Leicester City 0-2 Fulham
After squandering three points at the London Stadium the Whites needed to reassure their manager and their supporters. At the King Power on Saturday they faced a Leicester City side reeling from six consecutive defeats in the Premier League.
Ruud van Nistelrooy had restored Jordan Ayew to the starting line-up alongside Jamie Vardy, and the home team made a determined start. The Fulham defence struggled to clear from a corner and Ayew drew a fine save from Bernd Leno (atoning for his slip against West Ham).
Jordan shot over the bar in a second attack, then Viktor Kristiansen came close with a solo effort. As expected Vardy also put pressure on the Whites, nearly prompting an own goal from Timothy Castagne.
In the first half-hour the home keeper Jakub Stolarczyk had little to do but subsequently Fulham took control. Defenders Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Timothee Robinson all felt free to join the attack. Meanwhile striving for a goal on his 400th appearance Vardy was twice foiled by the Fulham keeper.
The home supporters were becoming restive. They knew their players' tendency to capitulate in the second half and this came to pass when Sasa Lukic beat Jannik Vestergaard to facilitate Harry Wilson's deft cross and a courageous header by Emile Smith Rowe.
With Leicester desperate to rally apprehension was felt when Boubakar Soumare fell in the area after a nudge from Andersen. The referee Michael Salisbury did not see an issue. He later dismissed an appeal for handball and another for a foul on Vardy.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy infuriates
Van Nistelrooy's decision to withdraw the popular Bilal El Khannousi infuriated the home fans, who chorused 'You don't know what you're doing'. Almost immediately Adama Traore stylishly added a second goal, sinking morale even further.
The crowd demanded the resignation of the board and the Director of Football Jon Rudkin. It could have been worse still if late substitute Rodrigo Muniz had taken his chance of garnering a third goal.
After the match Van Nistelrooy admitted that his players' performance was lacking in all areas. Marco Silva was understandably the happier manager and Fulham fans rejoiced to see Smith Rowe and Traore on the scoresheet after some disappointing showings earlier in the season.
Sander Berge, back in the side after a month's lay-off through injury, won the approval of the BBC Match of the Day pundits. Fulham fans concurred, voting him best player if the day.
Perhaps Ruud was thinking 'At least I'm not at Old Trafford'. Last weekend Ruben Amorim described his United as the worst in the club's history. But their home record is only marginally inferior to Fulham's. Next Sunday evening's match at the Cottage looks particularly intriguing.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
