Scott Parker was left ruing a costly mistake from Alphonse Areola as Fulham were beaten by league leaders Manchester United at Craven Cottage tonight – but believes recent performances have shown his side can avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites took a shock early lead through Ademola Lookman after a bright start, but Edinson Cavani equalised after Areola dropped a straightforward cross at his feet and a wondergoal from Paul Pogba completed United’s comeback. Fulham were perhaps unfortunate not to emerge from an intriguing contest with a point and Parker is delighted with how his side have fared in a run of tough fixtures against some of the division’s best sides.
The Fulham boss told the BBC’s Match of the Day after the final whistle:
I’m really pleased but I’m disappointing at the same time, which shows how far we’ve come. We’ve held our own against the top teams in the last few games. We caused them a lot of problems but the big moments in the game, we didn’t execute them this time. I love the team at the moment and I’m really proud. We’ve worked tirelessly and we will work hard on the training field to execute those chances and hopefully it will improve.
Ade[mola Lookman] had a lot of time to compose himself and it was a fantastic finish. We lost it on a mistake and a fantastic goal by Paul Pogba. Alphonse Areola has been fantastic all season and he’ll be the first to be disappointed. He’s made an error today but he’ll come back.
I saw a team today that looked threatening and tried their hardest to get back into but we go again. The next challenge is to maintain where we are and don’t let defeat sink us. No doubt we can win and operate in this division and we just need to push on and keep improving.
A sensational strike from Paul Pogba ensured Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were pushed all the way by Fulham in an engaging encounter at Craven Cottage this evening. Scott Parker’s side had the temerity to take an early lead courtesy of a cool finish from Ademola Lookman and were well in the game even after the visitors established their expected dominance once Edinson Cavani had pounced on an Alphonse Areola error to level. That it took a moment of magic from the much maligned Frenchman to tilt this tie the way of the title contenders shows just how far Fulham have come of late, but that distinction will matter little to Parker.
After an FA Cup tie with Burnley this weekend, the Whites face a critical double header with their relegation rivals. A trip to Brighton is followed by a visit to the Hawthorns and Parker will be desperate to add additional firepower before those fixtures if at all possible. Fulham created plenty of presentable opportunities but couldn’t convert their openings and a lack of ruthlessness in the final third threatens to undermine all of Parker’s hard work in plugging a leaky defence with a smart change of system. Ruben Loftus-Cheek spurned a glorious chance to equalise and, in the last minute of added time, a back header from Aleksandar Mitrovic deflected off Eric Bailly and fell the wrong side of the far post with David de Gea beaten.
Parker made a pair of enforced changes from the side that were unfortunate to be beaten in the SW6 derby on Saturday with Joe Bryan replacing the suspended Antonee Robinson and Loftus-Cheek, ineligible against his parent club, coming in for the banned Bobby Decordova-Reid. The instructions were similar and United were rattled by Fulham’s frenetic start, symbolised by Lookman driving with purpose at the visiting defence. He saw a speculative shot blocked before sending another straight at De Gea from twenty yards.
Solskjaer’s side didn’t heed the early warning, although the goal had a bit of subtly about it. Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa flighted a lovely ball over a horribly square United back line, with Lookman galloping clear and finding the bottom corner with a precise finish. Harry Maguire had been attracted to Ruben Loftus-Cheek stationed way on the left, Bailly inexplicably failed to read the danger in front of him – fatally pushing up to play offside when Aaron Wan-Bissaka was stationed far deeper than his two centre backs.
Fulham’s resolute defence hadn’t really been tested, although the Red Devils gradually garnered the lion’s share of possession. Bruno Fernandes became increasing influential, dropping into pockets of space outside the Fulham box, and the Portuguese playmaker was heavily involved as United drew level. He crashed a 25 yarder against the post and then popped up on the left as Fulham scrambled to clear their lines. Areola anticipated the low ball in, but split it at his near post and Cavani, the master-poacher that he is, was on hand to roll home the equaliser. The French goalkeeper has been fantastic for Fulham this season but two errors in as many games have cost Fulham dearly.
He did partially redeem himself with a flying save two minutes later to prevent another Fernandes piledriver from putting United ahead and the visitors might have felt they should have headed in at half-time in the ascendancy after both Maguire and Anthony Martial failed to hit the target with free headers. Fulham responded in feisty fashion after the restart: an ambitious drive from Harrison Reed comfortably cleared the crossbar, but Loftus-Cheek produced an impudent stepover to maraud past Maguire and flash a dangerous ball across the six-yard and then set up Lookman, whose sidefooted effort was too close to De Gea.
