Martin Jol has called for his Fulham side to develop a more ruthless streak after they threw away another winning position at Norwich yesterday afternoon.
Fulham dominated the first half at Carrow Road but failed to add to Orlando Sa’s terrifically taken seventh minute opener and paid the penalty when Simeon Jackson headed home an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time. Jol insists that his side have the quality to establish themselves in the Premier League’s top half this season, but knows they will only do so if they begin to take more of their chances.
We created three or four opportunities, but we only scored one. We should have scored probably more. That has maybe been a bit of our problem this season, we played some very good games, but even when we defended well, we could not score at the right times. That is what we have to do. But whatever happens, we will still play our football.
The Fulham manager saluted Sa’s contribution, however, expressing delight that the 23 year-old had scored his first goal for the club since his summer arrival from Porto.
I have played him three times and he did not score. Hopefully Sa will be lifted now by his first goal, and he can become an important member of the squad. I have got great confidence in him.
Jol now turns his attention to Tuesday evening’s meeting with Arsenal at Craven Cottage and he knows that the Gunners will be a difficult proposition.
When I was in England five or six years ago, Arsenal were older, with more experience, then they started to build a new team. They are younger now, and it all needed a couple of years, but they still play great football.
