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Losing ground in the race for Europe
49 Plays24 days ago
Gavin reflects on Fulham's narrow defeat to Aston Villa as hopes of Europe took a major blow on a weekend where results went against them.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work Hello and welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:14
Speaker
Your home for all the latest news and views from across the Premier League and women's football.
Fulham's Disappointing Weekend
00:00:19
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffall. Not a great weekend for Fulham, was it? In fact, it couldn't have gone much worse factoring in the results of those sides in and around them.
00:00:28
Speaker
I will be discussing the ramifications of this latest defeat. But before I do that, I will just be going over all the key bits of the game at Villa Park in case you may have missed it. but We did see a couple of changes from the victorates of Hampton. Expected changes, think it's fair to say.
00:00:44
Speaker
Anthony Robinson coming straight back in and he slotted in at left back, which meant Ryan Sessegnon reverted to right wing. We also saw Sasa Lukic come back into midfield to partner Sander Berger, giving Fulham a little bit more protection, a little bit more solidity in the centre of the park.
00:01:00
Speaker
No Andres Pereira at all though. He wasn't involved in the matchday squad. So that did mean Harry Wilson starting the game. He had the opportunity start in a more central position. Giving a bit more of a license.
00:01:12
Speaker
Playing that sort of number 10 role.
Early Match Dynamics Against Aston Villa
00:01:14
Speaker
Aston Villa did make the better start of the two sides. As you kind of would have expected. With their formidable home form. So a lot of early possession and dominance in terms of territory for Aston Villa.
00:01:26
Speaker
But no real danger signs. And... And I felt Fulham slowly started to grow into the game, which is why it was very disappointing when they conceded the opening goal, when they did, from a corner, from a set-piece.
00:01:40
Speaker
Just basic, really. I mean, it's disappointing to concede goals like that to opposition sides that have so much quality, just from a ah simple set-piece. McGinn delivery and a header. Tielemans appeals away to the near post.
00:01:54
Speaker
And the power in the end is too much for Bert Leno and it's the third time in a row away from home Fulham have conceded the first goal in the first 15 minutes. So these problems keep recurring, don't they? They're not seeming to learn their lessons.
00:02:06
Speaker
They're making slow starts to the game and they're having to play catch up. It's one thing having to play catch-up against Southampton. The side on 11 points this season, it's a different kettle of fish trying to play catch-up against an Aston Villa side who'd been unbeaten in their previous 16 league games at Villa Park.
00:02:22
Speaker
So the last thing you want to do is give them a head start, and that's exactly what Fulham do. And as I said, it came... ah Just a period of time in the game where Fulham were just starting to get a foothold and had some promising, not opportunities, but some attacks. And I thought Ryan Session was a good out ball for Fulham.
00:02:39
Speaker
Often they seem quite susceptible as well. The Villa defenced the balls over the top. This is how Fulham scored in the game at Craven Cottage, just from a long punt from Bert Lennar, which... Raul Jimenez got on the end of. There a couple of times where he just went long, went from back to front in one straight pass. And there were some concerns in that the department from Aston Villa. But then obviously having to play catch up, it's not in the plan, is it? But as I said, it is a bit of a recurring theme at this moment in time. From that point on, you've just got to stay in the game, haven't you? And just make it as difficult as you can for Aston Villa.
00:03:08
Speaker
The last thing you want to do is concede a second goal, because if you do go 2-0 down, then the game is pretty much as good as over against the side as good as them.
Game Disruptions and Missed Opportunities
00:03:16
Speaker
I don't feel the referee had the best of games, particularly in that first half.
00:03:20
Speaker
It was very stop-start. There was a lack of rhythm from both sides. There was a lot of niggly fouls where I felt the referee could have just played on. given advantage, but he was very quick to blow his whistle, very trigger happy.
00:03:32
Speaker
I don't think it made for a really compelling game. Morgan Rodgers was someone I highlighted in the preview about how how effective he was in the game earlier in the season, but he was playing in a slightly different role in this game.
