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Match review Monday: Spoils shared in Anfield thriller
56 Plays5 days ago
Gavin looks back on a dramatic afternoon as Fulham played out a pulsating 2-2 draw with the league leaders at Anfield.
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Transcript
Apology and Reflections on Fulham
00:00:02
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We are your home of all things Fulham. It's Monday and you all know what
Anfield Thriller Review
00:00:19
Speaker
that means. It's Match Review Monday and boy do we have a game to look back on from over the weekend. It was a thriller at Anfield last season as Liverpool came out for three winners and this one delivered yet again full of incident, drama and tension. All the things we love and sometimes hate about watching football.
00:00:36
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffall and first things first, I want to take this moment to just issue an apology to Marco Silva, the Fulham players and the Fulham fans for my less than optimistic outlook on this game beforehand. Sorry for Evers out on you and given that bleak prediction of a 2-0 Liverpool win.
00:00:54
Speaker
in the forecast episode and on a crossover as well. If I've learnt one frame from watching this Fulham team this season and Marco Silva's Fulham team, it's to never doubt you and to know that in any game, they always seem to have a chance. There's a lot to unpack in this game, so let's get into it. First thing of note, as always, is the team news.
Fulham's Tactical Decisions
00:01:15
Speaker
and there were a few changes fought for them, one of them being enforced, that was Calvin Bassey's suspension, so Hawke Quenker, what a baptism of five for him to make his first prime release start at Anfield, couldn't have it any tougher than that.
00:01:30
Speaker
And not ultimately surprising, we saw Adama Troyore and Emil Smithrow drop out of the team from the game against Arsenal. They were the two that probably underperformed, underwhelmed with their performance against Arsenal. I don't think it's any coincidence that the two games Emil Smithrow hasn't started this season are at Anfield and at Ettie Head. So Andreas Pereira got his first start since the saga about him, about the comments that came out in the media, probably wanted him over Smithrow because of what he can do off the ball and what he can do with the press.
Injury Concerns and Strategy Adjustments
00:02:04
Speaker
I said about Troyer I was a little bit disappointed with his performance against Arsenal. So Harry Wilson came into the team, he scored in this fixture last season, former Liverpool boy as well where it all started and just like to take a moment as well I haven't had a chance to comment on Rhys Nelson's injury which is a big blow for Fulham. It looks like he's going to be out for some period of time
00:02:24
Speaker
for when he went down. I thought maybe a hamstring injury could be out for four to six weeks, but it looks like it could be longer than that. He could be missing the next three months. So that's a big blow for Fullerman with the January transfer window soon to open. You wonder if that's an area where they might look to strengthen. But I think for the time being, and going forward, the way they set up in this game with it will be on one side and Harry Wilson on the other side, given the way those two have been performing, I think that's something you will see more of. ah Those are the two nailed on stars for me as far as the next few games are concerned obviously it's a busy fixture period games over christmas and new year so he might rotate but i think those are the two guys that you'll see starting most of the games coming into this game obviously it was a tough ass back to back weeks full of them taking on big title challengers trying to get a result against them an honest lot what a start he's made to Liverpool 20 wins from his 23 games in charge a very daunting task before them but one they're not
00:03:23
Speaker
going to go into feeling intimidated by, one where you can relish the challenge and if you can play your game then there's every chance you can get a result. From the Liverpool side of things, Macales there was suspended for Liverpool, of course you remember that absolutely stunning goal he scored in this game last season. Out suspended, they had Diogo Giotto back on the bench and Alison it was his first start in the league.
00:03:50
Speaker
for a couple of months he did start the game in Europe in midweek. As well as Kelleher has done for Liverpool and people often like to say how he's the best number two. I don't think that's a tag you really want, is
Crucial Moments and Match Dynamics
00:04:00
Speaker
it? You're the best substitute goalkeeper, the best ah second choice goalkeeper, but big for them to have Alison back strengthening them as they go into the second half of the season.
