03-01-2016, 12:22
In a promotion season, there is often a month, a match or a moment when you realise that it is going to be a special season - the BDM under Big Jack, the win at Hull under Sturrock and the win at Huddersfield under DJ. I think yesterday was the day that a lot of fans realised that this is going to be a big season.
I have said that we should make the Playoffs for the last four matches now & if we had drawn at Boro then confidence levels would have been higher before yesterday's game.
Firstly we lost Hutchinson in the warm up meaning another reshuffle at the back with Sasso coming in. CC preferred Nuhiu to Joao up front but otherwise, the team was as expected.
We started slowly but for all the possession Fulham had, they didn't really threaten our goal. Wildsmith made one parry to his left and scrambled to his right for another shot that went wide. I always felt that we were the more likely side to score & Wallace duly obliged with a 30 yard rasper that went in off the cross bar.
In the second half, we dominated more & looked totally comfortable with Wildsmith not having a single shot to save. By contrast, Lonergan was making save after save to keep Fulham in the match. He tipped over brilliantly when Hooper burst through and tipped Nuhiu's angled drive over the bar. He then got back to deny Hooper after he had worked a good position. Sasso headed inches over from a corner and at the death, Helan dribbled past three men before being denied.
Not for one moment in the second half did I think that Fulham would get anything out of this game. It was just a question of whether we would get more goals.
Wildsmith - 6 - easy afternoon
Palmer - 7 - kept his area tight & got forward well
Sasso - 8 - outstanding, always looks the part when called upon
Loovens - 8 - again great talking with team mates to build spirit
Pudil - 6 - given a bit of a rough time, lacked support at times
Wallace - 7 - great goal & linked play well
Lee - 7 - linked play well
Bannan - 7 - all action hero, always probing
FF - 7 - bright & inventive
Hooper - 8 - runs ripped Fulham apart, deserved a goal
Nuhiu - 7 - brighter than usual
....................................................................
Sougou - 7
Joao - 6
Helan - 7
Only Pudil looked vulnerable yesterday against a tricky winger but with a bit more support most of the danger would have been gone.
Stat Attack:
Goals: 1 - Wallace
Assists: 0
Tackles: 4 - FF, 3 - Sasso, Lee, Nuhiu, 2 - Pudil, 1 - Palmer, Loovens, Bannan, Hooper, Joao
Interceptions: 4 - Bannan, 3 - Palmer, Sasso, Lee, 2 - Loovens, Pudil, Wallace, FF, 1 - Sougou
Clearances: 6 - Sasso, 5 - Loovens, 4 - Pudil, 3 - Palmer, 2 - Hooper, 1 - FF
Attempts: 3 - Hooper, 2 - Sasso, Wallace, FF, Nuhiu, 1 - Pudil, Bannan, Helan
Attempts On Target: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Sasso, Wallace, Bannan, Nuhiu, Helan
Key Passes: 4 - Bannan, 2 - Palmer, Wallace, Nuhiu
Dribbles: 4 - Hooper, 1 - Nuhiu, Helan
Dispossessed: 3 - Nuhiu, Hooper, 1 - Lee, FF, Joao
Bad Control: 2 - FF, Hooper, 1 - Wallace, Nuhiu
Crosses (Accurate in Brackets): 7 - Bannan (3), 5 - Wallace (1), 2 - Palmer (1), 1 - Pudil (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Joao - 100% (2)
Helan - 100% (1)
Hooper - 79% (33)
Sougou - 75% (8)
FF - 71% (14)
Bannan - 69% (42)
Palmer - 68% (22)
Lee - 68% (25)
Nuhiu - 65% (20)
Wallace - 62% (21)
Sasso - 58% (19)
Loovens - 55% (22)
Pudil - 53% (17)
Wildsmith - 35% (23)
There were a number of things that came together yesterday. The fact we lost Hutchinson but Sasso slotted in seamlessly. We played our 4321 formation away & it worked well for us. The remaining Hooper sceptics were won over yesterday as he showed what he can do at this level. The fans even sung his song at the final whistle equally with Carlos Had a Dream.
The battle for the Playoffs has now started and Young Padawan said we needed 13 wins to make the Playoffs - 12 now. With relatively easy home matches coming up against Bolton & Leeds, we could be in excellent shape for our next away game at Reading.
