Alphonse Areola produced a string of fine saves to ensure Fulham left the south coast with a point after relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion had dominated most of this crunch clash at the bottom of the table, although an inspired goal-line clearance from Lewis Dunk prevented Ruben Loftus-Cheek from stealing the points right at the death.
Scott Parker had refused to characterised either this or Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion as a must-win match beforehand, arguing that there were still plenty of chances to pick up points in the second half of the season. The longer this cagey contest remained scoreless it seemed not only like a single goal would settle it, but that moment would prove pivotal in the context of both sides’ campaigns. Brighton looked the likelier as the game crept towards a conclusion but French goalkeeper Areola punched away countless corners with authority and made excellent stops from Lewis Dunk, Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay to keep a clean sheet.
Fulham began brightly, moving the ball at a high tempo and looking to pass their way around Brighton’s back three. Ola Aina wound up a repeat of his West Brom wondergoal from a lot further out, but this rising effort whistled over the crossbar. The Whites had more than two-thirds of the ball in the first quarter of an hour, but Graham Potter’s side gradually found their feet as Fulham’s passing became more frantic – presenting Albion with a couple of good openings in quick succession. Maupay surged away down the right after Tosin Adarabioyo had missed an interception and cut a smart ball back for Trossard, who – in acres of space – should have done better than shoot straight at Areola’s legs. Less than ninety seconds later, Aina coughed up possession and Andersen blocked another Trossard effort before Maupay fired into Areola’s arms after Brighton had won the ball back high up the pitch.
Fulham, seemingly unbalanced by Parker’s decision to choose Bobby Decordova-Reid at left wing-back rather than Joe Bryan in the absence of Antonee Robinson, flickered into life before the break – operating mostly on the counter-attack. They put together a crossfield move after Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa had powered through the centre and Kenny Tete’s floated cross was headed wide at the back post by Decordova-Reid. Then, Lofus-Cheek pinched possession from Lewis Dunk on the halfway line, freeing Ivan Cavaleiro but the Portuguese forward’s finish lacked the conviction of his purposeful run and went wide.
The visitors had a couple of half-chances after the interval too. Tete’s hopeful cross was only partially cleared and Decordova-Reid fired over from beyond the far post when he had more time to compose himself. Lookman found some space were there didn’t appear to be any, darting between Brighton defenders to carve out a chance for Cavaleiro, whose improvised toepoke trickled through to Sanchez.
Brighton upped the tempo and for twenty minutes it seemed like Fulham couldn’t live with them. Maupay squandered a golden opportunity when played through by a quick free-kick from Alexis Mac Allister but blazed over the bar after Fulham had switched off. The hosts then worked space on the right, the overlapping Joel Veltman’s low cross was begging to be turned in by Maupay but Areola made a magnificent reaction stop from the former Brentford man. Just as it looked like Solly March was about to turn home the rebound, Aina appeared to divert that effort over the bar.
The Fulham goal was leading a charmed life – and on the balance of play Brighton probably deserved a winner. Parker eventually introduced Aleksandar Mitrovic with twelve minutes to play and the Serbian almost had an immediate impact, his glancing header from Lookman’s left-wing cross gathered by Sanchez. The big chance arrived in the second minute of stoppage time when Bryan got to the by-line and fired in a low cross that found its way to Loftus-Cheek at the far post. Sanchez rushed off his line and the Chelsea loanee’s low shot beat the goalkeeper, but was scrambled away by Dunk, who had the presence of mind to retreat towards his own goal.
How useful a point is in Fulham’s predicament – five points from safety still with a game in hand – will doubtless be the subject of fierce debate. Parker’s pragmatism won out over a more gung-ho approach that could have forced the issue earlier, particularly in respect of adventurous substitutions, and the Whites will head to the Hawthorns at the weekend in search of an elusive win.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, White; Veltman, March, Bissouma, Gross; Trossard, Mac Allister (Propper 83); Maupay. Subs (not used): Walton, Burn, Moder, Alzate, Lallana, Connolly, Tau, Zeqiri.
