Fulham manager Kit Symons praised his side’s powers of recovery after the Whites battled back from 2-0 down to beat high-flying Reading 4-2.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Whites fell further behind shortly after the restart but fired three goals in six minutes to go in front before Moussa Dembélé grabbed his second and Fulham’s fourth on 74.
“It was very pleasing,” said Symons. “We needed to get a win today and we did. I would rather have gone about it in a slightly easier fashion but I’m still delighted to get the three points and score four very good goals.
“People will be pleased today but we need to be consistent with our performances. Even when the performance isn’t good we need to grind out a result. It’s not easy to do that but that’s what teams at the top do. We need to make sure that starts happening.”
Dembélé and Ross McCormack caused the Reading defence all sorts of problems in the second period, while first-half substitute Alexander Kacaniklic also impressed.
“Second half, both Ross and Moussa were really bright and really good,” stated Symons. “First half they didn’t really get a kick and that was a bit how the game was.
Reading were on the front foot and took the game to us so I wasn’t pleased at half-time and I said that to the players. If you’re going to get beaten, go down with your boots on and have a go.
That’s the least you can expect from any Fulham team. We went 2-0 down but the boys dug in and Ross got the first goal and then we looked a real threat going forward.
“We had a nice balanced bench today so if we were behind or in front I had options. We were losing when Jazz [Richards] went off injured so I thought it was time for an aggressive sub.
Alex was the man to come on and we know what he can do. When he plays like he did in the second half he’s a force and his pace scares team.”
Symons confirmed the Whites were in contract talks with two-goal hero Dembélé, adding: “We’d like him to sign and he’s at a club where he’ll keep developing and improving; what you’re seeing now is far from the finished article.
This is the best place for him and hopefully we can get the contract sorted out soon. He’s enjoying his football and we’d love him to stay. We want to keep our best young players.
“I know what he can do and he’s started showing what’s he’s capable of. He’s got pace and power and some really good assets. We won’t give him false praise but when he does well we’ll give him a little cuddle.”
One blow for the Whites was the sight of Richards limping off in the first half and Symons confirmed the Welshman has a calf problem.
“He felt his calf tighten up quite early on but it got worse,” said Symons. “We’re not sure as to the severity of it, we’ll know more over the next couple of days. The fact he had to come off means it’s not looking too great.”
