SOBS V FULHAM (H)

The Lads welcomed Premier League football to the SoL for the second consecutive August, in the shape of Fulham (who we owe on for last seat) and took three points from a close encounter. A very important win. Very.

For some reason I was really nervous about this one - probably a combination of first home game nerves and trying to sort European transport. The city centre was mobbed, made even more modern bed by the music stuff, and likewise the area around the ground, as the team news arrived..

Roefs

Meunier, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinildo

Xhaka (c), Sadiki

Hume, Le Fee, Angulo

Brobbey

...and a bench of Diarra, Alderete, O'Nien, Isidor, Ahoka, Mundle, Talbi, Rigg, and Ellborg.

No Methalie thanks to last season's yellow card tally, but at least we might get a look at Ahoka. Despite the crowds, there was time for an all-too-brief catch up with Skinner, wishing that a mutual friend was still around to join our European adventure. Look, I like Hume a lot, but surely Diarra is a better midfielder? Anyway, we'll trust in Le Bris's judgement and see what happens.

What happened was the nailing of the flag to the mast by Jack Crawford (ask yer great great great great great grandad) in yet another hunk at our past and a beautiful rendition of Wise Men Say. We kicked off facing north, in a sunny and warm afternoon, against a Fulham side in a curious blue/grey kit. There was an early foul in Reinildo and the free lead to a corner which we took short. Two passes later and the cross was way over the bar, but Xhaka kept us going forward with a pass out to the right. The volleyed cross looked dangerous but was cleared, then Angulo fed Enzo, whose shot bobbled wide.

What looked like a dangerous Fulham break was pulled up for offside, then there was another foul on Reinildo. We made nothing of the free kick before Fulham broke down their right and won a corner which we dealt with - we even had men on either post, which is both a novelty and effective these days.

Meunier, showing husband quality, hit a shot on 16 after some nice passing, but it was pretty comfortable for their keeper. More fouls on Angulo followed as we wondered if the ref would ever have a word with their defender. He also chose to give a free against Dan for a fairly innocuous tussle, but the free from our left was handled by a visiting player beyond the back post. Daft lad. Mind, they should have done better with their next chance which they blasted over the top soon after.

More fouls on Angulo, a couple on Brobbey as he struggled to shake off his marker - but their defence coped with whatever we slung/fired/tickled into their box. Eventually there was a yellow for fouling Angulo out on the left but Xhaka's cross was slapped away for a corner on the other side.

Unfortunately, we weren't over clever with our corners today. Long, short, near post, back post - Fulham either cleared them or forced us back. Away from that, we were a bit keen to move it sideways rather than forward, but at least we didn't allow the Cottagers any shots on target. A single added minute brought no joy, but we weren't losing and didn't look like letting one in. A dangerous thing to say, I know.

No changes for the second half, but they'd obviously put something in Mukiele's tea as he suddenly had boundless energy. Almost immediately Sadiki was away down the right but his cross was too high for everybody, then there followed a series of tackles around halfway that got the crowd going but left Angulo hurt and off for the mandatory minute.

Xhaka slung one in from the right, but BB's headed effort was well over. We were one the wrong side of a couple of decisions that could/should have been play on, but we needed a saving tackle from Mukiele to stop a Fulham attack. Another shot over from Fulham was the extent of their threat, then there was another yellow, this time for a pull in Enzo in our own half.

Nordi was assertive in defence and often strode up a bit yo drive us forward, but he was just about our only player not looking a bit tired after an hour. Off went BB and Angulo in favour of Issy and Diarra, and when Xhaka set Enzo away down the left the goal looked a certainty ,- but Issy's shot hit the foot of the post. Anyhow, our energy levels were raised, and when Diarra chased down the right there was no mistake - his low cross was put away from near the spot by Issy on 75. Pace had done its job.

This did spur Fulham to press a bit more, but we either kept them out or Roefs too the crosses - or punched it away. On 82 Diarra limped off to be replaced by Rigg, then right at the death Mundle replaced Le Fee. He had a chance to kill things but the keeper got in the way and four added minutes were announced. A long Fulham throw - with both feet on the field, mind - forced a corner which we dealt with. Whistle, relief.

Man of the Match? Probably Mukiele, who spent the first half making Tommy Lynch look hyperactive (ask yer dad) but was transformed for the second.