Scott Parker had Bobby Decordova-Reid to thank as the on-loan Cardiff forward’s double ensured Fulham left Kenilworth Road with a point having come from behind three times against relegation-threatened Luton Town.
The Londoners might have aspirations of automatic promotion, especially after their feisty win over second-placed Leeds United last weekend, but some generous defending gifted the hosts at least two goals as the Fulham back four appeared to extend the season of goodwill a little too far. It took just five minutes for a first gift to arrive. Marek Rodak played Alfie Mawson into the trouble and the lumbering centre half was robbed by James Collins, who teed up Kazenga Lua-Lua for the simplest of finishes.
Fulham fashioned a spirited riposte three minutes later. Ivan Cavaleiro tricked his way towards the byline down the right flank and whipped over a delicious cross that Decordova-Reid nodded home from close range, having been afforded the freedom of Bedfordshire by a sleepy Luton defence. The visitors then put together a serious spell of pressure but Croatian keeper Simon Sluga was equal to powerful efforts from Joe Bryan and Tom Cairney.
Just as it appeared as though Fulham were getting on top, those defensive frailties resurfaced again. Mawson failed to clear a free-kick and Collins slammed home his eighth goal of the season, although it looked suspiciously like he had used his hand to control the ball prior to blasting past a helpless Rodak. In a bid to redeem himself, Mawson went on a sortie upfield but screwed his shot well wide from long-range and Fulham were probably fortunate not be further behind at half-time, after Collins had a second goal ruled out for offside.
Luton were penned back almost from the off after the resumption, battling to hold onto their lead. Inside the first ninety seconds of the second half, Aleksandar Mitrovic, scorer of a hat-trick when these sides met at Craven Cottage earlier in the season, saw a shot blocked before Sonny Bradley bravely threw himself in the way of Josh Onomah’s attempted strike. Decordova-Reid looked Fulham’s mostly likely source of an equaliser, cutting in dangerously from the left flank, but Sluga made one fine save to turn a rising drive over and the former Bristol City forward sent another low strike fractionally wide of the far post.
The hosts’ own attacks were rather sporadic but former Fulham midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe had a glorious chance to put the game beyond his old side with seventeen minutes to go. Played in by a combination of Collins and Harry Cornick, Tunnicliffe opted to try and pull the back across goal instead of shooting from an acute angle and Cyrus Christie was able to block Collins’ attempted finish as Fulham bodies flooded back.
Fulham exploited that let off when Mitrovic, hitherto brilliantly nullified by the Luton defence, nodded home a Knockaert corner at the far post to level matters. Any hopes that the sizable away contingent held of roaring their side onto victory evaporated when Tim Ream and Bryan got themselves into a horrible mess overplaying inside their own half and substitute Cornick rolled a low finish into the unguarded net. Cornick then had a chance to make certain of the points for the Hatters after he breezed away from Ream but dragged his finish wide after latching onto Pelly Ruddock’s punt forward.
Fulham came again and got the most fortuitous of lifelines in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Knockaert sent over a teasing cross from the right, Sluga couldn’t hold substitute Aboubakar Kamara’s header and Decordova-Reid thumped home another equaliser from inside the six-yard box. That sparked euphoria amongst the travelling supporters – but the fact that Fulham couldn’t convert 65% possession into a victory over the Championship’s worst defence should trouble Parker.
LUTON TOWN (4-2-3-1): Sluga; Bolton, Bree, Pearson, Bradley; Tunnicliffe, Ruddock; McManaman (Cornick 65), Lua-Lua (Jones 75), Berry; Collins. Subs (not used): Stech, Sheehan, Shinnie, Moncur, Butterfield.
GOALS: Lua-Lua (5), Collins (28), Cornick (84).
FULHAM (4-3-3): Rodak; Christie, Bryan (Kamara 89), Mawson, Ream; Reed (Knockaert 70), Onomah, Cairney; Cavaleiro (Kebano 76), Decordova-Reid, Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, S. Sessegnon, O’Riley, Johansen.
