Marks out of ten for the Fulham side after they plundered four goals in seven second half minutes to secure a vital victory over Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage last night …
Marcus Bettinelli: The Fulham keeper didn’t have much to do, but flapped at Martyn Waghorn’s free-kick that Joe Garner headed in to give Ipswich a shock lead against the run of play. Got clattered by the striker for good measure and received several minutes of treatment before carrying on – and was largely untroubled after Jordan Spence’s red card turned the tide of the game. 6
Ryan Fredericks: Another feisty display from the flying full-back. Fulham almost look like a completely different side when he’s in full flow down the right flank. Started with a low cross in the opening minute that flashed across the face of goal. Pushed forward down the wing throughout giving the Ipswich defence another man to track and that contributed to the amount of space that appeared for the likes of Neeskens Kebano and Aboubakar Kamara to exploit so effectively. 7
Ryan Sessegnon: Here was a game that showed just what an attacking threat the teenager can be from left back. Surged into the box from deep positions and posed all sorts of problems for Mick McCarthy’s defence as the midfielders didn’t know whether to pick him up or track back alongside him. His instincts in the final third are second to none and after sending in a succession of low crosses, found himself at the far post to profit from Kebano’s miscue in front of goal. Stole in at the back stick unnoticed to prod home after some world class skill by Tom Cairney to give the Whites a two goal lead they never look like relinquishing. 9
Denis Odoi: Something of a surprise selection at centre back as Jokanovic dropped Tomas Kalas to the bench, especially after that red card at Brentford. Odoi might have had a difficult night against the physicality of Waghorn and Garner, but he won header after header in the air and carried the ball forward impressively, befitting his confidence at full back. If Jokanovic is looking for reinforcements at centre half in the transfer window, there was a timely reminder of what the versatile Odoi can provide. 7
Tim Ream: Calmness personified at the back again, Ream was resolute in the face of the Ipswich raids forward that increased as Fulham failed to get their noses in front during the first half. He produced a number of superbly judged tackles to win possession back for his team and his reading of proceedings remains first class. Comfortable on the ball and someone who really looks like he is enjoying his football at the moment. 7
Ollie Norwood: Reintroduced into the holding role in central midfield after Jokanovic left out Kevin McDonald. Almost gifted Ipswich a goal with a terrible ball across his own box that played Odoi into all sorts of trouble, but recovered well to distribute the ball effectively and get Fulham’s midfield firing early in the second half. Showed his defensive attributes by breaking up a number of Ipswich attacks as well. 7
Stefan Johansen: Until half time, this was another iffy performance from the Norwegian midfielder, who couldn’t get his usual range of passing going and criminally gave away the needless free-kick from which Ipswich opened the scoring with a ridiculous push. It was totally different in the second half as Johansen demanded the ball and forced Fulham to play deep in Ipswich territory with a combination of driving runs and forward passes. By the end, he was in his element. 7
Tom Cairney: The Fulham captain looks like he’s getting back to his best with a peerless performance that brought to mind some of his outstanding displays of last season. So much more effective when he gets involved in the final third of the pitch rather than starting attacks from deep positions, as he was doing during the first period. Orchestrated Fulham’s dominance in those devastating seven second half minutes superbly and produced an outrageous moment of magic to dribble between two defenders and produce a cross where they appeared to be no for gaps for Fulham’s third goal. 8
Sheyi Ojo: Toiled hard on the wing, but couldn’t produce the sort of powerful performances with which he ended 2017. It wasn’t for the want of trying and he came close with two individual efforts in the first half, lifting one shot over the bar and then placing another just wide of the far post after cutting inside impressively. Struggled to break down a disciplined Ipswich defence before being replaced on 65 minutes by Lucas Piazon. 6
Floyd Ayite: An immensely frustrating evening for the Togolese international who flattered to deceive in his more natural left wing position before limping off what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring problems. 6
Aboubakar Kamara: The hulking forward is beginning to pour scorn on all those doubters who mocked his suitability for the Championship when he arrived in August. Full of confidence following his critical double at Hull on Saturday and started dangerously here, narrowly failing to get on the end of a couple of low crosses in the first half. His goals were beautifully poached – in a manner that Fulham have been missing all season – but Kamara should also get credit for the delicious cross that created the equaliser. He showed great composure to put the Whites 2-1 up from close range and his second was all about confidence, cutting in from the right and taking an early shot. For all the brickbats he’s put up with, he deserved the wicked deflection that totally deceived Bartosz Bialkowski. 9
Substitutes:
Neeskens Kebano (on for Floyd Ayite, 34): Kebano might have considered himself unfortunate to only be a substitute once again after his part in the turnaround at Hull on Saturday, but seized his chance impressively when Ayite came off injured in the first half. Made a really presentable opportunity before the break that Kamara couldn’t turn home and should have equalised from the French striker’s cross in the second half, although Sessegnon was able to take advantage of his miscue. Lively throughout and had a prominent part to play in the build up to the second and fourth goals. 8
Lucas Piazon (on for Sheyi Ojo, 65): The Brazilian’s first contribution was to be booked for simulation when he seemed to be tripped in the box. It was surely no coincidence that the much-missed forward’s arrival soon brought that goal glut as he looked to take up dangerous positions in the final third and his industrious running presented a different problem for the Ipswich defence. Could be ready for a start against Southampton on Saturday after stepping up his recovery with more first-team minutes. 7
Rafa Soares (on for Ryan Sessegnon, 88): Just the briefest of appearances for the Portuguese full back, who has struggled to make an impression since those two cameos in the defeats by Bristol City and Wolves. Seemed strangely reluctant to attack the Ipswich defence when he had the ball, but it was good to see him back in senior action. 6