00:04:12
Speaker
Let's get into it then. And it was a bit of a frantic start. First notable incident happened very early on in the game where Andy Robertson going in for a challenge. Well, he was off, he was an offside actually and he said the op makes a challenge. Andy Robertson stays down a couple of minutes, a bit of an injury scare there. For Liverpool,
00:04:32
Speaker
A couple of bookings early on. I think Luis Diaz got booked for attempting an overhead kick, ah just catches Cuenca in the face and there was a booking for Pereira, ah which I know Liverpool fans are upping their arms about thinking that should have been a much harsher punishment than the yellow card he received for his foul on Ryan Gravenberg. But it is costly for Fulham in the fact that he does miss the game, although if you are going to miss a game, get suspended for a game, then maybe Southampton might not be the worst game to get suspended for but it was a bit stop-start early on probably to Fulham's advantage ah but ultimately Fulham did get that first goal which we've seen so many times this season this was the 12th time they've opened the scoring and it was the 15th successive game where they have scored in the league and this was the one game where I thought they would they would be tested given Liverpool's
00:05:25
Speaker
defensive stability. They've not conceded goals at home and I thought it would be a a tough ask for full and forward but they started brightly when the game did have a bit of a flow to it after those stoppages and fouls and yellow cards and I thought Jimenez started quite well, his link up play was good and he was winning headers and Harry Wilson was looking lively on that right hand side and the the goal actually comes from Harry Wilson, he switches the play from, he goes from right to left, switches it over to Iwobi, got Anthony Robinson on the overlap, slips in Anthony Robinson, he puts a cross into the box and I thought he over hit this to be honest and but it seems like Alison's slightly
00:06:06
Speaker
I don't know if he's unsighted or he just misjudges it and the ball floats over his head. Andres Pereira is at the back stick and he does well to make contact with this because he's stretching, he puts out a right foot, makes decent enough contact and it comes off Andy Robertson into the back of the net for a 1-0 to Fulham, something to hold on to for the rest of the game. But as we know with Fulham scoring the first goal, doesn't always mean they're going to go on to win the game.
00:06:33
Speaker
But yeah, the best possible start. full um From that moment on, it just gives him confidence and he started playing. And there's another big incident in this game soon after that, which is the red card for Andy Robertson. The denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. It's a good ball, first of all, from Sander Berger. He's on the left side. Diagonal, progressive pass up to Harry Wilson, who's been a threat for the first 10, 15 minutes of the game.
00:06:57
Speaker
Looks like Andy Robertson is just going to collect the ball, but he yeah he has a bit of a poor touch and Harry Wilson is here to nip in, Robertson cuts across him, fouls him, obvious foul, red card denial of a goal-scoring opportunity and i I saw, I was watching Match of the Day actually and Gary Lineker made an interesting point to be honest, which I didn't factor and I didn't think about at the time because I just thought he was a blatant, obvious red card.
00:07:20
Speaker
but um the ball did come to Raoul Jimenez as Wilson gathered it from Robertson's poor touch and Jimenez had a chance on goal which she he blundered. It was a bit of a tame casual effort as he tries to chip Allison but ah one of the defenders is running back with easy clearance but referee pulls it back for a free kick to Fullman Andy Robertson showing the red card.
00:07:42
Speaker
Bit of a delay here as we check for VAR but it shows that Van Dyke is actually playing Harry Wilson onside and the red card stands so a big opportunity here for Fulham now. A goal up at Anfield, a man advantage. Suddenly again you're probably going into not with the greatest expectations.