Areola twice saved from Fernandes and Martial – although it transpired than both of those efforts would have been chalked off for offside – as United worked Fulham’s disciplined defence from one side of the pitch to the other. With Joachim Andersen heading cross after cross clear, you sensed it was going to take something special to break the deadlock and Pogba eventually provided it midway through the second period. There appeared to be little danger as the Frenchman collected possession wide on the right, riding challenges from Reed and Cavaleiro, and glancing to the opposite flank in search of pass. When none was on, he curled a majestic finish into the far corner, leaving Areola grasping at air.
Areola kept Fulham in it moments later with a brilliant reflex save to claw away another Cavani header and, after Parker rung the changes, his side shrugged off their disappointment and went for broke. Substitute Aboubakar Kamara threaded a lovely ball for Loftus-Cheek to run onto, but the Chelsea loanee – finally showing why Fulham were so keen to bring him in this summer – saw his low effort from an acute angle saved by De Gea’s legs.
Mitrovic was sent on as a focal point for more frenzied Fulham attacks and his introduction almost had the desired effect. Shaw, preoccupied by Mitrovic’s hulking presence at the far post, backheeled a Lookman cross straight to Loftus-Cheek sixteen yards out but the England midfielder’s hurried finish ended up high in the Putney End. Wan-Bissaka flung himself at a Lookman shot to concede a corner from which Fulham kept the pressure on and a brilliant ball in by Kenny Tete was headed towards goal by Mitrovic and diverted agonising past the far post by the unwitting Bailly. Such are the fine margins in the top flight. Fulham’s luck is definitely out at the moment, but Parker’s pugnacious side certainly won’t be throwing in the towel.
QPR have approached Fulham over the possibility of taking midfielder Stefan Johansen on loan for the rest of the season, according to various reports this afternoon.
The Norwegian international, who has made 136 appearances and scored 21 goals in five seasons at Craven Cottage, has not made a first-team appearance this term and has previously spoken of a desire to get regular football in order to continue his international career. The 30 year-old, an integral part of Fulham’s two Championship promotions in recent years, was not included in Scott Parker’s 25-man Premier League squad and also did not feature in the Whites’ recent FA Cup win in Shepherds Bush.
Johansen was similarly discarded the last time Fulham were promoted to the top flight, making just thirteen appearances in 2018/2019 and finishing the season on loan with West Bromwich Albion. Having made 33 league appearances as Fulham were promoted via the play-offs last term, the former Celtic midfielder would be a significant asset to any Championship side and Rangers are known to be keen to strengthen their midfield options.
Bit of a blast from the past this, but the Dorset Echo has a lovely interview with former Fulham full back Robbie Herrera this morning. There’s plenty of detail on his time at Craven Cottage, from his arrival and whether Hugh Grant really did fund the transfer, to how he struggled under Ian Branfoot and felt a bit let down by Kevin Keegan in the end. Herrera, who now manages Dorchester Town, was one of my favourites in that excellent Micky Adams promotion team and certainly tells a good tale.
The former Bristol City full back will step in for the American international after Robinson was sent off against Chelsea at the weekend. Bryan hasn’t started a Premier League game since October, when he paid the price for Fulham’s poor start on their return to the top flight – a remarkable reverse in his fortunes after his brilliant brace against Brentford secured the Cottagers’ Premier League return at the first time of asking.
Parker told his pre-match press conference earlier today:
“I am sure it has been very, very difficult for Joe. Last year he was fantastic for us. He started the season and had that shirt and I think Joe would be the first to say he probably didn’t really grab the opportunity with both hands and at that point Antonee Robinson has come in the team and he’s just had to sit behind someone who has done remarkably well.”
“I know for sure he has the quality and the capability to grab that opportunity and that’s what he needs to do because it has been tough. He was instrumental for what we did last year and the final was just a snapshot of that really. He gets his chance now again to come into this team and show his quality and show the Premier League how good he is.”
The Fulham head coach feels he is lucky to have strength in depth at left back with both Bryan and Robinson able to offer an attacking threat and well suited to operating as wing backs in Parker’s new system.
“I am fortunate enough to have two left-backs here that both have brilliant quality. We’ve all been accustomed to seeing Joe’s quality in the sense of his technical quality, his delivery of a ball, his classy set-plays, he can score goals, you can play him higher up the pitch. Is he a lot different to Antonee Robinson? Maybe the only difference I see is Antonee has more running power with the ball, gets you up the pitch a little bit more. But certainly Joe brings his quality with the ball. This is a big opportunity.”
