Pereira takes centre stage to earn Fulham rare away win

With his bleach blond hair and yellow footwear, Andreas Pereira demands to be noticed. Standing out comes naturally to the Brazil international, it seems.

And, in east London, Pereira’s performance was every bit as bright as his appearance. A rare away victory for Fulham – only their third of the Premier League season, in fact, – was secured by Pereira’s goals in either half.

Yes, both finishes were modest enough. Yet footballing simplicity requires foresight and, according to Marco Silva, Fulham’s plan was executed to perfection.

“We said to him ‘never be behind the two midfielders’,” Silva explained. “We wanted him in the pockets, between the lines .” By design rather than accident, then.

Since joining Fulham from Manchester United in the summer of 2022, Pereira has been central to Silva’s plans. Central, and a tad further forward than while at United, or during his gaggle of previous loans across Italy (Lazio), Brazil (Flamengo) or Spain (Granada and Valencia).

Goals are what Pereira’s game has been lacking – he had just one to show for his 39 previous appearances this season.

“Before he played much more as a second midfielder,” Silva said. “Since he joined us, he’s been playing in a different line, as much more of an offensive midfielder. It’s something we’ve been working on with him.”

Pereira’s first was a reward for persistence. Receiving the ball just inside West Ham’s half, he paused for a half-beat, laid off to Alex Iwobi, and began running.

Iwobi clipped a cross towards Rodrigo Muniz, but Konstantinos Mavropanos read it. The West Ham defender’s interception was neither clearance nor controlled touch, though. Meanwhile, Pereira arrived in the penalty area at the optimal moment, rounded Lukasz Fabianksi and finished.

The second came on the break, a classic Fulham goal. Joao Palhinha won possession. They broke rapidly and, barely an eye’s blink later, Iwobi was squaring for Pereira’s second. That, for Pereira, was that. Off he trotted, sharing a warm embrace with Silva on departure. It was the pair’s second coming together of the afternoon, Pereira also having sought out his manager following the opener.

It was not just Pereira’s goals that made him stand out, though. P ere ira was silky, regal even. There was even a touch of cheek, a little second-half showboating to find Iwobi in the corner.

Displays like this are why Belgium-born (his family moved there because his father Marcos was also a professional footballer) Pereira recently earned Brazil caps two and three, some six years after his 2018 debut.

On this evidence, there are more to come. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 2024)