Scott Parker: Fulham need to relish being the underdogs – our game plan worked at Leicester
BY MATT VERRI
Scott Parker believes his Fulham team have to continue to relish the tougher moments if they are to pick up results in the Premier League.
The west London club’s 2-1 victory away at Leicester City tonight saw a move away from the more attractive, possession-based style of play they’ve often implemented this season, in favour of a more cautious, counter-attacking approach.
Goals from Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro put the visitors 2-0 up, but they had to weather a late storm to hold on after Harvey Barnes halved the deficit late on.
“Definitely, we showed another side to us tonight, a real resilience,” Parker said.
“The first goal epitomises everything that the game plan was, in terms of soaking it up a little bit, being disciplined, but then with the players on the pitch in Reuben, Ade, and Cavaleiro, trying to him them on the break.
“We worked on it all week, tracking back on one side with Bobby who I thought sacrificed a lot of his game tonight to do that job.”
And the Fulham boss was particularly proud of the way his team handled the side of the game that has come less naturally to them this season so far.
“At half-time we spoke about them coming away from the back five and committing more men forward,” Parker said.
“At that point I didn’t know in great detail what that was going to be, but I did know we were going to have to embrace the challenge.
“That’s about a mentality and a real nous. The first half was tactical, it was a sparring match with a real tactical element. What comes after that is a mindset – ‘Lads, we need to dig in, we need to enjoy this moment.’
“At times I feel over the course of when I’ve been here we’ve not relished or enjoyed those moment of being the underdog, or doing everything to keep the ball out of our net.
“Technical team, lovely footballing team – I think that’s clear for everyone to see, and we’ve shown that in the early part of the season.
“We need to show more of what we showed tonight to get results in this division.”
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
