Just a shortened reaction piece this time because my dodgy internet connection chose tonight to have one of its off periods and so I only really got to watch about half of City’s 2-0 defeat at Fulham. Therefore, I’ll just concentrate on a few major incidents I got to see and some general impressions on how the game panned out and where we stand going into our final three matches.
The first thing I’d say is that City had more of the game than I was expecting and there were periods at the start of both halves when we looked to be in charge, but I thought we lacked the quality that Fulham were able rely on in attacking areas and by the end could have few complaints about the outcome as the home team had plenty of chances to damage our goal difference further.
Before and during the match, Sky made quite a bit of our good set piece record this season. They weren’t wrong to do so because we have scored more from set pieces than any other Championship side, but we occupy that position solely on the back of what we did pre lockdown. Post lockdown, we’ve been ordinary at best in this facet of the game in terms of delivery and execution and, by the end, one of the major reasons for Fulham’s win was that they defended set pieces (and they had a lot of them to deal with) much better than an often lax City defence did.
Neil Harris restored Callum Paterson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to the starting line up and the latter began the match as if it might be one of those occasional games where he proves to be virtually unplayable before fading and eventually being withdrawn. The winger, who had missed the Blackburn game because of the imminent arrival of he and his partner’s first child, best moment coming when he forced home keeper Rodak into an urgent near post save after he had seized on another piece of loose play from Fulham during a very careless first quarter from the home side.
However, I’m sure I wasn’t the only City fan thinking that we would pay for not having taken advantage of this early period of supremacy and the truth was that, once they started to play, Fulham created far more danger to our goal in ten minutes or so than we did theirs in twice that time.
To be fair, City did react well in the short term to falling behind to a Mitrovic penalty (more on that shortly) when Joe Ralls cracked a fine shot against the crossbar and then, from just about the only chance created from a set piece all night, he got on the end of a Sean Morrison flick on of a Will Vaulks long throw, but could not keep his header down.
Both incidents came within a few minutes of a slightly lucky home penalty in that a deflection on the initial cross made it a more threatening situation for the City goal than it might otherwise have been. Also, Mitrovic got a away with a foul on Dion Sanderson which happened before the ball reached the pair of them and when the young full back reacted with an obvious tug on the Serbian international, it was this that referee Gavin Ward spotted and penalised.
It’s not often a penalty will attract special praise for its quality, but I thought Mitrovic’s spot kick conversion high into the corner of the net above Alex Smithies’ dive was superb and made our young full back pay fully for what was a naive and panicky response to the actions of a canny striker.
It should be repeated that Sanderson had been fouled, but he shouldn’t have reacted like he did. It’s been a chastening few days for Sanderson as, for the first time in his senior career perhaps, he’s had to experience the other side of the game following a very promising initial few games for us and, after giving away a needless corner shortly afterwards, it wasn’t really a surprise to see him make way for Lee Tomlin at half time as Leandro BAcuna moved to right back.
Former City man Bobby Decordova-Reid was first unlucky and then at fault for not putting his team two up when his lovely curled effort from twenty five yards was destined for the same corner of the goal Mitrovic’s penalty found until Smithies intervened marvellously by turning the ball onto the crossbar and over.
Not quite as impressive from Decordova-Reid though was the way he nodded a tempting Knockeart cross wide from no more than five yards out and it ensured that City were able to get to the interval just the one goal behind,
For a while, City suggested that they might just get back into the game as they put Fulham under more pressure, but, unlike before the interval, there wasn’t really much to suggest that any of it might bring a goal.
Indeed, I think the “what if” moment after the break for us was when home centreback Michael Hector was only shown a yellow card following a clash with Paterson – in truth, it looked like no more than a cautionable offence to me, but Hector could easily have picked up a further yellow later in the match.
Again, once Fulham started to piece things together, it was they who were always more likely to get the match’s second goal – they could have had further penalties for a Curtis Nelson handball and then a Ralls foul within seconds of each other – full back Christie was left unmarked from a free kick to head over when he should have scored as well.
There were other chances for the home team as City responded with a series of long throw ins by Vaulks which, the occasional Morrison flick on excepted, only served to show how well the home defence stood up to the aerial bombardment it faced.
Maybe things might have been different if the hosts did not have the security of a second goal to sustain them, but I doubt it really – impressive though Josh Onomah’s shot, taken early, far beyond Smithies into the corner of the net, was, it probably wasn’t needed.
