There we go. We won, and deservedly so, with brave tactical moves by the manager and loads of hard work and clever football.
Well, it felt like a win, didn’t it? Probably the only negative thing to come out of the Wolves game was the almost inevitable red card for Catts. I say “almost inevitable”, but it only became that way once he’d picked up the first, albeit a bit soft, yellow, and in the space of forty or so seconds showed that, for all the “calming down” that he’s shown over the last few years, there’s still a wire loose. A wire we can’t afford to be loose – we need eleven players on the field for the whole ninety-plus minutes if we’re to make any meaningful progress. At least his enforced absence might give the likes of Embleton, who showed in his brief appearance at Molyneux that he’s up to the task, a chance to prove their worth.
Apart from the aftermath of the match, it’s thankfully been a pretty quiet week by our standards. No new injuries, no misquoted players, and no off-field misdemeanours. That still didn’t stop the national press having a totally unnecessary pop, with one journalist who shall remain nameless, but is answers when you shout “McNally”, claiming that Chris Coleman’s attitude has become negative (“Wearside’s so wearing on Coleman”)since discovering the size of the task in hand. If he has become more negative, I’ve not noticed, but it shows that we’re still an easy target on a quiet news day. Churning out the same old “poisoned chalice” comments is what’s really wearing, Brian…and thanks to the activity of the “let’s make up a story” press, there’s every chance that Grabban will be back at Bournemouth for two days in January while they sell him. Thanks, folks. What we need is support for the team, which is personified by the presence today of the Black Cats of Brescia, who’ve come to the match from (aye, Brescia) a long way away via Manchester and Edinburgh – and some of us think it’s a chow on getting to SR5 from south west Durham. Grazie mill, gente.
Anyway, what we needed today is the organisation we showed at Wolves, as the Fulham fans claim that their passing game could kill us. Let’s see. Courtesy of the club, I was comfortably ensconced in a rather smart executive box for today’s proceedings with some nice bait when the teams were announced, and Martin Bain popped into our box for a chat. Nice touch.
Ruiter
Love Wilson O'Shea Browning Matthews
Gooch Gibson Honeyman
Vaughan Grabban
Ooh - two up front! I thought that was illegal these days, and no wingers - but two on the bench, plus Asoro, meant that there was the option to change our shape.
We kicked off South, which is sort of how it should be in my biased eyes, and an early Honeyman cross from the left was headed into the keeper's arms by Grabban. A positive start, followed by dome good defensive work by Gibson at the expense of two corners, then a few more decent moments let down by the final ball, and a Gibson shot from distance that the keeper spilled.
Gibson took boot in the head that earned a free kick, and eventually needed sticking back together, as Fulham grew into the game but ran into a well- organised back line of three or five as their play demanded. Sess's cousin showed great pace and worked Matthews hard, but the crosses were dealt with and we took the ball upfield and exerted pressure of our own. Vaughan took a pass well and fed Honeyman, whose shot was again only parried - a goalkeeping weakness to exploit? - before they broke and for once won the header in the box, only to put it wide on the half hour. Minutes later anothe Honeyman cross from the left was headed past the far post (looked like a Fulham head to me) then the visitors broke and brought a comfortable save from Ruiter with a shot from distance.
Grabban's interception on the right and quick through ball set Vaughan away, but he ran out of space on the edge of the box and the move eventually broke down. Another save by Ruiter was hacked clear to build an attack, but that ended with a shot well over the top.
As the single added minute was announced, we had a shot blocked and Love tried to catch out the keeper from the rebound - but the hopeful effort sailed harmlessly high and wide.
0-0 at the break - not bad, as we'd created chances and defended well, as discussed at length with our half time visitors Monty and Big Chief Lee Howey.
No changes, and an early Vaughan shot was straight at the keeper after a bright start.
Grabban chased a through ball, cut it back to Matthews, and his terrific cross was headed goalwards, only to be tipped onto the bar and away. We kept the pressure on,with Honeyman shooting over and Grabband shooting wide. Nearly, nearly, but it took a great block by Browning to prevent us going behind. There was a yellow for their 19 (persistently standing over our free-kicks)and Gooch (late tackle) as the ref tried to let the game flow. On 66, Gooch made way for Ndong, making our.midfield a little bit bigger, then five minutes later Asoro and Maja were on for Vaughan and Grabban. A brave move, and possibly a statement about Grabban's future?
A few minutes of getting used to our new players, and Matthews showed commendable patience on the corner of the box to slot the ball to Maja, who swivelled and poked it across the keeper and in. Magic. Gerrinnnnnnn! The two kids changed the game because they're different, and went close to creating a second several times with runs down the right and flicks in the middle. Four added minutes were announced, which the ref stretched to five or so, and in which we had a couple of hairy moments - but so did they, and the scenes when the whistle eventually went were nice, said he in a moment of serious understatement.
Man of the Match? Great organisation by O'Shea again, brave substitutions, but for me it was Gibson. Defensively sound, hardly lost the ball, and held the midfield together.
Post match cheese and biscuits and a chat with Bally. A great end to a great day.
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