‘Exceptional’ Christie comes on to delight boss Parker
Sow is hoping to return for the trip to the Riverside after missing the 1-0 win at Cardiff due to a knee injury.
Mali international Sow, 30, said: “Cardiff was a good result – an away game, a clean sheet and three points. We have to keep going like that and fight until the end.
“Boro will be another difficult game and we just have to have the same performance, nothing less, to get the three points.
“These kind of games we have struggled sometimes and lost points, that is why every game is important.
“But we just need to focus on our game and to try our best to get the maximum points.”
CYRUS CHRISTIE was held up as an example to his Fulham team-mates after going from substitute to man of the match.
Christie had barely taken his place on the bench before having to replace Joe Bryan, who limped off in the the ninth minute with a hamstring injury.
He slotted in at right-back and not only played his part in keeping a clean sheet, but was also one of Fulham’s most potent attacking forces, marauding down the wing and sending in a stream of crosses.
Fulham boss Scott Parker (right) was full of praise for the Irishman (below), who has been restricted to just eight league starts so far this season.
“He was exceptional,” said Parker. “I don’t expect anything less from Cyrus, to be honest, because in his training habits and what he does every day he is someone who takes disappointment on the chin, but also takes it as motivation to keep improving and keep working hard.
“There is no sulking with him and he deserved his moment. When he was called upon after just nine minutes he was ready to perform.
“They are the opportunities for squad players and they need to train hard so that when they get those opportunities they can grab them with both hands.
“If we want to be a
Ref: David Webb Att: 19,020 top team we need to have a mentality about us, and that’s what I want to install.”
Preston boss Alex Neil took few positives from the game after David Nugent’s own goal and Aboubakar Kamara’s added-time breakaway strike left North End emptyhanded.
But he singled out energetic midfielder Brad Potts, who came as close as any to scoring in his first league start of 2020.
With Ben Pearson out for a month with a hamstring injury, Potts – like Christie - made the most of his chance.
“I respect what the gaffer does,” said Potts. “It is up to him if I am called upon, and I will do everything I can to help the team. It is good that he has faith in me.
“It does suit my game, these type of matches. You could see a couple of the runs I made on the counterattack, which is what I am about.
“We have lost two games on the bounce, but we are still in the play-off spots, which shows how well we have done.”
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PRESTON:
MOTM
CYRUS CHRISTIE (FULHAM)