Hopefully there will be a promotion party in May & hopefully I can make it to be there!
I have said that we should make the Playoffs for the last four matches now & if we had drawn at Boro then confidence levels would have been higher before yesterday's game.
Firstly we lost Hutchinson in the warm up meaning another reshuffle at the back with Sasso coming in. CC preferred Nuhiu to Joao up front but otherwise, the team was as expected.
We started slowly but for all the possession Fulham had, they didn't really threaten our goal. Wildsmith made one parry to his left and scrambled to his right for another shot that went wide. I always felt that we were the more likely side to score & Wallace duly obliged with a 30 yard rasper that went in off the cross bar.
In the second half, we dominated more & looked totally comfortable with Wildsmith not having a single shot to save. By contrast, Lonergan was making save after save to keep Fulham in the match. He tipped over brilliantly when Hooper burst through and tipped Nuhiu's angled drive over the bar. He then got back to deny Hooper after he had worked a good position. Sasso headed inches over from a corner and at the death, Helan dribbled past three men before being denied.
Not for one moment in the second half did I think that Fulham would get anything out of this game. It was just a question of whether we would get more goals.
Wildsmith - 6 - easy afternoon
Palmer - 7 - kept his area tight & got forward well
Sasso - 8 - outstanding, always looks the part when called upon
Loovens - 8 - again great talking with team mates to build spirit
Pudil - 6 - given a bit of a rough time, lacked support at times
Wallace - 7 - great goal & linked play well
Lee - 7 - linked play well
Bannan - 7 - all action hero, always probing
FF - 7 - bright & inventive
Hooper - 8 - runs ripped Fulham apart, deserved a goal
Nuhiu - 7 - brighter than usual
....................................................................
Sougou - 7
Joao - 6
Helan - 7
Only Pudil looked vulnerable yesterday against a tricky winger but with a bit more support most of the danger would have been gone.
Stat Attack:
Goals: 1 - Wallace
Assists: 0
Tackles: 4 - FF, 3 - Sasso, Lee, Nuhiu, 2 - Pudil, 1 - Palmer, Loovens, Bannan, Hooper, Joao
Interceptions: 4 - Bannan, 3 - Palmer, Sasso, Lee, 2 - Loovens, Pudil, Wallace, FF, 1 - Sougou
Clearances: 6 - Sasso, 5 - Loovens, 4 - Pudil, 3 - Palmer, 2 - Hooper, 1 - FF
Attempts: 3 - Hooper, 2 - Sasso, Wallace, FF, Nuhiu, 1 - Pudil, Bannan, Helan
Attempts On Target: 2 - Hooper, 1 - Sasso, Wallace, Bannan, Nuhiu, Helan
Key Passes: 4 - Bannan, 2 - Palmer, Wallace, Nuhiu
Dribbles: 4 - Hooper, 1 - Nuhiu, Helan
Dispossessed: 3 - Nuhiu, Hooper, 1 - Lee, FF, Joao
Bad Control: 2 - FF, Hooper, 1 - Wallace, Nuhiu
Crosses (Accurate in Brackets): 7 - Bannan (3), 5 - Wallace (1), 2 - Palmer (1), 1 - Pudil (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Joao - 100% (2)
Helan - 100% (1)
Hooper - 79% (33)
Sougou - 75% (8)
FF - 71% (14)
Bannan - 69% (42)
Palmer - 68% (22)
Lee - 68% (25)
Nuhiu - 65% (20)
Wallace - 62% (21)
Sasso - 58% (19)
Loovens - 55% (22)
Pudil - 53% (17)
Wildsmith - 35% (23)
There were a number of things that came together yesterday. The fact we lost Hutchinson but Sasso slotted in seamlessly. We played our 4321 formation away & it worked well for us. The remaining Hooper sceptics were won over yesterday as he showed what he can do at this level. The fans even sung his song at the final whistle equally with Carlos Had a Dream.
The battle for the Playoffs has now started and Young Padawan said we needed 13 wins to make the Playoffs - 12 now. With relatively easy home matches coming up against Bolton & Leeds, we could be in excellent shape for our next away game at Reading.
Hopefully there will be a promotion party in May & hopefully I can make it to be there!
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.