So, Fulham can still dream of automatic promotion (can’t see it happening myself mind), but for City, it looks like going right down to the wire. Looking at this weekend’s fixtures, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see us still in sixth place going into our game with Derby on Tuesday, but, having thought seven points from our last five games would be enough, it’s probably six, if we’re lucky, from three we’ll need now and don’t forget that two of those matches are at Cardiff City Stadium, the ground where we don’t win any more unless we’re playing one of the two sides who are going up automatically this season!
Thanks, Paul. Sorry to hear that your internet connection prevented you from enjoying all the action.
Just three observations:
Cardiff wouldn’t have been given that penalty. Naivety shown by Sanderson and the referee. Mitrovic is one clever, cheating footballer.
How did Michael Hector last out the full game? He committed a foul in just about every tackle. He appeared to want to be sent off but Mr. Ward wouldn’t oblige.
Cardiff, so much effort, so little quality. I was again confused by Harris’s substitutions. Alright Sanderson was under a bit of pressure but it surely should have been Hoilett making way for Tomlin.
As far as the play-offs are concerned I don’t think we should be too disappointed if we miss out. The management team will have more opportunity to find a mid-fielder with some creativity. It would be nice to get a ‘wunderkid’ from one of the top sides on a season-long loan. The Jacks seemed to have managed to acquire a couple, why can’t we?
Colin Phillip’s.
You are spot on about Mitrovic. Questions must be asked, if we know, why don’t refs. Sanderson’s had his arm at waist height so that would just take him forward and not cause his arms and legs to flap like a spider in its death throes. I missed the foul Paul talks about. Conveniently so did ref, but he wouldn’t want to see it as Fulham were attacking.
Would we have got it. NO.
My mate sent me a photo following the game, it was against Wigan, Morrison’s shirt is being pulled, 12″ from his back ref is looking at it yet no penalty. There were 3 or 4 in that game.
As stated Hector should have gone, so too, possibly knockeart, straight red for dangerous tackle from behind with no attempt to play the ball or 2 bookings. One for handball.
we should be used to this as the Blackburn midfielder should have been sent off for a nasty tackle on Tomlin. The ref wasnt even going to book him it was on 4th officials intervention that something happened. Ref only issued yellow for an over the top, leg breaking challenge.
I am sick to the teeth of these ref/leagues contrived results. I know that Paul disagrees but it is clear there is a conspiracy. How can a ref not do the honest thing. Most are dishonest and have no integrity.
Ward last night, thought about, and was lenient in Fulham favour yet for the penalty he immediately pointed to the spot. It left me gobsmacked.
Due to this, I class it as racism, as they hate the Welsh they favour their clubs, i will not be renewing my season ticket.
I am stopping for the first time since 1968.
I don’t mind losing honestly, Blackburn, but when these cheats in black constantly favour their beloved English clubs then enough is enough.
Fifa know how bad they are. None at last world cup but our leagues protect them.
Warnock was fined for speaking out against these idiots but due to their lack of integrity they just carry on cheating to get the results they want.
It’s also time city stopped making fools of themselves by going on one knee. That has run its course. Concentrate on the game ahead and not make a statement for a political party that try to overthrow authorities. Or do it and tell the ref Welsh lives matter.
I will watch the final 3 games of this season and then cut my ties totally. Football is deceitful and corrupt and I want no part of it any longer.
Good afternoon Paul, (the other Bob Wilson). Earlier in the week, I mentioned that I thought Hoilett looked tired, and his performance, or non performance, last night demonstrated that fact. I imply no criticism on him because the schedule has been so demanding, but his inclusion in the team against Fulham weakened the team. There was no threat on the left hand side which resulted in the team being unbalanced.
I know you are a fan of Paterson, but he rally is no attacker. If the tactic was to unsettle the Fulham defence, well he did that to some extent, and particularly Hector, but there was no end product from his efforts. He does not control the ball well enough when in possession.
At one time, I thought we were on for at least one point, but then came Sanderson’s act of naivety and after that it was always going to be difficult. I had no problem with the end result, it could well have been worse.
I understand that Fulham committed 18 fouls, some of which were cynical and could have attracted more than a yellow on another day. But Ralls was also guilty of such an offence and perhaps was lucky to receive a card of the same colour.
