-1	Coventry
Birmingham	2-2	Cardiff
Bournemouth	0-2	Blackburn
Derby	1-0	Blackpool
Hull	2-2	Bristol City
Luton	1-1	Fulham
P'borough	2-1	Millwall
Preston NE	2-1	Barnsley
Stoke	0-0	M'borough
Swansea	1-4	Forest
West Brom	1-0	Reading

[WhiteJC]

Luton Town 1-1 Fulham

Elijah Adebayo scored for the second succesive game

Elijah Adebayo's second-half equaliser for Luton denied leaders Fulham a victory which would have put them four points clear at the top of the Championship.

The Whites, who have now drawn four matches in a row, went ahead through Aleksandar Mitrovic's 22nd goal of the season.

Mitrovic was on hand to tap in the loose ball after Tosin Adarabioyo's header from Harry Wilson's free-kick had been cleared off the line by Sonny Bradley.

But Luton hit back via a free-kick of their own, with Adebayo heading home James Bree's excellent delivery.

Fulham are unbeaten in 11 matches, while Luton have won just one of their past six.

But this was a useful point for the Hatters - and a missed opportunity for the west London side in light of second-placed Bournemouth losing 2-0 at home to Blackburn.

However, they are two points clear of the Cherries, five clear of third-placed West Brom, and very much on course for a return to the Premier League.

They put the hosts under pressure in the later stages but were unable to find a second goal.

Tom Cairney went close when he fired over after being set up by Neeskens Kebano.

Luton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I thought we were excellent. I thought we were outstanding, I really did.

"The intensity, the pressing, the work-rate - we looked a threat from the time we tweaked the shape slightly.

"Fulham are the best side in the league. They're high scorers and everything about them is the best team of the league.

"The fans were magnificent but I think we gave them a performance to really get behind."

Fulham head coach Marco Silva:

"It was a tough game for us. It's always tough to play here.

"We know the way they like to play. They do everything and after they fight for the first and second balls, they are strong in that moment.

"I think we controlled all the first half with the ball, the way we want to do, not creating the chances we should create, but we scored on a set-piece and after that we controlled the game.

"Second half it started a little bit in our way but then we started to lose many balls. We gave a chance to them and they started to believe and, in that one moment, we switched off and they scored from one set-piece."




https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59529352

[WhiteJC]

Post-Luton Press Conference

Marco Silva views Fulham's draw with Luton Town as two points dropped rather than a point gained.

The Whites led at Kenilworth Road through Aleksandar Mitrović's 22nd goal of the season in the first half, but the hosts fought back after the break and restored parity through Elijah Adebayo.

"We've lost two points," Silva said in his post-match press conference. "The game was balanced, a tough game, like we expected.

"They are always tough to beat and we knew they would try to take the game from a physical point of view. They have strong bodies, three strong central defenders, the striker is a big boy as well who is always fighting for all the balls.

"They are a strong side on second balls as well, but I thought first half we controlled the game very well.

"We didn't create big chances but we controlled the first half, didn't give many things to them. We started the second half in the same way, but in one moment we lost control of the game and unfortunately conceded a set-piece.

"After that we reacted, we went again, our players tried until the end, sometimes not with the quality that we normally put on the pitch in our game. We definitely lost two points."

Fulham now sit two points clear at the top of the Championship, and a journalist put it to our Head Coach that teams up their game when they take on the Whites.

"It's true, and I definitely agree with you, but if you want to be there at the top and play every single game to win, if you want to be at Fulham Football Club, you have to be able to face it.

"We knew they would give everything, they would fight for the first ball, the second ball, and they would try to show their quality as well to show that they could match us, and they did it.

"It's up to us to take the game from that physicality and put the game in our way. I think we did that first half. Second half, we were not able to do it."

Harrison Reed was absent from the matchday squad, with Silva explaining: "He got a little muscle injury.

"We had doubts whether to play him or not, let's hope next week he will be okay, but we're not sure."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/december/11/post-luton-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham battling to retain attacker amid Leicester, Crystal Palace interest

Fulham are keen to retain striker Jay Stansfield amid interest from Premier League duo Leicester City and Crystal Palace, a report from The Telegraph has claimed.

Stansfield joined Fulham from Exeter City back in 2019, and has since been prolific for the Cottagers at youth level.

That has seen the striker make four first-team appearances for Fulham in all competitions, with the 19-year-old scored his first senior goal in the Cottagers' 2-0 win over Birmingham in the League Cup earlier in the current campaign.

