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Match review Monday: More London derby delight
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Gavin and Jack recap all the key action from the win against Crystal Palace as Fulham made it a week to remember.
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Transcript
Fulham's Victory Analysis
00:00:02
Speaker
every club every day the global sports podcast network work welcome back everybody you're listening to the daily fullum podcast your home of all things fullum and today is our match review monday as we recap all the key events from that win on the weekend against crystal palace my name is gavin ruffle and joining me today is jack kelly jack what a few days what a week to be a fullum fan yeah it's it's pretty good isn't it um there was an air of optimism about The fan base definitely going into this game knowing Palace's struggles with with injuries and players so um I felt as confident as could possibly be really going to this game but and the boys delivered on the pitch and and it could have been more honestly it really could have been.
00:00:46
Speaker
and us back-to-back London Derby wins now unbeaten in the last seven. It's a nice turnaround because there was a time not that long ago where they couldn't seem to win a London Derby and a Prem for for love and the money. Yeah, no, this is good. It's it's good. And within those you know that unbeaten run, we beat Arsenal and Tottenham as well. So, I mean, this is really, really impressive stuff. So, I think the last loss was against Chelsea, which is obviously disappointing. That was such a disappointing display at 1-0 defeat. but Yeah, we're turning up and there's London Darby's now and it's good to see because we just never seem to get results against our London peers previously. But but now we're but're turning on the star, we're turning into a very, very, very good team. And you touched on it in the opening there, maybe Crystal Palace having a bit of a tough time at the minute. They only managed to secure their first win in their last home game against
Injury Impact on Crystal Palace?
00:01:37
Speaker
Spurs. A few out through injuries, Will Hughes out for suspension. Do you think it probably was the ideal its time for Fulham to play them?
00:01:44
Speaker
Yeah, it was, it was perfect. It was, you know, a makeshift team playing Mark Gahey in midfield. um the the The young lad, Devonie, coming in, I just, I just thought it had all the ingredients to be a full and win if if we could turn up on the day and and some of those individual performances yesterday they were just truly outstanding, truly outstanding.
00:02:03
Speaker
Yeah, so let's come on to the action. And it was another one of those games where Fulham got out the gate pretty quickly, got on the front foot, started passing it around. And to their credit, I don't think there's many games, maybe aside from the opening five minutes against Man City at the Etihad, you look at every other game, Fulham had pretty much dictated the play right from the outset, haven't they?
00:02:24
Speaker
Yeah, no, were we're fast starters, but, um, and we have scored in early in games, you know, against Newcastle, against Aston Villa, um, at the top of my head. And like, that is obviously very encouraging, but it did feel as if, again, at Sellers Park that we were having a lot of the ball, having a lot of the chances. Our press was really, really good. That was creating the chances for us, but it did feel like we're not put sticking these away and that could cost us.
00:02:50
Speaker
But luckily, obviously, we've got the go ahead goal as well. Reece Nelson came close. I thought he was marvelous again. um The way that Smith wrote was pressing as well. We hit Raoul Jimenez. And his and and it it really, really, really was a factor of Fulham would wait until Palace would stop on the ball and then try and plug those gaps when they were trying to find the passing lanes. And it was really, really interesting to see how he sort of won the ball back in those in those areas. I thought Palace overall were just pretty disjointed.
00:03:20
Speaker
throughout the whole game. They didn't really have much going for them. And you know when when you're a team like Palace, knowing that you're up against it in terms of lack of players and lack of creativity, it doesn't really help when your defenders are letting you down in in certain moments as well.
00:03:36
Speaker
Yeah, as you said, this joint today was ah difficult for them. Difficult team selection because they were having to play square pegs and round holes. Gagee going into the midfield and I think it was Devenny's, I think it was his first starting any competitive game for Crystal Palace, so that was a tough ask for him. And for Fulham, their Hale end boys, they were very bright, energetic, as you said, with the press. Nelson, Iwobi and Smith row.