00:03:45
Speaker
And I feel like he doesn't operate so well when he's is playing out wide. So we saw him for the first part of this game playing out on the left. wasn't getting into the game so much though Aston Villa did make a tactical change to switch him over to the right side where he was starting to have more of an influence on proceedings but having said that weren't so many clear-cut opportunities for them but at the same time Fulham weren't causing them too many problems themselves Martinez certainly wasn't troubled in the Aston Villa goal I think for the first 40 minutes for
00:04:17
Speaker
Fulham didn't fashion anything as far as the shooting opportunity was concerned, but there was just one moment of promise when Sessegnon almost gets in behind the Aston Villa backline. He gets in a good crossing position, but can't quite find Jimenez, who had just been able to out-muscle a Villa defender. It was possibly even a foul, so if it did lead to a goal, it might well have...
00:04:37
Speaker
been ruled out anyway. but it wasn't till about the forty minute mark we full them had their first genuine chance on goal and that wasn't anything too threatening it was a row him and a shot from distance which goes comfortably wide after that as the villa do almost go tune a up it's a yuri tillman strike from twenty five yards the boy is running away from him but he tries to arrow win the shot into the top right corner Leno gets fingertips to it but it's not spotted by the referee or his assistant so a goal kick is given and then right on the stroke of half time Fulham are able to fashion their only opportunity on target
00:05:10
Speaker
which is a bit of a half-hearted tame effort anyway from Alex Iwillby from the edge of the box, straight into the hands of Martinez. So after a bright start from Villa where they get the goal, the game just became a little bit disjointed, and I don't think either manager going in at half-time would have been particularly pleased with what they'd have seen, but I don't think they would have been too disappointed at the same time.
00:05:30
Speaker
Unai Emery, of course, going in a goal ahead, he would have been happy with that. But Villa's overall play after that first goal, I think maybe he would have been scratching his head at times. to Marco Silva, Fulham just weren't creating enough, were they? But at the same time, they were still in the game.
00:05:45
Speaker
Whilst it's only 1-0, you always have a chance to turn things around. We know Fulham have shown this season great powers of recovery. when they have conceded the first goal i think they've got a good record at turning games around or rescuing points from losing positions mixed bag in the first half but fulham they just needed to show a bit more in terms of attacking intent to try and get an equalizing goal to try and get something from the game and i'll come on to the action in the second half shortly but before i do that let me just tell you a little bit about our sponsors Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:06:19
Speaker
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00:06:32
Speaker
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Second Half Struggles and Adjustments
00:06:38
Speaker
So as I kind of touched upon there, not much in terms of goal mouth opportunities in the first half, but instantly after the restart, that kind of all changed and it did become a bit end-to-end.
00:06:48
Speaker
Villa should have extended their leads 25 seconds after the restart where cash Matty Cash gets in behind Fulham's defence, plays a low-driven cross into the into the penalty area, and Ollie Watkins should score.
00:07:00
Speaker
It's a glorious opportunity. I don't know whether he's put off by... Joachim Andersson sliding in trying to win the ball but it almost just goes under his feet he takes his eye off it and Fulham are reprieved they do go straight up the other end almost have a chance of their own first real chance for them inside the penalty area Sasa Lukic can't quite get a shot away well he least attempts to get a shot away but it's blocked in the penalty area by Esri Konza At this stage, it goes without saying the next goal is absolutely massive. And it looked like Fulham did get the goal, didn't it? Because Ryan Session, he has the ball in the net.
00:07:36
Speaker
Moment of a second, Fulham fans were celebrating, but almost instantly it got ruled out for a handball. He took it nicely. He finished it really nicely, Ryan Session. The ball kind of sat up for him on half-volley on the edge of the box. He drills it in the bottom right corner, but it's pretty clear that it comes off his hand. So Aston Villa get away with one there, don't they?
00:07:55
Speaker
Again, the referee in the second half, he was kind of continuing where he was in the first half with his stance that any slight little nudge on the player, any player that went to ground, he was going to give a foul. I mean, I guess you could say at least he was consistent, but I felt the times it didn't help the flow of the game.
