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Never look a gift horse in the mouth.....
5-1 can rightly be considered a thrashing, but the reality of the game was probably a little different to what the scoreline would suggest for some. We were, it must be said, completely dominant. Fulham were absolutely awful. But this wasn't a performance of great skill, great flair, great technique. Much more than that it was a highly professional one.
The problem with Boxing Day fixtures is the turkey malaise that seems to engulf so many players. And so it seemed yesterday for almost the entirety of the first half. Until Robbie Keane slotted in for the first, the match lacked any kind of tempo and the atmosphere in the ground suffered as a result. But with Fulham as hapless as they were there was never really any threat.
Ahead of the game as the teams were read out we were amazed to hear that Ledley King was not only back in the squad, but also in the starting line-up! A genuine buzz went around the ground when we heard that. Fantastic to see him back in the side, and he couldn't really have hoped for an easier comeback. He, and indeed the rest of the defence, didn't have a great deal to do. There was one moment of danger that he snuffed out in the first half with a superbly timed sliding tackle in the box. A hint of just what we've been missing at the heart of the back four!
The opening goal, when it did come, was largely thanks to a stinging half-volley diagonally from the left by Malbranque that crashed straight back off the post right to Robbie Keane. His very cool first time side foot straight back into the net put us ahead and it was a position that rarely looked under threat.
While the remainder of the first half still maintained that very 'Boxing Day' feel, we did maintain an almost monopoly over possession. In injury time we extended our lead through a hard and low drive from Tom Huddlestone - who, overall, looked very good in the centre of midfield, spraying passes around to the two wingers. This goal also owed a lot to Malbranque's excellent work down the left, with Berbatov holding and then knocking the ball back to Huddlestone. Niemi didn't even move in the Fulham goal. When Tommy hits the ball, it stays hit! There was hardly any hint of backlift and Niemi was probably slightly unsighted, but bloody hell, that ball didn't half go at a pace!
The second half was actually much more entertaining. Perhaps it was the fact that Fulham got a goal back? Totally against the run of play and pretty sloppy play it seemed from my seat at the other end of the stadium. In reality, having seen it on replays it was both offside and handball! At least it gave the travelling Fulham support some cause to cheer.
Not that that lasted too long. Shortly afterwards, maybe a minute, maybe two, we established a two goal cushion again with Berbatov heading goalward from corner - an excellent header, by the way - and Keane turning into the net from little more than a yard out. Once again, a case of Robbie being in the right place at the right time! This was one of many contributions from Berbatov in a game where he exerted a decent amount of influence at the front of the line. Not a classic by any means, but worthy of mention in any case.
A fourth goal came with twenty minutes still on the clock, Huddlestone again scoring from range, this time picking his spot in the bottom left corner of the goal. It was a really good goal from a really good finish.
King was taken off shortly afterwards, his work done. An easy enough comeback and hopefully there will be no ill reactions. Whether he can be fit again to play against Reading on Saturday remains to be seen. But it was great to see him leading the side again.
The one substitution I really wanted to see was Taarabt. He was thrown on with plenty of time still on the clock and the contributions he did make excited the crowd as usual! It took him a while to pick the ball up, but when he did he ran at Fulham, twisted and jinked, and showed just why he excites supporters so much. One run in particular across the pitch from his position on the left wing (where he partnered O'Hara for the latter part of the game) beat several Fulham players before a cynical foul brought it to an end. Excellent. Just excellent. It still confuses me why the lad doesn't start. I can only imagine - I can only hope?! - its because he's still as young as he is and club would like to introduce him into a regular first team spot when we're performing well, rather than when we're languishing at the wrong end of the table. I can only hope!
The fifth came right at the end of the game, another very good goal. Huddlestone ran into the box and held off a couple of challenges before laying off for Defoe - he probably realised his chance of a third had gone! Defoe ran onto it, shifted it across his foot with speed and poked in. A classy finish, just as you would expect from him.
5-1 then. A fantastic result and leaving last Saturday's defeat aside, it continues what is becoming a very good run for us. Reading on Saturday are likely to pose much more difficult questions than Fulham managed and it would be great to see King lead the side again, but I'd rather we were sensible with his return. Sadly, with our defensive injury crisis, maybe we'll be forced to press him back into action?
Overall, yesterday's was a thoroughly professional performance. Some quality contributions - Malbranque, Huddlestone and Bebartov particularly standing out, but O'Hara again throwing himself into the game, Lennon offering good options down the right, and Taarabt entertaining as ever when brought on.
Like I said when I started this report off - never look a gift horse in the mouth!
Christmas was quiet-ish. Travelling to see family mostly. Gutted I was ill in the lead-up as missed two Christmas parties! No matter. As you say, New Year will be a mess. Other half's birthday on 1st January so likely to go out and get blasted again!Originally Posted by RiverWire
Sadly, she doesn't want to take a trip to Birmingham. Can't imagine why.....!
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