00:03:59
Speaker
We've spoken previously about Smithrow. I think he had a couple of disappointing games, but he seems to be back on track now. He was very lively yesterday and Reece Nelson, he's got a couple of starts. The only thing with Reece Nelson is he's dirt he does everything great. He's got quick feet, maybe just lacks that finishing touch.
00:04:15
Speaker
Yeah, I think i think that that is obviously part of his game. He needs to improve, um but he is creating and he is creative. And I think that that is hugely important in the system we play when we've got sort of flying fullbacks and flying wingers. I did think Nelson's finishing yeah left a lot to be desired. and I think he could have that one-on-one he could have taken it a tad earlier and I think he would have had a better chance to score. um He curled a shot wide, he had another shot wide and I think he had a shot on target in the second half as well. um But like he's creating and and and you know the goals are not coming you know from the strikers necessarily, they're coming from all over the pitch so and he needs to get in on the act and he's made a very good impact since since being here and and now he's gained that start.
Defensive Strategy and Set Pieces
00:05:01
Speaker
and If he gets a, you know, he's got to go against Newcastle, he adds another goal to his game over the next few games. um Obviously we've got a couple of weeks to sort of sit on the result against Palace, which is fine, but um I think another goal is coming for Nelson because he e seems to be really, really on fire.
00:05:18
Speaker
Yeah, Dean Henderson certainly was the busy of the keeper making saves from Nelson, it will be had a half volley as well. But Crystal Palace to the their credit, they did have a couple of chances, but the only way they were looking likely to score was from long balls or set pieces. Gay, he had a good chance from the corner. and There was another one from a set piece from Davenny, which Mateta headed over. um Yeah, just a couple of nervy moments at the back there.
00:05:41
Speaker
Yeah, and I think that was what was frustrating was that we had this area and we had this with the feel of the dominance that we had in the game, but um we weren't sort of stamping down any authority in terms of taking our chances. And if it, you know, it did get to nil, no. And literally a couple of minutes before we took the lead, they, they almost scored the ban on the line, a bit of a mix up in the defense. But apart from that, when, once we went ahead,
00:06:07
Speaker
And I discount the Munoz chance because it was actually offside when when Devaney smashed over as well. I never felt like they were going to score. I never felt like they were going to score. However, there were some moments in the first half where, you know, like you say, Gehi headed wide up to three header. and He should have done better with that. And then the Mateta chance as well. I actually thought Mateta did quite well at holding up the ball and sort of linking play on his own up there with Saar alongside him. um It was difficult at times to sort of deal with Mateta who was being a bit of a handful. But then Anderson back at his old club, making a really key interception and and clearance right before we scored. And and that honestly was a big catalyst for us to go on and and win the game.
00:06:44
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I said in a preview show that Crystal Palace have been real shots shot shy in front of the goal. They've only scored eight and managed only two from open play. So that's a real concern for them. that Was it was easy to see why, given the why way they played yesterday, why they're not creating chances and not scoring goals from open play? I mean, obviously they they're missing as they're missing in Kettier, but um even when those guys have played, they probably not had the seasons they would have hoped for.
00:07:10
Speaker
No, not at all. This is not what I expected from Glazner's Palace at the start of the season. I'd tip them to be you know up where we are, basically. I thought they would push on. and Maybe it was losing Elise and losing Anderson that really was the straw that broke the camel's back. I mean and i think they've recruited fairly well in defence. There's a lot of I think there was a lot of bite yesterday between the Fulham and the Palace fans, especially on social media about Laquax and Anderson, and you know, oh, doesn't matter, we lost Anderson, we've got a replacement in, but well, that replacement was the one who gave the ball away and and and Anderson is on the side that that came out with a victory. i I do think we got the better deal in in that sort of scenario. um I think Charlie was a very good gaze, obviously very good client playing a centre back would just make me very, very nervous as a Palace fan. um
00:07:56
Speaker
and Munoz and Mitchell, you know as wing backs, are very competent at this level. I just feel as though because you're playing different players out of position and you're playing a youngster, it was just it just didn't quite click. Even Czech Dukore, who could have easily slotted into midfield, he wasn't even fit enough to start. So that's the the real issues that Palace are having. I actually do feel very sorry for them, um but I'm glad it's over. I'm glad we've won, and you know once
Second Half Tactics and Sponsorship Mention
00:08:21
Speaker
they get their players back, there'll they'll be a better team. and but but we Yeah, you certainly feel they'll be stronger as the season progresses, but it was a frantic end to that first half, which you mentioned, Anderson we cleared one off the line, Mattett had managed to nip in a bit, miscommunication between Anderson and Leno, Leno got a pour to it, and taking a pace off, Anderson was there to clear up.
