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It was attritional, controversial and full of talking points. The boys will certainly have come off knowing they'd been in a real battle. A massive win Saturday, make no mistake.
How was it for you? Boy, but that game left me drained. Elation though to have the final word against rugged Rovers, and once the war of words died away, you'd have to say we deserved the three points. Though not if you listened to the raw emotion pouring from the Blackburn corner post match.
Having twice pegged us back, with goals that had me tearing my hair out, the visitors industrial football looked likely to triumph with 25 minutes to go. Two key 2nd half moments, Baird heads off the line and Rovers spurn a massive chance on the break after Mame Diouf's pace took him clear. Hughes subs just tipped the balance I felt. He showed a bold hand in clearly pushing for a win with the introduction of Bobby for Murphy, and Kakuta replacing the ineffectual Dembele. We went up a gear in the last ten minutes and got our reward, but how tight the margins between success and struggle in the bottom half of the table.
Rovers arrived under pressure. Local newsmen told me Kean was running out of time with the new owners, and the travelling fans were not happy with his line-up picks, particularly the decision to keep Kalinic on the bench. Samba was back though, and he epitomised the fight - one of six changes from the previous week's debacle at Villa.
Hughes elected to keep faith with the same eleven from last week, so Bobby started on the bench. I thought Rovers had the better of the first 35 minutes as a number of simple 20 yard passes coming forward went astray. Clattenburg was whistling everything and with three early cautions I feared the worst. Neither Dempsey or Dembele could make any inroads up front, but I sensed early on Duff was going to fancy taking on the full-back all afternoon.
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So it proved, and with his double strike proving the difference, it was great to finally see Damien back to his best of last season. Four goals from five now for the Dubliner. As for the big fella up top...what can I say? Look back to my preview and you'll see I predicted a goal for our talisman. Myself along with the whole of the Hammy End were on our feet to see him cooly despatch that penalty. Commendable composure as it all kicked off. THANK YOU Bobby! Just wish Clint had done the same v Chelsea...
Just shows what a different team we look when you have both Zamora and Duff back and performing at their best. With those two proving a handful in the weeks to come it will hopefully take the pressure off AJ a little. He worked his socks off as usual and had a solid shout for two penalties when Samba caught him. He's still missing that vital spark to take him clear of defences and gobble up half chances, but I'm certain it will be Dembele now heading for a spell of bench warming. For all his early promise and controlled dribbling I'm getting a tad frustrated with the lack of end product from the Belgian, but his time will come again.
Under the aerial bombardment our back four manfully stuck to their task, it wasn't a happy afternoon for our skipper and I point the finger at Etuhu for that goal in 1st half stoppage time. Totally preventable. With all those bodies around him, Dickson had the easy option of playing the ball the way he was facing. That should have been lashed over the stand into the Thames.
I've blogged it before and see others now posting on the forums. Schwarzer must improve his clearances, and his punching. Might be a little late at 38 mind. Goalkicks don't clear halfway. Rovers big men thundered headers straight back while flattening the man jumping in white. Do something about it before it costs us a goal.
To finish, I guess we have to return to some big moments for the unfortunate Mr. Clattenburg. Blackburn don't make it easy for referees, that must be said. I've been going on about the penalty box argy bargy at set plays that blights football from a time long before I started this blog. If it's shirt tugging, blatant obstruction, holding, barging, elbowing, sandwiching whatever, a foul is still a foul all over the pitch. Whether Clattenburg was still thinking about AJ's claim from a minute before is irrelevant. He saw illegal holding of Hughes from the corner and gave a penalty. It was the correct decision. Le Tissier said so on Sky, the MOTD muppets had to agree, even Kean agreed it was 'technically correct.' End of debate. If that means we have '10 penalties a game', as Kean moaned, so be it. Perhaps then players will get the message.
A week off now for the boys to nurse their bruises before a very winnable game at graveyard Goodison with our current momentum. Could this be our year at last to get something up there? Back to back wins would surely banish the spectre of relegation in this difficult season. Then we can sit back into spring and watch the other 'dogs of war' tearing each other apart. Great feeling this morning to look at the papers and see us sitting above Blackburn and Stoke.
Goal of the weekend by a Fulham man? Not Damien. Check out Dalla Valle's debut strike for Bournemouth. Get in there!
Fulham and proud of it twitter@fulhamphil
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Comments
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Posted by 'Sota Dan on 03/07/2011
Good blog, Phil. I thought Clattenberg had some fairly obvious misses. Duff's form has been great the past few matches, and it looks like the mids are flying around the pitch. Still, we tend to give away too many stupid goals. With the half drawing near, there is just no way Etuhu should be trying to hold the ball there. And, we dodged a bullet after winning a free kick but for some reason firing a terrible ball right into the wall leading to a dangerous counter-attack. Welcome back, Bobby Z.!
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Posted by Justin on 03/07/2011
Didn't get to see this one, much obliged for the write up. Great to hear that Zamora is back, I can't see but how it will improve our chances from now.
Just out of curiousity, who do you tab to take the drop this year? The only one I feel certain about is Wigan
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Posted by Jessica on 03/07/2011
I was very encouraged by this result because it was rather un-Fulham-like. We are usually the ones fighting from behind. And we are usually the ones who never get the benefit of the doubt on borderline calls. It was a very welcome change.
So are we to assume that if Murphy comes off early, we can count on earning a penalty? Glad to see BZ put it home: I'm sure fresh legs and seven months of frustration helped greatly.
The week off will get us that much closer to Sidwell's return- which can't come soon enough in my opinion. Is it completely unthinkable to have Clint or Dembele in central midfield for an entire 90?
Here's hoping Clint can get the best of fellow countryman Timmy on the 19th. Top Ten would be delightful!
COYW!!
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Posted by Bobert on 03/09/2011
*Sigh* As a Dempsey fan being reminded of his miss against Chelsea two weeks ago still burns. Dissappointing that he didn't get his name on the scoreboard and still hasn't been able to lay claim to the "most goals scored in the EPL, in 1 season, by an American" title but I'm sure he will. Great to see Bobby Zamora back on the scoresheet and Duff, whooooa, two fantastic goals. Hearing his words post match were even more inspiring and I'm glad to see he's loving every minute at Fulham.
Phil, why do you think Dempsey let Zamora take the penalty? Lack of confidence by Deuce, or because he was actually being nice and wanted Zamora to get his name back up there? Possible also, that since Zamora was the one fouled it made sense for him to take it? Definitely has me wondering.
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Posted by Michael in Calgary on 03/09/2011
If ever there was a time for a second away win of the season, March 19 at Everton would be it! A win would vault the Whites ahead of the Toffees in the table and go a long way toward ensuring safety. The betting man in me foresees a draw, though.
Blog Central: After tonight's draw Mike I must insist all Whites fans direct their kharma into forcing the win at Goodison that will propel Fulham into the top half.
Posted by brianmcbride on 03/16/2011
phil, as an american, can i ask you, a local, why maf is erecting a statue of michael jackson at the cottage? this seems very peculiar to me. i understand that they were friends, but i see no need for the statue at a football stadium. any thoughts?
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Phil Mison is a lifelong follower of Fulham FC. As a broadcaster, writer and sports producer he has supplied past club videos and numerous articles on FFC. LBC Radio's Fulham correspondent 1988-1993 and Sky Sports’ reporter for the 1996-97 promotion season. Professionally Phil delivers football content to the highest level both overseas and across the UK via TV, radio and mobile.
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