by SCIAG »
12 Aug 2017 18:04
Really good game. Shame that we gave away such a silly goal and couldn't score another, but nothing to seriously complain about.
Think Popa should have come on for Ilori, and much earlier than any of the changes we made - we could then have made a really good go of stretching the play and taking the game to Fulham. They defended really well, particularly helped by the addition of Norwood in front of the defence - comfortably the best defensive midfielder in the league.
I hate to say it, but the referee had an absolute shocker although obviously we were the main beneficiaries. There's no way that should have been a red, from that angle and distance and with covering players it couldn't reasonably be described as DOGSO. Fredericks should have been booked in the second half for a cynical tug back. A few minutes later, he gave Moore a soft booking, and then booked Ilori for being pulled. About ten minutes later, he gave a very soft free kick against Moore when a Fulham player slipped over, but having given it really had no choice but to give Moore a second booking - he bottled it.
I don't get the Fulham hype at all. That's the fourth time they've come to the Madejski this year and they haven't looked at all threatening. OK, today things were against them, but every time we play them our fans wet themselves. They're fairly solid defensively but lack a cutting edge or attacking threat. I know that they score and concede a lot of goals against other teams, but personally I don't think they're anything to fear.
Swift was uninspired yet again although his defensive play is improving. Hopefully he gets back to his best, but for the past eight months or so we would have been better off playing Craig Tanner. I'd probably play Clement or Quinn ahead of him on Tuesday.