Roy on video
“I feel full of admiration for the players”
More here. Top man.
Fulham 2-0 Brum
My first reaction on leaving the game was that I needed to lie down. We won but… wow, exhausting.
The first half saw Fulham pass, pass, pass, pinning Birmingham back and bullying the game with impressive control. It was relentless, but we only had a couple of chances to show for it: first a clever free-kick from Bullard found Simon Davies in space, but his low finish was turned around the post. A fine save. Later Kamara looked to have a chance near the goal-line, but again it was repelled by various Birmingham limbs. Encouraging to an extent, but we did need a goal. Word had got around that Reading were losing, but Fulham are not reliable goalscorers. Could we break through?
Birmingham lined up for the second half with Franck Queudrue at centre-back, Liam Ridgewell having been injured in the first half. Queudrue is good player but not completely trustworthy, and his presence at the heart of an already brittle defence gave us hope.
The goal came early. Brian McBride - who else? - stooped to meet a left-wing cross and pushed a header firmly and decisively past Taylor. The crowd leapt up and stayed up: things were falling into place.
It made for an awful second half. The first half had raced by; the second dragged on terribly. Birmingham replaced the anonymous Forssel with the impish Zarate, then threw Cameron Jerome at us too, but their pressure amounted to nothing. Kasey Keller, brilliantly shielded by the almost flawless duo of Hangeland and Hughes, had little to do. Fulham’s passing became less controlled - anywhere really would do - but still we looked in good shape.
Diomansy Kamara had a wonderful match, hurtling into tackles, dragging the defence all over the place with pacey, purposeful runs, and generally doing everything in his power to win the game for his team. At some point in this thrilling exhibition he injured himself, so was replaced by Secret Weapon Nevland.
Nevland is fast becoming type-cast: nervous lead in the dying minutes? Don’t worry, we have just the man. Just as at Reading, he broke clear of an over-committed defence, and just as he did at Reading, he belted the ball home as if it was the only thing that *could* have happened. Balls of steel and a solid technique, and now the man behind the two most welcome goals of the season. We couldn’t take the stress: Nevland sorted things out. He needs a drug related nickname.
If we had five more games we’d be safe. If we had three more games we’d be safe. This is a Premier League quality team now. I have no doubt of this. The remaining complication lies in earning more points to prove this, but, once more, we live to fight another day. Amazing day, and I’m glad it’s over.
Unbelievable! Birmingham 0 - 2 Fulham
If I thought I was speechless last week, I have no freaking idea what I am this week.
In a game that Fulham seemed to control from start to finish except for a few moments here and there, Fulham won their third game in four and lifted themselves out of the relegation zone. Goals by Brian Mc Bride and an incredibly important insurance goal by the cool finishing Eric Nevland, made sure the Cottagers still have a chance to stay up in the premiership with a good outing next week, away at Portsmouth, who lost today 0-2 to Middlesbrough.
On a personal note, I watched the game at a local pub with fellow Fulham follower Spencer and my good friend Bruce from dunordfutbol.com. Although Bruce follows Fulham from a distance because of the 5 Americans on the team, he is not a Fulham supporter like Spencer and I. So I think he enjoyed watching us agonize through the last 10 min. of the game. But all three of us were excited and had an eye on the other TV as Reading went down in flames today. Which could mean only one thing. We are STILL ALIVE!
Some interesting stats that proves that all that central midfield control we’ve been seeing get better week by week, really paid off in this game today.
Possession was held by Fulham with a whopping 63.6% to 36.4%
Passing was dominated by Fulham as well, 70.3% to 57.8%
Some links:
The always sensible Roy Hodgson speaks to the BBC
Lastly, how does this look?
Keep the faith!
Ha! Fulham 2-0 Brum
Unbefuckingleivable.
Proper match report tomorrow, I’m lost for words. So here are some pictures.
Pre-match warmup with inflatables. Toby, Martin, Mary, Matthew, Adam (over from the US), Anna, Lauren (Adam’s friend)
Hammy End. Blue woggle in centre
Post-match happiness
Clint and Simon, happy together
Roy laps it up. A man with a plan.
Bah again
Sometimes you wake up and the world is your oyster. Sometimes you wake up and it isn’t.
That’s today. Tired, hungover, and faced with a game that could change everything. It’s like an exam day: you just want it over with and successfully negotiated without having to go through all the nasty business in between. Needless to say, I’m only watching the match. How must the players feel?
A good start to the day though: Clint has extended his contract! Huzzah. Roy clearly likes what he sees, and it’s terrific that Clint’s committed to the club, come what may.
And here’s something else: White Lines points out that this could very well be Brian McBride’s last game at the Cottage. Wow. That’s something to make you think, eh?