GOALS: Decordova-Reid (9, 90+4), Mitrovic (78).
REFEREE: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).
ATTENDANCE: 10,068.
First few mins away from home our Centre Back tries to dribble the ball back across his 6 yard box when under pressure. Can someone please explain that to anyone who knows anything about football. I remember telling the u9s Sunday league team not to do that. If Parker needs a new defensive coach there are loads coaching in the u9s Surrey League that could probably help out.
Cant wait to see what Hector adds to the urgency and efficiency in defensive situations. Once again reveals how poor decision making lead to goals against us.
It is the same problem that has been the issue for 3 years our defence. Mawson cannot pass a ball and needs to be dropped for the Stoke match. Anybody must be better than him. Tim Ream is making more mistakes and now is pathetically slow. We cannot play with this team passing the ball out of defence we urgently need two additional defenders in the transfer window in addition to Hector otherwise any chance of promotion is out of the window,. A friend told me David Moyes was in the stand making notes at the Leeds match.
With Mawson who cannot dribble or pass to save his life and Ream who is now very slow at the centre of defence we look terribly vulnerable. Why Parker insists on passing out at the back with these two players is beyond me. Ream who i love is unfortunately getting passed his sell by date, he is making too many mistakes. Also i would like to see Steve Sess given another chance t right back
Tony Khan and Parker must go! Khan knows nothing about Football and Psrker knows nothing about coaching!!!
Is sp deluded in his comments pitch to small
I cannot understand why Scott Parkerdoes not have a PlN B. We do not have the players to pass the ball out of defence. Nearly all the goals conceded are from crosses or from individual mistakes in defence most of which could be avoided by just clearing the ball. New defenders are a priority and a different manager if Parker does not change his approach.
Scott Parker needs to realise that his defenders do not have the quality or pace to play the ball out. Both Ream and Mawson are pedestrian.if he cannot except and addapt his style we need to find someone who can. Sorry Scotty this is a leading curve and you must not be pedantic. All the fans can see the problem do why not you. Hector cannot arrive quickly enough plus at least on other pacey defender. We are caught out too often by counter attacks
We need a new defence and coach tactics do not work Parker does not know what he’s doing also our captain needs changing as he doesn’t inspire confidence.
Torally agree with the above comments we also need a midfielder central who has pace and stamina who can play box to box as we need a player who can increase the tempo of our play currently Johanson is our quickest player Cairneyhill is now too pedestrian to cause problems for thexample opposition.
“Scott, look into my eyes, not around the eyes, look into my eyes. Ream and Mawson are average Championship Centre Backs. They are not, I repeat, not, Brazilian midfielders. 3, 2, 1 you’re back in the room”.
The defence is the issue and it has been for the past 2 plus years. Its is a combination of poor players, poor coaching and wrong tactics. Scott Parker needs to sort it out or go. I cannot understand Scotty’s love affair with Josh Onamah he has had one semi decent match and very little else. he has no pace and his tackling is generally ineffective. I think Tom Cairney is very good and even though at times he is a luxury i would keep him in the team but not as captain. we need a motivator in this role.On the positive side Bobby D-Reed is coming good, Mitro is fantastic and we have AK47 in the background. On his day he is a match winner. If scotty cannot turn things round in the next few matches then early in the New Year the club should consider his position
I was very critical of Onamah for a few games but I must say he’s been my m,o,match the last 4games he deserves a chance now ,I don’t think u can blame the defending it’s the tactics of putting these guys under pressure Joe has made as many errors as Mawson to much playing out of defence, play long for a few minutes the pressing players will drop deeper then play out not under so much pressure not rocket science is it
Same old same old no plan b and awful defending. Hitler had a better defence against the Russians at Starlingrade.
Hey ho keep the faith coyw