Kit Symons read the riot act at half time against Birmingham after he described Fulham’s passing as ‘awful.’
The rollocking did the trick, as a different Whites came out and turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win – Fulham’s first three points of the season.
It was smiles all round in the players’ tunnel at the end as the caretaker boss had a long chat with CEO Alistair Mackintosh, and further underlined his credentials for the job permanently.
“We were overplaying in the wrong areas; our ball retention was poor, and Birmingham deserved their lead,” he said. “But the players responded at half time, and we got the two goals we could have got a couple of more.
“Even though, they were pushing, our goal looked pretty safe, and we looked the most likely to score the next one as well.”
Symons paid tribute to keeper Marcus Bettinelli who could do nothing about the goal that beat him from David Cotterill, but made two stops out of the top drawer to keep Fulham in it.
He said: “Marcus is an excellent keeper, and possibly thrown in the first team earlier than might be expected. He’s been given the opportunity and he’s taken it.”
Hugo Rodallega’s goal gave the Whites a 2-1 victory at Birmingham and lifted them off the bottom of the table.
Symons said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the players, for the fans and for the whole football club.
“Belief was the word we spoke about before the game, and at half-time, because I don’t think we really showed the belief in the first half but in the second half we showed it in abundance.
“It’s a start, that’s all it is, but it’s a great start to have. I felt we were worthy winners.”
