Harry Wilson was delighted to mark his return to the Fulham starting line-up with a goal – even if the Whites were unable to get all the three points against AFC Bournemouth yesterday.
The Welsh winger was rewarded for his four goals from the bench – including the equaliser as Marco Silva’s side came from behind to win the SW6 derby at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day – with a starting spot against the Cherries. Wilson buried a brilliant header to put Fulham on the cusp of another impressive victory, but Dango Outtara’s equaliser in the last minute of normal time meant that Silva’s side had to settle for extending their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Wilson said after the final whistle:
“I’m not a player who likes being on the bench, so when I’m starting I want to make sure I’m contributing. I’m delighted to have scored my first goal as a starter. A win would have been nicer, but it’s good to get to five goals and to be in a good position, with the team on a good run.
“We would like to have won a couple more games but to have an unbeaten run as long as we have is tough to do in the Premier League. We’re in a good moment and if we get a few more wins then we’ll be a bit happier. We’ve been missing a lot of key players. We were fairly lucky with injuries last season and at the start of this season but we’ve been really hit in the last month or two.
“The lads who have come in, who maybe haven’t played as much, have done really well and it’s been a real squad effort. To go unbeaten in the last seven games, with some really tough games in there, shows we’re a good team, but I also feel we can get better.”
Wilson, who spent a season on loan at Bournemouth, was philosophical after Fulham dropped more points from a winning position.
“When you concede that late and don’t win the game, it always feels a bit worse than what it actually is. A point was probably fair but when you’re ahead that late in the game you’re always disappointed not to hold on to the win.
“The game was a little bit end-to-end, particularly after the 60th and 70th minute. After we went ahead, we had a few chances to go 3-1 up and put the game to bed, but when you don’t do that there’s always a chance the other team will create one or two chances, and they were able to put one away.”
Diop cost us the win
He’s right, they are now a good competitive team, even with forced changes, and should continue to be difficult to beat. No more Wolves blips please.
A team is after all the sum total of its parts. Someone is invariably going to have an off day and there isn’t a player who won’t make mistake sometime, some are more costly than others.
I would just say that our general passing needs to improve if we are to achieve our best ever season.
Happy New Year to everyone.
What really cost us the win was the failure of the team to put the match to bed by going two goals ahead John B. How many times this season have we tried to hold on to a single goal lead. How many times after matches has Marco said we’re not clinical enough in front of goal.
Failure to convert more of our chances is what has been costing us points.
you could blame Jao for their first goal for being ineffective. What is impossible to quantify is how many games Issa has saved with tackles, blocks etc.
P.S Did you see the team swarm around Andreas after the Raul goal. Somebody, I could not see who, was beckoning the other players to join in, even after Raul had left the melee.
Let’s be honest, someone is always going to make a mistake. Goalkeeping and defensive mistakes are costly, if not disastrous, whilst obviously mistakes in attack aren’t so readily punished. I personally try not to pillory a player for the odd mistake (not always easy) but mistakes week in week out are just unacceptable at this level. Diop has in the past been a real liability, as often as not passing in field without looking. He appears to have tightened up his game only to err against Bournemouth, with dire effect. Let’s hope this was his last lack of concentration.
I suppose trying to encourage a team mate is a good and positive thing. Shows good team spirit. Everyone knows the stick he’s been getting recently.
Diop been playing well this season felt sorry for him first mistake for a long time gets punished. Other players get a way with there’s, he played well again today, Teams giving there all with injuries looking a good side