FUL OF JOY!
Parker pockets priceless point at Spurs . . . in game he didn’t even want to play
SCOTT PARKER had the last laugh over Jose mourinho as Fulham earned a deserved point at tottenham last night.
Parker and spurs boss mourinho had engaged in a war of words over the re-arranged clash, with the Fulham manager furious to have been given only 48 hours notice that the game would take place.
spurs led through Harry Kane’s superb 25th-minute header but Fulham winger Ivan Cavaleiro netted with a header every bit as good with 16 minutes remaining.
‘I’m very proud,’ said Parker. ‘No one really knows what we have been through.’
earlier, manchester City moved into third thanks to top scorer Phil Foden’s goal against Brighton at the etihad.
It has been a while since manchester City have been asked to make up significant ground on their neighbours from across town. It would be a huge surprise if they have forgotten how to do it.
Here, Pep Guardiola’s team moved within four points of the Premier League leaders manchester United and they have a game in hand. If United were under any illusion that champions Liverpool remain their most significant obstacle to the most surprising title win for years, they should not be.
City’s season has been a strange one so far. they have lacked fluency and potency, for sure. For example, a centre forward has not scored a goal for them in the league since November.
But all that matters now is that they are improving and they are in touch. If United have come from nowhere to poke their noses ahead at the top, then City have emerged on the back of better form also. this was their seventh straight win in all competitions and they were good for it.
Phil Foden was the only player who managed to beat Brighton’s outstanding goalkeeper robert sanchez — raheem sterling missed a penalty in added time — and Graham Potter’s team were the ones asking the questions for much of the closing moments.
But this was a victory that City deserved and, with Gabriel Jesus coming on as a substitute here and sergio Aguero also fit again, they are only likely to grow more dangerous.
sadly in these strange times, some questions will be asked of City’s goal celebrations. As many as eight City players rushed to surround Foden despite urgings to the contrary this week. It will take a while for that message to sink in it seems. Afterwards, Guardiola said: ‘In our locker room and restaurant we respect the social distance. But with celebrations it’s difficult. I don’t know if we will be able to do it.’ Foden’s goal was a good one and the 20-year-old’s influence at City continues to grow. With no Aguero, he is adding vital goals. this was his eighth of the season which makes him City’s leading scorer. england manager Gareth southgate was here to watch him and will have been impressed. Not that he was the game’s best player. that was the inimitable Kevin De Bruyne. on the team sheet, the Belgian had been listed as City’s nominal centre forward but that was not the case. He was all over the place, in a good way. With just a minute left before half-time, the 29-year-old appeared on the left side and fed Foden just inside him. Foden’s first touch with his left foot was lovely and immediately took him inside Adam Webster and into space on the edge of the box.
Foden’s right-foot shot was well placed and powerful enough to beat sanchez low to his right.
only recently turned 23, sanchez looks a prospect. In the first half, he saved well from De Bruyne in two one-on-one situations and, in the second half, he was even busier.
on occasion he had to be a little fortunate but who doesn’t when they come to the etihad? Bernardo silva struck the angle of post and bar around the hourmark and, in added time, sanchez brought down De Bruyne — his only mistake of the night — only for sterling to hoof a most miserable penalty over the top.
that apart, there were second-half saves to deny Ilkay Gundogan, De Bruyne — twice — and also the impressive City right back Joao Cancelo.
If all this makes it sound like a siege, it wasn’t. Brighton are a brave side under Potter and they were not afraid to advance forward. In players such as Leandro trossard, new south African signing Percy tau and the advancing wing back Bernardo, they had impressive performers of their own.
But their problem under the likeable Potter is that they simply don’t score enough goals. tau has been bought to help with that but nevertheless Brighton have drawn more League games than anyone — eight — and it is hurting them. Here, despite some good periods, they didn’t really cause City goalkeeper ederson to make a difficult save.
‘the players were fantastic,’ said Potter. ‘they showed great personality. We will try to adhere to the protocols with celebrating. It’s hard as it’s instinctive but it should be doable.’