How wise that Fulhams last home diversion of the season, with the normal lap of honour, should have been an dusk match.
So most of the highlights of a conspicuous debate have taken place underneath the floodlights of European nights. This competence have been achingly made at home in character but zero can spoil the celebration ambience for the bar right now, not even a late winning idea by Matthew Etherington, a set upon that carried Stoke City on top of Fulham to tenth place in the league.
Last nights game, however, was only an additional step in Fulhams implausible journey. It was compare No 61 and whilst a mid-table strife opposite Stoke competence not customarily set the universe on fire, it all felt so most some-more significant.
Both teams have overperformed whilst never seeking identical to relegation candidates. Just for Stoke fans to equates to to contend they will have a third uninterrupted deteriorate in the Premier League is different not as glamorous as being equates to to exaggerate about reaching a European last in Hamburg subsequent week of march but in the own approach flattering impressive. No consternation both managers intent in the jolliest of embraces prior to kick-off. Tony Pulis can right afar exaggerate that he has well and truly knocked about second-season set of symptoms by gaining some-more points during this campaign than he did in the prior one.
Everybody incited up tonight and had a go, Pulis said. We werent scintillating, but we worked really hard. We cut their supply off, and that didnt occur opposite Chelsea, where we were trounced. Its removing at the back of up that counts, not removing knocked down. That showed the suggestion and fortitude in the sauce room.
For those Fulham fans incompetent to transport to Germany, Roy Hodgson, the manager, gave them a skirt operation by opting to margin his strongest accessible side. It is by no equates to sure that the Achilles damage suffered by Bobby Zamora will transparent up in time for the striker to be accessible for the last in Hodgsons difference Zamora is not creation immeasurable progress. This would paint a real blow as, whilst elegant, his deputies can miss his potency.
Fulham played only as you would design of a side on the verge of the biggest date in their history. They oozed certainty in their flitting ability, had an aura of supremacy and did not most caring for crunching tackles that competence imperil the dream.
Every time a Fulham player landed awkwardly he would take twice as prolonged as usual to mount up again. Any prolonged round played by Stoke was jeered by the home supporters, no disbelief endangered that Puliss side were not an competent stand-in for Atltico Madrid even if they wear a identical strip.
Hodgson supposed that the last on Wednesday was on the players minds and although his group fared well underneath the earthy plea acted by Stoke, Damien Duff went off at half-time with a calf-muscle complaint that will almost positively meant he is complacent for Fulhams compare afar to Arsenal on Sunday to safeguard that he is accessible for the outing to Germany.
Just in box any one inside Craven Cottage was feeling a small short-changed by the miss of excitement, David Hamilton voiced over the PA complement at the begin of the second half that we should all acquire at the back of the Europa League finalists and unrestrained was restored.
But Stoke additionally emerged energised and Ricardo Fuller placed a header only far-reaching after Rory Delaps predictably prolonged throw evaded the Fulham counterclaim packaged inside the chastisement area. Certainly the on vacation group were some-more rebuilt to be feisty and had at last concurred this was both a great and a bad time to face the group representing the Premier League in Europe.
Etherington gave Stoke the lead in the 83rd notation when Fuller took value of a event by Paul Konchesky to set him up. Hodgson bemoaned that Tuncay Sanli had rubbed the round as it drifted opposite the chastisement spot. The Stoke players certified to Aaron Hughes that it was handball, but there you go, Hodgson said. Lets put that diversion at the back of us.
Clint Dempsey had the dual most appropriate chances of the second half for the home side and was uncharacteristically wasteful. Maybe, identical to his team-mates, he was saving himself.
Fulham (4-4-2): M Schwarzer J Paintsil (sub: S Okaka, 86min), A Hughes, B Hangeland, P Konchesky D Duff (sub: E Nevland, 46), D Etuhu, D Murphy, S Davies Z Gera, C Dempsey. Substitutes not used: P Zuberbühler, C Baird, B-H Riise, C Smalling, K Dikgacoi. Booked: Hughes.
Stoke City (4-4-2): A Begovic A Wilkinson, R Huth, R Shawcross, D Higginbotham R Delap, D Whitehead, G Whelan, M Etherington (sub: S Diao, 88) M Sidibe (sub: Tuncay Sanli, 72), R Fuller (sub: L Lawrence, 90). Substitutes not used: S Simonsen, D Pugh, D Collins, L Moult. Booked: Huth, Shawcross, Fuller.
Referee: P Walton.
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