00:08:09
Speaker
So we saw Kenny Tetty in the book before this Ryan Sesson had also been booked in the first half. for a pullback on half way almost another opening for full and for Harry Wilson he'd made a few good runs but wasn't quite being picked out at the right time full and players weren't quite getting the pass into him quickly enough by notes in playing in that number 10 position he was making good forward runs So it would be interesting to see him operate in that position a little bit more because I have seen him play there for Wales many times. So maybe this is just a glimpse of something we might see a bit more of in the couple of weeks and maybe going into next season. He did get himself on the end of an Iwobi cross. Iwobi found himself out to the right side after Jimenez had won the ball and he plays an early one, measures it perfectly.
00:08:52
Speaker
In between the two, Aston Villa centre-halves, and Harry Wilson gets to it first. I wonder if he could just be a bit calmer and take a touch. Instead, he tries to go first time. I'm not sure if he's trying to chip Emi Martinez, but he doesn't get the contact he would like on it, and he just ends up harmlessly in Martinez's hands.
00:09:09
Speaker
But that was a promising moment for Fulham. Just in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, it was clear, it was evident that Fulham were offering up more of an attacking potency than we'd seen in the entirety of the first half.
00:09:23
Speaker
We did see a substitution, a bit of a peculiar one, if I'm being honest. We saw Emile Smith-Rowe, okay, we know he came on to have an effect against Southampton, but i was really surprised to see Ryan Sessegnon come off. Okay, he had been booked and he was very competitive. He made one or two challenges after that. He had to do his defensive duties, but he was also looking like Fulham's most lively player, lively attacker. He had the ball in the net. So I thought that was an interesting change they made there before the hour mark.
00:09:48
Speaker
We also saw Calvin Bassey enter the book to prevent Villa breaking straight after a Fulham corner. Despite some improvement from Fulham, Villa then did get ascendancy and then got on top of the game again Morgan Rodgers was having more of an influence in the half causing problems for Anthony Robinson Rodgers is also becoming more of a problem for Calvin Bassey at this stage when those two in battle together Bassey wants to stay tight doesn't want to allow the attack of some space but he's also mindful at that point if he does bring him down
00:10:21
Speaker
then he's at risk of getting another yellow card and getting sent off. There is a big save from Bernd Leno. So Morgan Rodgers ends up playing the through ball beyond Anderson and measured perfectly for Ollie Watkins, who just has Leno to beat.
00:10:34
Speaker
He tries to go low, but Bernd Leno stands up tall and is able to prevent them. Second big chance for Ollie Watkins on that half that he's not able to take. They look like they had just upped the gear and they were chasing that decisive second goal.
00:10:46
Speaker
There is another chance for Harry Wilson as Fulham worked the ball well Calvin Bassey gets in the crossing position on the left side he stands across up to the back post but Wilson can't generate any power on his header and again it's straight into the hands of Martinez. Xander Berger is another player that goes into the book for Fulham Xander Berger having a very difficult afternoon if you can remember back to the game earlier on in the season at Craven Cottage between the two sides he had a very poor game there and he was really struggling this game he looked off the pace and And Juri Tielemans was certainly getting the better of him in that midfield battle. He wasn't passing the ball quickly enough.
00:11:21
Speaker
And the Villa midfield, they were just in his face all the time harassing him. And he was finding it difficult to combat that. More changes for Fulham. We see Castagne come on for Tete. We see Traore come on for Wilson. Again, Traore, just like Smith Rowe against Southampton, had an effective game. So could he do the same this time? Former Villa man, of course.
00:11:40
Speaker
But it did seem as the second half was progressing that Villa were looking the more likely side to get the second goal. We saw Marlon and Dina come on to counter Fulham's threat. Dina come on with the responsibility of trying to fend off Adama Traore. And Fulham, it looked like they had run out of ideas to an extent as we go into the final 20 minutes.
