'One Step 4-1, Two Steps Back' - Analysis of Fulham's Recent Form

Article by Barnaby Mollett

At face value, it is perhaps a challenge to take positives from losing a football match 4-1, as Fulham did to Everton on Saturday. However, as someone who once plucked out the word 'euouae' when faced with a rack of only vowels in a game of Scrabble, I declare myself fit to attempt such a task.

Firstly, Fulham didn't lose 4-1 away to Macclesfield; the Toffees are living up to their name this season, producing sweet, smooth football under Roberto Martinez this season, and have lost just once in the league - giving opposing managers something difficult to chew on. Although Fulham only partly turned up in the first half, Meulensteen's team talk spurred the team on to grab another Berbatov penalty to equalise. The team was showing the sort of attacking intent and - like Metallica - heavy mettle that was witnessed under Martin Jol only by fans having delirious hallucinations after eating a questionable half-time pie.

To some extent, the match statistics back this up. Although Everton had 58% possession, few teams in the league could go to Goodison Park and expect to keep the ball more than the home team. And, although Martinez's men rifled off 22 shots, Fulham still managed a credible 16 - a marked improvement from the zero shots this same team managed away at Southampton earlier in the season. In the end, the scoreline somewhat flattered Everton, who despite being the better team were given a real game of it by the Cottagers.

Of course there are other downsides to the defeat; the form the final scoreline took meant Fulham's goal difference plunged to -15, taking them down a place below Tony Pulis and the 'Crystal Palace Revival Experience' - all the more ironic after Fulham's goals galore 4-1 defeat of Palace at Selhurst Park in Holloway's final game in charge. It means Fulham go into a tricky set of Christmas fixtures (Man City at home, followed by trips to Norwich and Hull, before a crucial home game against West Ham United) languishing in the bottom three, despite a trinity of vastly improved performances under Rene Meulensteen. This said, the team seems to be heading in the right direction, especially relative to the static and striker-less West Ham, and the crumbling and coach-less West Brom. Fulham fans may not be expecting any Christmas crackers, but maybe, just maybe, now have reason to believe in a New Year's resolution at the Cottage.

HIGH POINT OF THE WEEK (Sponsored by Ben Nevis): Other teams lose by a more catastrophic scoreline than Fulham; Tottenham 0 - 5 Liverpool provided a pleasant, if momentary, diversion of attention for Fulham supporters.

ALL-TIME LOW POINT OF THE WEEK (Inspired by Baltimore pop-punk band, All Time Low): The news that Brede Hangeland is out for another six weeks with injury. Fulham have really missed their captain, and he's surely a major factor in the fact that it's been seven defeats in the last eight outings. Fulham's defence just don't seem to be able to do the Brede and butter stuff with out the big Norwegian.

STATISTICALLY ACCURATE CHART OF THE WEEK: Berbatov's League Goals 2013/14 (Please see attached picture)