Fulham at Norwich

No need to keep playing Fugazi again and again, the waiting is over and Fulham is back on the pitch Friday at Norwich! We faced Norwich to start the season and lost out on three points when Odoi kept Oliveira onside for a goal in the 88th minute to get the draw. If we end up just outside of second place, matches like that one will be especially painful to look back on. For now we need to just keep winning and see what craziness can befall Cardiff.

When Norwich beat Reading before the break they got their first victory since February 3. It ended gloomy period of 6 draws and one loss, although certainly a 93rd minute tying goal from Oliviera at Wolverhampton certainly felt like a win. (What is it with that guy and late equalizers?) They are now 10 points outside 6th place and only the most diehard Canary could think they still have a shot at the playoffs.

I'd like to see Mitrovic keep his hot steak going and man-handle the Norwich defense to build a three goal lead in the first half to kill any chance of another late draw courtesy of Oliviera. I also hope we'll see a Fulham defense that puts behind it that poor second half against QPR.

 

I agree with everything the right Honourable gentleman just said, and would add that I hope Cardiff goes into the tank.

 

Futbol de Fulham ha regresasdo! Here's to the rest period recharging legs to keep the good form alive.
COYW!

 

The rest period better have supercharged those legs. Fulham have 5 matches in the next 16 days! The first 4 are against mid-to-lower table teams and the last is against Brentford - currently 11. Then the final 3 matches of the season are Millwall and two relegation contenders.

A few players saw international duty with Mitrovic apparently playing the most (the full 90 in two matches). We'll see if this has any affect on their upcoming performances.

I just hope the good form, confidence, and health continue.

 

Sessegnon is on the bench along with Kalas. I don't like either of those things. Maybe with the run of games we have Jokanovic is trying to rest people?

Starting XI:
Bettinelli
Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett
McDonald, Cairney, Johansen
Ayite, Mitrovic, Piazon

Subs: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, Sessegnon, Fonte, Kamara

 

Shirt deployed...3 points in the bag!!! Mr. Jump...Cue it por favor;

 

Hatter's got the shirt for Fulham success. Now we need @Coach K to put a Voodoo hex on Cardiff.

 

Great to see Cairney and StefJo lighting the lamp (sorry for the hockeyspeak, but I’m running out of verbiage). Perfect start to the stretch run to the end of the season. Another decisive road win and clean sheet. I ain’t giving up hope of finishing second until ir’s mathematically impossible. I think our experience from last season will help if that’s the way things go, but that’s a slow death if you don’t win at Wembley.

 

COME ON FULHAM!!!!!!!!

 

Misleading highlights via Norwich. Watch this and you'll be forgiven for thinking that Fulham was lucky to get a win against such dominating Norwich side


Norwich certainly had opportunities, but it wasn't the lopsided match these highlights indicate. Like the Fulham of the first half of the season, we had a lot of possession in the first 45 minutes but hardly any chances to show for it. Once Sessegnon was brought in at the 54th minute we returned to our more recent form and started scoring.

I have to say that Josh Murphy is the only attacking player I can remember who could out run Fredericks down the wing. He made a number of opportunities for them that they couldn't convert.

We got no help from the teams above us. Cardiff easily beat Burton and the Wolves held on to a two goal advantage to win with just 9 men against Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough looked absolutely toothless playing with a two man advantage. Only a beautiful volley got them a consolation goal.

Below us the Middlesbrough and Derby losses (to Sunderland!) just add to the chaos for the 5th and 6th places. Preston is in 10th and Derby is in 5th with only 2 points separating them. Of the six teams in the race, Millwall looks the strongest and could complete a run almost as improbable as Fulham's to reach the playoffs.