00:07:59
Speaker
thoughts of coming away with points now you're thinking this is a big chance now it kind of reminiscent of the game a couple of seasons ago where they played at the Etihad and Manchester City were down to 10 minutes can sell or got sense off and but ultimately that ended in heartbreak as as Manchester City scored late on to come out to win winners but you know with Liverpool even with a man advantage nothing's assured, is it? So you've still got to keep pushing for that second goal. And maybe that's where Fulham have just been lacking a bit this season, which is why they haven't been so great at maintaining leaders. They haven't got that second goal. The tip the other team has often got that equalise and the second goal in this game would would prove to be massive. This kind of lifted the Anfield crowd. I mean, you're not quite sure how what the atmosphere is going to be like in a three o'clock
00:08:48
Speaker
kick off on a saturday at home to full of them and i've been there for european nights when they when they played real Madrid for instance a couple of seasons ago. The atmosphere for european nights is something really special but sometimes it may be the more low key affairs in the premier league.
00:09:03
Speaker
a game at home to a mid-table team, you don't normally see that, but it created this siege mentality and the Liverpool fans were really loud and gave the team the fall back in after that because they knew they would they would play a part if Liverpool were to get back into the game. And from a full-on perspective, you think like big opportunity but but by no means are you counting your chickens figure thinking this is three points in the bag here because We know what Liverpool are capable of doing. and Even with 10 men, I remember a game against Newcastle last season when they played with 10 men for a large portion of that game and they ended up winning 2-1, turning it around. So it was important for Fulham to have that clinical edge because you knew they were going to get opportunities, there was going to be space out on the pitch. From the resulting free kick, Harry Wilson, you know what he's capable of from that distance, 25 yards out, suited for the left footer, gets a good strike on it, but it just goes over the bar.
00:09:52
Speaker
No immediate changes for Liverpool. You know, normally when you see a red card, you you always see the managers reshuffle, bring on a substitution. Of course, no Simakas, who will be the natural replacement for Andy Robertson, ah but he had defenders on the bench. He could have brought on Kwanzaa. So it was interesting to see what Arne Slott did, and he was changing things up with personnel playing in different positions. It was just interesting because this was a real test for him. One, he hasn't necessarily had to deal with at Anfield, with his team coming from behind and being a man down.
00:10:20
Speaker
But Liverpool, they played with great fluidity. They had that front three, no natural striker there. So they had Gapo Salah and Luis Diaz, and they kept bombing forwards and committing players forward despite being one nil down. They had the belief that they could overturn that deficit and still win the game. And for Fulham, it's all about making the right decisions, making the right final pass, because you know you're going to have that extra extra space with the extra body.
00:10:47
Speaker
But then there was such an open field to the game you just felt the next goal was absolutely massive. Long amount of injury time because of the stoppages early on in the game and the VAR check for the Robertson red card.
00:11:01
Speaker
But Fulham had a chance late on to double their lead. Robertson combines well again with a Woebe. He's on the overlap. Picks out Wilson in the box, but he doesn't quite get under it and fires over the bar. Fulham, they're looking good when they're attacking. You just want them to pick out that right pass and be clinical. But for Liverpool, they played with such an ah energy and they had to cover more ground missing that man. So it was on a knife edge and despite playing with 10 men you wouldn't have necessarily noticed it the way they were flirting forward. I know they obviously had to chase it being a goal down but if this was full of them playing another side, neither at the bottom of the table, if they were down to 10 men you would expect
00:11:43
Speaker
let's get men behind the ball here, and then if we can hit them on the break, then maybe we can get a goal-scoring opportunity there, or if we can get a free kick, pump it upfield, that sort of thing, just to make sure that you don't get hit by the second goal, which is game over. I feel like if Fulham did get the second goal, ultimately for even a team like Liverpool, that would have been a really tall order for them to come back from. So it was a big 15 minutes for Honest Lot to figure out a way to turn things around.
00:12:10
Speaker
and the second half action to come. But first, a few words about our sponsors. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording and AI editing that automatically removes all those M's and R's, it's super easy to start the podcast. It sounds great and it's delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:12:39
Speaker
So still no changes for Arna Slop at half time. For Fulham, it's just important with that man advantage just to remain switched on at all times and not give any freebies. The last thing you want to do is gift them a goal, gift them away back into the game. But Liverpool did get their equaliser not that long after half time. And it's Salah gets the ball in space, sort of central.
