Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 289

Date: 4th November 2024

Opposition: Brentford

Score: 2-1

Fulham goal scorers: Harry Wilson 90+2, Harry Wilson 90+7

Weather: didn’t it used to be colder in November?

Atmosphere: when darkness falls and the lights come on, the energy inside Craven Cottage changes. A potent blend of memories, expectation and emotion fills the ground and envelopes the Fulham Family. We’ve all felt it before - Juve, Hamburg, the semi final against Derby, the night Tom scored the last minute equaliser against Leeds, and on Monday night we felt it again. Craven Cottage doesn’t just host matches under the lights, it influences them. Fulham fans don’t just watch those games, we’re part of them.

MOTM: there is only one contender. Harry Wilson only played 18 minutes of football and he only made 2 of them count but those were the 2 that mattered. Patient and humble in a squad where humility seems to be prized above all other attributes, Harry doesn’t get many moments to sparkle but on Monday night he seized his chance and sealed his place in Fulham history

Pre-match: Chateau Craven Cottage which we had to drink quickly so as not to miss the minute’s silence…

Post-match: Craft Beer Co where we had to drink quickly so as not to miss last orders…..

A London derby is always special. Add the lights, the need for a statement result after Fulham’s good-but-could-have-been-better start to the season, the falling poppies and the haunting notes of the Last Post, and this one felt like it could be momentous. But as the echoes of the bugle faded into the cheers of the crowd, little did we realise that it was going to be one for the ages.

It didn’t start like that though. In most matches this season, Fulham have been the dominant team for long periods but often without being able to make that domination count. Monday night was that on steroids.

To say we were “all over Brentford” barely does justice to the extent of our possession or the fact that most of it was so close to the Putney End that we couldn’t judge the quality of our many shots.

However, to say that we were “overplaying the ball” barely does justice to the amount of tippy tippy sideways passes around the box and the wastefulness of all that possession.

Having failed to score their habitual early goal, Brentford didn’t know what to do so their goalie had to feign injury and sit down on 8 minutes so their players could get some tips on how to play football from their manager, a man who looks like he hasn’t slept for 10 years.

This paid off for them and Brentford’s strike mid-way through the first half was an exceptional one. However, to say this was “against the run of play” is the euphemism of the century.

So the chase was on early, and Fulham chased hard. We’ve been underwhelmed by Emile Smith Rowe during the last couple of games but on Monday he was a lot more like you expect your record signing to be - influential, skilful, trying to control the game. Everyone’s favourite scapegoat, Andreas Pereira was battling away in the thick of the action while Antonee Robinson started running from the first Moment and didn’t stop.

As regular readers know, we’re big fans of Reiss Lightning and we were delighted when Marco came round to the fans’ way of thinking and gave Reiss his first League start. Reiss grabbed his chance and was a dynamic and intelligent part of the attack. He looks as good on the ball as he does in a Fulham shirt and we’ve got a feeling he’s going to wearing that shirt for quite a long time.

We’ve seen a lot of players develop during their time at Fulham, particularly since Marco’s arrival, but Sander Berge’s improvement has been astronomical and has happened at warp speed (or Adama speed as it’s known at Fulham). From muddled and awkward a couple of weeks ago, Sander now looks composed and authoritative, imposing himself on the game and not putting a (large) foot wrong. Lukić is going to have to fight hard to get his starting berth back, and didn’t we once have some bloke called Joao who played Sander’s position…?

However, keeping possession, maintaining the press and playing well mean nothing. To say, “there’s only one stat that matters” was stating the obvious. The half ended 0-1 and Fulham’s frustrations were only just beginning.

For the entire second half, Brentford assembled what people paid to talk about football call “a low block” but which is much better described as parking the bus. They literally had 11 men behind the ball at all times except the Moments where their custard-clad goalie wasted time before his long, often inaccurate kicks.

For 45 minutes Fulham tried everything they knew to break down the Brentford defence. Nothing worked. Pummelling it didn’t work as our shots were straight at the goalie, crosses didn’t work as they never fell to Raúl, set pieces didn’t work although Andreas, as he revved up the Hammy End, must have been wondering what more he could possibly do. Passes around the box didn’t work (we could have told them that….), shots from outside the box didn’t work (although Bassey’s nearly did), bringing on Adama didn’t work.

And the clock was running down and Brentford were stringing things out, at one point having a mother’s meeting with the ref while chaos raged around him.

But that didn’t work for Brentford. Because two things were about to happen. One is that time wasting at Craven Cottage always comes back to bite you. Someone who knows that - someone like Fabio Carvalho for example - should have warned Brentford that that’s always the case.

And the other is that Marco made some more subs.

Regular readers may have spotted that we are sometimes a tiny bit critical of Marco’s Subs Philosophy (only in a constructive way of course) and even on Monday we did (very briefly) mutter (very quietly) that we were (a bit) surprised that Harry Wilson was coming on.

But what the hell do we know?

In fact, it wasn’t just Harry who changed the game. Tom Cairney’s appearance was brief but vintage. Take note Emile - that’s how you control a game of football. Suddenly, Fulham were a lot more direct, a lot more dangerous. The low block was sinking fast, Brentford were in disarray.

The first goal was notable in so many ways. It’s timing, it’s balletic grace, it’s inventiveness. But did anyone else, as the ball seemed to hang in the air in defiance of the laws of physics as it headed for the top corner of the goal, get a sense of Deja vu? A certain chip, a certain leaping header…..? What is it about Cottage nights like these….?

We’d battled so hard and it was still only 1-1. It felt like a relief not a success and, worryingly, the match wasn’t over and that familiar Fulham last minute panic was setting in. Bernd Leno’s save from Fabio and Berge’s block were both as good as a goal…

….and that goal was yet to come.

And when it came, it was perfect. Tom’s pass, Antonee’s cross, Harry’s header. They were so good and so effective that you wondered what on earth the team had been doing for the last 97 minutes. Except you didn’t wonder that until later because at the time you were screaming and jumping and shouting and celebrating.

Part of the euphoria around this win is that Fulham were finally on the right side of a last minute goal but the result is so, so much more than that. Through the frustration, the time wasting, the disappointment of doing the same thing again and again and it not working (26 shots, 46 crosses), and the fear of defeat, the players never stopped believing and they never gave up. And we saw in their celebration that the win means as much to them as it does to us; and that they are as together as it is possible for a team to be.

Random musings:-

- It was great to see Boa receive his Forever Fulham award at half time. His tour of the ground was thorough and mutually appreciated and we really liked the way he and the groundsmen were so pleased to see each other. One thing we don’t agree with though - when Ivan said “for one last time…” This isn’t the last Fulham will see of Luis Boa Morte

- Whilst Harry is inevitably MOTM, we have to mention Antonee again. He was as fit and fresh in the last few Moments as he was in the first, he was always available for the ball and always looking for a key pass or cross. When we say, “he’s one of the best left backs in the world” it’s not hyperbole

- The celebration with the pitch invading fan was lovely. Hope he doesn’t get punished for it

- After Andreas went off, no one wanted to take a corner. Reiss had to be talked into it by Bassey

- Oh Fabio. What might have been…

- 6 minutes of added time should have been 10. But they were enough!

- Joachim Andersen removed his shirt

Sometimes a win is more than 3 points. This win feels like a shift in momentum; like the weaknesses of the first quarter of the season have been conquered and the team will only get stronger and better.

We have an amazing group of players and when we call our manager a genius, this doesn’t do justice to the way he has improved and moulded and strengthened our club. Or the way he cares about it.

Together, we are all on an incredible journey - destination as yet unknown.