Scott Parker has repeatedly warned that victories this season will be few. Apart from the Carabao Cup, the Whites have failed to defeat any team in September or October. So perhaps it was fortunate that West Bromwich Albion’s visit was postponed until Monday 2 November.
The Albion had achieved three draws in the Premier League but they needed a win as much as the Whites, whose last meaningful victory was the Championship playoff Final in early August.
Since then there have plenty of new arrivals at the club and on Monday evening Parker selected only two of players who had been in the starting line-up at Wembley – Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic. (Of course, Joe Bryan and Ivan Carvalho, who later came on as subs, were playoff heroes too.)
Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and his Albion counterpart Sam Johnstone have been busy this season, making more saves than anyone in the elite clubs. Against West Brom the back four gave Alphonse a more relaxing match than he has come to expect. The rear guard of Ola Aina, Tosin Adarabioyo and Antonee Robinson was joined by Danish Joachim Andersen, on loan from Lyon. This combination looked most reassuring.
In midfield another loanee Mario Lemina was partnered by Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who came to the club in August 2018 but never really established himself.
Anguissa had a decent match against Albion but nearly gave away a goal.
The club website lists only five forwards and four of them started on Monday (the fifth was serving a suspension).
Mitrovic and Cairney looked to be recovering their best form, and I continue to hope for sustained brilliance from Bobby DeCordova-Reid. The latest addition is Ademola Lookman, a Londoner signed from RB Leipzig, who has provided much of the excitement so far.
For once Fulham did not spoil their bright start by conceding an early goal – though Areola had a fright when Conor Townsend’s centre nearly swirled into his net.
In the 26h minute Anguissa pushed forward and found Robinson over on the left. The defender’s cross was artfully nodded on by Mitrovic to DeCordova-Reid, who headed home. Within four minutes, Mitro created a second goal, this time for Ola Aina, who used what several reporters called his weak foot to send the ball way beyond Johnstone’s reach. Ola, on loan from Torino, obviously does not have a ‘weak’ foot.
After that, West Brom never looked like saving the game.
Karlan Grant had an opening when Anguissa miscued but his shot went wide. In fact, Fulham could have increased their margin. Johnstone strayed from his goal and had to rely on his defenders to clear from Cairney and then DeCordova-Reid. The ball struck Semi Ajay’s arm, but the authorities have made the handling rule as mystifying as offside.
The Whites’ victory (and first clean sheet) took them to 17th in the table. A visit to West Ham before the next international break will give this new formation a more thorough test.
But for the moment, we’ve got reasons to be cheerful.
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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