The last time Fulham entertained Cardiff City at Craven Cottage in a league match it was on 9th September 2017 in the Championship. Cardiff had a 100% win record and sat top of the table with 15 points from their first 5 games. Fulham were mid-table with only 6 points from their 5 games.
Six players that played for Fulham in that match remain in our squad; Ream, Odoi, McDonald, Cisse, Ryan Sessegnon and Ayite. The other five chosen were; Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Mollo and Johansen. Used substitutes on the day were Norwood and Kamara (who we all know is currently out on loan).
Fulham put up a good show against high flying Cardiff with young Ryan Sessegnon opening the scoring in the 75th minute with his first of the season. The home team had further chances to put the game to bed, but in typical Fulham style, allowed Ward to pop up with an 83rd-minute equaliser for Cardiff.
Looking back, had Fulham managed to hold onto the lead and get all three points, they would have finished the season two points above Cardiff, therefore gaining automatic promotion instead of the traumas of having to go through the play-offs. It would have given extra time to rest the players, and take stock of who we had and what areas needed strengthening. Instead, fans witnessed the crazy last-minute wheeling and dealing and wasting over £100m on too many players, and too many loans.
Scott Parker’s team need to see this match as a Cup Final by showing the supporters that his side HAS turned the corner, and they are willing to fight hard to win each and every game.
Cardiff come to Craven Cottage desperate for the three points. Brighton face Newcastle at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening, currently three points ahead of Cardiff but with a much better goal difference. If Brighton win and Cardiff are beaten by Fulham, it is curtains for the Bluebirds. Let’s hope Fulham are the team celebrating Saturday evening with a good performance and a third win on the trot.
It is such a shame but the table never lies. We will finish second from bottom because that’s what we deserve from our poor performances this season. If however, we won our three remaining games, we would end up with 32 points. If Cardiff lost their last three, they play Palace and Man City after us, they would remain on 31 points. Should Brighton lose their three, they would tally 34 points. That would mean Fulham could have avoided relegation if they had won just one more match.
It doesn’t sound half as bad as it actually was, does it?
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