00:12:01
Speaker
some final substitutions willian comes on and harrison reed comes on for a wobe and burger no surprise to see burger going off i was a little surprised to see harrison reed come on though in a like for like swap i felt at that stage full and just needed to be a bit more offensive so bringing on a defensive midfielder for a defensive midfielder i didn't quite get it full and were almost better off losing the game two or three nil i was having as many attacking players on the pitch as possible so that was a little strange one and harrison reed i think his first touch when he came on was to take a free kick which couldn't beat the first man which seemed to be a theme of the day to be honest so damma truarez come on and emil smith row have come on and then they can't reproduce the goods from what we saw at saint mary's emil smith row largely anonymous and adam a truare
00:12:47
Speaker
There's a lot of huff and puff, but he can't blow the Aston Villa defence
Late Game Challenges and Failures
00:12:51
Speaker
down. Aston Villa were doubling up on him and Luka Dina come on on with the intention to stop him and he did just that. There was one dangerous cross into the box in Madama Torre, but apart from that, Flatter did deceive yet again and Fulham...
00:13:06
Speaker
ah Any chance they had of getting something out of the game, it was pretty much ended when they had to play the last 10, 15 minutes or so with 10 men as Harrison Reid was forced off with an injury. Fulham obviously making all their substitutes. So they have to end the game with 10 men as they're chasing an equaliser and not an ideal position to be in.
00:13:25
Speaker
Because you felt like, despite Aston Villa seeming reasonably comfortable, It would have been a nervy 10 or 15 minutes for them because you know how important this game for them is, knowing they're still well in the hunt for Champions League places. So 11 v 11, it would have been an interesting dynamic as it was. You just felt with the extra man advantage, it was going to be pretty comfortable for them. But having said that, despite the man disadvantage, it wasn't actually that noticeable.
00:13:51
Speaker
And Villa was still content at that stage in the last 10, 15 minutes to just keep things tight, almost play on the counter attack. and just focus on their organisation and structure and and be it difficult to break down. There is a great chance for them to secure the three points. Marlins one-on-one with Bernd Leno, but he smacks the crossbar.
00:14:09
Speaker
ah Just the chance to relieve any nerves for Villa fans that they might be having at that time. So we see eight minutes added on. Can Fulham get an equalising goal? Well, I don't think they helped themselves, to be honest. There were just a couple of moments in that stoppage time where you just question their desire and how much they actually wanted to get something out of their game or how much belief they felt they had because there was one time...
00:14:31
Speaker
a cross comes in a damatari is competing for a header and then there's a loose ball and raul jimenez just doesn't react at all to it which if he had reacted to he could have got on the end of could have got a shot away could have created a chance for himself doesn't do that and then 97 minutes on the clock last minute of the game to go full and They're just passing it between the defenders, not looking to get the ball forward.
00:14:53
Speaker
They're just happy playing one-twos between the centre-half. Centre-half plays it to the right-back. Right-back plays it to the centre-half. And I'm thinking, do you know you're 1-0 down here? Do you know you actually need to score a goal to get something from the game? But they can't fashion any clear-cut chances...
00:15:07
Speaker
Later on, and Aston Villa hold on for what's a crucial three points for them. Fulham, it's another defeat, another defeat away from home, and potentially damaging one, given the context of the season.
00:15:20
Speaker
And I will be giving my final thoughts on the afternoon and where this leaves Fulham in the final part, but not before this quick message. Your body is unique. And Global Sports Podcast Network has partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements.
00:15:36
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:15:58
Speaker
Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for just anybody. Get what's right for you right now. Look, I don't think anyone's surprised that Fulham lost this game. In fact, I thought it would be more convincing. At least that's what my prediction was.
00:16:11
Speaker
before the game, and certainly when Aston Villa scored the first goal, I felt, oh, this is going to be a long afternoon for Fulham. It was pretty even after that, I guess you could say, but I think it's more concerning to see the repetitive nature of these games.
00:16:24
Speaker
That's the third game away from home in a row that Fulham have conceded a goal in the opening 15 minutes, and that's the second game in a row where they've conceded straight from a set piece. A simple delivery into the box, which an opposition player gets to first, and it's not like Fulham don't have...
00:16:39
Speaker
Tall, physical players that are able to deal with those delivery. They've got Sasa Lukas, you've got Sander Berger, you've got Calvin Bass, you've got Joachim Andersson. So you've got guys with physical nature to them that should be able to compete when those balls are arriving.
