CAIRNEY BACKED TO MAKE IT BIG
Midfield man stars on return to Ewood
FULHAM manager Slavisa Jokanovic feels that Tom Cairney has all the attributes to be a Premier League footballer after his last-gasp goal sealed three points against his former club Blackburn Rovers.
The Serbian manager saw his Cottagers grind out the narrow win in a tight affair at Ewood Park and feels the result was fully deserved.
“It’s strong words, but Tom Cairney has all the attributes to play in the Premier League,” he said.
“He is an important player for this club. To keep calm and to score so late is good for us.
“I think we deserved the win. I saw my team pass the ball well and stretch Blackburn.
“It’s important to always keep going until the end and we saw that here in a difficult match.
“This is the Championship, it’s a very tough competition. We lost two points against Leeds in the last second so we try, we push, we move the ball and in the end Cairney scores a fantastic goal.”
Rovers started the game with two debutants at the back in Tommie Hoban and Derrick Williams, and it was the hosts who mustered the first chance; Danny Graham blasting over from just inside the box in the opening minutes.
Debutant Neeskens Kebano nearly got his Fulham career off to the most spectacular start after 33 minutes, forcing Jason Steele into a brilliant save from 25 yards with his shot destined for the top corner.
The heavens opened in the second half, and it sparked a flurry of chances.
First Graham went agonisingly close again for the home side, seeing his shot trickled just wide of David Button’s far post.
Back came Fulham; Kebano curling a shot comfortably into Steele’s arms, before Matt Smith’s close-range header, which lacked the pace to trouble the keeper.
Hope Akpan was next to try his luck, his edge-of-the-box side-footer was all too easy for Button.
Then Rovers substitute Darragh Lenihan dragged his shot wide from 20 yards.
It was another Blackburn change which nearly paid divi- dends on 84 minutes. Anthony Stokes’ long-range strike was fumbled by Button, but Graham wasn’t quick enough to react.
With the game petering out, the Rovers old-boy proved to be the heart-breaker. The hosts failed to clear Ryan Sessegnon’s cross, and the ball dropped to Cairney who smashed into the net to seal the points.
Despite the defeat, Rovers manager Owen Coyle said there were plenty of positives to take from the game.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to know it can be cruel at times but I thought, on the whole, we were terrific,” he said.
“It’s hard to take of course, it’s hard for the players, staff and the fans, but if we keep playing like that I think we’ll take plenty of points in this division.
“For me it’s a far better performance than anything we’ve done so far.
“We looked more secure and solid defensively but there are lessons to be learnt from the goal. There’s been a lot of changes at this club so it’ll only get better.
“We knew coming in how big a job it was going to be. This is a new team, we’ve invested in the squad and need to do some more.”