It is now getting to the time of the year when the bright weather is about to turn and the light on a Saturday afternoon at the football is going to become more subdued. As forecasted the rain was in evidence early on and it promised to be a wet day at Craven Cottage in the afternoon. Last season of course Blues put in one of the most complete performances of the campaign, tearing the Londoners apart in a 5-2 victory. Somehow, I doubted a repeat but you never know in football! Fulham appeared to have gotten off to a much better start than last year and found themselves near the summit of the embryonic league table so I felt they were likely to be a different proposition this time around.
Accompanied by my two sons, Jonny and Ben, we caught the 1 pm train from Farnborough to Clapham Junction and from there a connection to Putney. A walk down the high street to Putney Bridge and a left turn along the river bank to the Duke’s Head and just under an hour from leaving home, we were enjoying our first pint. I met John and Simon, two noses from the sacred city who were about my age and remembered Stan Cullis’s team of 1968 with Barry Bridges, Fred Pickering, Geoff Vowden and Johnny Vincent in the forward line. What a side they were to watch! Eighty-three goals in the league that season but we narrowly missed promotion as there were no play-offs in those days and it was the top two that gained promotion and fourth place, which was us, confined us to another season in the Second Division as it was known (I still sometimes call it that!) It was good to reminisce about those times when we also went on a glorious Cup run dispatching Arsenal and Chelsea on the way before falling in the semi-final at Villa Park to our neighbours West Bromwich Albion to goals from the late Jeff Astle and Tony Brown. Simon commented on the iconic ‘German’ shirt that Ben was wearing. He rightly mentioned that it was first used in 1972 but only worn twice (maybe three times?) at Spurs and West Brom, a game I remember well. It was a midweek game around this time of the year and 2-1 down with injury time being played; Bob Latchford scored a dramatic equaliser at the Birmingham Road End to send us into raptures…
Enough of reminiscing, it was time to cross the bridge and walk through Bishop’s Park to the ground. Gary Rowett chose the team that beat Norwich two weeks ago with Kuszczak between the sticks, Grounds, Shotton, Morrison and Spector at the back with Maghoma, Kieftenbeld, Tesche and Davis across the middle. Che Adams and Clayton Donaldson, despite his trip to the Caribbean and back, completed the line-up.
Blues, playing in their away red strip, got off to a solid start but it was Fulham who went close through Tom Cairney who seized on a block by Morrison to rifle a fierce drive towards the top corner. Kusczcak saved brilliantly to leave the Fulham man with his head in his hands. Nothing came of the resulting corner and Blues resumed their attack with a flowing move by Tesche, Adams and Spector only to be halted by Odoi who was lucky to get away with what looked like hand ball but Mr Harrington clearly felt it was unintentional. Tesche snatched at an opportunity on the edge of the box from Tomas Kalas’s defensive header but the shot was mis-hit wide of Button’s left hand post.
On 15 minutes Blues gained a corner and Shotton should have done better having engineered a clear header for himself but he placed his effort wide with Button in goal, nowhere near to prevent it going in had it been just inside, instead of just outside the upright. Blues pressed high up the pitch and were stealing the ball frequently. Spector played a lovely ball mid-way through the half into Che Adams who looked to be in on goal but the ball skipped off the wet surface and took the young striker wider than he wanted. With room running out he attempted to chip the keeper but his effort rolled weakly along the floor to be fielded easily.
Then on 26 minutes, Blues appeared to have created the chance that their play deserved when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Che Adams. Jacques Maghoma – who was superb all afternoon – fed in the overlapping Grounds whose cross was controlled by Adams with his back to goal. He was fouled as he attempted to turn and shoot and the referee pointed to the spot to a loud roar from our contingent. Donaldson stepped up and shot low to the keeper’s left. It wasn’t wide enough and it lacked the power to beat Button and frankly it was in exactly the same place as his previous two spot kicks at Wigan and at home to Norwich. It was a poor kick and a bad miss and Blues had to settle for parity at half time in a game they should have been winning by at least two clear goals. The match continued to be eventful with Donaldson picking up a yellow card for repeated infringements and immediately after this just before half time, Michael Madl recklessly tackled the striker as Donaldson was showing him a clean pair of heels through the middle. It was worth at least a second yellow if not a red for the goal scoring opportunity. As it was, Mr Harrington settled for a second yellow and the Austrian had to take the walk of shame towards the Cottage past the mirthful 3,500 noses who were chanting “Time to go, time to go……….etc.” Goalless at half time; this was surely a game Birmingham had to win from this position wasn’t it?
