Post Match report for the Fulham game - Thursday, 5th December 2024
PREMIER LEAGUE 24/25: Fulham V Brighton - 5/12/24 P14
* * * * * LETHARGIC NIGHT IN LONDON * * * * *
RESULT: 3-1 ~ Baleba . (h-t 1-0)
VENUE: Craven Cottage, London SW6 - seventh away match of 14 fixtures to date . Thur 7:30pm.
BEFORE KICKOFF: it was first week of December and Brighton fans travelled into the capital for an evening of soccer entertainment.
We had a poor record there but hope springs eternal early in the month of the season of goodwill.
WEATHER: rain . GATE: 26,328 .KIT: yellow . ATMOSPHERE: oh dear!
FABIAN HURZELER was extra busy presently, with this mid-week match beginning a hectic December schedule.
But due to last week ending with a yellow card he was now seated away from the technical area.
FH selected his best options from the squad for the optimum line-up prior to next weekends away contest.
INJURED: 18 Welbeck 24 Kadioglu 34 Veltman 41 Hinshelwood
SQUAD: 4 Webster 6 Milner 7 March 10 Enciso
STARTING SHAPE: 3-4-2-1
TEAM . . . . . . 1 Verbruggen
. . . . . 29 van Hecke 5 Dunk 3 Julio
. 27 Wieffer 33 ORiley 20 Baleba 30 Estupinan
. . . 11 Adingra . . . 9 Pedro . . . 22 Mitoma
SUBS: 2 Lamptey (72), 28 Ferguson (81), 14 Rutter (81), 17 Minteh (81), 8 Gruda (86)
BENCH: 23 Steele (gk) 15 Moder 26 Ayari 44 McConville
GOALS:
1-0 - 4 . a blunder by Verbruggen is punished when hosts score against run of play with their very first attempt.
1-1 - 56 . BALEBA equalises from a low strike with assist provided by a Pedro pass into stride.
2-1 - 79 . from a corner routine the home outfit retake the lead via a deflected og off ORiley.
3-1 - 87 . locals celebrate when scoring a third goal as yellow shirts back off again.
YELLOWS: van Hecke 63, Dunk 79
CHANGES:72 Lamptey for van Hecke
81 Ferguson, Rutter & Minteh for Pedro, ORiley & Adingra . 86 Gruda for Wieffer
FIRST HALF: hosts were gifted an exceptionally early lead.
Visitors huffed & puffed but hardly laid a challenging glove on oppositions keeper.
SECOND HALF: Seagulls level it prior to the hour mark.
Subs arrived from the three-quarters stage.
Locals led late in the day and regain control.
Then they seal the deal prior to the ninety.
IN THE END: beaten by a team that wanted to compete and the word *soft* applies to the away squad.
Players are hyped by media talk the talk but have to show they can walk the walk.
NUMBERS: poss 44%-56%, on target 2-3, off target 4-10, corners 5-6,
fouls 7-8, yellows 2-2, subs 5-5, shape 4231-3421 . . . . . gd3 pt23 po5
FS
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