‘Advantage Juve – Craven Cottage awaits’...and good grief was Craven Cottage ready for us. The plan appeared simple, secure an away goal and ‘shut up shop’. Somewhere along the way both Alberto Zaccheroni and the Bianconeri lost the script, and their heads. Those cheers I spoke of last week have disappeared quicker than Usain Bolt on a 100 metre track, and have been replaced with tears. Our season takes yet another nosedive into humiliation.

As the Juventus tifosi set off from Turin and arrived in London ahead of Thursday night's game, not a solitary soul could have envisaged what was to occur in a frantic 90 minutes in West London. Having firmly held the advantage after the first-leg last week, the Bianconeri successfully capitulated and were ruthlessly dismantled by a ravenous Fulham side.

David Trezeguet provided what seemed at the time the crucial away goal which would secure our safe passage to the final 8. However, the lead was all too ephemeral as Bobby Zamora quickly levelled things up. From Fabio Cannavaro’s sending off to Clint Dempsey’s sublime finish, it is yet another night to forget for all Juventini. Now it is pointless to place the blame on several dubious refereeing decisions, the fact remains that this season will now represent yet another trophy-less year and one which has raised more questions than answers.

Cannavaro sees red ©Getty Images

As things unravelled it all seemed a familiar sight, and my sense of Déjà Vu was confirmed the instant Jonathan Zebina was given his marching orders for a ridiculous moment of petulance. Cast your minds back to a frosty night in North London back in March 2006. Juve squared up with Arsenal in a Champions League quarter-final battle billed as a ‘Clash of the Titans’, and as humiliating as the performance was that night, it was a similar story on Thursday night. Juve left the capital defeated after being reduced to 9 men...and the man who saw red in the closing stages at Highbury? Yes you guessed it, Mr Jonathan ‘how are you still a Bianconero’ Zebina.

Needless to say our defensive displays this year have been reminiscent of a Lega Pro side, and every time Giorgio Chiellini has been missing, we have folded like a pack of cards. It didn’t look like things could get any worse after conceding three goals to rock-bottom Siena at the weekend, but unfortunately it did.

All that is left is to congratulate Fulham on a fantastic performance, and take a long look at ourselves. Fourth place is no longer an option, it is a necessity. If we fail, then I’m afraid for the first time in almost 15 years I will fear for the direction this once great club is heading, and sorry for all my fellow supporters who have had to put up with the endless shameful results this season. So, dust yourselves down and prepare for Sunday’s trip to Sampdoria...I expect a reaction.