00:08:40
Speaker
And then the goal comes from Lacroix. He's not really under pressure, but there's Smithrow just getting a foot to the ball. Comes to Jimenez. Jimenez, you know, he takes it on time, slides it back to Smithrow. And then it's the perfect time to get that goal. Isn't it Henderson? Probably be disappointed. He got two hands to it. He probably should have saved it really, shouldn't he?
00:09:00
Speaker
Yeah I don't think he was necessarily set and and that was obviously good for us. I did think that he sort of dragged it a little bit wide and I didn't actually imagine he'd score from that situation and and he did. I mean hen Henderson you know you say he should have done better but but we'll take it we'll take it. I think we were good value to be in the lead at that point and it was really clever from Smithrow to cut out that pass because um you know he was he was quite high up he was he was putting good pressure on the defenders And Jimenez is really intelligent to sort of take that down and and play it back to when he makes the run the outside to Smith Rowan.
00:09:32
Speaker
I think this was Smith-Rose's best game for fullham in a Fulham shirt by a country mile. He got the man of the match from the from the club officially earlier on today. I don't think anyone's got any complaints about that. The way he linked the play, the way he ran with the ball, you know even his finish, it wasn't absolutely devastating, but it had enough on it to get it in the back of the net. and He obviously scored again, VAR, which Fulham, in fact, I put it out on Twitter yesterday because I was like, oh, I actually don't think that we've had a goal disallowed for VAR.
00:10:02
Speaker
Um, since we've been, I, what I meant to say was since we've been back in the Premier League under Marco Silva, which is the case, but actually we got one disallowed under Parker with, with, uh, Josh Madger, Hamble, uh, sorry, Josh Madger scored and Lamina. Yeah. and butgainst that one Yeah. And a one nil defeat, but, um,
00:10:20
Speaker
What was I going to say? Yes, but under silver, that's the first time it's ever happened. Like we've scored, I remember we scored at Spurs last season with Paulina, but it was given offside straight away. There hasn't actually retrospectively been a situation where I think we scored. I think I saw a table of VAR and the decisions for them are actually doing quite well. They're benefiting from VAR, if anything, compared to some of the other teams. We will come on to the second half action shortly, but before we do that, let me tell you all about our sponsors. They are Zencaster.
00:10:46
Speaker
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00:11:09
Speaker
So for the second half, were you expecting a bit of reaction from Crystal Palace or would you expected more of the same from Fullman? not Obviously buoyed by that goal on the stroke of half time. I wasn't really, obviously you expect a reaction because you're the home team, you you want to take the game to the... the opposition, but I didn't really fear them at all. Obviously, Mateta is a handful and can be a handful, but there was not enough players getting around him. Even Kamada and Sa were not getting in pockets of space where I thought that they were going to be threatening at all. In fact, I think what happened in the second half was Moon Oz was sort of playing in a more central role, almost in that, I think maybe that was once the Kamada got sent off, but
00:11:48
Speaker
I seem to remember Moona was playing a little bit more centrally and I was a little bit confused as to what was going on, but I was really focused on Fulham and I thought that right from the off in the second half, you obviously we we so we scored the the second goal, which was obviously disallowed, but the way we went back to front there is genuinely like frightening.
