An early start and an eventful journey to London with traffic, roundabouts and Fulham fans – although I hear Northy and Junior had a tour of London from Geoff! From then on you could feel it was one of those days.
Down by the river in the lovely sun we got the team news and it all seemed very good. Billy Jones replaced the injured Reid as expected and Peter Odemwingie came in for Dorrans who, in his last two games, hadn’t put his mark on the wide position. Fulham handed a debut to Dimitar Berbatov, he was the obvious danger, everyone said it, but with talents on either wing they would be no mugs.
What everyone mentioned though was the strength of our bench: Gera, Rosenberg, Lukaku, Brunt, Myhill, it’s brilliant! We don’t have a team we have a squad!
First half
The game kicked off and Fulham controlled it. They had the ball and the phrase “living off scraps” was pretty much what Long’s day was about. When we had the ball we seemed to misplace a pass and allow them to come forward again, even Yacob gave them possession!
We were on the back foot but got the first chance when we passed the ball around for the first time in the game, became patient and Jones become another attacking option. The move ended in a James Morrison thunder-strike tipped over from the ‘keeper - congrats of the deserved new contract Mozza.
The corner came to nothing. We were poor on most corners not beating the first man, frustratingly, behind that first man was usually a free baggie that had made space and could shoot.
Still, this didn’t stop Fulham controlling the game but they were not testing Foster. Fulham were attacking Jones and Ridgewell for fun and only Olsson and McAuley intercepting the crosses stopped them testing Foster.
Still we had chances. Bursting down the wing, Jones put it across the box and Morrison was just too slow for a tap in and the ball ran away to a white shirt.
Again this didn’t worry Fulham. They just played the ball back and forth, kept hold of Long and they knew what to do and the goal came when Jones was left one on one. As always, a full back is never sure whether to jockey or tackle, he stood off and the wing slid the ball through to Berbatov, who no-one was marking, and he curled the ball into the corner from the edge of the box. All too easy, blame Billy all you want for me, you never give Berbatov space, especially in the box.
We weren’t down hearted, we were a goal down at Spurs and we still looked organised and we can do something on the break, we know we can, only that was with 11 men. So when Odemwingie decided to kick the wrong ball we all knew in the stands he was off. No argument, the silence as he walked off from the stands said it all – and only Ben Foster went over to comfort him. Looking at the replay I still see no kick at him. It’s a physical game, he was tackled, no excuse for the reaction.
Oh well, still 1-0 down we can hold out and chances will come. Only the slight issue was that Jones was done like a kipper yet again with, yet again, no cover for him, the ball was rolling out, it was over hit but in the split second he had to make the call he didn’t realise, he went to ground far too late took the guy down and it was a penalty. Although at the game I felt there was no contact, replays clearly show there is.
Berbatov stepped up for the pen and cool as you like sent Foster the wrong way. Two-nil on the stroke of half time and we were dead and buried.
After the break
Changes were made at half time with Lukaku coming on for Long and Brunt on for Fortune. I’ve got to feel for the lads that were taken off because they have been punished for what Odemwingie did. No one wants to be subbed, but it is horrible when it’s not because of how you have played.
An early injury to Yacob got me worried, but the little terrier came back on to his new song – if you don’t know it it’s: “He’s magic you knoooowww, you’ll never get past Claudioooo”.
Fulham continued to play their way, keep the ball and controlled the tempo of the game, speed it up when they entered our half and create issues with McAuley having to block shots and Berbatov firing over.
We had our chances but Brunt’s shot found Schwarzer as did Lukaku’s deflected shot. Nothing was going in, the ball wasn’t bouncing for us and the rub of the green wasn’t going our way. Everything went to a white shirt and not a red one.
A couple of misplaced passes from Fozzie let them in far too easily and issues were just getting worse and worse, simple things were becoming tough and frustration was boiling over.
Foster did make up for it stopping a Kacaniklic drive and then stopping Duff running in by palming away the rebound so very well, great stop and recovery from last season’s player of the season.
He was then called into action again when Duff got past Brunt and Ridegwell and found Hugo Rodellega, whose shot hit Olsson and Foster quickly reacted to push the ball around the post.
Markus Rosenberg then came on for Yacob. As you know I love Rosenburg and Foster’s recent words about the Swede were fantastic to hear. No pressure on him, fifteen minutes to go we were still in with a chance, but we were expecting very little.
Foster then denied Berbatov at the big striker’s feet, quick off his line and a top stop.
A deep cross was headed back across the box by Jones who attacked very well, but he couldn’t find Markus Rosenberg in the box. It went just over his head, was so close to it, it was harder to miss if it had of found the new number 8. In fairness to Jones, he did well to keep it in.
The third then came. As Clarke said it was an unfair reflection on the game, Jones did a great job but the winger got a cross come shot it and Foster pushed it up, Rodellega was right there and headed off the bar and again the ball fell to another white shirt, Steve Sidwell, all alone and he fired into the corner to complete the rout. Very harsh scoreline but we move on.
Mulumbu had a late deflected shot go just over and Brunt then decided to deliver the corner of the game to Gareth McAuley’s head, but his header found the alert Schwarzer, so annoying.
The full time whistle went, some left as the third went in, but we clapped the boys off. After all it wasn’t them that got sent off and cost us was it, they worked hard but 5 minutes cost us, 2-0 would have been fair, 3-0 seemed harsh.
On reflection
Maybe we needed this? Staying unbeaten creates a lot of hype and belief. Maybe we believed in ourselves too much and forgot actually who we are? It was always going to be tough, they’re a very good side and have attracted Berbatov for a reason. They were simply the better side, with 11 men they controlled us but we always believed because we are used to having less of the ball, that’s the way you play away.
Odemwingie he was an idiot. We have all seen bad red cards, but because it is him people will ask where his head is at. If it was McAuley I think all would have been forgiven but as it was Odem a lot, I don’t think like, but will question him and his commitment due to the way he conducts himself at times on the pitch.
He knows he was an idiot, so do we, his punishment will be watching someone else play the next three games and then he will realise he is not the first name on the team sheet. As a professional footballer there is nothing worse than watching someone take your place. Sure if he returns and is sharper and better from it we will all forgive him. I always believe Odemwingie plays better when he has something to prove, he was playing for a contract in his first season, got one, slacked to an extent, but when he has to show something he always turns up, so I am backing him to return with a goal or two.
Anyone having a pop at Jones I would like to see someone help him. He was constantly 2 on 1 or 1 on 1 and with cover they can help him make the right call. Yes I will be glad when Reid comes back but if wingers track back it makes the world of difference.
Anyway, it’s been a great start. Seven points from four games I will take that. We’re not nearer safety but still fifth in the league so no real damage to us from it bar the goal difference. We are still aiming to survive and we mustn’t forget that. Europe isn’t something we can look at yet. We need to become safe first because there are 10-12 teams all looking over their shoulder and we are one of them. Am I confident we can stay up? Yes. With 11 men we would have given them a game like we did in the previous fixture last season. Still confident and still boinging.
If you ever want to go to Fulham – go. It’s a lovely ground and was a great day, bar the result. We move on now though onwards and upwards. Bring on Reading when hopefully we get to double figures! A point a game will be enough to stop up though and 50 points is still on. We can definitely still do this.
Boinger219.
Have your say on Albion's defeat here at Baggies Banter.