Match Report: Fortune Favours Fulham in Win Over Norwich
Fulham secured a vital three points in their quest to stave off relegation as they overcame Norwich 1-0 at Craven Cottage. The hosts began the day five points behind their opponents, but Hugo Rodallega's first half goal gave Fulham hope that they can retain their place in England's top tier.
The relegation 6-pointer lived up its billing early on as both teams went in hunt of an all-important opener. Ricky van Wolfswinkel forced David Stockdale into an excellent save, while Robert Snodgrass crashed a free-kick off the bar for Norwich, but it was Fulham who took the initiative 5 minutes before the break. Lewis Holtby's set-piece was flicked on by Steve Sidwell and Rodallega was on hand to fire past John Ruddy from close range.
As the game wore on, Norwich pressed the Cottagers deeper into their own half, but failed to net a vital goal, leaving their Premier League status in doubt. Neil Adams has a tough task on his hands to ensure the Canaries don't drop into the Championship after Saturday's loss, with his team hosting Liverpool and Arsenal either side of trips to Manchester United and Chelsea.
However, Adams will have been buoyed by the response of his players following the disappointing 1-0 loss to West Brom last week. Norwich enjoyed more possession than Fulham (55% to 45%) at Craven Cottage and fired away 13 shots on goal, just 1 fewer than the hosts (14). While they had just 4 shots on target, the performance - if not the result - will have been exactly what the caretaker boss wanted.
The return of Leroy Fer - the Dutchman making his first league appearance since mid-February - will help in the run-in with the midfielder providing a regular attacking threat from deep here. 2 of Norwich's 4 shots on target came courtesy of Fer, while the 24-year-old completed the most dribbles (4) in the encounter.
Fulham, though, will use the victory as a springboard in their survival pursuit, with the win the Cottagers' third in their last 5 league games. Many hadn't given them much hope prior to Felix Magath's appointment, but the win over Norwich means they now sit just two points from safety and with home games against Stoke and Crystal Palace still to come, the players will be believing that they can remain in the Premier League.
Rodallega in particular impressed for the hosts. The frontman ended the encounter with a rating of 7.7, not only as a result of his first half goal but also his link up play. He executed more key passes (5) than any other player on the pitch and was on hand to prevent Norwich from netting a second half equaliser, heading Michael Turner's goalbound effort away for a corner.
"(Today he) showed he's a very good striker," Cottagers boss Magath said after the game, and the confidence the manager has instilled in Rodallega is benefitting the team tremendously, especially in the extended absence of January arrival Kostas Mitroglou.
Nevertheless, Magath admitted that his Fulham side were lucky to land all three points and that Norwich were the better team, echoing Adams' post-match thoughts. However, at this stage of the season, and in the position Fulham currently sit in, luck is what you need. For Norwich, fortune needs to favour them between now and the end of the campaign, but with games against “the four best teams in Europe” as Adams put it, that is easier said than done.
Do you think Fulham can secure their top-flight safety? Will Norwich get relegated this season? Let us know know in the comments below