Now it seems as though the teenager's performances are starting to earn him plenty of interest from the top-flight of English football.

According to this latest update, Leicester and Crystal Palace are both taking an interest in the teenager following his form for the Cottagers.

However, it is thought that Fulham are hoping to secure the services of Stansfield long-term. That could see the striker handed a new deal at Craven Cottage, to avoid a similar contract situation they now face with Fabio Carvalho, who could leave for a small compensation fee when his deal expires in the summer.

The Verdict

You can certainly understand why Fulham would be keen to keep hold of Stansfield long term.

The teenager does look to be an attacker who can make a big impact in front of goal, and with plenty of time for him to improve, it would be a blow to lose him at such an early stage of his career.

Indeed, when you consider the frustration there will be at the club around the Fabio Carvalho situation, you feel there would be some serious questions asked if a similar scenario was to develop with Stansfield.

It seems therefore, that a new contract for the striker, may need to be something of a priority for Fulham right now.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-battling-to-retain-attacker-amid-leicester-crystal-palace-interest/

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Luton Town 1-1 Fulham: FLW reports as the Cottagers are forced to settle for fourth successive draw

Fulham were confined to a fourth successive draw at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, after a strong Luton Town display in the second half.

Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for the visitors when he was presented with the easiest of his 22 Championship goals thus far, tapping in from a yard out after Tosin Adarabioyo was denied on the line.

Elijah Adebayo levelled the scoring in the 62nd minute for the Hatters when he headed in from James Bree's out-swinging free-kick.

From the very beginning, Fulham displayed their confidence and ability to deal with the high press, with Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo starting attacks from deep.

Joe Bryan had the first opportunity of the game when he found himself with space on the edge of the area, but his powerful effort flashed the wrong side of James Shea's post.

Luton saw little joy in the opening exchanges, with the visitors keeping possession expertly and territorially dominating.

Fulham took the lead in the 19th minute through club talisman Mitrovic, when the forward netted what was his 22nd of the season, tapping in from inside the six-yard box after Adarabioyo was denied on the line by Sonny Bradley.

The visitors continued to control the ball and work Luton beyond their opener, with their quick passing and intelligent movement proving to be too much for the Hatters to handle.

However, Luton managed to end the half the better side, with Admiral Muskwe and Jordan Clark starting to receive the ball in-between the midfield and defence.

Muskwe nearly restored parity at Kenilworth Road with 39 minutes on the clock, when the forward cut in from the left flank before firing an effort into the side netting.

Luton started the second half as brightly as they ended the first, with the forward combination of Muskwe and Adebayo causing problems for the Fulham defence.

Fulham struggled to find their rhythm early in the second half, with the Luton faithful feeding off several misplaced passes.

Luton deservedly equalised in the 62nd minute when Elijah Adebayo netted his 10th league goal of the season, nodding home from James Bree's pinpoint free-kick on the right wing.

The Hatters' equaliser immediately created a rather end-to-end 10 minutes, with both teams threatening in the final third without reward.

Luton nearly secured all three points in the 88th minute following a wonderful solo run from centre-back Kal Naismith, a period of play that ended up with the centre-back playing in Bree, but the full-back was unable to steer his effort on target and the game finished level, meaning Fulham stay top, but with their lead over the play-off places reduced to five points.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/luton-town-1-1-fulham-flw-reports-as-the-cottagers-are-forced-to-settle-for-fourth-successive-draw/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham still top despite fourth consecutive draw

Fulham kept top spot in the Championship despite being forced to settle for a point – their fourth draw in a row.

Aleksandar Mitrovic put the Whites in front after 19 minutes when James Shea clear Tosin Adarabioyo's header off the line after an inviting Harry Wilson free-kick.

But Elijah Adebayo headed home from a James Bree delivery on 62 minutes.

Joe Bryan drilled wide of goal from the edge of the box as the league leaders struggled to create clear-cut chances in an otherwise quiet first half.

But they came under increasing pressure from the hosts after drawing first blood as the Hatters gathered momentum heading into the half-time break.

Admiral Muskwe went closest as he smashed an effort into the sid -netting after cutting inside from the right flank on 42 minutes.

Neeskens Kebano and Bobby De Cordova-Reid both tested Shea either side of Luton's equaliser before the Hatters stopper scrambled Mitrovic's header off the line with 18 minutes to go.

