Defender Tim Ream feels Fulham are edging closer towards the level of performances that carried them into the Championship play-offs last season after the Whites stunned Cardiff City on Boxing Day.
The American defender put Slavisa Jokanovic’s side ahead through a far post header – which was only his fourth career goal in season football – and was composed at the back as Fulham inflicted Cardiff’s first home defeat of the season yesterday afternoon. Ream told FulhamFCTV that the visitors were becoming far more clinical of late:
I think when we look back at the video we might be a little disappointed with the two goals conceded, but in saying that, we did a lot of good things. We’ve been working on trying to keep a high line and pressure on the ball a lot more. We did that the entire game, really, and we finished a lot of chances. From start to finish, it was a professional performance and one that we needed to have away from home.
The former Bolton centre back revealed that his team-mates also felt that this display was much closer to the type of football that Fulham had been producing in the second half of last season.
That was definitely more like the team that we are. That was definitely mentioned in the changing room afterwards and I think it is something that we have to build on now going into the new year. It is up to us to keep on going and have the same type of performance every game from here on.
Ream was delighted to get on the scoresheet – especially as his header that set the Whites on the way to a precious three points was the product of some plans hatched down at Motspur Park.
We’ve been having discussions with the staff about [Tomas] Kalas and I being more involved and staying in the box a little bit longer when we have corners and free-kicks – just kind of moving and changing our areas. It just so happened that Floyd [Ayite] and TC [Tom Cairney] had worked a little bit of space on the side and Kev[in] [McDonald] got to the near post and I peeled off to the back post just like we’d worked on in training and it was really just a tap in, to be honest with you.
If you put the Barnsley game and this match together, its so far, so good in the festive period and to come away from home and put four goals and three points on the board, it’s a really good feeling. All the boys are buzzing and it is a result and a performance that can really kickstart our season.
