Reading 0-2 Fulham
Finally! A thrilling away win and maybe, just maybe we’re not buried yet.
With things so dire recently it almost seemed as though the players had a weight lifted from their shoulders. Gone was the tentative, meek Fulham of recent games. Instead the side swaggered around the Reading turf, spraying balls around at pleasing angles and passing their opponents out of the game. If a midfield of Davies, Bullard, Murphy and Dempsey isn’t going to help much defensively, it can at least be relied upon to offer some attacking threat. All four played a huge part, Davies, in particular, giving his best performance since he single-handedly tore Reading apart at the Cottage earlier in the year.
It was his cross, whipped in first time from the left flank, that gave us the vital early goal. Healy started the move, fed Davies who skimmed a low cross onto the edge of the Reading six yard box. McBride ghosted in from the right flank to divert the ball high and hard over Hahnemann’s right shoulder. 1-0!
Reading rolled up their sleeves and took the game to us, but could find no way through. Doyle should have equalised on half-time, beating Keller to a deft Oster cross, but his header dropped inches wide of the empty net.
The second half began with Healy and McBride, clearly and brilliantly on the same wavelength throughout, combining nicely. McBride headed on to Healy, whose return ball deep into the area was volleyed onto the bar via a slight touch from Hahnemann. It would’ve been a terrific goal. Was this the dreaded Fulham misfortune again?
Fulham continued to probe, the midfield four continuing to run the game. A Bullard corner was met by Hangeland and again the crossbar was battered, and again Hahnemann had got a slight touch. Watching this was exciting as hell, but petrifying too.
It continued: Bullard, well placed, sent a trademark free-kick up, over the wall and, yes, onto the bar. This time Hahnemann was nowhere near it.
But Reading could not capitalise on their fortune. Finally, with the game almost over, we added that vital second goal. Davies to Nevland, Nevland to Davies, Davies with quick feet and an eye for a gap, past an entire team it seemed, then through to Nevland again. The substitute charged through and fired his shot hard into the bottom corner of the net. Elation. The win was secured.
Fulham played really well yesterday. Let me be clear about that. There were times when they were pinging the ball around, under pressure, and looked like a Man U. It was most impressive. But we also need to look at this game with a bit of caution.
One of the issues the the color commentator was making a point of time and again yesterday, is that Reading, even though they’ve had a good run of form recently, really have no depth in the attack. He claimed that showed yesterday and alluded to the fact that Roy may have out managed the Reading side, by expecting that there team would not have much in the way of attack and in knowing that, pulled Andreessen off the pitch and replaced him with Dempsey. So with that move they had 4 attacking minded players on the pitch with McBride, Healy, Bullard and Dempsey. As well, Davies can always be a threat and is a very good feeder of the ball.
It is true, that we were not under the same sort of attack that we were in weeks past. There were moments, like late in the first half when we were. And I was quite impressed with the likes of Bullard, Dempsey and Mc Bride who all had their tails back in the defensive third very quickly when those moments revealed themselves. But still, overall, Reading did not threaten us that often. That will not happen in the coming weeks.
So it was fun to enjoy the win, just for what it was worth. A win away from home, and getting the monkey off our backs, (since 2006? Whew!). But looking at it for anything more than that could be a bit detrimental to the soul. We still have some tough opponents ahead with much more threatening attacks.
So be wary my heart. This is Fulham we speak of. With that said,
COME ON YOU WHITES!
It was a very good preformance yesterday. Brian, your point about our midfield being diligent in tracking back was spot on. There were many times where Reading seemed to be able to break something only to be foiled by one of these MF’s.
I thought the backline was tremendous yesterday. After a shaky start, I thought Stalteri was excellent. Hunt usually is very much a handful, but he was kept under wraps most of the match.
The whole team had an air of confidence about them. I did not have the same sense of impending doom that I’ve had in watching previous matches. I never really felt that we were going to lose the lead and it was only a matter of time before we got that vital second goal.
Yesterday’s result was big for us, not just for the three points, but also that it dragged Reading back into the relegation fight. While they are still safe by three points, their goal differential is the worst of the four teams fighting for the two remaining safe positions. The goal differentials are:
Reading -26
Fulham -24
Bolton -21
Birmingham -13
Reading also have three tough matches coming up (away to Arsenal & Wigan followed by a visit from Spurs). True, they do finish up at Derby, but their confidence has to be shaken at this point.
We have a very tough road ahead in order to survive, but if we can gain 1-2 points over the next two weeks on these other three (they all have difficult away fixtures except Brum play Liverpool at home in two weeks), we could have it all to play for at home versus Brum. That would be something.
Fantastic win, played very well. I hardly dare to hope again for fear of being brought back down once more. But as it stands, we got together and finally got the away win.
I’m glad the Healy and McBride duo is back. I’d been wishing for that for quite some time. Eddie Johnson just wasn’t cutting it.
Lastly, the crossbar. I thought sure that 3 wonderful strikes off the crossbar were a sure sign that the usual specters of the Fulham away form would make a return and Reading would nab the equalizer. Thank goodness I was wrong!
Absolutely brilliant day out, still looked vulnerable at the back although Hangeland was back to his best, a lot of unforced errors which could be down to the weather conditions. A massive mountain to climb yet but the team for the first time this season looks really well balanced in all areas. Has Roy found the winning formula? Big, big game on Saturday hopefully against a second eleven. I reckon they will play Crouch and Voronin upfront which are still brilliant but I dont think they will fancy getting into a relegation scrap. It will be down to how much we as Club want it. Win and it really could be game on. Just got our Portsmouth tickets this morning, I dream a little dream..
Two points:
1) Dempsey’s defensive abilities are no surprise to anyone who saw his first season or two with the Revs. He’s a true two-way player.
2) Not to crap on a great team performance, but Keller looked really shaky.
To the USA supporters out there, the Liverpool match will be on Setanta this Saturday. Coverage begins at 9:45 am Eastern.