Second-placed Bournemouth losing at home to Blackburn meant Fulham would have gone four rather than two points clear at the top had they won.

Fulham: Rodak, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Reid, Wilson (Muniz 86), Cairney (Onomah 75), Kebano (Carvalho 75), Mitrovic
Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Hector, Odoi, Robinson



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-still-top-despite-fourth-consecutive-draw

[WhiteJC]

Adebayo proves his point for Luton

Elijah Adebayo came back to haunt his old club as Luton Town held Fulham to a fourth draw in succession at Kenilworth Road this afternoon. The tall striker, who spent twelve years in Fulham's academy set up, glanced in James Bree's brilliant free kick to cancel out a poacher's effort from Aleksandar Mitrovic as Marco Silva's under-par side spurned another opportunity to put clear water between themselves and the Championship's chasing pack.

Silva himself was far too slow to react to the fact that Fulham's first half superiority had vanished as the Hatters raised their intensity after a half-time tongue lashing from Nathan Jones. Having shown the visitors too much respect in a first period that the league leaders were able to large control through precise passing, Luton were far more threatening after the interval and looked the likelier winners after Adebayo's awesome diving header had levelled matters on the hour. Even after the belated introduction of Fabio Carvalho and Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham failed to fashion a clear chance in the closing stages.

This seemed a game tailor made for Harrison Reed but with the combative midfielder ruled out through injury, Silva went with Tom Cairney alongside Jean Michael Seri in central midfield. The pair overwhelmed Nottingham Forest's engine room at the City Ground in an October thrashing but became increasingly ineffective as Luton's pressing overpowered Fulham's pretty and patient football. Chances were at a premium in the first period with the hosts lucky to get away with Sonny Bradley's handball in the box after he had failed to a trap a ball on his thigh and Joe Bryan drilling one wide from twenty yards.

Fulham's opener came from a set play. Harry Wilson's deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Tosin Adarabioyo and, although Bradley managed to clear that effort off the line, Mitrovic was on hand to turn in his 23rd goal of the season home from a couple of yards. But Silva should have seen the warning sides that saw Luton finish the first half strongly with Zimbabwean forward darting infield and lashing into the side netting.

The recalled Muskwe set the tone for the second half within ninety seconds of the restart by beating Tim Ream and Joe Bryan, but his tame shot lacked the power necessary to really extend Marek Rodak. Adebayo then had a snapshot blocked after getting away from Adebayo, before Cairney blazed over after bright play from Neeskens Kebano at the other end and the Congolese winger shot straight at James Shea. The Londoners quickly paid for their prolificacy with an unattended Adebayo heading in his tenth of the season from a fabulous Bree free-kick.

The hosts almost went in front after a mad goalmouth scramble and Mitrovic was furious not to be awarded a penalty when his header hit Bradley on the hand again. A mazy run from Kal Naismith nearly teed up Bree for the winner but the wing-back failed to find the far corner and the best Fulham were able to muster as the match finished in a torrential downpour was a tame Muniz effort. Fulham's lead over Bournemouth at the top of the table as Scott Parker's side were beaten at home by Blackburn, but this still felt like a missed opportunity.

LUTON TOWN (3-5-2): Shea; Burke, Naismith, Bradley, Bree, Bell; Lansbury, Campbell (Osho 78), Mpanzu, Clarke; Muskwe (Onyedinma 77), Adebayo. Subs (not used): Sluga, Lansbury, Mendes Gomes, Jerome, Hylton.

BOOKED: Campbell.

GOAL: Adebayo (62).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Bryan, Adarabioyo, Ream; Seri, Cairney (Onomah 76); Wilson (Muniz 87), Kebano (Carvalho 76), Decordova-Reid; Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Gazzaniga, Hector, Odoi, A. Robinson.

GOAL: Mitrovic 19).

REFEREE: Thomas Bramall (South Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 9,992.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/adebayo-proves-his-point-for-luton/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Crystal Palace want 19-year-old wonderkid who 'can score easily' – could join for free

According to The Telegraph, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Fulham wonderkid Jay Stansfield, who could leave Craven Cottage for free.

What's the story?

Well, Fulham are hopeful of keeping the 19-year-old in west London, although he could soon move south to Crystal Palace.

The Telegraph believe Patrick Vieira's side, and also Leicester, are keeping a close eye on the teenager's situation.