00:12:07
Speaker
And we've seen that a couple of times from Fulham this season. I remember the game against Newcastle And we went from back to front really quickly. We couldn't score. We didn't create much from it. I think there was a cross that went all the way out for a throw in. But the way in which we did that and the passing was just accurate. The ball in, was it? I can't even remember who assisted that. It was a Wobi. It was a Wobi. Doesn't surprise me. It had an absolutely fabulous game, a Wobi. It's just, ah it's unlucky, isn't it? Because it really is.
00:12:35
Speaker
level, but the lines come out and no, but at least we won. It's not like <unk> that and what we were saying after it, he was having too much time in the gym or something. He was torso was just that was like funny but by the barest, barest of margins. But Yeah, I mean, when you get a close call like that, it can kind of go, you worry if it can go both ways, whether Crystal Palace might feel a sense of relief after, you know, escaping there and Fulham might start to feel sorry for himself, thinking, ah, that was so close to 2-0 there. um But it wasn't the case, was it? Fulham just kept pouring forward and they have chances and Pereira. It's funny with Pereira, because anytime he looks like he's close to getting dropped, he has a really good performance. I
Key Player Performances
00:13:12
Speaker
don't know how you feel. I thought he was a lot better yesterday.
00:13:14
Speaker
he popped up, but he had a chance which Henderson saved with his face. there was There was even a time where they almost score from the corner, which, um you know, they just don't do, do they? Where they eat Pereira delivery into the near post, Jimenez makes a good run and fires over, but yeah, he he was looking like... I mean we've seen that we've seen this game before haven't we with the games against West Ham and Everton where even though Crystal Palace, you always felt comfortable because Crystal Palace have not been great in front of the goal and they don't create a lot by didn by the stats but you're never secure at 1-0 and you're always demanding that second goal.
00:13:49
Speaker
Yeah, no, absolutely. I feel Pereira, especially, we need to give a credit where credit is due. Like he had a couple of shots in a couple of minutes where Henderson tipped over and he, like you say, saved with his face previously as well. Much, much better from him. um And I think when one is playing well,
00:14:06
Speaker
and the others playing well in Pereira and Smithrow, they compliment each other very, very well, and the wide men helping out creating chances. It really is so fluid the way Fulham were going forward in the second half. Lots of good attacking play. I remember the game against Forest where we were counter-attacking, but at a very snails pace sort of pace, whereas yesterday or sorry Saturday was just full throttle. Genuinely like we were we were absolutely, we will we had speed on either side. We then had Adama to bring off the bench as well. Wilson making that run down the middle will come onto the goal. And it's just liquid football at times from Fulham. And I wonder now, and I said before this game that people are still sleeping on Fulham, not after this performance, this was mightily impressive.
00:14:52
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with you there because um I was watching the when they give their Super 6 predictions on the overlap and it was Roy Keane and I think it was Ian Wright as well and they came to the Palace full-on games and they were saying, oh, Palace won't lose a home to full-on.
00:15:07
Speaker
um thinking have you not Have you not been paying the attention to Fulham this season? And bearing in mind, Crystal Palace have got injuries as well. So I agree with you. I think they are ah underrated by an overlook by lots of ah pundits. But so just getting back to the game, any nerves, worries about late goals, I guess it was eased by the fact that red card with Kamado, it was a bit of a nasty one, but luckily Kenny Tate escaped from any serious injury because it was it was a horror horror challenge, really.
00:15:33
Speaker
Yeah, not good. In fact, it's one of those ones where as soon as you see it, I remember watching it live, I was just like, he's off. He's out of control. um And Tete, who I think was on the end of two red card challenges when we beat Palace 3-0 on Boxing Day a couple of years ago, when I think Mitchell got sent off and Tompkins. But yeah, I remember he was on the what the end of the one foot for um for Mitchell, because that was a straight red.
00:15:58
Speaker
Not a good challenge. And genuinely, you know it's 1-0 at that stage. They're down to 10 men. I generally thought that's a job done. We've won the game here. Unless we were to monumentally um collapse here, we've we won the game. And actually, that extra bit of space just really helped us actually create more chances.
