Post-match thoughts v Fulham

Written by kirsikka

After the Villa result and poor performance and with players finally returning from injury in a match where we really needed something, GON decided to… keep the same starting XI. Whatever the opposite of bold is, that’s him. Maybe Ariel. We certainly played like a bunch of Little Mermaids for the first thirty minutes.

Instead of a snarling in-their-face home performance to set Fulham back on their haunches, we were moving like we were running Under The Sea. Watching players attempting to press one by one whilst their team mates looked on in mild disinterest was utterly depressing.

For the goal, Smith lost sight of his man and let him make a run on his blindside and after that it was an easy finish. Fulham could easily have been more ahead, and were unlucky to only hit the bar. We simply weren’t at the races, and GON was standing on the sidelines with a befuddled expression with no idea what was happening. You and me both Gary, you and me both.

Finally, after a long ball caused some problems we seemed to settle and get involved in the game. Outtara slipping one past the post and then carelessly wandering offside only to only hit the underside of the bar and see the ball bounce out.

It was still a bit limp though. We weren’t fighting for our lives, we were having a gentle kickabout in the park. In truth, I thought our goal led a bit of an Enchanted life in that 45.

Half time couldn’t come soon enough with GON needing to change the tactics and attitude on the pitch. I was sat hoping it’ll be a triple sub:
Vina for Kelly, Tavernier for Anthony and Brooks for Outtara. It needed a wholesale different outlook in how we approach the game if we’re going to cause them problems. We got one of those, and Christie… the most defensive winger we possess. Sigh. GON giveth, GON taketh away. And yet, I wrote too soon when I said that.

We started the second half like we should have started the first, full throttle and pushing Fulham back with Tavernier at the heart of everything. It was adrenaline pumping stuff, and exactly what we need to see more of in the weeks ahead. Finally, some Brave football.

The equaliser when it came was a touch of class from Tavernier. I doubt there’s a keeper on the planet who would have saved that. A Bolt from the blue.

I thought we let Fulham off the hook a bit then, they were on the ropes but we let the game become an evenly contested back and forth for a good period. We can be thankful that when a chance did go in, it was for us.

Not sure what to make of the Solanke performance. Again it was maximum effort but once again he kept getting the ball Tangled under his feet. Not convinced he’ll get to keep that goal, might be changed to an og, but I hope it does and it might give him the lift he needs.

With the silky skills of Tavs and the full commitment from Christie, it was like having the Fox and the Hound on opposing wings. I was wrong to sign about Christie as he was very good out there.

Meanwhile Silva was his usual annoying idiotic self on the sideline throughout. What a Wall-E.

In the end, we saw the match out pretty comfortably. Be very thankful you know who was suspended though.

—– Positive Performances —–

Tavernier – Changed the course of the game. A cut above. Repeatedly turned his man Inside Out and scored a worldie.

Billing – Not as good as his recent heights but still a big force in the midfield.

Christie – Worked his socks off after coming on and even made an impact going forward.

—— Room For Improvement —–

Rothwell – Not terrible but not his day. Tried hard but it wasn’t coming off for him.

Anthony – Struggled to make an impact and was rightly hooked at the break. He’ll have plenty of better days.

Smith – At fault for the goal and looked outpaced on a few occasions.

—– GON Watch —–

He got away with one today. We should have been more than a goal down at half time and the crosses they swung in during the second half were gasping for Mitrovic. If they’d had a better finisher on the pitch, I think the result may have been different. Vinicius was absolute dog turd out there.

In the plus column, the half time team talk clearly lit a rocket under the players although it does beg the question why he couldn’t get that type of spell out of them at the start of the first half.

No bad VAR decision, no penalty denied or given against, no goal conceded from a set piece, a (shortish) period of putting the other team under the cosh. It’s progress, but it doesn’t erase that first forty five and the conservative starting line up.

Three points and Up the table we go. It was the start our April desperately needed. We’ve given ourselves a real chance. I just hope that GON can see it was attacking the other team that got that result, not sitting back and hoping to keep them out and sneak something on the break. I know some will say I’m a Moana for keeping going on about it but it’s the only way we’re going to survive.

Onward to Tuesday night and a big night under the lights against the Frankenweenies of Sussex. Would I like three points then as well? I should Coco.

Your say…

AFCB_Liam wrote…

Surely GON will now see that we have to be on the front foot to look good against any teams other than the top 5. We gave Fulham way too much respect in the first 30 minutes and would’ve been dead and buried if Robinson hadn’t hit the bar. 2nd half superb but the lessons have to be learned from the first half.

Tav has to start against Brighton. Think it’s worth trying Vina over Kelly as well for some more balance.

Huge 3 points and other results going our way. Happy days. – To join the discussion, click here.