HUNGRY WHITES PUT THE BOOT IN
MANAGER Scott Parker hailed his Fulham battlers after they put a sticky spell behind them to topple Leeds United.
After three defeats on the spin, the Londoners were desperate for a win. They got it as goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic (pen) and Josh Onoma earned a 2-1 victory against second-placed Leeds.
Fulham are now third in the Championship, nine points behind the Yorkshire side.
Parker said: “The most overriding feeling I have is pride. Today I saw a team that was on the front foot, aggressive and determined to make a statement. A team that showed passion and desire.”
Championship leaders West Brom were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford.
League One front-runners Wycombe lost 1-0 at Oxford, while League Two pacesetters Swindon drew 2-2 at Forest Green.
FULHAM manager Scott Parker insisted their victory over Leeds United was down to his players’ passion and desire.
Fulham are now third in the Championship, nine points behind Leeds, yet Parker believes their victory will resonate far beyond the league table.
Parker said: “The most overriding feeling I have is pride. I spoke to the players before the game and said: ‘You’re not getting judged today on technique or what a good football player you are. There are 20,000 coming here today and people are judging you, and me, on what you are like as a man. Can you stand up when the chips are down because the chips at this moment are down?’
“Today I saw a team that was on the front foot, aggressive and determined to make a statement. A team that showed passion and desire.”
Parker praised Josh Onomah, whose first goal for the club proved decisive. He added: “Josh has been fantastic and I am so pleased for him. He represented all I spoke about – what character does and what passion does.”
After Helder Costa had sent a first-minute volley into the arms of Marek Rodak, the first goal went to the home side. There seemed little danger as a cross came into the area, but Ben White pushed Bobby Decordova-Reid in the back, conceding a penalty. Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla guessed the right way and managed to palm away Aleksandar Mitrovic’s spot-kick. But the ball struck the post before going in.
Rodak was then the busier keeper, racing off his line to block a Stuart Dallas shot before plunging to his right to push a Mateusz Klich effort on to a post. Halftime substitute Eddie Nketiah played a crucial role in Leeds’ equaliser, turning on a pass from Ezgjan Alioski. His shot ought to have been held by Rodak but was pushed into the path of Patrick Bamford, who tapped into an empty net.
After Ivan Cavaleiro had forced a flying save from Casilla, Mitrovic caused problems at a Fulham corner, attempting a bicycle kick that was blocked. The ball rolled out to Onomah, who directed a fierce shot into the corner of the net.
Leeds pressed again. A 90thminute Klich shot was headed away by Alfie Mawson before Alioski fired over the bar. Then Mitrovic somehow cleared the ball over his own bar from Liam Cooper’s header. In spite of his side’s defeat which followed on from last week’s draw from 3-0 ahead against Cardiff, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa was far from down-hearted.
He said: “We play against one of the most powerful opponents in the league. We defended well. If you analyse the statistics, it is clear that Fulham is the best team in the Championship.
“They play well on the counter-attack, but today they didn’t damage us or create chances. They scored from a corner and from a penalty. They had just one more chance. We had seven or eight chances to win the match.
“It it was more what we allowed them to do than what they did for themselves.”