00:13:06
Speaker
towards the right side. He's about 30 yards out from goal. Chips a floated ball into the back stick and there's Cody Gackpo. He stoops low down diving header into the back of the net. Really livens the Anfield crowd up that bit more.
00:13:23
Speaker
just to feel that they can come back and go on to win this game. That was Mo Salah's 100th assist for Liverpool and just shows the level of consistency he's had for them. What a great play he's been in the Premier League. What a great play he's been for Liverpool over the years to keep producing it season in season out.
00:13:38
Speaker
those assists those goals and it's probably an underrated facet of of his game because we always talk about Mo Salah and the goals he scores but people probably overlook his creative play and the assists and this is a beautifully guided ball. Gappo who's spinning some good goal scoring for himself and one player I feel has improved the season and their honest slot and he has the simplest of tasks to nod it in right man at the right time.
00:14:02
Speaker
Again, a few bookings, a niggly fouls. It wasn't a dirty game, but there's a few bookings there. Unfortunately, for Fulham, Kenny Tettay had to go off injured. Kostanya replaced him. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious because Kenny has been solid at the back of this season. He would be a big blower for Fulham. Do lose him for a significant period of time, even though Kostanya is more than an able deputy.
00:14:26
Speaker
and after that goal it did kind of look like a shot for them and Liverpool were looking the team likely to get their noses in front if any team were but then they were able to calm things down a little bit and Fulham were getting a lot of joy on this left hand side with Woebe and Robinson dovetailing beautifully causing Trent so many problems we know with Trent some of the things he could do on the ball from set pieces, his range of passing. When you get him forward and into midfield, he can hurt other teams. But when you get him running the other way, he's not so comfortable. And it was interesting that for them at targets to that area where it was Andy Robertson on the left side who was sent off. So instead of focusing their emphasis on that on that area.
00:15:06
Speaker
the the red card it changed things because Harry Wilson was the one causing problems, he was the one causing problems for Andy Robinson to get him sent off and then the focus switched over to left side where a well-being Robinson had probably been full of two standout players this season, and they combined so well in this game.
00:15:21
Speaker
Big opportunity for Liverpool to go to one in front, which comes from a Fulham corner. We've seen this a lot over the past couple of seasons under Jürgen Klopp, and now with Anna Slott, that Liverpool are so dangerous when they're defending corners because they break with such speed and such intensity. And St Boslai drives forward, he plays the right ball to Mo Salah. He's a little bit of an awkward angle, but he fires it at goal. To Fulham fans' relief, it goes wide. And for Fulham, they were playing well ah between the third it was just making that final pass and just being cold you just want to be you want to be cold Palmer in those moments and just not tense up not think oh I'm playing at Anfield yeah I could get I could end up getting the winning goal or something like that so it was just a couple of moments I just needed to take a bit more care with the ball and make the right pass the telling pass that would ultimately lead to them benefiting from it.
00:16:13
Speaker
Fuse changes, Rodrigo Muniz coming on, Emile Smith wrote coming on, Pereira putting a good shift. As I just said with that situation that's been rumbling on, the best thing to cure that, to get rid of that ill feeling is to put in performances on the pitch.
00:16:29
Speaker
And I don't think it's
Tactical Setups and Player Roles
00:16:30
Speaker
any coincidence as well that he's playing in probably a position in this game that's a bit more suited to him. He's got those two behind him in Berger and Lucid screening the back four that he scored his two goals this season at the Etihad and at Anfield. And he's still a big player for Marco Silva, but Marco Silva is obviously a massive fan of him because he's been a mainstay in the team in the two season, two and a bit seasons that Fulham have been in the Premier League.
