Does anyone remember our last Premier League game at the Madejski stadium? I’d imagine that most Fulham fans will because it was the match that started an amazing run of three games won away from home that helped us beat the drop by the skin of our teeth. The end to the 2007/08 season was one that I will never forget because of the drama, stress and, finally, victory of it all.
The ever dependable McBride celebrates after scoring a crucial goal against Reading in 2008
That was a vital, must win game for Fulham but look how different our situation is now! Since the Great Escape, Fulham have just kept on improving. We always used to be a defensive team, not so easy on the eye, not scoring many goals and just about staying up but we have undergone a transformation! The only team to have scored more than us this season is Manchester United and we have a similar ‘shots on target’ ratio as Barcelona! It’s quite unbelievable really and it’s really exciting to watch. Only 2 of our current team have survived since that victory, Hughes and Hangeland, and how important have those two players been for Fulham over the past few years? Our defensive record maybe isn’t as good as it was under Hodgson but the style of Jols’ play will naturally leave of more open at the back.Readingare a decent side, but they haven’t started off the season as they would have hoped and haven’t won yet in the league. They will be desperate to change this tomorrow against a team who haven’t been so handy on the road for years. Our defence will have to be on top form against the willing runners in theReadingside and our attacking players will have to take their chances! We are a much better team than they are but we haven’t finished off games as easy as we would have liked in the past month or so with goals conceded late against City, Wigan andSouthampton. The win against Villa last week wasn’t our best performance but it’ll give the boys some momentum to hopefully guide them through this one. I reckon it’ll be an open game with a lot of chances but can see a 2-1 victory for us.
