Unsure occasions at Fulham. The phrase is out that the membership's possession want to prolong Marco Silva's keep. The supervisor himself has been noncommittal, whereas additionally making specific his dim view of a scarcity of summer season switch enterprise. Raúl Jiménez's winner, coming when it appeared Fulham have been incapable of scoring, would possibly nonetheless uneven waters for now.
It lifted Fulham away from the growing risk of a relegation battle however the supervisor stayed noncommittal. “I don't want one of these efficiency to make essential selections,” he mentioned.
Final season's file factors tally and enterprising soccer has been changed by staleness and sterility, and Silva might argue little of that's of his making. The Khan household possession gambled on stasis, not often a recipe for fulfillment when others spend huge.
Jiménez's purpose was a measure of the veteran striker's dedication to maintain making an attempt when different heads would have dropped however counting on him stays an indictment of the dearth of funding Silva and supporters complain of. They may also miss Silva's sport administration and risk-taking values ought to he select to depart.
Beating Sunderland ought to register as a coup, the Wearsiders have loved the novelty of the large league although right here got here the unwell wind of actuality. Together with his workforce kicking off in fourth place, Régis Le Bris is that this season's finest newcomer, however Sunderland fell prey to Fulham bringing on high quality in Emile Smith Rowe and Samuel Chukwueze. The latter, loaned from Milan, provided the winner and was an honest piece of enterprise within the skinny gruel of Fulham's summer season. “Nice influence from him,” mentioned Silva. “Most of these video games it is extremely essential to be affected person, we are able to't lose our ideas.”
In rotten climate situations, swirling rain whipping off the Thames, this was a contest to be toughed out. The ultimate whistle was adopted by an offended confrontation between gamers and coaches after 90 minutes of gristle. “I don't like preventing on the finish,” mentioned Le Bris. “If there's nonetheless vitality in your tank it means earlier than you didn't push exhausting sufficient.”
Alex Iwobi's early overhead kick was a second of improvisation made obligatory by the tight squeeze Sunderland product of their penalty space till the essential, closing minutes. Le Bris mentioned his goal stays “round 40 factors” to attain security, not something loftier. “We count on robust video games, sturdy opposition, and we have to enhance our degree,” he mentioned. “We began the season effectively, which is optimistic, however we wish to be aggressive.”
His workforce's chosen attacking weapon was fast, wildcat counterattacks, whereas Fulham's finest likelihood of the primary half additionally got here from a counter, Harry Wilson escaping earlier than lacking the goal. Robin Roefs, Sunderland's goalkeeper, made a few respectable saves from Kevin, although the Brazilian's ending was unconvincing all through.
That Fulham might do with a finisher is a well-recognized lament, notably with Rodrigo Muniz out till 2026. Silva has carried out a advantageous refurb on Jiménez, however a earlier tally of a single Premier League purpose informed the story effectively sufficient. The Mexican's willingness, although, stays exemplary. “He all the time performs together with his coronary heart, you recognize his coronary heart goes to be there,” mentioned Silva of a participant who had returned from Texas for Friday morning. “A correct striker's purpose in that scenario.”
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The primary half ended with gamers jogging gratefully to the dressing room for shelter from the weather. Enzo La Fée, in tights and gloves, had beforehand been peripheral, however as quickly because the second interval started, after a raking ball from Roefs, the Frenchman's shot had Bernd Leno crushed, although additionally the publish. Sunderland, trying ever extra able to nicking one thing, changed counterattacking with a dominance of possession.
Sunderland's lone striker, Wilson Isidor, departed, drained by chasing the channels, changed by Brian “Mr” Brobbey, unable to repeat his Arsenal heroics off the bench. Smith Rowe and Chukwueze arrived to inject zest into Fulham.
The house help's hope was sagging as their gamers flubbed possibilities, however Sunderland had, not inconsequentially, turn out to be far much less assured. Fatefully, Chukwueze's cross skidded into Jiménez's path, the striker shaking off the majority of Dan Ballard to point out typical bravery in scoring a purpose that by no means seemed more likely to come.
