ROBINS SOAR TO VICTORY...
but Fulham boss Parker pleads for VAR
BRISTOL City showed their promotion credentials with a controversial 2-1 win at fellow high-flyers Fulham.
Goals from Josh Brownhill and Famara Diedhiou gave the Robins a 2-0 lead before Aboubakar Kamara pulled one back late on and the Whites went agonisingly close to an equaliser.
Fulham also felt they should have had a penalty late on for a foul on Neeskens Kebano.
City boss Lee Johnson, whose side lie fourth, said: “I’m really pleased with the performance – we’ve earned a win against a very, very good side.”
Fulham boss Scott Parker said: “The referee has obviously made a big mistake – that’s when you want VAR in the Championship.”
SCOTT Parker called for VAR to be introduced into Championship matches after seeing, what he believed, was a late penalty in his Fulham side’s favour not awarded by the referee.
Bristol City led 2-0 after 76 minutes through goals from captain Josh Brownhill and Famara Diedhiou. Fulham substitute Aboubakar Kamara pulled a goal back in the 86th minute to spark a frantic finale.
First fellow substitute Neeskens Kebano appeared to be clipped by City’s Callum O’Dowd, only for referee Jeremy Simpson to wave away appeals from the Fulham players mobbing him. Kebano then headed against the crossbar in added time.
Parker was convinced that Simpson made an error in not awarding a penalty. “I think so,” he said. “The referee has made a big mistake and that can happen, human error. That’s when you want VAR in the Championship. It is probably an instant reversal of the decision.
“I played for 20 years, and you see instances developing. As that play was developing, as Neeskens got in front, you saw the guy coming across him, and think: ‘You need to look for a penalty here, he is going to clip the back of a leg.’ That’s how I see it.
“But I am proud of my team. Three or four weeks ago we lost to Hull City here and the stadium cleared out. On another day, the one that hits the bar, the penalty decision, it could turn a different way. I’m proud.”
Fulham’s first serious attack came after nine minutes. Stefan Johansen picking out the run of Ivan Cavaleiro. Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley was swiftly off his line to get enough of a touch on Cavaleiro’s shot, though.
Six minutes later the visitors should have taken the lead. A lucky bounce gave Andreas Weimann a chance to build a dangerous attack. He spread the ball to Niclas Eliasson and his cross was met by Diedhiou six yards out, but his header was straight at Marek Rodak.
But, after 26 minutes, they were ahead. Fulham probably thought they had cleared an initial attack but Eliasson collected the loose ball and returned it into the centre, where Brownhill headed his fifth goal of the
campaign from eight yards. They looked sharper after the interval and Anthony Knockaert scampered clear of the City defence only for Bentley to block his shot with his legs.
Then Fulham top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic missed two good chances, nodding Joe Bryan’s cross high from six yards, then stretching out a leg in a vain attempt to reach Knockaert’s cross.
But City doubled their lead after 76 minutes with a superbto. ly-worked team goal. Brownhill’s clever backheel released Adam Nagy, who slid the ball across goal for Diedhiou to tap in his sixth goal of the season.
Fulham pulled one back four minutes from time thanks to two substitutes. Bentley parried a shot be Kebano but Kamara hit home the rebound, before the late drama ensued.
Lee Johnson, the City manager, said: “I haven’t seen the penalty back, but I don’t need I spoke to our player, Callum O’Dowda, and he felt he pulled away and pulled out.
“It was a heart-in-the-mouth moment. But we deserved the win. In the first half we were outstanding and we limited them to not a lot and created a couple of really good chances ourselves. The second goal was as good as you will see at this level.”
Of the four-man move that brought the goal, he said: “As a coach I am delighted because there was a bit of everything in that goal, a bit of individual brilliance, a bit of tactical play and a bit of strength.”
He also praised Eliasson, whose cross created the opening goal. “There were a few things he didn’t get on the end of but we know his talents,” Johnson said. “To see him become a man in his game at Championship level is a credit to him.”