Online messages from ticket agencies usually have me reaching for the delete icon, but I did hesitate when one advertised ‘JLS, Lewis Capaldi, Ricky Gervais, Fulham FC plus much more’.
Watching the Whites in action does not necessarily provide two hours of entertainment, as Sky viewers probably discovered if they spent watched a recent Friday evening trip to Pride Park.
The first half (as is not infrequently the case) provided little of interest. The Talksport commentators, unprepared for Fulham ‘s ponderous ‘playing from the back’, marvelled that Aleksander Mitrovic had managed to score so many goals this season.
Uneventful though it was, the first period contained three thrilling saves by Marek Rodak, showing that his confidence had not been harmed by his ill-starred display against Barnsley. It would also be churlish to ignore the artistry and enthusiasm of Derby’s Wayne Rooney in his 500th league appearance.
Ten minutes after the interval Tim Ream was penalised for handball and Rooney gave his team the lead with what one writer described as a perfect bunker shot.
With 25 minutes remaining, and Fulham facing another setback to their ambitions, Scott Parker sent on Aboubakar Kamara and Ivan Cavaleiro, who enlivened the pace and swiftly provided the equaliser.
Cavaleiro’s thwarted attempt rebounded to Kamara, whose centre was deftly converted by Mitrovic. This excellent goal from a mundane approach will have indicated to the Talksport pundits how the Serb came to be the Championship’s top scorer.
Both teams strove for the winner, the visitors looking more focused and Derby constantly testing Rodak.
There was no further score, and the keeper was chosen as Fulham’s Man of the Match, with a Putin-style vote of 91.3 per cent. Mitrovic came second, followed by Kamara – who had been on the field for less than a third of the game.
This indicates once again that if you are seeking entertainment from a Fulham match you generally need not arrive until half-time.
The next fixture, a visit by Swansea, had more to offer spectators. Fulham attacked from the start and the visitors’ keeper Freddie Woodman was more involved than Rodak.
The Welsh side looked dangerous on the break, but both sides displayed poor finishing. Defensively it was good to see Tim Ream’s confidence restored. Perhaps he was encouraged by the presence of Brian McBride, the general manager of the USA’s male soccer team.
In the absence of VAR the referee Tim Robinson ignored numerous appeals, some of them surely valid, and the game seemed destined to end goalless.
Despite the outcome at Derby Scott Parker showed reluctance to use his substitutes. Not until the 77th minute did Neeskens Kebano get the coach’s nod, followed by Kamara.
Ten minutes after Kebano’s arrival, he won a penalty. Swansea protested and Andre Ayew, who had suffered similar challenges from Fulham, lost all self-control. The fuss may have discomfited Mitrovic, for his penalty kick was below par, allowing Woodman to make a spectacular save.
That should have settled the result but in added time Joe Bryan won the ball and sent Kamara down the right wing. The substitute then delivered a perfect centre, which Aleksandar headed majestically beyond Woodman’s reach.
Could JLS, Lewis Capaldi or Ricky Gervais contrive such a stunning finale?
The last Saturday of February was wet and wild, and both Fulham and their visitors Preston struggled to play decent football.
Cyrus Christie, drafted in after an early injury to Joe Bryan, tried harder than most to energise the attack.
In sixty minutes of little quality, the only excitement resulted from breakaways. A crucial moment came in the 58th minute when Anthony Knockaert’s corner was inadvertently headed into the net by David Nugent, the man who had scored Preston’s winner in the corresponding match at Deepdale last December.
Suddenly the match became more competitive and entertaining. Parker finally unleashed Kamara in the 79th minute, a substitution that once again proved inspired.
After Rodak had saved a point blank header from Patrick Bauer, Preston made a final massed assault only for Kamara to break free, swoop down the left wing and plant the ball in the net with a bit of help from Cavaleiro. This happened in the 95th minute.
The team’s next opponents Bristol City, with their own play-off ambitions, did not seem to have done enough research, because they obviously thought that Nakhi Wells’s 70th minute goal would ensure a home victory.
Fulham’s response came fourteen minutes later when Harry Arter battled through the middle and allowed Tom Cairney to score one of his rare but classy goals.
Nine games remain, including visits to the top sides Leeds and West Bromwich Albion. The Albion still have a six-point lead over Fulham, who also face Brentford, Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff.
On Friday night the Forest lost 3-0 at home to Millwall (our former striker Matt Smith notched a hat-trick in 13 minutes) and there will be other shocks in the coming weeks. It is hardly surprising that gambling companies invest so much in professional football.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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