00:16:14
Speaker
and Fulham made substitutions and there was an immediate impact. I think it was 39 seconds after he came on, Harry Wilson netted again for the third time in two games. ah What turned around for him, because I did see some in some quarters, Fulham fans were maybe writing them off to a degree, but um obviously i thought I follow his journey at Wales. He's been playing ever ever so well for Wales, maybe hasn't got the minutes for Fulham. I think I saw another stat yesterday that he He has, I think he ah he must have only played about 72 minutes this season because there was a stat during the Liverpool Aston Villa game that he had scored a goal every 24 minutes with three this season. So yeah, Super Sub Harry Wilson at the minute. And he's he's operating in a sort of different position of what we've seen when he has played for Fulham.
00:16:58
Speaker
Yeah, so like running in behind and then behind the striker is like the perfect position for Harry Wilson because he can pick up the ball from outside the box, he can go for goal, he can make those runs and you you see he's got a ah really good finish on him as well. um The ball from Owobie is one of the assists of the season so far. um In terms of timing, the the pace on the ball, the the run from Wilson, it's just perfect. OAB has just been magnificent. but So pleased for Harry. Obviously unlucky to obviously get the other one chalked off as well. It was a bit a bit harsh, that one, but obviously handball is handball.
00:17:33
Speaker
um I'm so delighted for Harry, it just seems as if he's loving his football now, even if he's not starting and he'll work hard. If he impresses for Wales over the international break, um he might get that start against Wolves and he would thorough thoroughly deserve it. Yeah and it's healthy competition for places and maybe it's just given the kick up the backside for Pereira and Smithrow who we saw good performances from and they know if they're not on the game then Harry Wilson is there chomping at the bit to get into the team to possibly replace them.
00:18:01
Speaker
Absolutely. and Competition is always the most positive thing about this films called right now. um And it just happens AP prayer had a really good game as well. So I'd imagine we'll be under I can't believe I'm even looking ahead to it. But I would imagine we'd be unchanged for wolves unless there's any injuries. And even there's a there's a there's definitely a conversation now about um Sasha Lukic when he comes back. I don't think he gets in above Santa burger right now. Santa burger had an absolute storm of a game.
00:18:26
Speaker
he did He did indeed, and he looks like he's growing with every game. He was a bit shaky, wasn't it, against Aston Villa, better to against Everton, thought he was excellent against Brentford, that last-ditch challenge to secure all three points. And again, he looked very secure yesterday, so no, all things positive from that front, and when Lukic does come back and team, it will it certainly will be interesting to see what his first choice options are. We might deliberate about that, look ahead in just a moment before we do that. Let's tell you about the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:18:55
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League rapid broadcast in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast. So you said that Smith Row was given the man of a match, is that the way you would have gone?
00:19:21
Speaker
I think so. I mean, Awobi is a very close second as well, um just for his his link up and his his strong runs and and the way he you know set up the goal, or goals that obviously one was disallowed. um But for me, Smith row in those pockets, sort of pressing quite high and then obviously finishing off the chance in scoring the goal and just linking the play. Just really nice bits of play. He picks it up, he passes it, he goes. I mean, it's generally like really nice to watch.
00:19:49
Speaker
um I think we are now seeing him get better and better and better. ever Even at Everton away in the second half, I was losing my head a little bit at Smithrow, and then he does the assist. And I think from there, that's a huge moment for him because he's like, wow, OK, this is what I can do. And even then, he I still think he's not he's not up to full sharpness. like I feel like he he has got another level in him. But the players around him just complement the way he plays so nicely in the style of play as well.
00:20:18
Speaker
um It's the perfect move for him. I know it's easy to say that in hindsight, but really, really Marco Silva is doing wonders with him. Yeah, absolutely. And it obviously helps that he's playing around players that he he knows he gets along with. Well, one of those players being Alex, willby who for me, I thought was the man of the match. yeah That's very bit like ah Michael Buble at Christmas. He was he was popping up everywhere yesterday. And one minute he's on the right. I think he I think he switched flanks with Nelson the first half for about five minutes and then went back over to the right. But
00:20:49
Speaker
Are you sure that gold was disallowed he was at the heart of that and it's decision making it's just so good now you had you had the assist for harry wilson to spot that ball time it you know the password just waited beautifully and.
