The only half of football in the Jol-Ramos-Redknapp era that compares to that is the first half against Inter Milan. We conceded four and were down to ten men then too, but Craven Cottage isn’t the San Siro and Fulham aren’t the European champions.
Ten minutes in Michael Dawson took a poor touch and under pressure from Andy Johnson passed the ball to Clint Dempsey. Dempsey charged into the box and Alan Hutton used his arm, leg and hip to bring him down. Danny Murphy consummately dispatched the spot-kick.
Three minutes later Dawson dawdled, Moussa Dembélé mugged him as he tried to make a turn and Dawson grabbed hold of his shirt just before Dembélé fired a shot at Heurelho Gomes. Another penalty was awarded and Murphy scored again. Dawson was sent off either for being the last man or for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity – both were true. Dawson was inept and cheated and we were punished for both.
With Tom Huddlestone out of the Milan game and beyond it’s vital that Sandro becomes something more than a novelty – a Brazilian international on the Spurs bench. Today he was given a rare opportunity, but it only lasted a quarter of an hour. He made way for William Gallas immediately after Andy Johnson had left him on his backside. The ball ended up with Dempsey and he should have scored, as should Dembélé minutes later.
A midfield previously described by the commentator as ‘fluid’ was shapeless and offered little protection to a shambolic defence or support to a focus-less attack. The inevitable third came when Benoît Assou-Ekotto gave away a cheap corner and made a pitiful attempt to challenge Johnson when it was taken. Johnson flicked the ball to the back post, Sébastien Bassong wandered toward the action leaving Brede Hangeland unmarked with an open goal. In stoppage time Dembélé got Fulham’s fourth. He picked up the ball inside our half and ran past Bassong without the need for any trickery. Gallas backed off on the edge of the box and Dembélé put the ball in to the bottom corner.
I left the pub at half-time, which I very rarely do. The match was over. An absolute disaster. The second half would be damage limitation and nothing more. Aaron Hughes heading against the bar was the most significant action. Four nil to Fulham.
It was a defensive horror show and the honeymoon period is most definitely over for Harry Redknapp, but I’m not going to get into that now. The Champions League campaign distracts from humiliation in both domestic cups. What matters more than anything is the league. We go to Ewood Park on Wednesday with Dawson suspended and Kaboul in surgery, but hopefully with a brand new striker.
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