Uncertain times at Fulham. The word is out that the club’s ownership would like to extend Marco Silva’s stay. The manager himself has been non-committal, having previously been explicit about a lack of summer transfer business. Raúl Jiménez’s winner, coming when it seemed Fulham were incapable of scoring, should at least still choppy waters for now and lifted Silva’s team away from the increasing threat of a relegation battle.
The sheen has been fading from his regime, after last season’s record points tally and enterprising football, going a touch stale, though he could successfully argue little of that is of his making. The Khan family gambled on stasis, rarely a recipe for success when others spend money like it is going out of fashion.
Jiménez’s goal was a measure of his determination to keep trying when other heads would have dropped but that Fulham are relying on him remains an indictment of the lack of funding Silva and supporters complain of.
These have been far happier times for Sunderland. His team kicking off in fourth place, having become the first team in 10 matches to puncture Arsenal’s bubble, Régis Le Bris is this season’s best newcomer to the Premier League, but his team fell short in the second half. Fulham were able to bring on substitutes in Emile Smith Rowe and Samuel Chukwueze. The latter, loaned from Milan, looks a decent piece of business.
In rotten weather conditions, wind whipping off the Thames into swirling rain, this was a contest to be toughed out. It ended with an angry confrontation on the sidelines between players and coaches. Granit Xhaka, one of the most astute signings of the summer, was in short sleeves snapping into tackles all afternoon.
The away contingent, who always enjoy a trip to the capital, cheered on their heroes, packed tightly into shape. Alex Iwobi’s early overhead kick was a moment of improvisation made necessary by the tight squeeze Sunderland had made of their penalty area.
Sunderland’s main attacking weapon was quick, wildcat attacks, Wilson Isidor asked to run the channels. Fulham’s best chance of the first half was Harry Wilson’s escape after a Sunderland corner was cleared, but the target was missed by the Welshman. Robin Roefs made a couple of fine saves from Kevin, though the Brazilian’s finishing was unconvincing on both occasions.
That Fulham could do with a finisher is a familiar lament, particularly with Rodrigo Muniz out until 2026. Silva has done a fine refurb on Jiménez, but a tally of a single Premier League goal, before this match, tells the tale well enough. The first half ended with players jogging gratefully to the dressing room for shelter.
after newsletter promotion
Enzo Le Fée, clad in tights and gloves, had been peripheral, but as soon as the second period began, after a raking ball from Roefs, the Frenchman’s shot had Bernd Leno beaten, though also the post. The Wearsiders began to sense their team could nick something. Their counterattacking had been replaced by a dominance of possession.
Isidor departed, to be replaced by Brian “Mr” Brobbey, late-goal hero of the Arsenal heist, with Smith Rowe and Chukwueze asked to inject much required zest into Fulham. Such changes proved crucial. Soon after, Wilson fired another chance wide, as did Smith Rowe, the home support’s hopes sagging whenever one of their players flubbed chances.
Sunderland, though, had become far less assured, their counters far less dangerous, and another Wilson chance was denied by a desperate Reinildo block. Eventually, fatefully, Chukwueze’s cross skidded into Jiménez’s path, the striker showing typical bravery in scoring the goal that looked like it would never come.
