Andy Munro ventures riverside to see Blues at Fulham.
We’ve come a long way in a few months with many Bluenoses bemoaning the fact that we only secured a point down the Smoke. Okay, we should have had all three but missed some comparatively easy chances and let’s not get above ourselves because the Cottage has never been a good hunting ground.
Early on, Fulham showed their undoubted class when Rodellega showed his undoubted class to coolly slot home. Yet after a quiet opening spell, Blues roared back and Cotterill soon put us back on an even keel with one of his trademark viciously angled free-kicks.
Blues kept their usual formation and tactics with Gary Rowett springing just one surprise (a ‘one surprise’ now appearing to become a regular occurrence) putting starlet Gray on the bench and giving Lloyd Dyer another run out. In the after-match interview, Rowett explained his reasons that Fulham were playing a diamond formation and to combat this Blues needed genuine width, hence Demi Gray being confined to the bench. I have to say that he lost me at that point but I still wouldn’t swap our Bromsgrove Mourinho for anybody but the real thing.
In truth, Blues dominated without getting the vital second goal and there was always the worry that it might come back to haunt us and we’d be going back up the motorway pointless. However, these days Blues defensively are made of sterner stuff and Fulham rarely threatened. It was interesting to see Dan Burn on the bench and, to be honest, I’d have him back in a heartbeat. Having said that, he’s another loanee who thought that the grass wasn’t green enough at the Blues only to later find out the error of his ways. Part of my reasoning is that while it’s hats off time to Robbo and Spector, there’s always the fear that when they come up against the top sides, they will be found wanting in terms of pace and height.
Apparently Blues are after a young central defender prospect from Halifax and, for me, that’s the way forward in terms of team investment. Elsewhere, Gleeson and Davies put in competent performances and I think that this reflects the reality of Blues. We have a competent side of dependable players with, Demi Gray apart, the only real match winners in the shape of Cotterill and Shinnie, although I still think the latter can be bullied too easily off the ball. However his touch is so sublime at Championship level that he’s still undoubtedly worth his place.
Next up are Millwall and this should be three points but, of course, this is the topsy turvy Championship that we’re talking about!