Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 186

Date: 28th August 2021

Opposition: Stoke

Score: 3-0

Goal Scorers: Wilson, De Cordova-Reid, 🔥

Weather: befitting an August bank holiday – cloudy and a little overcast

Atmosphere: happy, very, very happy

MOTM (football): the fact that we couldn’t agree on this says it all. This only happens when we either: a) play really, really badly and it’s impossible to pick anyone out for praise; or b) play really, really well and we’re spoilt for choice - the scoreline tells you which one it was. The fact that Stoke’s MOTM was clearly their goalie also hammers it home. It was a sublime team performance, with Bobby, Wilson and Mitro’s link up play a delight to watch, Seri and Onomah commanding in midfield, and Ream stoic and cool as a cucumber in defence as he dictated the rhythm and flow of the game as Captain Fantastic. It could have been any of them but we’re going for Wilson - slotting seamlessly back in on his return from suspension

MOTM (non-football): John Mitchell got the Forever Fulham award at half time. Only a lucky proportion of the Fulham faithful will remember our journey to the FA Cup Final in 1975. An adventure we can only dream (or read about in fiction….*) of repeating. John Mitchell played in that FA Cup Final team, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of extra time of the semi-final replay against Birmingham City.

Snacks: tea and rolos (Loz would give her last one to Mitro)

Well it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it. And that’s what gets results.

So this was Fulham’s first real test. Too early to be a six-pointer but Stoke have had a strong start to the season, coming into the match level on points with us, and they’re not the long throw specialists of old. Their recent goal against Forest was a thing of beauty and finesse. The adage that anyone can beat anyone in Championship is a truism, but despite this, home fans were optimistic.

The game came on the back of a clinical two nil win in the week against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup. Marco made 10 changes for that match including a return for Rodak and a first team debut for Adrion Pajaziti. Such is our strength and depth that fans were asking whooo? Unironically.

So we faced Stoke not exactly expectant but quite cockily confident. We know pride comes before a fall and all that and we’re normally sensible fans who don’t get carried away – but it’s impossible not to now. Sorry.

The loss of Tete to injury was disappointing but not as concerning as it might have been. Whatever league were in, whoever the manager is, Denis Odoi is always trusted to deliver. When his name was announced in the line-up it was met with a loud cheer and throughout the match there were chants of oi, oi, oi, Denis Odoi.

The other big cheer was for Mitro. The Premier League news this week might have been Ronaldo going back to Man Utd but our talisman never left. As he signed his new 5 year deal Mitro said Fulham is his home and to prove it, at the end of the match, he was straight over to the Hammy End. The love is mutual.

So what did we need to steady our nerves? An early goal, of course. And we got one. And it was exquisite. The initial crisp ball to Wilson from Antonee allowed him to slice through the midfield before passing to Bobby as he raced forwards. His pass to Mitro and the quick flick the back to Wilson was a move to terrify Championship defences.

Quite Frankly, (even though he wasn’t on the pitch), after last season’s goal drought and dearth of entertaining, attacking football, any old goal will do, but if we can have ones like this, so much the better.

Stoke, as we’ve said, are a good team, but we made them look decidedly average, taking a complete stranglehold on the match. The first half brought so many shances from almost every Fulham player (even Tosin had a shot) that we thought Gazzaniga might give it a go as he really didn’t have much else to do. Many of the shots were from outside the box but the ones on target were only kept out by the prowess of the Stoke goalie. Here was the fast and frantic football that we have all so missed.

The ever versatile Bobby was having a good game on the left wing, linking up brilliantly with Wilson and Mitro who was emitting sparks all match. Seri and Onomah were being both creative and forceful in midfield, and Fabio was causing Stoke no end of difficulties.

The Stoke players thought Wilson was someone to antagonise after his recent sending off and they were trying to bait him but he didn’t bite back. Their Lurch of a centre-back, Souttar, would have intimated most opposition players but Mitro brushed him off like a Head and Shoulders advert. The ref carelessly let the Stoke challenges go but that made for a high tempo, flowing game.

Even with all our shances, Stoke managed to keep it to one nil at the break. We were wasteful at times with too much passing around and too many long shots. We gave them acres of space on the left hand side which they made the most of when they could. That meant that despite our dominance, including winning a series of corners at the end of the half, we were far from being home and dry.

We have mentioned our Top of the League Problem before: a lack of goals at the Hammy End, but this Fulham team seems to be a gift that keeps on giving (for now at least – we really are trying not to get carried away!). Just 8 minutes into the second half, Bobby’s goal, which was a follow up shot after Mitro’s attempt was pushed away by the goalie, was just the ticket. The Cottage erupted.

Normally, even a two goal lead isn’t enough to make the average Fulham fan feel comfortable, but Saturday was different. After that second goal, the result was never in doubt. With or without the ball, we bossed the game in a way that the match stats don’t truly reflect.

There were shances for more, with a Wilson shot hitting the post (from where we stood, we thought it had gone in), but that close miss was made up for by a goal from Mitro. It was a fantastic ball in from Bobby to Wilson on the far post that came out to the ever prowling Mitro. His defender didn’t have a hope of preventing him from tapping it in for our third.

Marco got the subs right. It was great to see Reed back from injury coming on for Carvalho and wearing KMac’s no.6 shirt. Kebano charged on with just three minutes left and he made an impact almost immediately, flying down the right-hand side, picking up a lovely ball from Onomah, and winning a penalty when he was taken down in the box. Mitro stepped up but it wasn’t the best effort and it was easily saved. With hindsight, maybe Kebano should have taken it instead. Whilst the miss didn’t matter, it is the only blemish on an otherwise flawless performance. And sooner or later there will be another penalty. And it will matter.

Random musings:-

- Stoke fans were united in the applause for the players taking the knee

- Marco doesn’t keep his Mediterranean Casual look for just evening matches – he’s definitely sticking with the lucky black jumper

- at the other end of the colour spectrum, few people look as good in fuchsia pink as Gazzaniga. We’re very jealous of whoever he gave his top to

- will Joe Bryan play football again or will he be forever warming up and giving the fans an occasional wave?

- much was made by fans of Seri kissing the badge. The test will be the close of the transfer window in just a few days’ time

- on the other hand, it was notable that there was no cheer for Frank - everyone’s assuming he’s a goner.

It was life-affirming to hear and feel the oohs, aahs and cheers at the Cottage. The hope and happiness is back. The only disappointment is the timing of the international break, just when we’re getting into our groove, just when our fires are being stoked. But this time we have nothing to fear.

Don't let us hear you say life's taking you nowhere. We liked Scott, but the manner of his departure was unbecoming, and we have no doubt that we’ve traded-up with Marco Silva. We know we’ve struck gold, and with nuggets like this we could just be in for some golden years.

* www.Amazon.co.uk/dp/1916898505/