Parker’s Fulham in tune to call time on Leeds run
OUTSIDE Craven Cottage a merry little band were playing Christmas songs. For the first time in a while, Scott Parker got a tune out of his Fulham squad, too.
It is never easy for a manager when his position is being questioned, even worse when an experienced out-of-work boss is sitting in the stands.
David Moyes was at the Cottage, watching intently and appearing to make markings on a team sheet. Perhaps he had heard of a potential vacancy opening up.
Or perhaps he was scouting for his next job, possibly with West Ham should they relieve Manuel Pellegrini of his duties. Whatever the reason, it was intriguing.
Parker responded to three consecutive losses by picking up three valuable points, with talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic and young gun Josh Onomah scoring the goals that did the job.
‘My eyes didn’t lie to me,’ said Parker. ‘I saw a team on the front foot, a team that wanted to make a statement, with passion and desire. The feeling I have is pride.’
Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, left knowing his side missed out on moving top for Christmas. They went into this game unbeaten in their last 11 league games but left west London with nothing.
It is not all doom and gloom for Bielsa, of course. Leeds United remain nine points ahead of third, although he will remember their Christmas collapse last season all too well.
It was around this time last year when Leeds’ automatic promotion push began to fall apart. They sat top of the table on Boxing Day but never got to the Premier League.
After letting a 3-0 lead slip to draw 3-3 against Cardiff last week and losing here, you wonder whether that is on their minds.
‘ We played one of the most powerful opponents,’ said Bielsa. ‘What Fulham played, how Fulham played, was the best team in the league.’
Within 10 seconds of kick-off, the Leeds supporters were singing Pablo Hernandez’s name on repeat. Within 40, he was down on the ground having pulled up with a hamstring problem.
On came Ezgjan Alioski as a replacement and Leeds’ start to the game got even worse in the fifth minute when referee Tim Robinson pointed to the penalty spot. Mitrovic had volleyed a cross into the box for Bobby Decordova- Reid but Ben White was seen with two hands on his opponent’s back, giving a slight shove.
It was soft but Fulham had their penalty, which Mitrovic duly put away.
Leeds had not lost since October and equalised in the 54th minute, when half-time substitute Eddie Nketiah fired a shot at Marek Rodak.
Fulham’s goalkeeper could only parry the ball into the path of Patrick Bamford, who tapped the ball in.
Yet Leeds lost the game in the 68th minute as Mitrovic attempted an acrobatic overhead kick from a cross. He missed the ball, but Onomah did not. The 22-year-old connected well with his shot and Kiko Casilla had no chance of saving it.
It was Onomah’s first goal for Fulham since signing from Tottenham as part of the deal that saw Ryan Sessegnon go the other way.
There was no way back for Leeds. They remain second but this knocked some of the stuffing out of their Christmas, regardless.