Fate dealt Fulham a cruel hand yesterday, against Chelsea.
In his first game in charge, after replacing the axed Claudio Ranieri, Scott Parker saw his charges push a top-four chasing Chelsea side all the way.
After going a goal behind, Fulham could have crumbled but fought back resolutely to equalise, through Callum Chambers.
Although Chelsea responded quickly by taking the lead again, Fulham heads didn’t drop, and the side produced a period of play where they had Chelsea on the back foot.
Only a string of fine saves by their goalkeeper, Kepa, kept our neighbours in front.
But perhaps the cruellest blow came in stoppage time when the offside flag went up to deny Ryan Sessegnon the equaliser Fulham probably deserved.
Replays showed that the call was close but correct, perhaps on another day Fulham might have got the benefit of the doubt.
The result leaves Fulham facing mission impossible when it comes to Premier League survival, I doubt any club has managed to survive when being 10 points adrift with just nine games left.
However, despite losing his first game in charge, and as reported by the BBC Scott was pleased with what he saw, remarking:
“The most important thing was we showed character.
“Our centre-halves got the ball and played. This is the way Fulham play and the way I want my team to play.
“I am thinking long term in the best interests of Fulham. I will treat this as long term because I want to help this club.”
Obviously, it is early days as far as Parker’s managerial ambitions go, but, on the whole, I thought Fulham looked a better outfit, against Chelsea, than they have in numerous games that preceded it.
COYW’s
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