29 December 2024
Fulham 2 Bournemouth 2
Fulham welcomed Bournemouth to Craven Cottage with the hosts fresh off the back of a memorable win at Stamford Bridge. Now Marco Silva wanted to build on that and improve The Cottagers’ position in the Premier League. The visitors have not got a good record travelling to the capital and everything seemed to be pointing towards a home win.
It was The Cherries who started the brighter in the game as a cross into the box picked out Brooks. He controlled it before getting a left-footed shot away towards the far corner. Leno reacted well and got down to make a smart save and more importantly, hold onto it in the process. If they ever needed reminding of the attacking threat of the visitors, then this was it.
Brooks was causing all sorts of problems for the hosts. He made a run into the box and checked back with a cheeky little Cruyff turn. He then tried to chip his effort into the far top corner of the goal. It narrowly shaved the crossbar as it went over the target. Bournemouth were looking dangerous with their slick passing and movement in the final third.
Semenyo was the next player to have a sight of goal but he opted to shoot from a tight angle rather than utilising the better options he had in the box. Leno stood firm and made a routine block at the near post. That said, it struck him in the chest in such a manner that, even if he wanted to, he would struggle to get out of the way of the effort.
Then came the ultimate sucker punch for being so wasteful in front of goal. The hosts forced a corner and as the cross came into the box, Jimenez rose like a salmon before heading into the goal. The Mexican is so dangerous in the air, it was criminal that no Bournemouth player was marking him or even tracking his run towards the ball.
Craven Cottage erupted as it went in, showing the true danger of Marco Silva’s side. They are not ones to dominate possession and prefer to play a more direct style. They can often lull you into a confidence that you are in control of the game and then all of a sudden, they score against the run of play. Classic Fulham.
The goal saw Jimenez equal a record in the process. He is now level with Javier Hernandez on 53 goals for the top-scoring Mexican in the Premier League. A record which no doubt he will have his sights on emulating before the end of the season. Although, if he has not broken it by the end of the month Marco Silva may be asking some questions of his striker.
Fulham really upped the tempo after their goal and The Cherries were struggling to contain them. As it was worked to Iwobi out wide, he checked inside onto his right foot before trying to bend one in the top corner. It was not far away but the travelling Bournemouth fans will have been relieved to see it go over the crossbar.
Into the second-half and a ball whipped in from out wide by Hill was thundered home by Evanilson at the near post. It was a brilliant finish from the Bournemouth striker and got the visitors back on level terms. It came from nothing but seemed to knock the wind out of The Cottagers. Now they had to dig deep and find another gear if they wanted to win this game.
The Cherries had not learnt any lessons from earlier in the game it would seem. Another cross from Iwobi picked out Jimenez, who outjumped the defender to head towards goal. Fortunately for Iraola’s side, Kepa managed to claw the ball out of the goal in his unusual style. It was effective but rarely will any of his saves be taught to aspiring keepers.
Evanilson then set Ouattara away down the left. He did everything right as dribbled towards the penalty area with no Fulham player willing to put in a challenge. The winger picked out Billing in the middle but his attempt at a finish was poor and easily saved by Leno. The midfielder looks a shadow of the player who attracted so much interest from bigger clubs a couple of seasons ago.
Fulham went down the other end and Iwobi laid the ball out wide to the dangerous Robinson. He checked onto his weaker foot and lifted a cross right onto the head of Wilson. The Welshman used all of his neck muscles to send his effort into the top corner of the goal as the home faithful rejoiced, looking like they had sealed the three points.
You can never rest on your laurels in the Premier League. With just a minute remaining, The Cherries threw caution to the wind. As Semenyo weaved his way into the box, he tried to get a shot off but it was blocked and ricocheted to Ouattara at the back post. He deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Leno to grab a late equaliser for the visitors.
There was nothing to separate the two sides as the points were shared. Bournemouth remain in seventh spot in the table, just one place above Fulham. Both managers will think they could have won this game but all Marco Silva could focus on was poor decisions from the referee that cost his side victory in West London. Classic Marco.
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