Jack and Loz Not at the Cottage - Blog 175

Date: 9th April 2021

Opposition: Wolves

Score: 0-1

MOTM: it would be tempting to give this to Joachim Andersen who was spraying long and accurate passes around the pitch like a vintage Tom Cairney but he was edged out by Fulham’s own Antonee Robinson who played with purpose, grit, positivity and pace

Dinner: Loz - Fish pie and Chardonnay; Jack - Veggie pasta and Gavi

“Here we are with Goodbye in our eyes, running out of reasons to try.”

Fulham’s attempt to stay in the Premier League probably ended on Friday night. We use the word “attempt” advisedly because surely a competent team would have taken one of its many recent chances to claw its way out of the bottom three. But we use the word “probably” advisedly too because we are Fulham and anything can happen.

Fulham didn’t start the match like a team which was short on confidence but we didn’t start like one in desperate need of 3 points either. Scott Parker had freshened up the side (most notably with the introduction of Kongolo - more on him later) and the line-up looked good, give or take Ruben Whaata-Miss and the fact that Mitro and Maja weren’t starting together.

The game plan immediately became clear: long balls forward from Andersen and crosses into the box from Robinson and Tete. All 3 delivered but balls fell either to Mitro sandwiched by defenders or to Bobby dwarfed by defenders or to no one at all. We had a sustained period of attack and a fair amount of action in the box but the closest we came to scoring was a misdirected header from RLC. So not very close then.

As in the Villa game, a lucky escape just before half time should have served as a warning: Wolves were, Frankly, robbed by VAR; we were rescued but should have learnt from the experience.

The second half featured some strong attacking play. Harrison Reed was everywhere, tackling, intercepting, setting people up, even shooting. Antonee, Joa and Kenny continued their good work but we couldn’t score from open play, free kicks or corners. Wolves defended well but at no point did they have their backs against the wall as a side scrabbling for points threw everything at them.

Scott made some attacking subs which was, obviously, the right thing to do. Frank for RLC counts as an attacking sub because once he’d missed his header in the first half RLC did nothing. We would have taken off Lemina instead of Harrison but it probably wouldn’t have made any difference. Whilst we finally got to see Mitro and Maja play together for more then 5 minutes, the partnership was ineffective because, of course, they haven’t played together often enough!

The last minute winner was a cocktail cliche of a kick in the teeth and a nail in the coffin. A draw wouldn’t have done anyway and would only have prolonged another cliche.

The bottom line is: whoever was on the pitch, we never looked like scoring. We have now lost to depleted Villa and Wolves sides and, throwing another cliche into the mix, the writing is on the wall.

Back, briefly, to Kongolo. Dropping the accident prone Tosin (much as we like him) was the right decision - more than anyone, he is feeling the effects of the fight for survival - and Kongolo proved himself an adept replacement. But more than that, he proved that he could fit into a very potent Championship back line - Tete, Tosin, Kongolo and Robinson in front of proven Championship goalkeeper Rodak could turn the Cottage into a fortress again.......

Random musings:-

- we liked the fact that Wolves’ away kit is the colour of a full-bodied vintage port

- Nuno, on the other hand, was dressed for skiing.

- the Wolves players went down very easily. At one point in the second half one of them literally won a free kick by falling over and shouting, “Ref!”

- when the Wolves goal was disallowed did anyone else think that the FA have their own narrative here - that they want it to go to the last game.....?

There are two courses open to Scott and the team now: sink under the pressure or fight the ever increasing odds. We know which they will do.

There are two courses open to fans now: resign ourselves to our fate and imagine that Championship back four, or rage against the dying of the light. The first is tempting but really not an option.

But there is something else to keep in mind however disappointed we are feeling at the moment. This has been a horrendous year and a stressful season. But very soon we will be back at Craven Cottage and we will be together again. And whatever league we’re in, that is all that really matters.