Stansfield's contract expires in June, and unless Fulham arrange a new deal for the precocious striker, he will leave for a mere compensation fee.

The Tiverton-born striker broke into the first-team under Marco Silva at the start of the season, but injuries have disrupted his campaign.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese coach seems to rate him highly – Silva described Stansfield as someone who "can score easily" when speaking to West London Sport.

Despite his fitness issues, Stansfield has still managed to score three goals in five Premier League 2 outings, while he also scored against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup.

Jay Stansfield would be a great signing by Crystal Palace

The Eagles have put real emphasis on youth in recent times, bringing through the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrick Mitchell.

Crystal Palace have also built a new £20m state-of-the-art academy, as they look to develop their outstanding talents in south London.

The recruitment strategy has also switched from signing experienced Premier League players, to bringing exciting talents such as Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze to SE25.

In that respect, Stansfield would fit in well with what the Eagles are trying to do right now under Vieira.

He should also get plenty of opportunities if he continues to develop at this rate, as Vieira has already shown he isn't afraid to play youngsters.

Mitchell has started all 15 Premier League games this season, whereas Vieira also handed a Premier League debut to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Keep an eye on this situation, as Stansfield could arrive at Crystal Palace within months if Fulham cannot agree a new contract with him.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/12/11/report-crystal-palace-want-19-year-old-wonderkid-who-can-score-easily-could-join-for-free/

[WhiteJC]

🗣 We want to hear from you!

Fulham FC means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

We're trying to find out the big themes, what makes our Club special and how to make the most of what's great and different about Fulham. And who better to ask, than you.

There are a lot of things happening on and off the pitch, so your insights can go a long way to helping shape our club for years to come.

By telling us your views you'll be entered into a prize draw where you could win one of three signed 2021/22 Home Shirts available!

Thanks in advance for giving us your time.
TAKE SURVEY

Survey closes at 5pm on Wednesday 22nd December. Signed Shirt Terms & Conditions can be found here.

To be in with a chance of winning one of three shirts available, at the end of the survey supporters will be asked to confirm their email address.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/december/10/fan-survey/

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Silva rues more dropped points

Marco Silva rued more dropped points after Fulham were held to a fourth consecutive draw at Luton this afternoon.

The league leaders had to settle for a point at Kenilworth Road as former Fulham forward Elijah Adebayo's header cancelled out a first half strike from Aleksandar Mitrovic. Silva couldn't hide his disappointment afterwards, telling his post-match press conference:

"We've lost two points. The game was balanced, a tough game, like we expected. hey are always tough to beat and we knew they would try to take the game from a physical point of view. They have strong bodies, three strong central defenders, the striker is a big boy as well who is always fighting for all the balls.

They are a strong side on second balls as well, but I thought first half we controlled the game very well. We didn't create big chances but we controlled the first half, didn't give many things to them. We started the second half in the same way, but in one moment we lost control of the game and unfortunately conceded a set-piece.

After that we reacted, we went again, our players tried until the end, sometimes not with the quality that we normally put on the pitch in our game. We definitely lost two points."

Silva wants his side to embrace their status as favourites to win most games in the Championship – after acknowledging that the rest of the division is raising their game in matches against the Whites of late.

"It's true, and I definitely agree with you, but if you want to be there at the top and play every single game to win, if you want to be at Fulham Football Club, you have to be able to face it. We knew they would give everything, they would fight for the first ball, the second ball, and they would try to show their quality as well to show that they could match us, and they did it. It's up to us to take the game from that physicality and put the game in our way. I think we did that first half. Second half, we were not able to do it."

The Fulham head coach revealed that Harrison Reed couldn't be risked after picking up a muscle injury in training and that he would be a doubt for next Monday's meeting with Sheffield United.

"He got a little muscle injury. We had doubts whether to play him or not, let's hope next week he will be okay, but we're not sure."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/silva-rues-more-dropped-points/

[WhiteJC]

Jack and Loz Away from the Cottage - Blog 203
Date: 11th December 2021

Opposition: Luton Town

Venue: Kenilworth Road

Score: 1-1

Fulham goal scorer: 🔥

Weather: almost sleeting

Atmosphere: good but disappointed

MOTM: it's never a good sign when we have to award this by a process of elimination. However, on the way back to the station in the cold rain we decided it's Seri on the bases that a. He was less bad than everyone else, and b. We like his new hair. Shout out to Kenny Tete for some moments of good defending under pressure

Pub: there weren't any

Fulham are top of the league. But we don't look it. We have the best squad in the league, but on Saturday they didn't play like it. We have the best striker in the league but his fire is flickering. We probably have the best manager in the league, but he's started moaning about the officials a lot.

