I quite like Fulham as a club.
When you consider their resources and the fact that they’re not very fashionable, you have to admire how they keep ticking over in the big boys league and aren’t the perennial strugglers you’d expect them to be.
I think they manage to achieve it by playing very pragmatic football and we all know what they’re about in being physical and extremely well organised.
After thursday’s game, I suspect that many teams might feel they’ve worked us out and realise that we struggle more to play against a deep defensive line (or to use the modern term ” a low block”). And it’s a tactic I expect Fulham to employ as they seem particularly suited to it, in my opinion.
I watched the Newcastle game yesterday evening and I thought their players looked leggy, which is something I fully to see in our lads. Perhaps there is something in this thursday sunday thing after all, although I still struggle to see why fit young men would struggle with it.
Squad news and little has changed. Ramsey is close and Moreno is on the bench where I’d expect him to get minutes today.
I’ve just looked and here’s the team;
Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Tielemans, Diaby, Watkins
Perhaps the surprise is Tielemans, but I feel he does add something and he just needs to get back in the groove. He’s obviously training well and my guess is that Emery has a specific task in mind for him.
Duran is also on the bench, so maybe the toe injury was a genuine thing.
As for Fulham, Marco Silva confirmed that striker Rodrigo Muniz and Issa Diop will miss out due to a knee and ankle injury respectively. Adama Traore, Tosin Adarabioyo and Kenny Tete are all doubtful.
So the headline gives my thoughts away.
I’d like to think we can win this 2-1, which would be great as if Liverpool were to lose to Brentford, we’d actually go 4th. How good would that be, with us going into yet another boring international break?
But then, my years of disappointment have left me struggling to think that we will achieve this here.
We just never seem to get that luck, so it’s why I’m going for a draw.
I don’t think I see many goals either, because of the way that I see Fulham playing.
And if we play with the lack of pace that we had on thursday, I think they’re well capable of actually beating us.
But then, I can’t face that idea, hence a 1-1 draw it is
UTV!
Same old fingers crossed.
This league is anyone’s if we can get some luck.
You may recall, I called this a draw when we discussed the upcoming games over a ‘pint’.
Hope I’m wrong and we can add another win at home.
Fair enough – not a penalty but why was the ball given to Fulham when clearly a penalty?
Yep, should have been a corner.
Get in, Diaby 1-0
Tielemans playing well, as is McGinn
Yeeesssssss!!!!!
Get in again, 2-0 McGinn!
Bit of pressure from Fulham at the minute…
Oh Yesssss!!!!! A Captain’s goal!!!
Awesome tackle by Cash just before too!!!
Great half and a fully deserved 2-0 lead.
We look good all over the pitch.
We bossed that first half and deserve the 2-0 lead.
Fulham look like the team that played mid week.
If we can get a third we can rest a few players to prevent injuries.
Another VAR job. It counts.
3-0 Watkins, with a great pass from Bailey.
Game over.
Cor!!!!!!!
We are ASTON VILLA!!!!!!!!!
Our defence looks so slow compared to Fulham today. Each time there’s a 1 v 1 if the line is breached, we’re 2nd best.
High line is not doing us any favours.
Need another Villa goal to settle my nerves!
3-1 but we’re making this nervy as hell! Traore on now what’s the odds he runs us ragged for 10 minutes. Come on Villa hold firm now nothing stupid.
Get in, 13th straight win at home in the league, Brighton drawing, Newcastle losing, just need City to lose or draw and it will have made up for last weeks disappointment and keep us in touching reach of the top. I don’t for one minute think we can be champions but the longer we keep the gap close to the leaders the more likely we can grab a champions league place! Ollie needs to start putting those sitters away then he would be a 20 goal a season striker. 1 last week and 1 again today.
Phew! Another 3 points!!! How did Ollie miss that header????? He looks well peed off…
Brilliant stuff. Tielmans had a great game. So did Cash.
Super John McGinn was outstanding and easily MOTM.
Tielemans had a good game too and Bailey was lively when he came on and looks a different player to last season.
Disappointment was not getting a clean sheet and getting sloppy to give Fulham hope but that could be down to fatigue.
Just think if we had beaten Forest we would be top of the table now.
International break will give time for Moreno and hopefully Ramsey to be back in contention. Let’s also hope no injuries for those playing for their Countries.
UTMV!