Fulham at Derby

Fulham make the trip up to Derby for a Friday night match. Derby is currently in the middle of their worst season in six years. The regular promotion contenders don't even have much of a shot this year despite the arrival of Wayne Rooney (last time Rooney faced Fulham - 6 years ago in a 2-2 draw with a stoppage time goal from Darren Bent). Derby has had a good run to open 2020 earning just as many points as Fulham over the last 8 matches leading them to feel some measure of confidence. However, this run has included home matches against lower level teams like Stoke, Charlton, and Barnsley (you know, teams Fulham struggles against )

Derby have been absolutely terrible on the road with just two teams performing worse, but the strongest team (along with Preston) at home. And on paper this should be one of the two toughest remaining matches for Fulham given Derby's strong form at home. However, again, it is important to consider the schedule. They have only played one of the top five teams at home and have just one home win vs a team in the top half of the table.

Derby will be without US winger Duane Holmes who is out for a few weeks with a leg injury.

 

For those of us so inclined this match will be on ESPN+.

Given Derby's strong home form and Fulham's current scoring troubles this one has me holding my breath AGAIN. Before the beginning of 2020 it was the defense that worried me but with the arrival of the new year it is now the other end of the pitch that gives my waking mind grief.

I was looking forward to seeing Holmes play but alas someone has torn another the leg off another potential USMNT player's voodoo doll.

 

Our current saving grace has been better performances on the road than at home. However, it's much too late in the season to be turning in clunkers like the effort, or lack thereof, against Barnsley AT HOME. We've been able to avoid prolonged slumps for the most part this season. Let's hope the rebound from the atrocity last time out is strong and sustained, well past this effort tonight. I'm working, but I'm going to try to keep an eye (if not driving) and BOTH ears (hush, mr. reporter) and hope for the best. This group seems capable of strong resilience and tough mindedness, as they've demonstrated on several occasions. It's time to show it again and get back on the upward tick. Still close enough to overtake Leeds for second, and catching West Brom isn't out of the question (although it's highly unlikely). Gotta develop some consistency though. Can't afford any more shit shows. Still room for improvement if we can keep everybody healthy. I think we're as good as Leeds and West Brom on paper. Just gotta get everybody going well at the same time. Perhaps that will start tonight.

 

Simple matter of playing with some anger and pride after last week’s debacle.

 

Watching live today on ESPN+

 

Wasn’t able to keep as keen an eye on it as I would’ve liked but, best I could tell, Rodak saved our asses again. Seemed as if they were bossing us quite a bit, although I don’t know what the final possession stat was. Will still take a road point, but the time is fast approaching when we’ll have to do better, especially at home.

 

Just for the record I would like to know if there is a rule that Fulham are not allowed to attack until they are a goal down?

I agree with pretty much everything Don said and I’ll have a double portion of Rodak for man of the match please.

 

I wasn't able to watch it live and I kept waiting and waiting for the replay to become available, but I eventually couldn't hold out any longer and pulled up these 8 minutes of highlights via Derby:


I watched the highlights without knowing the score and I thought for sure at a few points "THIS is when Fulham is going down 2-1!" But Rodak came back strong from last week's nightmare and saved the day.

And somehow Fulham is STILL in third place after draws by Brentford and Nottingham Forest. With Preston's win there are now three teams just a point behind Fulham while Leeds is now five points ahead.

 

Just finished watching the extended highlights on Rams TV.



Thoughts:
1) We still look soft on defense. Yielding way too much space and time on the ball, especially in our final third. Also too slow to react to open players who receive the ball with acres of space in front of them there.
2) Rodak saved our asses.
3) Mitro is still Mitro, and we’ve got to get him more scoring chances, by whatever means necessary.
4) Cavalleiro HAS to get that chance in the 2nd half on target, even if it’s straight at the keeper. Can’t miss from there.

Hard to tell which way we’re trending at the moment. As long as Mitro’s out there, we’ve got a chance, but, it feels like we’re teetering on the edge of allowing a deluge of goals. Rodak’s been great, but he’s had to be. How long can he keep it up?
Still, we’re in good shape for the playoffs, at the very least.