Paterson defies ‘emergency No 9’ tag
Nathan Blake, hardly a Premier League goal machine of his time, had the temerity before this match to suggest that Cardiff City’s strikers needed to take “a hard look at themselves” if Neil Warnock continued to pick Callum Paterson in his makeshift front-line.
“If I were one of them, I would be embarrassed and insulted that a full-back-cum-midfielder, who can play No 9 in an emergency, was playing ahead of me,” wrote the former Wales player in a withering column for the South Wales Echo.
The comments were not lost on Warnock as Paterson showed genuine finishing instinct with a decisive strike that would land the Welsh side their first Premier League victory this season.
“Paterson has his critics,” said Warnock. “I’m sure some of you have read all week he’s not a centreforward – but there’s not a centreforward who would have scored that goal. I’m delighted for him.”
Warnock’s success in using Paterson as the unlikely linchpin in a three-man strike force only served to underline growing concerns that their opponents’ £100million-plus summer spree may have been in vain. “I spent some money at Sheffield United and regretted every penny,” said Warnock. “I ended up going back to Neil Shipperley.”
Cardiff doubled their season’s goal tally in this end-to-end encounter which again exposed defensive frailties at Fulham, who have shipped 25 goals in nine games. The Jurassic Park theme tune was played after the full-time whistle, and the message was that there is life in this Cardiff side yet.
Josh Murphy and Bobby Decordova-reid also starred alongside Paterson, deserving their goals.
It was Fulham, however, who got their noses in front thanks to a sumptuous 25-yard effort from Andre Schurrle. Cardiff hit back in ruthless fashion. Murphy forced a save out of Marcus Bettinelli and then fired Cardiff level with a precise right-footed angled effort.
The hosts went in front via Decordova-reid’s first goal for his new club. The build-up was scrappy, an accomplished finish after Fulham woefully failed to clear a poor Cardiff set-piece.
Ryan Sessegnon opened his topflight account with a neat finish after being sent scampering through by a deft flick by the Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Cardiff found their crucial third in the 65th minute.
Fulham’s creaking defence failed to deal with a tame cross by Bruno Ecuele Manga. Decordova-reid managed to get a touch before Paterson stabbed home. Cardiff secured victory via substitute Kadeem Harris, who met a low Victor Camarasa cross by sliding in at the far right post beyond Bettinelli.
Slavisa Jokanovic, the Fulham manager, said: “We need to be more solid. These negative things kill us.” Bournemouth’s excellent start to the season has captured the attention of scouts from around the Premier League, but Southampton should act as a warning of the perils of becoming a selling club.
Since the summer of 2014, Southampton have raised the best part of £300million by cashing in on their stellar talent. From Luke Shaw to Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana to Virgil van Dijk, the list of high-profile departures goes on.
Southampton were applauded for finding ways to reinvent themselves and maintaining an upward