No one says it's a pleasure to go to Luton. Unless you're going to a football match. The town is bleak, run-down and soulless, but Kenilworth Road is a quirky gem of a ground - old fashioned, tiny and tightly packed with fans. You literally enter through someone's house. You literally can't sit down even if you want to because the owners just plonked some seats on the terraces where they don't actually fit. We think that at Craven Cottage fans are close to the pitch, but at Luton you're almost in the goal and the far end is easily visible even to those of us who have gone to Specsavers.

Our last visit to Luton was during the advent of the Triangle of Doom - Fulham drew 3-3 in a match which began with incompetence and ended in chaos. It's a hard place to visit, and so it proved again. The Luton team are tall, strong, large, physical, athletic, fast, powerful and did we mention tall? They were well prepared and feisty and they raised their game to meet the league leaders head-on. They were first to nearly every ball, they forced mistakes and flung everything they could at the goal.

Fulham, meanwhile, still looked under the weather one way or another. At times we were slow, indecisive and tentative. Often we were careless, erratic and panicky. For a team whose main fault is giving the ball away too much we reached record breaking levels of generosity, the chief culprits being Bobby, Harry and Tosin. We know it's Christmas, but this was ridiculous!

Fulham's goal (which was a good one) was almost the only time Mitro, Harry and Kebano combined and whilst it was great to see Mitro back on the scoresheet, this was his only worthwhile contribution to the game. Whilst Joe Bryan has improved in every department since the Bournemouth match, including having to ride some of the worst of Luton's challenges, Tom Cairney made far more impact off the bench last week than he did in the starting line-up this week. Rodak made some decent saves but his distribution was suspect on the small, narrow pitch.

Although the possession stats were good, particularly in the first half, we're worried that Scott Parker's return to the Cottage may have confused the players who regressed to Parkeresque sideways and backwards passing and showed a tendency to slow play down allowing everyone in orange to get back behind the ball. And don't get us started on some of the "defending" which was truly terrifying when it was happening right in front of us and then even worse in the second half - the entire team just stood and watched the ball sail into the net.

As for the subs, it would have been good to see the energetic Fabio and the enthusiastic Muniz earlier. And not to have seen Josh Onomah at all.

Marco is right to have doubts about Championship officials. Saturday's ref started with the admirable aim of letting the game flow until the fouls became so rough that he had to start giving free kicks and then he gave free kicks for every challenge, mainly in Luton's favour. And yes, maybe we should have had a penalty or two but we shouldn't have needed them and it's not a good look for the classiest team in the league to be complaining all the time. Let's score some more goals and get on with the job.

There are two ways to look at this result: a hard-earned away point against a tough team in difficult conditions, or two points dropped to a team who wanted them more than we did.

There are two ways to look at the last two months: an eleven game unbeaten run which has somewhat inexplicably tailed off into a series of unsatisfactory draws, or an inevitable blip during an epic season when a team still recovering from illness is playing badly but not losing.

As with nearly everything in life, both points of view are valid. On the match, we agree with Marco that we dropped two points - our greater skill was blunted by Luton's greater determination, their goal was always coming and a team with sharper shooters could have scored more. On the season so far, we're still first and it helps that Bournemouth lost and we have edged further ahead. But we are not going to win the league by draws alone and we need to get back to winning ways pronto.

Random musings:-

- when the subs strolled across the pitch just before kickoff, they were all so well wrapped up in their layers that it was a game of Guess the Player

- Luton's mascots, Mr and Mrs Hatter, were on the pitch so close to kickoff that we wondered if they were playing

- it was refreshing to play a team who didn't waste time or roll around on the floor for no reason.

- the Luton fans were tuneful but mainly sang about Watford

- as for the Fulham chant of "We want our dick back", the less said about that, the better....

- it's quite flattering to be on the other end of "Who are you?"

It's worth remembering that we're in territory which haven't explored for more than 20 years. We are top of the league and it's not as easy as it sounds - when you have someone to chase, you know where you are. You can't fly under the radar when you're the target.

