For months we have believed that Fulham’s survival in the Premier League might depend on the final match of the season with Newcastle’s visit to the Cottage.
Did anyone foresee that Match 35 – Fulham v Burnley – would be the decider? Victory was essential, while the Lancashire club needed only a draw.
The TV audience will have seen the game follow the usual pattern. Fulham started promisingly then relapsed into rather aimless passing movements. Burnley’s keeper Nick Pope dealt easily with a variety of efforts from Ademola Lookman, Ivan Cavaleiro and Frank Anguissa. Frank had a minority of admirers two years ago, but he has won general acclamation this year.
Unsportingly, the visitors then went on the attack. Though Tosin blocked Chris Wood’s header, Burnley took the lead soon afterwards. Bobby DeCirdova-Reid yielded possession in mid-field and the ball was swiftly transferred to Matej Vydra, who outran Joachim Andersen to provide Ashley Westwood with an unmissable opportunity.
Just before the interval Wood was given yards of space to direct his half-volley beyond Alphonse Areola. Having scored just nine League goals at home all season Fulham had to conjure up three more in 45 minutes to save their status. It never looked likely no matter how much possession Burnley yielded to them.
The referee David Coote had clearly decided to be lenient in view of the tense circumstances of the match, otherwise Mario Lemina would have merited more than one yellow card – his commitment often overcomes his judgment – and Areola took an enormous risk by handling well outside his area.
Mr Coote did not have a clear view and VAR apparently judged that the keeper had not impeded a goal-scoring opportunity. Fulham have done fairly well from VAR but Lemina must have wondered again why he had been penalised for an accidental handball against Liverpool while Areola’s misdemeanour was ignored.
Help needed
Needing to improve the scoreline Parker could only turn to Josh Onoma, Josh Maja and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, all of whom have endured a disappointing season.
In the entire half, only Anguissa really threatened to score and his brilliant shot rebounded off the crossbar. The match fizzled out with a 2-0 victory for Burnley, who were now safe, having conceded as many goals as Fulham this season but having scored eight more.
The empty grandstands let forth no cries of consolation or castigation. The absence of fans has affected Fulham to an inexplicable extent. Without some notable results away from home the club would have been doomed weeks ago. Let us see what happens at Southampton and Manchester United.
A few supporters will be able to attend the last home match on the 23 May. Rightly the club is offering tickets to those who missed out earlier in the season when the regulations abruptly changed. Any remaining tickets will be distributed by lot. At £40 a time I hope the team put on a better show.
Brighter times
Last week, I showed some of the promotion celebrations from 2001. Thirty years earlier the victory parade was much lower key as Fulham moved from the third tier back to the second.
The three players in light jackets are Fred Callaghan, Stan Horne (smiling for the camera) and Les Barrett. Barry Lloyd (striped tie) and Reg Matthewson wait to follow Steve Earle and Callaghan onto the coach.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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