The midday wind and rain discomfited many spectators on their way to Craven Cottage for Saturday's early afternoon kickoff with Huddersfield – but they were rewarded with a very exciting match.
Huddersfield, unbeaten since November, showed little respect for the Championship leaders. Early on a neat passing movement allowed Danny Ward to find the net only to be negated by the assistant referee's flag. (Déjà vu - the same happened to Danny when Fulham visited the Town earlier this season.) By then Fulham should have been in the lead, Bobby DeCordova-Reid having lashed the ball wildly into the Putney End.
Aleksandar Mitrovic could not quite reach a low cross from Fabio Carvalho – but this was not a lucky day for the striker, hard though he tried, and the home side failed to get a single shot on target during the first half.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield fed on the home side's defensive frailties. Harry Toffolo's fierce challenge dispossessed Harry Wilson, and Tom Cairney's intervention merely teed the ball up for Ward to put his team in the lead. Shortly afterwards Tosin was dispossessed by Lewis O' Brien, allowing Sorba Thomas to cut through. Marek Rodak's courageous dive prevented a second goal, but the referee judged his collision with Thomas to be worthy of a penalty. The decision looked correct in real time, less so in slow motion.
Halftime changes
With Fulham 2-0 down, Marco Silva made some tactical changes at half-time and Carvalho and Neco Williams both came to the fore, though the real improvement followed the arrival of Neeskens Kebano and Harrison Reed, replacing Cairney and Wilson.
The coach also sent on Ivan Cavaleiro very late in the game, perhaps hoping for the two instant goals that the same player had achieved at Huddersfield. Ivan did get an opportunity to score but it was not just the weather that was wild last Saturday.
After the referee rightly ignored Mitrovic's dramatic tumble in the area, the Serb redeemed himself with a fine header which tested Lee Nicholls. A subsequent incident sparked two controversies: Mitro fell yet again after a light push from Josh Ruffels and when Nicholls gathered the ball Fabio Carvalho steamed into the keeper.
The official saw nothing in Josh's push but booked Carvalho for dangerous play. VAR might have caused a reconsideration of the former incident, but the young forward was at fault in the latter. Perhaps he has yet to witness the dreadful injuries that can result from reckless enthusiasm.
There was one further occasion for the crowd to bay at the officials. A shot heading goalwards struck Ruffels's arm. Though no infringement was intended it looked an obvious penalty – but fortunately I am not a referee. Despite the 2-1 defeat Fulham still topped the League, as the supporters proudly proclaimed.
A win against Peterborough
Peterborough United on Wednesday provided a different challenge. Threatened with relegation they arrived at the Cottage determined to block the Fulham attack and gain at least one point – a strategy that their assistant manager called 'suffering without the ball'. Thus, the home side controlled the play and indulged in some exemplary passing but with no immediate reward.
The breakthrough came after 35 minutes. Carvalho's centre was flicked on and as Mitrovic chased the ball Harrison Burrows raised his leg in a clumsy challenge. The referee, who ignored the play-acting by both teams, realised that on this occasion the penalty was justified. Mitro scored easily to earn himself the Championship record; at half-time supporters were treated to a replay of all his goals this season.
The second half made much better viewing. United, no longer able to rely on defence alone, became more adventurous and had their chances to equalise. Fulham still dominated but could not beat the agile goalkeeper Steven Benda.
Around the hour mark, as substitutes Cavaleiro and Wilson waited on the touchline, Carvalho deftly took the ball upfield and passed to Neeskens Kebano, whose precise centre was volleyed home by Mitrovic. Benda got a hand to the ball but could only deflect it into the net.
The Peterborough keeper then produced three staggering saves to deny Carvalho, Mitrovic and Wilson. From the last of these a swift clearance allowed Jack Marriott to beat a lax Fulham defence and score a late goal. Fortunately, the spirited (if outplayed) visitors could not find an equaliser. Marco Silva's team had further strengthened the bid for promotion.
There was a poignant moment during the second half when Clare Parish handed out cakes and party blowers to mark what would have been her late father's 70th birthday. Paul Parish's sudden passing after his collapse at the recent Blackpool match made a lasting impression on us all. The Hammersmith End paid a fine vocal tribute.
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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