BOOKED: Bissouma, Mac Allister.
FULHAM (3-4-3): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo; Tete (Bryan 79), Decordova-Reid, Reed (Lemina 66), Anguissa; Lookman, Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro (Mitrovic 78). Subs (not used): Rodak, Hector, Ream, Onomah, Kebano, Kamara.
BOOKED: Reed.
REFEREE: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
I’ve tried to sit on the positive side of the fence with Parker but I’m afraid I’m really struggling.
Please explain to me how Cav is playing in this team? He has scored 2 or 3 goals from open play in his last 40 games is it? His hold up play is poor, he can’t finish. When we had opportunities to break (which is arguably his strength), he created nothing. We simply have no chance of staying up with him in the side. I’m sorry but I and we have been saying this for maybe 10 games.
I simply don’t accept that taking off a forward that offers absolutely nothing week after week is a risk or gung ho. Every time Mitro comes on for his 10 mins he does more than Cav does all match.
In the 1st half we got the ball up the pitch but there is no point in putting it in the box as we have nobody that can score.
What’s the definition of insanity again…. “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”. On that definition Parker is insane.
Apart from the last minute goal clearance which would have given us a welcome but undeserved win we were second best. Areola was fantastic and we defended well. However playing Bobby D-Reed in that position was wrong. Lookman and Anguissa fell below their usual high standards. Why do we persist with Cavalerio as our main striker when we leave a proven goalscorer Mitro on the bench. Only on the pitch for a short while but he did more in that time than Cav. That was mot difficult Robinson will back for the West Bromwich match. Mitro must start and I would like to see Kebano or Kamara wide on the right to supply and put Bobby D-Reed on the bench for what I think is a must win match, so we need to be more positive.
I will keep in short. If it had not been for poor Brighton finishing and Areola’s excellence we would have been beaten The match against West Bromwich is a game we can win and Scotty must be positive . Mitro must play as he can hold the ball up and convert crosses. I like Richard’s idea of starting with Kebano rather than Decordova-Reed. We will also have Robinson back. Lookman plays better with him in the team. I do not like having a go at Cavaleiro as he is being asked to play out of position. I cannot see us signing a striker of note in this transfer window
Parker made a tactical error in not selecting Joe Bryan to start. Having Tosin cover the left back position was ludicrous. He kept getting drawn out of central defence and all of Brighton’s threats came down that side in the first half. Decordova Reid was played as a quasi wide attacker with orders to support Tosin defensively. That didn’t work.
On the other side, Tete was played as a support to Aina-a role that Decordova Reid had been employed in more recently. That didn’t work either.
I lost count of the number of times both Aina and Decordova Reid gifted the ball to Brighton. It was shocking in such an important game.
Cavaleiro- how much longer do we have to endure this guy? Please don’t tell me that he’s being played out of position so is above criticism. He is simply not good enough and lets us down week after week.
To be honest, when Joe Bryan did come on, he did little to impress.
Thank God for Areola. Both he and Andersen were immense.
Without starting on again about the incredible failure by the owners in not signing a striker to help the team, we need a change in personnel and tactics by our manager if we are to stay in this division.
We need to go to West Brom and attack them with real intent because we need to start picking up 3 points.
Lookman looked good through the middle in the first half against Man Utd. Certainly better than Cavaleiro. Why has that now been abandoned?
I don’t think Mitro is the answer, unfortunately, but I would rather see him giving defences a hard time than give them an easy game by continuing with Cavaleiro.
Dave is spot on, yet again.
The other problem remains Loftus-Cheek. I can see no positive features at all. Waste of a midfield place.
Play Reed and Lemina as the holding midfielders with Anguissa in front of them and Lookman and Decordova-Reid either side and Mitro through the middle.