Fulham done at home

So I'm going to ignore the booing, jeering and name calling (who knew my wife could be so cruel) to once again write about football. Saturday the 27th of September saw a visit by cross town rivals West Ham, ironically the side that is closer to us in East London then Fulham.

Players are led out onto the pitch

Some of the players look very short!!

Fulham started with their strongest side looking for points after a 1-0 loss away to Blackburn the previous weekend. This had been followed by the same score mid week against Burnley which saw Fulham dumped out of the Carling Cup. But after two strong performances at home hopes were high for a form reversal. And for 42 minutes Fulham dominated possession and seemed easily the better side. Then in less than 5 minutes West Ham had scored twice and Fulham reduced to 10 men when Andy Johnson was sent off, and a good result seemed beyond them.

Doom and gloom hung over the ground as the second half began, but Fulham continued to dominate despite the numerical disadvantage, and within 15 minutes a Lucas Neill handball allowed Danny Murphy the chance to reduce the margin to one goal. This he duly did and Fulham were back in the game. The West Ham fans went silent as the Fulham fans exploded, rapturously chanting 'You're not singing anymore' taunting the opposing fans.

For the next half an hour West Ham were not without their chances, but Fulham seemed the more likely to score an equaliser. Chance after chance was created, by none were converted, to the eternal frustration of the 'Tourettes' afflicted fan seated next to me who colourfully shouted at every near miss. Some people are quite intense about their football.

The final whistle blew just as Fulham stalwart Jimmy Bullard thundered a free kick, the final play of the game, into the wall, disappointingly consigning the home side to defeat. 2-1 was the disappointing final result, but the game saw a side reduced to 10 men continue to play ith a passion and flair that still bodes well for a season beyond survival tactics.