Blues looked determined to make their superiority count and started brightly, pressing the home side and giving their defenders no time to settle. Fulham were overplaying too deep in their half and Che Adams robbed Floyd Ayité just on the edge of the area and burrowed into the box only to be pushed to the ground. The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot for another penalty. There had clearly been words in the dressing room at half time as Donaldson once again picked up the ball and was in conversation with Maghoma who was clearly offering to assume the responsibility. The Blues fans behind the goal were pleading with Clayton to give Jacques Maghoma the ball but the striker stood his ground, placed the ball and stroked it straight down the middle. Button obligingly dived to his left (I probably would have done too given Clayton’s track record). The ball hit the net, our contingent erupted and we were deservedly ahead. There was most of the half still to go and Blues had to stay alert to the danger that Fulham could still pose, especially from set pieces. It was interesting to see the goalkeeper, Button, acting like a sweeper but from what I saw, he would not have inspired confidence in me if I’d been a Fulham fan!
Tom Cairney so nearly gained an unlikely equaliser for the hosts as he slipped past at least three defenders from the left and poked a shot from six yards. Fortunately Morrison’s last ditch block at the concession of a corner saved the day.
Blues continued to press but the second goal which would have sealed the win for sure just would not come. Scott Malone, one of the best Fulham players on the day, had a glorious opportunity about 10 minutes from time when – with the whole goal to shoot at from not very far out – he contrived to curl the ball past Kuszczak’s right hand post; that was close! Blues were catching Fulham on the break as they took more risks in search of a leveller and Lukas Jutkiewicz, on for Donaldson, crashed a shot high over having been put through by fellow substitute Greg Stewart. The big man should also have done better with a header from a corner which passed just over the bar.
Just before the finish in another breakaway, David Cotterill was put clear. His shot was blocked by Button’s legs and he then chipped across for the incoming Maghoma whose volley screamed towards the net only to be brilliantly headed off the line by Tomas Kalas. There was still time for one more heart-in-mouth moment as with invitational whistles going for the end of play, Malone headed a far post ball back across the goal just past the post to sighs of relief from our end. Blues held on for 1-0 though it should have been four or five. Still, they deserved the victory and were the far better team on the day. The performance was similar to last season; one of theirs sent off, a penalty award and conversion. The difference was that we took our other chances last season and the score could easily have been similar this time around.
The Good: The performance of the team and of course the win but special mention this week must go to our supporters; we didn’t half bump up a storm! Few teams in the league can match us for raw noise in getting behind our team. Leeds United and Portsmouth perhaps are the only ones on a par. What these sets of supporters have is that not only are they raucous when they’re winning but they create a din when the team is rubbish.
The Bad: Clayton Donaldson’s first half penalty; it was truly shocking. He side footed it into exactly the same place as the ones at Wigan and against Norwich; David Davis got him out of jail by netting the rebound at Wigan and the Norwich keeper obligingly dived out of the road. This one was an easy save for Button in the Fulham goal. Donaldson showed a lot of bottle to take the second one though I wish he would hand over to someone else. I accept he scored but it wasn’t a convincing strike and was pretty central and registered only because Button guessed that Donaldson was going to go the same way as the first one.
The Ugly: There was a punch up going on just behind us in the second half. Someone had had a drop too much beer from the look of it and clearly felt that a bloke near him had spoken out of turn. This incited the presence of a load of stewards and half the Metropolitan Police; I didn’t see the conclusion of events but there was no call for this type of thing at all; for heaven’s sake guys it was a terrific atmosphere and we were winning!
Fulham; David Button 7, Denis Odoi 6, Michael Madl 4, Tomas Kalas 7, Scott Malone 8, Kevin McDonald 7, Stefan Johansen 6 (Jozabed Sanchez Ruiz 32, 6), Tom Cairney 7, Sone Aluko 6, Floyd Ayité 6 (Chris Martin 76, 6), Matt Smith 6 (Neeskens Kebano 45, 6).