Fulham's Season Prospects
00:21:01
Speaker
I think marco silvers just getting the best out of him you look at you look at him in his time at everton and arsenal.
00:21:06
Speaker
I just think his decision-making is so much more improved. when When he needs to take a player on, he'll take a player on. When he needs to make a pass, he'll do that or cross it into the box. I saw a stat the other day that he had the most passes into the box, along with Le Mignon in any of the top five European leagues. and For me, he's been the full-on player of the season. There's been there's been many good ones and there's been there'll be many strong candidates, but he's just stepped up ah like another level from from his time at Everton, do you think?
00:21:35
Speaker
ah This is like a really like fascinating career path he's had because when he was at Arsenal, he was surrounded by a lot of star players, but in in a team under, I think, you know, Emory at the time that were really below par, but he was given a chance because the team was in a different state than it than is right now. And he chipped him with the odd goal and, you know, he'd he'd score a couple, assist a sister couple, um and I felt the move to Everton was right for him at the time. It felt like the right sort of club.
00:22:01
Speaker
He scored some big goals for Everton. He definitely did. But Everton fans were getting fed up with him. They never showed signs that he was a strong runner on the ball. um you know Quite easily sort of would drift in mid-field, could play out wide. But we never got to see the real sort of fruits of him. Fulham, we're seeing all those attributes come to the fore. Strong running, assisting, wing play.
00:22:25
Speaker
centrally like in the central positions as well. He could even play deeper in midfield as well, which, I mean, the versatility adds so much more. Another string to his bow. um I think Awobi has been a revelation. Marco Silva said yesterday in his press conference that last season was his best season, um like in his whole career. And I think he could be even better at this season and we're showing that. If he's player of the season so far within this group of players, then he's got to be doing something right.
00:22:51
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not sure about his rapping ability, but he was ah certainly hitting on the right notes on the pitch against Crystal Palace. And speaking of Crystal Palace, one of the players returning there was Yucky Manderson, and a lot of people at the start of the season saw this as a sideways move, somebody even saying it was a backwards move. where So it's certainly not looking that way at the minute, is it? No. um it's It's a progressive move, I think, Fulham.
00:23:15
Speaker
I think Fulham might get Europe. I think we might get Europe. And and you know in hindsight, that would be a ah remarkable move for Anderson and obviously one that's that's paid off very, very well. the he I was speaking to the the guy who sat next to me yesterday. is He's like like sort of a Fulham fan as well. And he was saying, oh, um Anderson's the best center back outside the top six.
00:23:37
Speaker
And I mean, it's it's it's it's a hard sort of argument to make, but I don't really see why not. um He's so calm on the ball, we can he can ping balls out wide, stretch the play, and I just absolutely love him. The fact of the matter is he went back to the Palace yesterday, got a bit of booing, and obviously you expect that from from the Palace fans, but he sort of, even in the build up to the second goal, he just completely like, he went in for a tackle, someone went down and he kind of just shrugged it off and went, oh, that's, um um You know, that's not a foul. We moved on and and we scored from the situation. That's 18 points now from the first 11 games, which is Fulham's best ever start to Premier League season. I think it's their best start to top flight season for 60 plus years. So it's it's been a fantastic start, isn't it? And there's there's probably still some part of you thinking that there's points been thrown away there, so it could have even been better. We we should be third. We should be third in the Premier League and and no one would have any complaints about that either.
00:24:34
Speaker
I can't be bothered to sit here every week and say, we should be this, so we should be that. I think we need to get, I mean, even Marco said it after the game yesterday, today we should be on more points. And I think obviously like, It's very valid to say that, but also just we've got to just take it as it comes now. I mean, if we were to get a 1-0 win against Wolves and we'd been utterly dominating and we didn't deserve it, then that sort of balances it out a little bit. But Fulham are genuinely, I know Brighton beat City yesterday, which obviously is very, very impressive. Forrest will play against Newcastle. That'd be interesting. I think Fulham are one of the best teams in the Premier League right now ah in terms of, it's easy to say form, but in terms of the way we're playing,
00:25:14
Speaker
I think Liverpool are the best right now. I think second best. I think we're the second best team in the Premier League right now. Wow. No, seriously. i don Okay, maybe Brighton as well. And obviously it's and unfair to say that because Forest haven't played yet. But we're we're in the top four in terms of in terms of the best performing team.
