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Saved twice by VAR and stubborn defending but Fulham star Robinson says: Lucky? It means we got our lines right
IF YOU can’t win a game, don’t lose it.
It is a footballing mantra as old as the hills. But when you are struggling at the wrong end of the table, it is one that still holds true and Fulham are applying it right now.
Against a team in good form and heading for the top four had they won, Scott Parker’s side had to show character and true grit.
As the self-isolating Parker watched from his living room, Fulham had goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to thank for two superb saves, and VAR to thank for ruling out two Saints goals. However, they ground out a point and had chances of their own to win a tight, gruelling contest. It meant a fourth draw on the bounce and only one defeat in their last six matches.
It wasn’t a spectacle by any means but Fulham have now gone almost 450 minutes without conceding a goal from open play. There is no doubt that some of these draws are pretty soon going to have to be turned into wins but, for the moment, this will do.
Full-back Antonee Robinson ( below) said: “It’s another point in the right direction. We played really well, de
fended everything really well. They had two goals ruled out by VAR, but that’s us getting our lines right. Going forward we were unlucky not to convert some chances so, even though it’s not three points, it’s still a clean sheet.
“We did everything we worked on in training to stop them creating chances and, apart from set-pieces, which were their main threat, we limited d them to very few w chances, so defensively nat it was a great
performance. It is just a matter of time before we start getting wins and climbing up the league where we belong. “We have improved defensively. The new lads who have come in have had quite a few games now to gel and get used to each other.” Chances were few and far between. But two VAR moments frustrated Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Hasen Shane Long’s L flick was ruled rule out for of offside and then an excellent le finish f from Theo Walcott c ( left) was ch chalked off for the sam same reason. Frustration all ro round, even on th that faraway Pa Parker sofa.