Back in 1987 when Dennis Turner and Alex White published their first Complete Record of Fulham FC they included a statistical table showing that the club had never won a League match at Arsenal, Everton or Liverpool.
Over the next 34 years Everton seemed impregnable at home but on Valentine’s Day they finally succumbed. Perhaps the date was significant. On the 14th February 1948, a few weeks before I started watching Fulham, the Whites won an FA Cup replay on Merseyside when Bob Thomas scored in the 73rd minute.
And 27 years on Alan Mullery and Bobby Moore inspired a 2-1 victory on the same ground, putting the League leaders out of the Cup. Both of Fulham’s goals in the latter match came from Vic Busby. (Actually this 1975 triumph happened on the day after Valentine’s but why spoil a good story?)
Last Sunday’s omens were not favourable especially with Aleksandar Mitrovic testing positive for Covid. It was time to put newcomer Josh Maja in the starting line-up.
Everton after their midweek tussle with Spurs must have expected an easier match. Instead they spent the first half being outplayed by the opposition, and must have been relieved to see so many chances missed. Most notably Ademola Lookman’s corner, flicked on by Harrison Reed, hit the upright and Joachim Andersen skied the rebound. The irrepressible Reed made further attempts on the Everton goal and the Merseysiders seemed to have no answer to Lookman’s trickery. Somehow the half concluded scoreless.
Far from fading after the interval Fulham took the lead with Josh Maja sliding in to meet Ademola’s low cross and notch a first goal for his new team. Shortly afterwards Ademola and Ola Aina swapped passes on the left before giving Maja a tap-in. Great football made to look easy.
For once Fulham did not have to rely on goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Though his handling was impeccable it was the outfield players that seized the chance to impress. Harrison Reed was the TV commentators’ Man of the Match but a case could have been for pretty well any of his colleagues. Maja was not just a hit man (though we have badly needed one) for he fitted in brilliantly.
There were a couple of ironies. Ademola Lookman used to play for Everton but was undervalued there, and we signed Josh Maja after Josh Logan opted for Merseyside. Maja emphatically won the battle of the Joshes, but these highlights are momentary and will count for little if Fulham are relegated.
Burnley has proved a slightly more comfortable place to visit than Everton. Fulham won there as recently as April 1951 with the aforesaid Bob Thomas scoring a brace without reply. No-one expected too many goals from the 2021 midweek fixture, from which Fulham badly needed a victory. Scott Parker fielded the same starting XI but caution seemed to have replaced confidence. The home side dominated a lacklustre first half though Areola was seldom under pressure. Maja hardly touched the ball.
Unexpectedly Fulham went ahead after the break. Robbie Brady, who had replaced Gudmundsson in the 40th minute and earned a caution almost immediately, committed a further indiscretion. The resultant free kick led indirectly to a Lookman corner being headed on by Andersen and chested home by Aina. The unfortunate Brady standing on the goal-line failed to stop the ball.
Doubtless to Parker’s despair Fulham’s mood changed from caution to recklessness. Within three minutes gaps in defence had allowed Jay Rodriguez to sweep past Tosin and feed Ashley Barnes with the equaliser.
There were a few other opportunities before the match relapsed into a stalemate. Rodriguez came closest to scoring for Burnley but luckily his effort was disallowed because JackCork had nudged Areola. The tireless Lookman almost sneaked a goal in added time. Though each team deserved the point, the 1-1 draw was a blow to Fulham’s hopes of a rapid move towards safety.
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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