00:16:53
Speaker
But instead, they're able to let one of the shortest players on the pitch, Uri Tillemans, at 5'9", get some space in the area. to allow him a free header. Give the player credit. It's a good header. Baird Leno, could he do slightly better? I don't think I'd be too critical. I just think he's beaten by power.
00:17:07
Speaker
But whether they're 5'9 or 6'9, you shouldn't be allowing anyone a free uncontested header direct from a corner. So that's disappointing. And you look at Fulham set pieces, and when they did have chances from wide free kicks or from corners, their delivery was absolutely atrocious. And people always like to pin the blame on Andreas Pereira.
00:17:27
Speaker
Or why isn't someone else taking the corners or free kicks? Well, you can see why Andreas Pereira takes the corners and free kicks, because they haven't got anyone else that's good at it. Whether it was Harry Wilson or Sassolukic, they were poor. They weren't beating the first man, or they'd often be over-hit. Same with the crosses. Most of the crosses that came in were often over-hit.
00:17:44
Speaker
The delivery just wasn't up to the mark and it's kind of been like that recently. So that's something they really need to work on is those set pieces because it's a big avenue. It's a big way of success for certain teams in the league. But Fulham have really struggled in that area this season.
00:17:58
Speaker
And it's something you need to work on, isn't it? They don't have a set piece coach. And a lot of people are ah kind of sceptical about set-piece coaches, but I'm always of the mindset that if you can find an advantage somewhere, if that's 1%, then look to gain that 1% advantage. And I think going forward to next season, that's an area Fulham have to improve at to give them another way of scoring
Marco Silva's Tactical Concerns
00:18:18
Speaker
a goal.
00:18:18
Speaker
Marco Silva after the game, he said the second half was better than the first, that they took more risks and they stepped it up, were able to create more chances. Well, my question is, why do you keep coming out after games and saying the same thing?
00:18:32
Speaker
Why can't they do it from the start? Why are the players always having to react to a situation, almost react to a crisis? Wait until you're down in the game, until you actually start playing football, start creating chances, start believing that you're going hurt the opposition.
00:18:48
Speaker
Why you starting games so slowly all the time and just giving the opposition a head start, giving them that confidence? You're just playing catch up from the word go. So if you know what the problem is, why isn't it being fixed early? Why isn't it being addressed earlier?
00:19:02
Speaker
The subs came up trumps against Southampton but they were largely ineffective here. The puzzling one was the Ryan Sessegnon substitution because he was Fulham's best attacking player and he was the most likely player on that pitch to get Fulham a goal.
00:19:16
Speaker
I really didn't understand that change and I get it he's on a yellow card. and you don't want to risk him being sent off. But just feel like at that stage, that's a risk you have to take and just have to back the player not to get another book in because you feel like he can hurt the opposition. He's one player you have on the pitch, given the form, given the confidence he has, that can get you back in the game. So the subs didn't quite work on this occasion. What makes matters worse is Harrison Reid's having to be forced off not long after coming on.
00:19:43
Speaker
It kind of takes the wind of your sails at that stage. Any designs you have on getting back into the game, they're kind of gone when you have to play with 10 men. So it was obviously serious for him to not be able to continue. And you wonder for the player now, is that his last appearance for Fulham?
00:19:57
Speaker
I've been a big fan of Reid in his time at the club. Put together nearly 200 appearances across all competitions for Fulham. I think he's been a really valuable, important player. Unsung hero at times in that centre-of-the-park. Someone doesn't get the credit they probably deserve.
00:20:12
Speaker
But I just feel like at this stage now, Fulham will want to be ambitious and will look to bolster their midfield in the summer, in which case Reid may end up being the fall guy.
00:20:23
Speaker
I still feel he could offer something to a side in the Prem, maybe reuniting with Scott Parker at Burnley or something like that. But I just feel we may have seen the last of him in the Fulham shoot. But look, he's a top pro, the top guy, he's got a great attitude and you just want someone like that to succeed no matter where they play.
Midfield Issues and Future Prospects
00:20:41
Speaker
Speaking of central midfield, it's not without its problems, is it? This leads me on to the Berger-Lukic partnership, the two sixes, the double pivot, call it what you want.
