Jack and Loz at the Cottage When Sess Scored at the Hammy End - Blog 303

Date: 16th March 2025

Opposition: Tottenham Hotspur

Score: 2-0

Goal scorers: Rodrigo Muniz, Ryan Sessegnon

Weather: sunny but chilly

Atmosphere: emotional

Man of the Match: if Fulham fans have a fault, it’s picking a scapegoat and insisting he’s responsible for anything that goes wrong even in the face of increasing evidence to the contrary. Often, former Fulham scapegoats become future Fulham legends like Chris Baird and Stefan Johansen. Fast forward a few years and Antonee Robinson has shed the first stage and is racing towards the second. Andreas Pereria is Fulham’s Scapegoat du jour but even his loudest and most longstanding critics will admit that on Sunday, Andreas was at his Brazilian best. Instrumental, decisive and unrelenting, Andreas had a foot in all the best moves of the game

Brunch: Riverside Studios

Post match drink: the Riverside

Pod: we went to the Fulhamish Live podcast at the Half Moon Putney

Dinner: Wagamama

Ryan Sessegnon left Fulham in 2019. It was a difficult time for fans. Our triumphant return to the Premier League via Wembley Stadium had ended in crushing disappointment. We were dumped back into the Championship and Ryan, one of England’s brightest young prospects, understandably wanted to pursue his career in the top flight.

We had to be brave. We’d watched Ryan grow up like proud parents, celebrating his successes and worrying about his set-backs. It was time to let him leave the nest and fly. He signed off his farewell message, “your boy, Sess” and no one read it with dry eyes.

But things didn’t work out the way we all hoped. While Fulham yo-yoed, Ryan floundered. Tottenham didn’t look after him properly. Their fans didn’t appreciate him; a succession of managers were under the illusion that he was a left back. When the grass looks greener, it’s because it’s fake.

But adversity makes you stronger and experience teaches you what matters most. Last summer, our boy came home. It was unexpected but it felt right.

The restart was slow - no doubt even more frustrating for Sess than it was for us, but you have to trust the system. Recently, he’s played more and made the most of his minutes, scoring at Wolves and being a revelation on the right against Man U. We were disappointed he didn’t get longer to make his mark at Brighton and it looked like the same thing would happen on Sunday but it was time to Rewrite another Story.

In the 87th minute the Tottenham fans applauded Sess’s introduction. In the 88th minute they started to leave.

Our boy was back with a vengeance.

Despite the headlines, the photos and the feel good factor (and the fact we’ve just written 500 words about him!) Sunday wasn’t the Ryan Sessegnon show. It was another fantastic team performance in which our players showed resolve and resilience as well as footballing flair.

The first half was one of those typical Fulham halves where we’re the better team but can’t make it count. Although Tottenham pressed hard enough to frighten Leno into some miskicks, Andersen and Bassey were composed and unruffled. Our only complaint about the former was a tendency to play a long diagonal pass when a short, straight one would do. Castagne battled well with Tottenham’s two best players while Berge and Andreas were running a ball winning masterclass in midfield. It didn’t matter if we lost the ball, one of them would just win it back.

In fact, everything was excellent except the final ball. Despite some good corner deliveries, some decent crosses and lots of attacking intent, the best chance fell to Timmy who kicked the ball straight to the goalie. Such was Fulham’s dominance, it felt like one of the those halves that we were destined to look back on and rue the chances we didn’t take.

This feeling was exacerbated at the start of the second half when we realised that due to a mix up by the catering staff, Tottenham had drunk Red Bull at half time while the Fulham players had had Horlicks. The change in momentum was sudden and threatening and Fulham only coped with it by riding our luck.

Leno made a spectacular save but Tottenham ramped up the pressure and we were hanging on. Until two things happened. Marco started making subs and all of them were the right people at the right time to make an impact. Raúl was playing well but Muniz brought a new energy and menace to the attack; Iwobi was playing well but Adama brought ideas as well as pace. ESR was playing better than he usually does….but we looked better without him…

Willian is the classiest player on any football pitch in England. No ifs, no buts. He has the ability to create a chance out of nothing. Despite the subs, Fulham hadn’t been much of a goal threat since the first half, the match had become flat and the fans edgy. Then William conjured up a shot from the edge of the box. It swerved past the post but the Hammy End were on their feet. Andreas gestured urgently to the crowd, demanding more; we gave it and the players repaid us.

The first goal followed swiftly. Muniz will get the plaudits but this was a team goal. Willian won the ball, Antonee crossed it, Adama kept it alive, Andreas could have shot but instead teed up Muniz and the finish - in the far, unreachable bottom corner - was inch perfect.

But not as good as the celebration and the reaction from the crowd. Fulham’s Number 9 scored at the Hammersmith End. Andreas might be Man of the Match and Sess might have stolen the headlines but Fulham have a new talisman now.

There is no more terrifying time to be a Fulham fan than when we’re defending a one goal lead. Tottenham’s manager, Angry Postecoglou, had made some subs and they weren’t effective but we knew we couldn’t sit back.

But then Marco made his final and most impactful sub, and the rest is history.

Sess’s goal would have been good whoever scored it and whenever it happened. Leno (with his second assist of the season) kicked the ball long, Sess fought off a challenge from Tottenham’s desperate defender and swooped the ball past the keeper with his weaker foot at a tight angle.

The last time a prodigal son scored at the Hammy End it was Tom Cairney and he had the rain to conceal his tears. Sess had no defences and nowhere to hide. He was too overwhelmed to celebrate immediately but everyone else did it for him - Muniz leapfrogging straight into the Brazilian gymnastic team, Antonee sprinting the length of the pitch and Calvin….er throttling Sess while the crowd erupted.

Eventually, Tom pushed Ryan towards the Hammy End where he raised one hand and tapped the Fulham badge with the other. Our boy has grown up but he’s back home where he belongs and doing what he does best.

Random musings:-

- The last time Sess scored a goal at the Hammy End was 26th December 2018

- What had Tottenham’s kit been washed with to come out that colour and all mottled???

- The ref didn’t always get it right but it was clear he wanted to let the game flow and he largely succeeded

- Antonee’s race forward with the ball and leap over the Tottenham player in the second half was like something out of a computer game when you have to push the “jump” button at just the right time

- Calvin enjoyed putting his Tottenham counterpart in his place (literally)

- When Willian realised he was about to be subbed he dashed from the side line to the centre circle to make sure he had plenty of time to lap up the applause as he left the pitch

- Whoever’s in charge of the half time music needs to take Freed From Desire off the playlist. No one sang along. Those days are long gone.

Whilst Tottenham aren’t the footballing force they used to be this feels like an important win, even more so because of the clean sheet.

Fulham are now 8th, a semi-official European spot and within heading distance of the Champions League places. We have some tricky games to come but we know what happens when the going gets tough - the tough come back from a 2 game ban.

From Moments like Sess’s goal, to the togetherness of the team and the fact that we’re firmly planted in the top half of the table means this is already a fantastic season.

But it could be epic. And it’s a long way from over.