Robins’ merry men complete daring double over Fulham
YOU’D call it delaying the inevitable. The reason Fulham have been so dominant in the Championship this season is because off-days such as this have been so rare.
They will be able to uncork the champagne that has been on ice for weeks soon enough — potentially as early as Friday night if Nottingham Forest lose at Luton and they then beat Derby to seal promotion.
But Coventry have certainly had their number this season. All six points to the Sky Blues, seven goals scored against the champions-elect in two matches, just two conceded.
Mark Robins brought his team to Craven Cottage and told them to do something many visitors don’t think — or dare — to do. They got in Fulham’s faces and attacked them. They didn’t allow their hosts to dominate the ball and didn’t give them a moment’s peace in midfield.
When Fulham started to pepper their goal after half-time, they dropped back, dug in and just about remained intact.
Viktor Gyokeres, who scored the second of Coventry’s quick-fire double midway through the first half, was a constant menace. Callum O’Hare, who wrapped the win up deep into stoppage time, and Gustavo Hamer, who claimed two assists, both enjoyed superb games.
Coventry only briefly looked flustered when Bobby Decordova-Reid halved the deficit late on but they had the courage to continue attacking. They are six points off the playoff spots but it will be a tall order to reach them with just five to play.
‘It was up there with the performances of the season,’ said Coventry manager Robins. ‘To a man, they were outstanding and they had to be against such a good team.
‘It is the first time we have beaten a top 10 team away from home and that should give them a load of belief. Fulham have battered teams by sixes and sevens and we kept them at bay until the 82nd minute.
‘We played with bravery, courage and quality and we created chances off the back of that and took them. There was no hesitancy or panic in the back line and we still had the courage to break out.’
Coventry started brightest and led when Michael Rose glanced home Hamer’s corner at the near post, potentially via a touch off defender Antonee Robinson. That stunned Fulham and Gyokeres’ 20-yard shot somehow bobbled over Marek Rodak and in four minutes later.
Fulham got a goal back eight minutes from time when DecordovaReid swept home following a neat one-two with Josh Onomah.
But Coventry refused to panic and settled the contest when O’Hare tapped into an empty net after Hamer had forced Tim Ream into an error and crossed.
‘We lost the game because of individual mistakes, it wasn’t something tactical,’ said Fulham boss Marco Silva. ‘The first goal, second goal and third goal all came from mistakes.
‘They were better than us, more confident than us.’