Positives and Negatives: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham

Jack Stroudley looks at Fulham’s memorable win at Stamford Bridge.

Wow, just wow. Fulham Football Club you truly know how to move me. Following a disappointing day at the office against Southampton, Fulham went into a SW6 clash with Chelsea riddled with injuries and overall with low levels of optimism amongst the fanbase, oh how wrong we were.

Fulham picked up a historic win at the Bridge in another late late show thanks to goals from Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz. I could sit and talk about this until May so I’ll try and keep this article as short as possible but forgive me in advance for the understandable tangents I’m about to go on. 

Positives

South West Wilson

He’s only gone and bloody done it again hasn’t he? Harry Wilson is the king of South West London. Just when you think he can’t be topped for his late double a month ago at Craven Cottage against Brentford he scores our first goal at the Bridge since 2011 to (at the time) earn us a well deserved point.

The way the game was going Fulham were growing into the ascendancy and bringing Wilson on with just over twenty to go was one of four subs for Marco Silva today and all four of them were fantastic! Wilson was his usual direct self with only one misplaced pass and his driving desire to get amongst the action. Wilson was rewarded for this with just less than 10 minutes of normal time to play; jolly on the spot to guide a looping ball from Castagne into the net after losing former Fulham man Tosin (as Jason Cundy would say, “haaaaaaasssssss anyone seen?”)

Muniz’s mega moment

Roddy bloody Moons you have written yourself into Fulham folklaw. It’s always the Brazilians, they just love it against Chelsea! Raul Jimenez was relatively quiet once again so the sub for Rodrigo Muniz made a lot of sense just to give us a different presence in attack. 100% duel success rate and 100% dribble success rate showed the impact our Brazilian Golden Retriever had on the game throwing himself about and being a nuisance for the Chelsea defence.

Then it happened, by god it happened, Rodrigo Muniz with a really good finish into the bottom corner. The Brazilian showed some real samba-esque composure to bring the ball down, set himself and slot past Robert Sanchez. Bedlum, absolute bedlum in the away end and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d want to send the away end potty more than Roddy Moons. Whatever happens from here, Muniz is now forever Fulham. 

Reaction, reaction, reaction

Time for a bit of actual football chat for a second. Following the disappointment of Southampton a reaction was desperate and Silva and co delivered in abundance. I wasn’t sure on the back five but we grew into the game and by the end of it were good value for the three points. Sasa Lukic was a monster in midfield, Bernd Leno saved us time and time again, Calvin Bassey was fantastic at the back and it was an overall brilliant performance from Fulham.

The result leaves us just one point off fifth going into a “favourable run”. I’ll say exactly what I said after Liverpool, we have to make these extra points count. It’s lovely and memorable beating the top sides but if we really want to achieve something this season we have to go on a run of wins and become more consistent at home. That starts with a tricky test against Bournemouth on Sunday. 

One team in Fulham

Isn’t football great eh? I don’t really think the footballing world will truly understand just how much yesterday meant to Fulham fans. A first win at the Bridge since 1979 and yet another feather to Marco Silva’s cap. It’s not always about rhyme and reason, perspective about how yesterday affects our season is important but honestly at this current moment who gives a toss? 

Fulham have done something that none of us thought would happen, watch it, drink it in. Silva and co are giving us some of the best times of our footballing lives, I don’t know what the final stop is but I personally never want the train ride to end. No negatives to report – up the bloody Fulham, I’m off for a cheeseboard!

Negatives

No chance. Not today!