00:25:35
Speaker
but they've reacted well haven't they since the Everton game that was hugely frustrating disappointing in a game they should have won that they uh conceded in the 94th minute and to their to their credit they bounced back well against Brentford because that you know you're five minutes away there from then another narrative of being another game you dominated but didn't get the points you deserve but that's back to back wins now the only frustration why is it a frustration i mean you've got the international break it never seems to come at a good time if you're losing games you just want to get to the next game so you can win a game if you're if you're winning games it feels like it it It kills your momentum, but I suppose that at least the one positive is that maybe Sasha Lukic will be back fit for the next game. Yeah, if if everyone's back in terms of Sasha Lukic, we've got a clean bit of health if if everyone comes out fine after the international break. I actually think this is a good time to say to to have this international break because Wolves will be chomping at the bit now because they'll be like, right, we've got our first league win, let's go to Fulham and let's let's try and carry this on.
00:26:35
Speaker
And now they've got to wait two weeks. And I think there's been a lot of, like, the four performances, the four games that we've had since the last injection break has been intense. Like, lots of emotion, missed penalty against Villa, losing the game. And then obviously what happened to Everton, the the late drama against Brentford took a lot out of the team as well. And then sort of just that this quite comfortable victory, but still a monumental shift.
00:26:59
Speaker
um Yeah, well, ah a big effort from the players. I think it's time for a two-week break. I certainly need the two-week break. um So I think when we come back to play Wolves, we'll be fresh fresh and ready to go. I know we've got Lukic on the bench, even better. and And it was big, of course, as well yesterday to keep keep a clean sheet only their second of the season.
00:27:18
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's, and that's big. That's, that's two clean sheets this season, both away from home. And we were good value for it. I mean, can't even remember if Leno, Leno made one save from. Mateta. Oh, Mateta. Yeah. The clearance off the line, you got a hand to it, didn't he? Oh yeah. Yeah. And then Munoz with the shot, which was like offside, but he still had the save. Then Mateta had a shot as well in the second half that basically was a P roller, basically.
00:27:46
Speaker
um It's another display of Fulham not giving up many chances. I know they they had a few shots, Palace, but we weren't on the ropes. You know, usually you go through spells away from home where you have to survive a bit. And we just didn't, there wasn't a spell where Palace were just absolutely putting on the pressure. Maybe a minute, two minute spell where they had a couple of chances. Apart from that, it was, it was all Fulham. We could have won four nil. It could have been five. It could have been six, honestly.
00:28:13
Speaker
Yeah, just to just to wrap up then, I know you said for them are one of the best teams in the league at the moment. Have your sort of expectations, your idea of where they're likely to finish in the table, has that changed in in and the course of the last couple of games or a few weeks? Yeah, I mean, I would have been happy with 10th or 11th to start of the season. In fact, you know, coming into the season, i was I was a bit worried. I'm a little bit of a pessimist sometimes when it comes to, you know, you lose and some really key players like Paulina and stuff like that. Now I genuinely I'd be pleased with a top half finish. and Anything below that would be disappointing in my opinion, but I generally think we can get into those Europa League, Conference League sort of areas as well. if we If we keep this up, I genuinely think we could finish very, very high up. um Fifth would be a push, sixth would be a push, but seventh and eighth are definitely, definitely on.
00:29:06
Speaker
Yeah, but there's certainly exciting times ahead, given the way Fulham have started this season and the football they are playing. That'll do it for today's match recap, guiding you through all the key events of the Crystal Palace game. Be sure to tune in next time as we have a closer look at the tactics. We'll see you next time.