Fulham at Blackburn Rovers

Fulham travels on Saturday to Blackburn to face the Rovers. Blackburn only has two losses at home, but their home point total isn't great because they've had so many draws. Five of their last six home matches have ended in draws.

Fulham got their first three points of the season when they first faced Blackburn back in August. Blackburn never got a shot on target, but they had a number of dangerous opportunities and applied the kind of high pressure that has caused Fulham problems throughout the season.

Knockaert has been practicing, but it remains to be seen if he'll be on the game-day squad. Mawson apparently had surgery and will be out for a while. Reed is still unavailable too.

 

Like most of this season, we’ll go as the defense goes. If they can handle what is sure to be another press high up the pitch, and if they can stop the keystone cops positioning (two very big ifs), I think we can score on ‘em. The threat Mitro poses just by being out there, even at less than 100%, truly opens things up for the likes of Bobby, Cairney, Ivan and even Kamara, should they choose to pair them. But first, we gotta get it out of our own third.

 

Not too early to start looking around us. 2nd place Leeds is away to 4th place Forest (a draw would suit nicely). The division leaders are at 9th place Millwall (traveling supporters beware ). Meanwhile the team going on an utter tear and leading the Championship in GD (+26) just happens to be our neighbors Brentford. They will likely add to that GD w/a home match vs Boro. Obviously we have our hands full at Rovers so a simple COYW is in order.

 

The Ream/Hector partnership seems to have shored up the back line. If I'm not mistaken that is four Championship matches and four shutouts! The offense isn't quite clicking the way I envisioned at the start of the season but I'll take a shutout anytime.

 

Thank you James!! Looking at the stats, it looked like a strong performance.

 

The offense will get sorted out as long as Mitro stays healthy. Our recent issues have been defending. If we keep pitching shutouts, I like our chances. Eager to see the highlights from this one. At the risk of jinxing us, we’re starting to become like Mad Max...road warriors. If we can sustain that for the next 2 and a half months, I like our chances for automatic promotion. Leeds and West Brom are good, but if we get all our parts healthy and working, we’re not too bad, either. And the hottest club behind us right now is bloody Brentford. But, we gotta just keep taking care of our own business. I don’t know what our record is since Hector began starting for us, but I think it’s pretty good.

 

Fulham has 4 wins and 1 draw in league play. 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss overall.

Hector will easily be Man of the Match, he absolutely dominated the game. I lost track of how many times GJ said one of the following:

• Hector cuts off the cross
• Hector heads it away
• Hector takes the ball

It seemed almost any time Blackburn put the ball into the box, it went to Hector. When we eventually get to see the highlights it will probably show he did make one mistake that led to a great opportunity for Blackburn, but that should not take away from his controlling performance. He is also good for the team going forward. When Hector gets the ball he'll move into space and he isn't afraid of sending a long ball forward. When Hector had the ball Blackburn seemed intimidated and generally didn't even press him like they did with other players.

On the offensive side I was a little disappointed in Cavaleiro and Reid. Cavaleiro didn't seem to have his shooting boots on. He got into space a couple times, but never pulled the trigger. Reid meanwhile refused to take the width that Blackburn was giving. I desperately wanted him to make a run to the end line and send in a cross. Instead he kept pulling up and heading sideways to the top of the box where things got clogged up. Fortunately Bryan had the right idea and got the ball to Mitrovic for his goal. Despite a less than optimal performance from the offense, they still got enough done against a team that has rarely lost at home.

Leeds lost to Nottingham Forest so Fulham is now even with Leeds at 55 points with only goal differential keeping them in 2nd place. Things are incredibly tight at the top with 4 teams with a shot at being in second place after this week's matches.

 

Short highlights via Blackburn:

 

The offense will get sorted out as long as Mitro stays healthy. Our recent issues have been defending. If we keep pitching shutouts, I like our chances. Eager to see the highlights from this one. At the risk of jinxing us, we’re starting to become like Mad Max...road warriors. If we can sustain that for the next 2 and a half months, I like our chances for automatic promotion. Leeds and West Brom are good, but if we get all our parts healthy and working, we’re not too bad, either. And the hottest club behind us right now is bloody Brentford. But, we gotta just keep taking care of our own business.

 

This might be one small reason why teams aren’t pressing us quite as high anymore. ZING!