Subs not used: Ryan Tunnicliffe, Marcus Bettinelli, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Ryan Sessegnon,
Goals: None.
Yellow cards: Madl 26 and 44, Odoi 54.
Sent off: Madl 44.
Birmingham City: Tomasz Kusczcak 7, Jonathan Spector 7, Ryan Shotton 8, Michael Morrison 7, Jonathan Grounds 7, David Davis 9 (David Cotterill 75, 6), Mikael Kieftenbeld 8, Che Adams 8 (Greg Stewart 83, N/A), Robert Tesche 8, Jacques Maghoma 9, Clayton Donaldson 7 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 65, 7).
Subs not used: Adam Legzdins, Diego Fabbrini, Paul Robinson, Reece Brown.
Goals: Donaldson (pen) 49.
Yellow cards: Donaldson 42, Grounds 46, Spector 90
Referee: Tony Harrington 7: There were the usual moans and groans about the officials as there always is but on reflection I thought Mr Harrington oversaw the game well. I think there are always contentious decisions and free kicks that don’t go your way but I felt he allowed the game to flow in a physical game that a fussy referee could easily have spoiled. Most importantly he got the big calls right. Fulham can have no complaints about the penalty awards and frankly Blues could have had one early on when Donaldson appeared fouled in the box but was waved off. Madl was rightfully dismissed and is fortunate the second yellow wasn’t a straight red as Donaldson’s run was a goal scoring opportunity.
Attendance: 17,603
Bazza
KRO
Bazza another good column mate but I thought Donaldson penalty was not that bad it was a half decent save but the fans were first class KRO
The problem is Nicko, Clayton doesn’t inspire confidence as he steps up to the shot. If you are going to place the ball to the keeper’s left with your right foot, you have to open your stance and it rather telegraphs the side you’re going. Providing the shot is wide enough this shouldn’t be a problem but the kicker has to be precise with his technique. If you overdo it the ball ends up wide. If you catch the ball towards the heel of the foot it tends to go straighter and it gives the keeper a chance if he reads it right. Caddis tends to go that side but his kicks are generally just inside the upright and the keeper has little chance especially if the ball is delivered at pace. Donaldson has had two of his four saved so far and the two he has scored have been purely because the goalkeeper has dived out of the way. The penalty at Wigan resulted in a goal because Davis was switched on to convert the rebound. He should hand over to someone who is better at them in my view since so far he’s been pretty predictable.
Great read.
I agree that Donaldson needs to hand over the penalty taking duties.
For a team that doesn’t really score enough, a conversion rate of 50% is not good enough.
I think Shotton is also turning into an astute signing.
KRO
Thanks for another great report Baz. I was stuck to text updates as I was in the pub watching rugby with my brother-in-law. (It was his 50th and doesn’t do football!)
Anyway, having watched the highlights on C5, I also think you were a bit harsh on the pen. I agree that it wasn’t the best, but I wouldn’t say the penalty was poor. May be it was a poor decision to go that side again.
Anyway regardless of that, another good win. If we can tick over like this, it’ll be interesting to see what happens if/when Trillion invest when they take over.
Hope to catch you at a game soon mate.
Thanks Kev, the first penalty when I saw it back on C5 looked a lot better than I remembered it at the game. From an oblique angle it looked half decent but when the camera angle switched to end on, it didn’t look so clever. The main point I’m trying to make about Donaldson’s penalties so far is that if the keeper reads it he will save them all easily. A good penalty taker will give the keeper no chance whether he guesses correctly or not and Donaldson has done nothing to convince me that he falls into the good category.
Bazza Hi
Preventing a goalscoring opportunity is no longer an automatic sending off .
KRO
Yes I know Davey but it is still at the referee’s discretion. Madl was lucky to stay on the pitch as long as he did. His barge into Donaldson’s back early on was a penalty having seen the footage and besides being a foul was a violent and reckless challenge for which the referee gave nothing. Had he given the correct call he would surely have had to card him then so his second yellow would have occurred earlier though I suppose you could argue that the game may have turned out differently with that change of events so we’ll never know. Your point is well made however.