Jokanovic: I could be axed soon
FULHAM manager Slavisa Jokanovic last night admitted he could be sacked as his side dropped to the foot of the Premier League. Last night’s 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield was Fulham’s fifth in a row and Jokanovic said: ‘People know how I am working and my mentality, but it is not only in my hands. Part of the job is in the hands of my players, part is in the board’s hands too. ‘I remain confident. I personally trust in myself. I will push hard.’ Fulham’s next game is at Liverpool on Sunday and defeat could see Jokanovic become the first Premier League boss to be sacked this season.
SLAVISA Jokanovic’s look up towards the directors’ box at full- time was sheepish, nervous, almost resigned. His job now hangs in the balance.
The Serb knew this game was lost during a gutless first half and Fulham’s issues are very basic. They do not compete. They do not back their team-mates up. They do not keep the ball with any purpose.
All this despite the finances poured so lavishly into what now is an embarrassingly timid squad. It was so bad their Twitter account apologised. ‘Really sorry everyone,’ their message read. Another said: ‘You deserve better.’
While Jokanovic ( below) shoulders more than a portion of the blame, there must be an argument that he deserves better. At least he cares. For much of last night, his players did not appear to.
‘I don’t know whether it was preparation not being that good or if we didn’t understand how important this game was,’ Jokanovic said. ‘In the end we were a little bit confused, some players a bit scared. We probably need more fight, more personality.’ He sighed, turned to the bench, even had a serious inquest with his assistant, Javier Pereira, during a frustrating evening. He tinkered with the formation, made bold half-time substitutions, but nothing worked. His players are not engaged enough and something serious must happen if they are not to sink without trace. It is not overstating the poor performance to suggest they simply did not fancy it. Huddersfield, on the other hand, were desperate to reverse their fortunes on the third anniversary of David Wagner’s appointment. Thousands stayed behind to celebrate with their players after Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s 29th-minute own goal sealed a first Premier League victory in seven months as Fulham replaced them at the bottom of the table.
Amazingly, the winner was Huddersfield’s first home goal of the campaign and their first for 659 minutes at the John Smith’s Stadium, dating back to April.
‘This is huge for us,’ Wagner said. ‘ We have the winning feeling back. This is one of the most important wins we have had in the last three years.’
Huddersfield were the more progressive throughout, even if Andre Schurrle thought he had equalised late on, only to find Aleksandar Mitrovic offside in the build-up. But a point would have been unjust.
Fulham fell behind just before the half-hour. Fosu-Mensah was not tight enough to Christopher Schindler six yards out as Chris Lowe crossed from the left. Schindler met it but the ball came off Fosu-Mensah’s head and he was credited with an own goal.
Philip Billing had earlier thundered the bar from 30 yards and Huddersfield should have led by more. Pereira headed back out long before half-time had finished and the blank faces of the players during a confab in the tunnel did not suggest any sort of fightback would arrive.
The changes came, two of them, with Fosu-Mensah and Luciano Vietto hooked. One substitute, Cyrus Christie, immediately forced a corner before Aaron Mooy struck over for Huddersfield. Schurrle later curled wide but the signs of life came far too late.
Fulham are defensively fragile and Pritchard pounced on a loose ball only to fire over the top. But Huddersfield were always more likely to extend their lead than throw it away.
Jokanovic said: ‘My players had some words after the game but it is a little bit late then.
‘We didn’t talk between eight and 10 o’clock with enough personality, with enough power, with enough quality.
‘We are hurt. The situation is in our hands. It’s not a nice situation for us to be bottom of the Premier League. It’s extra pressure.’