00:16:54
Speaker
Hopefully this was one to quieten the Dallas, but obviously with him now it's just he's being consistent and he's going to miss the next game now, but when he does get the opportunity and to play more performances like that.
00:17:06
Speaker
Ryan Gravenbuck was moved back into midfield, he spent a lot of this game playing at centre half and an auxiliary centre half so to speak but Quonset came on, Darwin Nunes came on as well, played a low on confidence, he misses a lot of chances inevitably so you had that feeling that he was going to probably score the winning goal because that's a thing that seems to happen against Fulham, whether it's better or whether it's Danny Yings or zerksi players who are not scoring goals they seem to come up against Fulham in a notch to winning goal but it was actually Fulham that got the 2-1 goal and this is largely in thanks to Aunty Robinson again into play with Iwobi Iwobi plays the ball in behind the centre half
00:17:50
Speaker
Trent Alexander, and was actually called out positionally. Anthony Robinson runs off him, goes direct running to the box. Alex, the world he finds him. Again, I thought he slightly over hit the pass, but with Anthony Robinson, the pace he has, and he doesn't stop running, does he? He makes a decent pass into a great pass. He out muscles Quonset.
00:18:14
Speaker
gets ahead of him and then just slides the ball across to Rodrigo Moniz. He's there, he makes some contact and then it comes off Joe Gomez and bundles its way into the net. I think it's gone down as a Rodrigo Moniz goal but it wouldn't surprise me if this gets changed and goes down as a Joe Gomez goal.
00:18:30
Speaker
So for Fulham there, they're 2-1 in front. Similar position to where they were last season, where they were 3-2 up, going into the last 10 minutes. But you're never safe. You're never safe at Anfield. They just have this factor when they're kicking towards a cop. Never feel comfortable. Even if you were playing against nine men or eight men.
00:18:47
Speaker
you just feel there's this overwhelming sense of you're just swarming forward and there' just the belief in them that they they can always get back into the game and for Fulham it's just about taking care of the ball because you know Liverpool ah are going to commit bodies forward and there's always the opportunity if they they were to end up getting the third goal then that would see off the fine Liverpool team. Harvey Elliott comes on he almost scores in instantly he manages to find space in the box Ball's on his favourite left foot and he curls it inches past the post and I'm sure that goal wouldn't have gone down too well with Fulham fans giving their feeling towards to the player. But the equaliser does come. It's a well-worked goal from Liverpool. Clever little pass from Dawa Nunez into Diogo Jota who's come off the bench as well and Jorge Cuenca who'd had a very fine game up until this point.
00:19:38
Speaker
But this is the one time in the game where he gets caught out. He's a clever piece of play from Diogo Jota. He turns and gets his shot away. Leno seems to dive a little bit early, but Giotto has come as you like. I mean, he's always talked about how good a finish he is. Just slots it into the net for 2-2. Sparks, jubilations and the feeling that they can get that winner. And Diogo Giotto is another player that's just like Alison. He's going to be big for Liverpool coming back because he's a player they have missed. and I don't think years are underrated because I think people who watch football know what a good player Diogo Giotto is. and so
00:20:12
Speaker
he's He's a real asset for them. So, you know, they didn't play this game with that focal point and a number nine necessarily. And each deal goes out to necessarily a number nine. I mean, you wouldn't, you wouldn't necessarily say so. he's Certainly a goal getter and you get him in those positions. Generally it's going to find its way in the back of the net.
00:20:29
Speaker
Darma Troyeray coming on for Harry Wilson. good Good afternoon for Harry Wilson. Very bright particularly in the first half. Second half the emphasis was more on the left side so he didn't see as much as the ball but there's a player brimming with confidence at the minute and as I touched on I feel like he's gonna get a run of starts now which he thoroughly deserves for his performance. He's putting it off the bench and also when he's been away on international TV. Nine minutes added on.
