Just twenty minutes into the fixture, against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday evening, I was ready to head for home.
In a game, in our pre-match build-up Click Here, I’d declared we must win if we’re to stand any chance of retaining our Premier League status, Fulham were already 2-0 down, courtesy of Glen Murray taking advantage of shoddy defending.
Trailing 2-0, there looked to be no way back for the Cottagers.
However, out of sheer loyalty to the cause, I stayed in my seat and how glad am I that I did.
After not conceding any more goals, Fulham emerged for the second half like men on a mission.
Obviously furious at what he’d witnessed in the first-half, Claudio Ranieri must have delivered the mother of all half-time talks.
Suddenly, a game that was looking as if it was lost, was back in the melting pot when Callum Chambers pulled a goal back.
Then, by some miracle based on that shoddy first-half performance, Fulham were suddenly ahead when the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic netted a brace.
Fearful of Brighton striking back and snatching a share of the spoils, Fulham made the game safe when Vietto netted a fourth sending the home support delirious.
So what exactly did Ranieri say to the players to provoke that second half response?
Speaking to the media afterwards and as reported by the BBC, the Italian was giving nothing away, simply remarking:
“It was a very strange match.
“We were 2-0 down after 17 minutes. At half-time, I gave confidence to my players and positivity – I told them we are in the match.”
Hopefully, Fulham can get some momentum going now and, despite my fears to the contrary before the match, climb out of the relegation zone.
But what a comeback that was!
COYW’s
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