With the transfer window still letting in little more tan a draught to our blessed part of the world, it let one out as Chimbo moved back to Spurs. I’m not one of those tearing his hear out at his departure, as most players who are unhappy off the pitch are rarely much use on it. His wife’s remaining in London is an obvious negative effect on him trying to settle up here, and perhaps his knowledge that a move was all but done and dusted had some part in his excellent (shooting aside) performance at the weekend. Surely Ricky has somebody up his sleeve as a replacement?

With the temperature plummeting as we left Bish, our thoughts turned to Andy Johnson’s gleaming pate – surely a target for frostbite tonight.

Fulop
Bardsley Ferdy Collins McCartney
Steed Teemu Deano Reid
Cisse Jones

No surprises there, and a strong bench of Leadbitter, Diouf, Chops, Healy, Carlos, McShane, and Colgan to offer opportunity to change it around.

The night got off to a bad start, as we obviously lost the toss and kicked of in a Northerly direction, with Fulham attacking the end which contained a smattering, scattering of visiting fans. What possessed two of them to get hoyed out baffles me, as there was plenty of space to keep away from anyone you didn’t get on with. A trip midweek for Fulham to Sunderland at this time of year, post Christmas, before your second pay-packet, and with FA Cup replays all over the shop, does make you wonder who sanctions the fixture list. Think of that before you whine on, Ferguson, Wenger, and Benitez.

As we moved forward early, Reid found Cisse in the box, but he was crowded out, and the opening was generally very open, as Fulham came forward more than expected by me at least. A bad ball from Jones set Fulham away, but Ferdy got in the telling tackle in the box.. Fulop’s clearance found Jones, but Cisse was well kept out by their number 5. Ferdy had to mop up again, twice, as the visitors wasted no time in coming forward. Deano and Steed combined to get Cisse in, but the shot was a yard or so wide. At the other end, Fulop had no problem making a save, then Reid found Jones, who in turn found Cisse, but the backheel was cleared by Fulham. McCartney put in a decent cross which Cisse headed down in the box, but just too far away from Jones.

We looked to have a decent shout for a penalty as Steed carried the ball into the box from the right only to have his legs taken away. Perhaps his mistake was to try to stay on his feet. Whatever, the ref waved advantage as the ball went to a red and white shirt before being cleared. It wasn’t the first time the ref baffled the crowd, and while I’ve no problem with letting the game flow, there were numerous decisions which baffled both sets of fans.

Fulham had the midfield mostly in their control, as we failed to hold on to the ball in that area and too often gave the ball away there. While the fullbacks linked well with their wide men, the midfield didn’t seem to understand each other too often. Jones battled through to smack in a shot which Schwarzer saved well, and Cisse’s follow-up was well blocked. At the other end, Fulham fired wide twice through Davies, then Collins threw himself in the way of a Johnson shot as the visitors passed it about a bit more effectively than we did. Having said that, we had out chances, and there were glimpses of a partnership as Jones won a series of balls in the air.

No changes for the second half, and Fulham sat back a bit more after the restart to allow us to come forward a bit more effectively. Jones and Cisse combined immediately to win a right wing corner which was cleared, but Teemu’s ball back in floated just over the heads that mattered. Reid’s left-wing cross was punched away by Schwarzer and Deano’s goalward was blocked as we strove to make a breakthrough. Ten minutes in, Reid drove towards and looked to be fouled on the edge of the box, but the ref allowed play on as Cisse’s shot was well saved, but Jones showed strength to get to the loose ball first and smack the ball home. Cue somersault and all that nonsense.

Ten more minutes of to and fro football brought Davies a chance a yard out when a cross was knocked down, but he leant back and the ball flew over the bar. Straight down the other end, and Steed fired in a shot from distance which Schwarzer did well to keep out. At last we had a spell of control, but not for long as Fulham kept going. Cisse produced the first offside on 65 minutes, and 70 brought the first stoppage as McShane replaced and obviously knackered McCartney, with Bardsley switching to the left.

To those who thought it clever to boo, either for the removal of McCartney - he’s not 100% match fit, you idiots – or the arrival of McShane – he’s one of ours, you idiots – stick your tickets where the sun don’t shine, as you clearly know as much about football as a bucket. Give over and support your team.

Five minutes later, Carlos replaced Reid and Steed moved to the left, and they brought on the dangerous Gera. Another five minutes after that, Teemu went down and was quickly replaced by Leadbitter. Jones won a corner after breaking though and seeing his shot saved, we produced some good defending, the three minutes extra were announced. We sat back a bit and almost let them through as Deano dallied, but we held on for a vital win.

Overall, the defence was decent, keeping the irritating Johnson mostly at bay, and continued in that vein with McShane doing nothing wrong when he came on. The forwards worried their defence, despite not quite clicking yet. The midfield, though, lacked a bit of cohesion despite Deano’s typical lung-busting performance – some sort of connectivity was missing, although Edwards did stretch their defence by sticking to his wide game.

Man of the Match? Great shifts from Collins and Ferdy, and 90 minutes of effort from Deano, it has to be Jones. New contract in his pocket, he won more than his fair shares of headers and scored yet again.

Bring on the magpies.

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