00:20:54
Speaker
and it's a tough one really isn't it from a full-on perspective because you're thinking hmm how would you see a draw here is it is it a point gain because no one would have predicted you getting the point before the game or do you look at it as two points drop given the circumstances given the fact you were a goal ahead and and had that man advantage but Nine minutes go up and Liverpool, they feel that they can win the game and there was a big moment in that stoppage time when it was a couple of huge blocks. Robinson on Van Dijk, Van Dijk's gone up at this point as i centre the forward as a There's a goal mouth scramble, the ball eventually deflects and goes over the bar. The Darmot Rory has a chance before them.
00:21:32
Speaker
Later on, I'm not going to be too critical of him on this occasion. He gets a shot off eyes at cross goal. He hits it. Well, Alison saves low down, but it was, it was pulsating. It was end to end and it it could go either way, but ultimately it finished two, two. And I think both teams can be happy with the point. Look at the start of the game, if you would offer Liverpool fans a point at home to Fulham, I'm sure they wouldn't have taken it. But given the circumstances that led to it.
00:22:01
Speaker
That could be a massive point for them. And on on a day where Arsenal weren't able to capitalise especially, they point the home to Fulham. Looks a much better point than Arsenal's point their home to Everton. But yeah, an absolutely fascinating game of football and it shows in Premier League football. You never know, you never know what's going to happen. Before I draw a line under this game and have a look at the effect it may have going forward, allow me to point you in the direction of GSPN.
00:22:28
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 wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. It's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:22:48
Speaker
Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want to have your say on Fulham, then we are on the lookout for podcasters or wannabe podcasters to join the team. So if this seems like the platform for you, then don't hesitate to get in touch. That's GSPM Fulham on Twitter and GSPM Daily Fulham on Insta. Drop us a message and we will get back to you.
00:23:10
Speaker
So yeah, a game of mixed feelings, ultimately a point game, I would say, because in the last knock-ins of that game, they probably were
Performance Analysis and Improvements
00:23:21
Speaker
hanging on. They were the team hanging on that needed the final whistle.
00:23:25
Speaker
But and great another a great game to be involved in and a game that shows Fulham on their day are capable of getting points against any team in this league. That's successive weeks now. They've they've had a say in the title race, early stages maybe of the title race and fingers will start hopping up towards the second half of the season. but A different display, we talk about Fulham heading into this game, about being brave on the ball, and Marco Silva wanted them to show the qualities that he knows they're capable of, that maybe they weren't able to show against Arsenal. That was a very different side they showed against Arsenal, where they had limited chances on goals, didn't necessarily pose that threat and had to defend really well, rearguard defensive action.
00:24:04
Speaker
Until the red card, they were the bad team. Many times they came forward, they looked like they were going to cause Liverpool problems. But you've got to give credit to Liverpool. They they never stop pushing forward and never stop believing they could win. I think the crowd was certainly a big factor as well for them and it created that siege mentality, that belief, we're going to do it here against the odds and come back to win. and Yeah, it's ah it's a very different game playing against Liverpool and Anfield than it would be playing against one of the the basement dwellers at home and Fulham certainly experienced that. I do feel that if Fulham managed to just be a bit more clever and calmer in certain situations in the first half,
00:24:43
Speaker
When they were coming forward, that could have led to the second goal. If I do feel a film gone into a two goal lead, then that would have been really hard for Liverpool to come back from. I think Marco Silva said it after the game that they should have taken the three points and they should have been more narrow. They were too open and Liverpool's compulsion was ultimately the decisive factor for them to get back into the game.
00:25:02
Speaker
But you go away to Anfield at any time in the season, and such a massive club and how they've started and the honest slot, you know, I think you take a point, wouldn't you? You take a point and you look overall at the last four games they've had. I mean, I remember speaking about these fixtures a few weeks back saying it could be a daunting task playing the teams they're playing. Going to Spurs, playing Brighton, playing Arsenal, playing Liverpool, but they've come through those games unscathed and unbeaten and taken six points for them. but And if you would offer any full and fans six points from those games, they would have bitten your hand off. But I think the way they've done it as well, if you had said six points, they may have said, possibly beat Brighton home and then maybe, maybe could beat Spurs away from home. But the fact that they've gone to Anfield and got a result and before that they had stopped Arsenal winning as well, who prior to the game had banged in five in the last couple of away games to show that they are, they are a tough nut to crack. That's one defeating eight in all competitions now. And on their day, don't take them lightly.
