KEBANO HIT CAN’T MAKE SLAV SMILE
SLAVISA Jokanovic may have watched his side score a late victory, but the Fulham boss was far from happy after an inconsistent performance.
Neeskens Kebano curled home a dramatic winner in the 94th minute to stay within touching distance of the play-off places and ensure they would extend their 16-match unbeaten run against the Latics.
Floyd Ayite had given the Londoners a deserved lead, but Wigan hit back through a Scott Malone own goal and Michael Jacobs’ low finish.
However, Denis Odoi’s longrange strike and Kebano’s finish gave Fulham victory – but Jokanovic says they have a lot of work to do.
“We can be satisfied with the points. I can be satisfied with how my side pushed for the victory, but I cannot be satisfied with what we were doing in the game,” he said.
“We made so many mistakes. We got lucky scoring in the last minute, but it’s not exactly what I want. What we were doing is not acceptable.
“We got three points, but it’s not how we want to play. If you are not more solid, and of a more defensive mind when you need to defend, it’s difficult to be successful.”
Fulham started with aplomb, carving out several chances as a result of their high-octane attacking play.
And it paid off in the 25th minute when Ayite finished off a superb piece of wing-play from Sone Aluko.
An own goal from Malone brought the scoreline level, a looping ball into the box from Stephen Warnock found its way between Malone and goalkeeper David Button, and ultimately resulted in the Fulham defender slicing into his own net.
It was not what Fulham’s play had warranted but they responded well and came close to finding a way through the Wigan defence on several occasions.
But the Latics took a shock lead deep into first-half injury time when Jacobs found himself alone at the back post and took his opportunity to slide the ball into the Fulham net from close range.
Fulham had enjoyed the majority of possession, which only made the scoreline less palatable for Jokanovic.
However, his side fought back and parity was restored via a Odoi 30-yard thunderbolt 18 minutes from time.
But Fulham struggled to push on for the winner with Omar Bogle causing problems for the hosts’ backline and subsequently forcing a smart save from Button. Ultimately though it was to be Fulham’s day when a deft pass fell to Kebano, who finished to seal the three points.
“We’re bitterly disappointed. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game,” said Wigan boss Warren Joyce.
“We need to dust ourselves down and regroup for a tough game on Tuesday night at Wolves.
“If you look at it objectively, in terms of how the team played, there is a lot of massive pluses.
“The fact that we haven’t picked points up despite that is the big frustration and it is tough to take.
“When we were a goal down there was a willingness not to accept our position.
“Against a side who caused a lot of problems in the first half we did well. We also knew we could hurt them and we did.
“A lot of things about the game plan worked.”