So with three games to go, we are nowhere near knowing just where we will finish in the league this season. Whereas before I was anxious about retaining 6th position, I now am fairly relaxed about our fate. Recent matches have confirmed my view that we are really not good enough to challenge for the Play Off Finals, and clearly not for the Premiership. Quite which team will secure 6th spot is debateable, but if I had to hazard a guess, the men in white down the road could well grab it.
Derby’s defeat by Brentford only reaffirmed my view that they are the best team in the league currently, and with their goal difference, both Leeds and West Brom had better be careful.
As an postscript, when I heard Alan Parry was our commentator for Sky, I had the wild idea that he was to be a lucky omen as he had preformed these duties on all of our games televised since lockdown and which we had won. As Capt. Mainwaring would have said “stupid boy….”
Thanks all for your replies – just a quick acknowledgement that I’ve read them I’m afraid and to say although, as Paul says, I do not agree with him about biased officials, I felt the guy on Friday was the worst of the refs we’ve had since fixtures resumed.
I’m writing this on Monday morning with the knowledge that we still occupy the final playoff position, despite losing our last two games to Blackburn and Fulham. I expect there were many Swansea fans who thought they’d done enough against Leeds to earn the point to overtake us, but it turned out to be a case of Premature Jack Elation (sorry)!
I’m also writing this with the news that Manchester City have won their appeal to CAS regarding their expulsion from the Champions League in the face of what seemed to be overwhelming evidence of abuse of Financial Fair Play Rules. It brought to mind the comments of the other Paul that much of football is financially corrupt. The big teams can afford the huge sums to hire the best legal teams in the world, who can mostly run rings around most Administration bodies. Unfortunately this is likely to mean more of the top clubs can continue to get away with it, and will maintain their positions at the top.
Mind you, sometimes the governing bodies don’t help themselves. As they are supposed to be a governing body, I can only wonder how the EFL allowed Wigan to be sold to someone living on the other side of the world, who made his fortune from playing poker. Once the deal was done, the owner then sells Wigan to another far-eastern company, places a massive bet on Wigan (the club he’d just bought and sold) to be relegated from the Championship, and the new owner puts the club into administration (in record time), knowing it will mean an automatic 12 point deduction for them.
In the circumstances, I hope Wigan are successful in their appeal to the 12 point deduction, even if it’s just done to prevent what appears to be a massive case of fraud taking place!
I don’t agree with the other Paul though about a conspiracy by officials against us. I do think they tend to favour the top eight Premier League teams, because they’re responsible for the vast majority of money in the game.
That apart, I think refs largely reflect people in society – we all have our in-built biases and prejudices and refs are the same (they are just people after all).
Some are better than others, but I don’t think it’s an easy job, especially when you get players like Mitrovic play-acting, to get decisions. The ref only has a single one-off view, and he needs to focus on everything around him, without the benefit of replays.
I’m not aware if VAR will be coming to the Championship next season, but even if it does, I’m not sure it would overturn the Mitrovic dying fly penalty drama.
It’s still all to play for, for the final play-off place, and will likely go down to the wire. Millwall are two points behind us although they play freefalling QPR and Huddersfield in their remaining games, so are definitely still in with a chance of nicking it.
I think what happened at Wigan is a disgrace Blue Bsyou and there is no way they should be docked points, especially after having done so well to get clear of the relegation scrap pre lockdown. I’m with you about referees as well right through to thinking that Friday’s penalty would still have been given against us even is VAR was available.I see what you mean about Millwall, they beat Blackburn tonight and you’d fancy them to get to seventy one points.
I’ve more time now than I did yesterday,, so here’s a few quick thoughts on some of the other matters raised in responses to Friday’s match. Colin, perhaps the conversion to more of a passing approach we’ve seen recently is partly down to an understanding that we need to be seen to be playing differently than we did under Warnock if we are to stand any chance of getting the sort of wunderkids you talk about in on loan? Sorry you feel like you do about football Paul – that said, I’d agree with you about it being corrupt and the worst thing is that the higher up you go, the more corrupt it appears to get, but, for me, it’s still, at heart, a beautiful game and, increasingly, it’s what happens on the pitch which takes my interest. BJA, I posted something on a messageboard a few days ago saying that, although I was sorry to see Norwich go down, I took consolation from the fact that their record is going to be far worse than ours was last season when Chris Sutton was predicting a Premier League lowest number of points for us – that was never going to happen, but I think it might well do if the current squad were to face a season of top flight football.