00:25:58
Speaker
They have quality, they're a well-coached team, they have good individual players and they play as a team and if they're at it, Fulmer a hard game for anyone. They've gone to the best team in Europe, arguably, certainly the way they started in the Champions League as well and they give them an almighty fright on another day, could have come away with the three points but I think you're definitely set off for a point there.
00:26:19
Speaker
and Anthony Robinson I think a special word has to go to him for his performance without doubt the man of the match in this game for me does this guy ever get tired his engine is just incredible his stamina his cardio it's just it's just incredible and on a day where Liverpool's left back got sent off He really showed his class in this. I was so i was saying ah kind of jokingly yeah on the crossover episode, hopefully he has a good game, but not too much of a good game. So Liverpool come in for a bid for him next month, but he was immense in this game and another two assists. And he has the most assists for any defender in the league this season, only some of the absolute stellar big names ahead of him in in terms of that department. so
00:27:02
Speaker
He continues to make strides and the way him and Oobi were able to get a Trent Alexander Arnold and and cause problems was ah really something to watch and yeah, all in all.
00:27:14
Speaker
Very good performance to come away with a point that Anthony Robinson, absolutely superb, tipped my hat to you, mad at the match. I don't think anyone can have any doubts. Want to give a special mention to Quanker as well. Obviously, obviously coming in for his first start in the league, real, real tough one, but he was pretty solid to be fair to him. And and apart from the one moment from Giotto, but you just want to put that down to Giotto's excellence and the the player he has to find space there. and lead to a goalscoring opportunity. ah He'll probably be disappointing himself, Cuenca, there, but no need to hang your head and shame him. Diop, Diop again was a colossus at the back, and any time a cross comes in, apart from that salad one, which was just measured beautifully to the back stick for Cody Gappo, he was able to deal with it as well. so
00:27:58
Speaker
when Anderson is fitting available, does he come back into the team? I mean, i mean is it is it nailed on? yeah I mean, the way he said the Op has been playing, maybe it's not. Yeah, ultimately he's tinged with some disappointment because it is ah it is another game where for them I've taken the lead, that's 12 times and they've only managed to win six of those games. So that's something you just, you want to get a bit better at as the season goes on. And for them to do that, they will have to make sure that they they score the second goal when they're on top in games, when they have those moments.
00:28:26
Speaker
They're just a bit calmer with the ball, make the right decision in the final third and when you go 2-0 up in games it just gives you that extra breathing space and then it changes the game completely then doesn't it and then there's not such a nervousness and an anxiety based on probably what's happened in the past that feeling that of deja vu that it's going to happen again but so yeah very positive few weeks for Fulham given the fixtures they've had. We saw against Wolves if you're not at it in this league then then you can get caught out and the ironic thing about that Wolves game is you look at the four results full results Fulham have had since then and the full results Wolves have had and they've subsequently sacked Gary O'Neill. So it changes very quickly and in football, doesn't it? But yeah, another fantastic game of football, really entertaining game and that's what you're getting in all the full with Fulham at the minute. A lot of lot of the games they have, it both teams are scoring, not keeping so many clean sheets but they are pretty exciting to watch and
00:29:23
Speaker
look forward to the games in and around Christmas and New Year, take the positives from what we've seen in the last four games, take them into the next games and they'll be absolutely fine. That just about wraps things up for our Match Review Monday. It is Southampton up next and the build up will soon start. So please do join us for that. Thanks again for listening and we'll catch you all next time.