00:20:53
Speaker
And I think those problems have just been highlighted a bit more and more in recent times when the results haven't been going so well. because when Fulham are chasing the game, when they are looking to get back in the game, they don't offer you so much. If you're protecting the league or you want to keep things tight, then they provide greater value for you. But when you can see the goal early on in the game and you're chasing it, you're not going to get much from them because they don't provide creativity. They don't give you much in terms of goals and assists.
00:21:19
Speaker
They don't offer much for you. So I think that's an area Fulham need to look at. And it's a bit of a dilemma going forward now because... What is the first priority? Is it to be compact and to have a bit of grit?
00:21:32
Speaker
Or is it to find the best formula from an attacking aspect to go out and win games? If it's the latter, then that midfield partnership, it does have its limitations. So I do feel probably more geared towards the next season that Fulham needs a bit more flexibility in that area so that they can change it up when the time calls for it to be changed.
00:21:53
Speaker
To quote the legendary English striker Michael Owen, if you don't score goals, you hardly ever win. and This is the second time in the last three away games where they haven't scored. That's not a trend you want to see happening, is it? Where you're lacking your firepower now and The loss, the absence of Rodrigo Muniz looks a greater loss day by day, doesn't it? Because again, Raul Jimenez, it's whatever way you want to look at it. Maybe be is he not getting the service he demands or should he be taking up better positions and getting himself in the penalty area to be on the end of these chances when they come in and the ball does come into the box?
00:22:28
Speaker
It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation, isn't it? I don't doubt the player's effort, but he isn't impacting games. And as i kind of alluded to when I was doing a preview, it's a big final few games for him. Out of contract in the summer.
00:22:41
Speaker
He's in his mid-30s now. Would you renew his deal for next season and beyond? I'm not sure I would, to be honest. Look, you can lose at Villa Park. Better teams than Fulham have lost at Villa Park this season.
00:22:53
Speaker
So it's not damaging in that respect. Don't think it was a pitiful performance. I don't think it was an abject performance. They remained in the game right until the end. But I just feel at this stage, obviously losing games has a greater consequence with what's possibly on the line.
00:23:08
Speaker
and results well and truly went against Fulham this weekend, didn't they? so Fulham are on the back foot now. After starting the weekend in eighth, they've gone down to 11th, and it's now out of their hands, and I think the next couple of games are absolutely massive.
00:23:22
Speaker
I think the most damaging result was definitely the Bournemouth one, because it's now not in Fulham's hands. Whilst Fulham fans wouldn't have wanted to see Brentford beat Manchester United, That's not such a damaging result because they still have Brentford to play. so it can obviously impact their points tally as well as their own.
00:23:40
Speaker
But with Bournemouth you have to remember that they play Leicester at home on the last day of the season. So you feel like that's almost a guaranteed three points which would take them on to ah minimum of 56 points. Which then means Fulham have to win at least two of the last three games and then still hope they get favours from elsewhere.
00:23:59
Speaker
The Everton game next week, that is a must win, that is a must win game for Fulham and at this moment in time, you certainly can't afford to feel sorry for yourselves. You have to keep plugging away, get as many points as you can and if it's not enough for Europe then so be it, you just weren't good enough to achieve that goal.
00:24:16
Speaker
So yeah, Everton next week, must win game to give the final two fixtures some importance. If they don't win it, then not only are they likely to miss out on Europe, but it's also a distinct possibility that they finish in the bottom half. And that would be a disappointment, wouldn't it? Considering that they have spent 99% of the season in the top half.
00:24:36
Speaker
But that'll just about wrap things up for this particular episode. Dotting the I's and crossing the T's as far as Fulham's visit to Villa Park goes. Not the result everyone was looking for, though I don't think it comes with any great surprise.
00:24:50
Speaker
Hopefully Fulham are able to pick themselves up, bounce straight back against Everton because let's face it, they have to at this stage, don't they? Anyway, thank you all for listening. Thank you all for tuning in to another edition of the Daily Fulham podcast.
00:25:04
Speaker
And I'll catch you all very, very soon.
00:25:12
Speaker
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