We know our assessment of the Luton match is harsh but we are holding the players to the high standards which they have set. This season is our chance to show English football that Fulham aren't just a playoff team and, ultimately, that we're not a yo-yo club. And we can't let it slip away.



https://werdsmith.com/p/dHUFtkv4MPgjKu

[WhiteJC]

Ream: 'We didn't do enough'

Tim Ream was frustrated that Fulham were held by a fourth draw in a row at Luton this afternoon but admitted the league leaders failed to create enough chances to win the game.

Former Fulham striker Elijah Adebayo's second half header cancelled out Aleksandar Mitrovic's 22nd goal of the season and the American admitted disappointment was the overriding emotion in the visiting dressing room after the final whistle. Ream told FFCTV:

"Frustrating from our point of view. I think we did some good things, but probably not enough over the course of the ninety minutes. We always knew it was going to be a difficult match. They are on a little bit of a good run now. It's always tough coming here. We knew that would be a physical side and play a certain way. Unfortunately, we come away with one point. I don't think after [the equaliser] there were that many clear cut chances and that's the frustrating thing for us.

It's difficult to put a run of games together where you are unbeaten. We've done that. The most frustrating thing is we know how good we can be. Winning seven on the bounce shows that. But four draws is not the form that we want to be on. We extend that lead at the top a little bit – albeit only one point. It's something we're looking at and something we're going to try to rectify next Monday against Sheffield United."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/ream-we-didnt-do-enough/

[WhiteJC]

Silva needs solutions to successive stalemates

On one hand, it seems churlish to quibble with an eleven match unbeaten run that sees Fulham top of the Championship. The point at Kenilworth Road, however disappointing, did extend the lead over Bournemouth after the Cherries were beaten by Blackburn. Yet, as Tim Ream articulated last night, four consecutive draws is not the flawless form of promotion certainties. Extenuating circumstances may explain some of Fulham's recent lethargy, but Marco Silva certainly has some work to do at Motspur Park this week.

The pattern of recent away displays appears particularly familiar. A surfeit of possession and perhaps even an early goal gives way to a more spirited, aggressive and adventurous display from the hosts – and Fulham's previously comfort becomes as slender as the scoreline. This template from Deepdale was followed at Luton yesterday and nobody could begrudge Nathan Jones' men a share of the spoils. They shut down the space afforded in the early exchanges to Fulham's engine room, cut off the supply to Aleksandar Mitrovic and quietened both Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson.

There were grumbles about officiating and the conditions yet, in the cold of light of day, Fulham failed to create clear cut chances to win the game. Luton looked the likelier in the closing stages, emboldened by an equaliser from our old boy Elijah Adebayo, and tore into 50-50s with relish. Rodrigo Muniz was introduced with just three minutes of normal time remaining and the substitutes that preceded the Brazilian striker were only summoned once the pendulum had swung sharply the way of the home side. There was a lack of urgency about Fulham's second half that felt like it prolonged in the tenure of the previous head coach.

The visitors badly missed the tenacity of Harrison Reed in the middle of the field, but I'm still unconcerned by Silva's transformation of the special one-haired firefighter into a box-to-box midfielder. The Cairney-Seri axis all but evaporated during the second half downpour and Fulham's normally reliable flanks offered precious little. A couple of tactical tweaks might be necessary before a reinvigorated Sheffield United, minus Slavisa Jokanovic now sadly, come to Craven Cottage in eight days time. Wilson might be worth a try in the number ten role as Fulham's forays forward lack the dynamism of the early weeks of the season.

Fulham's defending yesterday is worthy of note too. The Whites have been much better at the back since Marek Rodak returned in goal, but the Slovakian international had little chance at stopping coming back to haunt us when he had tiptoed between Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo to beat a very high line from a free-kick. Silva's susceptibility at set plays was one of the reasons for his downfall at Everton and that equaliser was far too soft of a goal to concede. He will know this – as well as the inescapable fact that, for all of Fulham's attacking talent, it was the home side who created the better opportunities in the closing stages.

The Championship is a notoriously unforgiving grind, especially in the winter months, and produces surprise results in every round of fixtures. It is very difficult to play catch up, which is why Fulham's position at the top of the table at this stage of the season is a source of contentment. But Silva's dissatisfaction with the way they folded in the face of Luton's fight in the second half was evident and understandable. The Whites have a squad that must be the envy of the rest of the division: they need to relocate the freedom and energy with which they began the campaign to prove it on the pitch.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/silva-needs-solutions-to-successive-stalemates/