NEED FOR SPEED
Slutsky’s Hull punished by Fulham’s pacy front three
SPEED was at the heart of a breathless encounter at Craven Cottage last night as Fulham’s first home win of the season fired their play- off push and left Hull’s season at risk of grinding to a halt.
Stefan Johansen hit a fine second-half winner after Jarrod Bowen’s close-range effort had cancelled out Floyd Ayite’s opening strike for Fulham.
Despite both sides being among the pre-season favourites for promotion from the Championship, Fulham and Hull have struggled for consistency this season, but it was the visitors who travelled to London in need of a lift after a 5-0 demolition at the hands of Derby County last week.
After his side were repeatedly punished on the break at Pride Park, Hull boss Leonid Slutsky spoke of the need to deal with Fulham’s ‘very fast players’, but it was speed on the flanks that undid them again last night.
Fulham’s fluid front three of Ayite, Neeskens Kebano and Sheyi Ojo caused Hull’s defence trouble throughout, and it was Ayite who opened the scoring. A burst of acceleration was all Ojo needed to beat Ola Aina, make room for a cross and give Ayite a simple tap- in just before half-time.
After the match, Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic admitted he set up his side to attack Hull with pace. He said: ‘They played with big centre halves and we ran at them. We made a plan about how to organise the attack and we created so many chances in the transitions. I am satisfied with the result, but we must improve.’
Fulham continued to make hay on the flanks after the break, but it was their inability to deal with Hull’s wide play that threatened to be their downfall. And sure enough, Kamil Grosicki found space just outside the area and angled the ball towards Bowen, who scored at the second time of asking.
So composed in the first half, Fulham suddenly looked rattled. Just as it looked like the game was getting away from them, Johansen provided the breakthrough. Ryan Fredericks escaped down the right, floated the ball into the area for Johansen, who chested the ball down before toepoking home off the crossbar.
Fulham held out to leave Slutsky admitting he still does not know his best team. He said: ‘We have a lot of new players. I don’t have 100 per cent of the information about each player yet. I’m building a new team. It’s very difficult, but we don’t have time to be frustrated. We must look forward.’
Time might not be running out for Slutsky just yet, but Fulham and Hull looked to be heading in opposite directions — and fast — on the banks of the Thames last night.