Antonee Robinson believes Fulham have made serious defensive strides over the past few weeks and feels that improvement will serve the Whites well in the battle against the drop.
Scott Parker’s side played out a second successive goalless draw at Craven Cottage by blunting one of their league’s in-form sides in Southampton and the American full-back reckons that limiting the visitors to only three shots on target shows just how far Fulham have come. The Londoners haven’t conceded a goal from open play in some 445 minutes of football and Robinson told the club’s official website that this showing typified their solidity at the back:
I felt like today we played really well. Defended everything we had to, kept our defensive principles really well. You’ve seen the VAR decisions for offside, that’s down to us getting our lines right and things. Going forward we were unlucky not to convert some chances – so even though it’s not three points, it’s still a clean sheet.
We’ve done everything that we worked on in training to try and stop them creating chances and I felt like apart from set pieces – even though they are a very good side – we’ve limited them to very few chances today, so defensively I think it was a great performance. They’re a great side. I think the last few games we’ve really upped our standard and it is just a matter of time before we start getting wins and climbing up the league where we belong.
If you’re not going to win games, make sure you don’t lose them because every point is going to be massive. We feel like we’ve got a very steady base to go anywhere and play anyone. I feel like we’re trying every game to win games – we’re not just sitting back and trying to hold off pressure, we’re actively trying to go and get points so I feel like it’s just more of the same.
I think we’ve improved defensively a lot. The new lads who’ve come in – myself included – we’ve had quite a few games together now to gel and get used to each other. We’re just going to keep working hard and trying to limit every team’s chances, so that hopefully we’ll start converting chances up top and we’ll win games.
The former Wigan full-back had a shot blocked and almost created the winner for Ivan Cavaleiro, which would have been a fitting reward for another all action display down the Fulham left flank.
I was pleased I was getting involved – I was just disappointed that I couldn’t get any goals or assists today. Like I said, if I keep putting in performances like that and getting involved, hopefully the assists will come, the goals will come for us and it is what we deserve really.
