Marek Rodak: I’ve consistently held the view that our Slovakian keeper has been harshly treated at Fulham, having been usurped by two new signings shortly after helping the Whites bounce back from relegation by returning to the top flight. Rodak’s display last night is difficult to mark, principally because although he delivered a precious clean sheet and made some important saves, he failed to command his box, parried efforts into dangerous areas and isn’t as comfortable with the ball at feet as Bernd Leno. But judging a goalkeeper in isolation when the Cup games are the only opportunity he gets due to Leno’s consistency would be very harsh. He deserves credit for a number of vital saves – even if the offside flag and Leeds’ lack of ruthless did mean Fulham rather rode their luck last night. 7
Cedric Soares: This was our first real look at the Arsenal loanee as he was ineligible for the replay at Sunderland in the previous round. Leeds got a fair bit of joy down the sides against both of Fulham’s full backs, but Cedric came through a difficult opening to deliver a composed display that shows why Marco Silva was so keen to be reunited with a fulll back who he worked with at Sporting. Cedric can also play left back, which may yet prove invaluable given luckless Layvin Kurzawa’s serious knee injury. He did go close with a late daisycutter from distance. 6
Antonee Robinson: I doubt the American was on the teamsheet until Kurzawa ruptured his knee ligaments at Motspur Park. Robinson has been one of Fulham’s – and the United States of America’s – most consistent performances since last summer and, despite being troubled by the fluidity of Leeds’ forward line on occasions last night, he underlined his importance in Silva’s system. The left back’s pace and power allows him to recover swiftly but also adds another dimension in the final third: he’s every inch the modern full back. 7
Tosin Adarabioyo: Adarabioyo was brilliant alongside Joachim Andersen last season and shone in the Championship as a ball-playing centre half. He has struggled to make the step back to the top flight and has been edged out of Silva’s starting line-up by a combination of the Ream-aissance and the excellence of summer signing Issa Diop. The former Manchester City defender didn’t do anything particularly problematic last night and, like Rodak, will find it difficult to leave a lasting impression when he’s rarely in the first eleven. 6
Tim Ream: There just isn’t much more you can say about St. Louis’ finest. Ream has been making everyone eat their words for a while now, even correcting Pep Guardiola when the Manchester City manager uttered his immortal quote about how he’d sign Ream were he 24, not 34. Since then, the veteran has gone on to star at a World Cup and he made a difficult assignment against a Leeds attack who posed the home defence plenty of problems look largely straightforward. Ream has always been a footballing centre half, but the art of defending is being in the right place at the right time – something that our cult hero personified again here. 9
Joao Palhinha: The Telegraph’s brief round up of events at Craven Cottage this morning read like an obituary for the Portuguese midfielder’s Fulham career. The man himself reckons his superb first half strike, bent around Ilan Meslier from long range after he had easily beat Marc Roca to a poor ball from Tyler Adams, is the best of his career and who are we to argue? His tenacity was the perfect response to Leeds’ lively start and he delivered another one of those displays that has everyone wondering just how the Whites were able to sign him for a shade over £17m. 9
Sasa Lukic: The Serbian’s first start for Fulham showcased the full range of his talents, from precise passing to driving deep into opposition territory, and would have represented a useful runout ahead of two games where he will likely to have deputise for the banned Palhinha from the off. There’s plenty to be excited about after the former Torino midfielder’s arrival in the English capital, but he will still need time to get up to the intensity of the Premier League – as evidenced by the fact that Lukic faded badly in the second half. 6
Harry Wilson: Wilson, one of the stars of Silva’s superb first campaign at the helm, is still struggling to find some consistency after that devastating injury during pre-season. You feel as though he rushed back to make the World Cup with Wales and has now been overtaken by the wonderful Willian and the reliability of Bobby Decordova-Reid. He remains a willing worker and the former Liverpool winger made that inside run regularly last night – only to see it ignored for most of the evening. He might have to be patient for another opportunity. 6
Manor Solomon: The Israeli international’s surreal goalscoring sequence continued with a carbon copy (almost) of how he equalised against Wolves on Friday night. Solomon lifted the crowed every time he got on the ball and his desire to dribble away from tacklers regardless of his position on the field of play is a throwback to the wingers of old. He’s clearly enjoying all the love he is getting from the Craven Cottage crowd – and his fabulous finish, after a neat Aleksandar Mitrovic lay off – almost lifted the roof off the Hammersmith End. 9
Andreas Pereira: The Brazilian offered a plethora of tricks – there was one wonderful drag back that seemed made for the BBC cameras – and was always making himself available for the ball but felt a little less influential in recent weeks. The visitors kept a tight rein on one of Fulham’s creative forces, as Wolves did on Friday night, and that might be the price Pereira pays for having enjoyed such a superb start to his Craven Cottage career (he has six league assists since moving from Manchester United this summer). 6
Aleksandar Mitrovic: It was brilliant to see Mitrovic back in the starting line-up, even if Fulham’s focal point still looked short of full match sharpness. He may have been denied a first FA Cup goal in the second half by a correct offside flag, but he still played a part in the second goal, working a wonderful one-two at pace with Solomon out on the left flank. He has more than an hour in the bank ahead of Monday night in Hounslow, so Brentford beware. 7
SUBSTITUTES
Carlos Vinicius: I received a few brickbats on social media for my rather pointed defence of our Brazilian back-up forward on Sunday, but I stand by the fact that he didn’t deserve being singled out for such opprobrium when only a wondersave prevented him from winning the game in stoppage time. The complexion of this substitute appearance was different – with the game won, but Vinicius still battled hard and showed some good touches. 6
Harrison Reed: Silva afforded the new ‘Ginger Iniesta’ a little run-out in preparation for next week’s derby, where he’ll likely be paired with Sasa Lukic in central midfield. Reed offered his usual mix of ceaseless running, tenacity and clever touches. 6
Bobby Decordova-Reid: The Jamaican was a late replacement for the rather underwhelming Harry Wilson and got through plenty of work along the right flank. 6
Kenny Tete: A brief appearance in stoppage time for the Dutch defender who came on for Cedric Soares. 6
