SESSE FOOTBALL!
17-year-old’s treble keeps out United in crazy climax
SHeFFIeld UnITed blew the chance to go top of the Championship as a ryan Sessegnon-inspired Fulham ran riot in a goalfest at Bramall lane. despite a hat-trick from the division’s leading scorer leon Clarke showing them to be as potent as ever in attack, an error-strewn defensive display from Chris wilder’s team allowed 17- year- old Sessegnon to resuscitate Fulham’s campaign from its autumnal slumber.
Sessegnon, playing in his 50th senior game, trebled his career league goal tally with three classy finishes to spark a scramble with Clarke for the match ball.
‘whoever gets a result against us here — and there’s going to be more teams, but hopefully not many — will have to go through the mill and earn it,’ said wilder.
‘Fulham deserved the win even though we played a big part in their goals.’
needing a win to surpass wolves at the summit, United took the lead five minutes in when Fulham keeper david Button parried John Fleck’s long-range effort and Clarke swept in the rebound.
But, just shy of half an hour, they gifted Fulham the first of two goals in as many minutes to turn the game on its head.
There was no apparent danger when Cameron Carter-Vickers turned towards his own goalkeeper, but the on-loan Tottenham defender drastically underhit his backpass to Jamal Blackman and Sheyi Ojo nipped in to slot home.
Carter-Vickers had not long removed his head from his hands when a moment of brilliance from Sessegnon put the visitors in front. Using Floyd ayite’s run to the left as a decoy, Sessegnon — who signed a three-year contract at Craven Cottage this summer — glided through the midfield and bent a 20-yard shot out of the giant Blackman’s reach.
Suddenly, the loss of midfielder Paul Coutts — who broke his leg last Friday — looked more significant. But further up the field, United have one of english football’s in-form strikers in Clarke.
The 32-year- old was slipped into the area by Fleck and, after buying half a yard on ryan Fredericks with a stepover, thrashed in low to make it 2-2.
Parity lasted just four minutes: Ojo curled in a cross from the right for Sessegnon to volley home at the far post.
Ojo, on loan from Liverpool, then marked his return from a dislocated shoulder with a second on a breakaway 20 minutes from time.
Wilder reacted by re-shaping his side for a late aerial assault and saw substitute James Hanson denied when Tom Cairney hacked his header off the line.
Sessegnon sealed his treble and, seemingly, the game with a powerfully struck effort two minutes later. But United refused to give in: Samir Carruthers’ strike was followed by Clarke’s last-minute header.
It wasn’t enough and Sessegnon’s first hat-trick was enough to give Fulham their first win in seven.
‘How good can he be? It’s always the same question — Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. He’s growing up and going in the right direction, a young player with a clear head,’ said Slavisa Jokanovic.
The result took manager Jokanovic’s team’s points tally to 23 from 18 matches, and suggested a repeat of last year’s surge into the play-offs is not out of the question. Twelve months ago they had 25 from 18.
Fulham may need more stellar displays from their teenage star between now and the end of the season if they are to stand any chance of promotion, but one way or another, Sessegnon seems destined for the top.