On the back of a disappointing exit from the FA Youth Cup during midweek, an impressive display from Fulham showed that although it had been a massive blow to drop out of such a prestigious competition, they still had the competitive desire to go out and bounce back and show the continued progress of their ever developing squad. Ipswich is never an easy place to go but an excellent display on the day saw the Whites leave with all three points.
If there were any lingering doubts about how Fulham would respond, these were soon eradicated as an effervescent Whites took the game to the home side as they got the ball down and set about passing the ball round. The slick interchanges were too much for Ipswich to handle in the opening period as for large spells they chased shadows.
A slightly altered formation saw the Whites play with a diamond midfield formation which seemed to suit them well and with Luca Moscatiello providing the perfect link between defence and midfield Fulham regained the fluency that had so deserted them just four days previously in Portsmouth.
When the first goal came, it arrived on the back of a passing move that included almost every single player in the Fulham side. Eventually the ball was worked out to Joe Anderson on the left and the defender whipped in a perfectly weighted cross. Lewis Smith snuck in front of his marker and steered is header low in to the far corner, giving the Ipswich keeper no chance and the Whites a deserved lead.
Fulham kept pressing and passing and creating openings in an already weary looking Town defence. The Whites created the chances but lacked the cutting edge to get them the goals their attacking play deserved.
Ipswich did however, get back into the game in the second half and got an equalising goal in controversial fashion. A challenge inside the area saw an Ipswich attacker go down, despite it looking like a legitimate tackle the referee awarded a penalty much to the dismay of the Fulham players. A confident spot kick brought the game back level.
Undeterred by this, Fulham used the decision against them as a spur and went at Ipswich again. The industry and creativity from the Whites midfield was an exciting example of how the game should be played and on this day Ipswich had no answer to it. When Fulham did get the winning goal it came via the head of Smith again as he connected with another cross to give Fulham the lead.
There were a few chances for Ipswich later in the game but England Under 17 goalkeeper, Wesley Foderingham was equal to all the attempts and made a couple of fine saves. It is this solid defensive unit that has ensured Fulham have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 14 goals and on the day ensuring Fulham travelled back to London with a well deserved three points.
A clearly delighted Gray Brazil could not hide his pleasure at the way his side had come out and shown their resilience following recent disappointments. “When we got into the changing room at Fratton Park [following the loss to Portsmouth] the lads were inconsolable,” revealed Brazil. “I said to them afterwards of course it’s disappointing but the mark of where we’re at is how we respond today following a disappointing result. Some of the football they played in the opening period of the game was the best I have seen from them in a while.”
“I said to them prior to the match that it isn’t the result I concerned about so much but the calibre of performance and in that respect I could not have asked any more from them.”
Fulham: Foderingham; Cumber, Brown, Briggs, Anderson; Moscatiello, Saunders, Jackson, Noble; Smith, Uwezu