Two more points lost or a point gained? Despite being in the lead for so long, the fates conspired to deprive us of a much needed away win with yet another late goal.
It`s enough to make you pull your hair out!
Its now an eternity since we`ve registered an away win and yesterday for long periods of the match I had this niggling feeling that this would be the day, that this would be the day we`d register our second win of the Premier League season.
In fact if I`d have left early and driven home wit the car radio off and the stereo only playing tapes, I`d have arrived safely back in London believing we`d gotten three points. However, that`s enough of the wishful thinking, it`s time for a reality check, a check that will show us that despite proclaiming the necessity to take seven points out of the three games against Derby, Sunderland and Reading, we`re in danger of, at best, of only achieving five.
For the fixture, Sanchez chose to slightly shuffle his pack bring in young Elliot Omozusi in defence and recalling Simon Davies. However, at a very vociferous Stadium of light it was to be Anti Niemi, once again who was to prove to be the star of our side.
The first half was very evenly matched and Fulham created several good chances through Clint Dempsey and Simon Davies before eventually taking the lead in the thirty-second minutes, and what a fine goal it was.
Simon Davies produced a moment of magic by curling his free kick over the wall to leave Craig Gordon dumbstruck in the Sunderland goal, surley a candidate for goal of the month.
Leading 1-0, things were looking rosy; unfortunately, we were t fall victim to the curse of playing a team with ten men. Once Greg Halford had been sent off for two bookable offences Sunderland rallied.
The second half saw a rejuvenated Sunderland tear into Fulham and it was left to that man Anti Niemi to repel the striped shirts. The Finnish keeper pulled off great saves, the most notable being from a Grant Leadbitter volley that had goal written all over it.
In true Fulham fashion though, just as you thought we`d weathered the storm and would be able to have a pleasurable drive back to London the unexpected happened. Kenwyne Jones, a recent signing from Southampton, rose superbly to plant a header past Niemi.
Never mind – we`ll be there for the visit of Reading next week won`t we!
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