Fulham slid to a narrow defeat against Leeds United at the Cottage on Friday night.
Goals from Patrick Bamford and Raphinha either side of a Joachim Andersen equaliser were enough for the visitors to take home the points.
Scott Parker made some slight tweaks from last week’s line-up, bringing back Josh Maja and Antonee Robinson in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kenny Tete.
There was a chance for Fulham inside 15 seconds, as a defensive mix-up gave Ivan Cavaleiro some space down the right, getting to the touchline before a Leeds man made up the ground to clear.
Moments later and Leeds had a sniff, in an open start to proceedings. After a direct through ball, Bamford held off Joachim Andersen on the edge of the box and tried to tee up Tyler Roberts, but Tosin was there to get rid.
Leeds thought they had found the opener after 8 minutes through a Luke Ayling header, but following a VAR review it was chalked off for an offside on Roberts in the build-up.
The game had a real back and forth to it now with both sides applying the pressure, epitomised by Maja’s pressing. Closing down a stray back pass, the striker couldn’t quite get the ball under full control allowing Illan Meslier to gather.
The visitors had the ball in the net for a second time after 19 minutes through Raphinha after being slotted through down the right, but this offside call needed no VAR to intervene as the flag was raised instantly.
There was a frantic bit of head tennis after 25 minutes in Fulham’s best chance of the contest so far. Leeds couldn’t clear their lines from a corner as the ball was continually pumped back into the 6-yard box from Frank Anguissa and Mario Lemina, and eventually it broke to Maja. His shot on the turn brushed the fingertips of Meslier before spinning away from goal and being cleared off the line by Ayling.
5 minutes later and Marcelo Bielsa’s men found a breakthrough. From a throw-in on the right, Jack Harrison crossed to Bamford who slotted home from close range.
Heads didn’t drop in the Fulham camp as Parker’s men came back to fight level through Andersen after 38 minutes. Lookman swung in a delightful ball from a corner on the right, and our captain volleyed into the net from close range to bag his first goal for the club.
We were bringing the contest now and almost went ahead before the interval. Lookman was provider once again and put it on a plate for Anguissa on the edge of the area, whose rocket towards goal required a stellar stop from Meslier to keep out in the final chance of an action-packed first half.
There was a half-time substitute deployed by the boss as Aleksandar Mitrović entered the action, swapping with Maja.
The pressure was applied from the off in the second period through a succession of Fulham corners and Andersen went close yet again, this time through a shot on the ground that was deflected wide by an outstretched Leeds leg.
The away side weren’t about to lie down though, and enjoyed a positive spell of their own next. Their clearest chance fell to Harrison after he’d swerved his way into the box, but Alphonse Areola was equal to his shot to parry.
Lookman was next to break free after 57 minutes after great work from Mario Lemina to get inside the box, but his shot was scuffed at the vital moment.
A minute later and Leeds were back ahead via Raphinha. After a slip, Bamford found room and drove aggressively at the Fulham back line before passing off to the Brazilian to produce the finish required.
Next was a solid shout for handball from Fulham, after Lookman’s whipped free kick appeared to strike the arm of Bamford in the box, but after a short VAR check nothing came of it.
Lookman was looking likely and had another decent opportunity when Cavaleiro dropped one into the mixer from the right. He spun his man but couldn’t get the adequate connection on his effort.
Fulham had large spells of possession now as Leeds shut up shop, but the away side still provided a constant threat on the counter. Harrison went close again in the latest surge forward as his shot across goal went whiskers wide.
Another push forward came moments later and Ezgjan Alioski went close on the volley, but Areola pulled off a smart save to prevent a third goal.
There was five minutes added onto the end of a crazy game, but this wasn’t quite enough in the end for Fulham to find an answer to Leeds’ goals.
We regroup now in the international break and go again at Villa Park in a couple of weeks’ time.
Fulham: Areola; Aina (Tete 72’), Andersen, Tosin, Robinson; Lemina, Reed (Loftus-Cheek 63’), Anguissa; Lookman, Maja (Mitrović 46’), Cavaleiro
Leeds: Meslier; Alioski, Struijk, Llorente, Ayling; Phillips, Dallas; Raphinha, Roberts (Koch 90’), Harrison; Bamford (Klich 77’)
