Ace Bowler swings it!
JOSH KNOCKS SHINE OFF SILVA
JOSH BOWLER came back to haunt Fulham boss Marco Silva with a goal that knocked Fulham off the Championship summit.
He might not have been too aware of the young winger during his 18-month fateful spell in charge of Everton with the £1.5million signing from QPR not featuring in a single senior game.
Well he knows all about the 22-year-old’s potential now with Blackpool’s summer capture, who spent a season on loan at Hull City, a constant threat helping himself to only the second goal of his career.
It came in the 49th minute just when Fulham – unbeaten until this trip to the seaside – were attempting to stir themselves after an underwhelming first half.
Instead it was Neil Critchley’s side, who had started the game winless and in the relegation zone, who took the lead.
Bowler’s runs down the right had already been causing problems and it was another which undid the visitors.
Taking off from midway in the Fulham half he galloped into the box evading a couple of challenges before firing past Paulo Gazzaniga.
Cue a fightback from a side who had made a storming start to the season, blowing away the Premier League relegation blues with a draw and four straight wins?
It didn’t arrive as Blackpool’s joyous fans taunted the visitors with ‘top of the league you’re having a laugh’.
Silva admitted: “It was not a good enough performance to win the game. We didn’t create enough chances to win this football match.
“We have to analyse why we started the game so slowly and why our buildups were slow. We had to have a higher degree of intensity.
“I did have some moments with Josh Bowler at Everton. He had a good afternoon. He had a good performance and good luck to him.”
The Cottagers huffed and puffed and went close in a frantic finale, Aleksandar Mitrovic seeing a header clawed around the post by Chris Maxwell. It was a tale of frustration for Silva’s side. And they paid the price for not being able to get to grips with the lively Bowler.
A delighted Critchley said: “I know what this group is capable of.
“We said before the game they haven’t lost but they are bound to lose sometime and we hadn’t won, and we know we’re going to win sometime so why not today?”