TEAM: FULHAM
There were several very dominant home wins this week. However, the one away win outshone everything else for me.
Fulham went to Old Trafford with only one away win all season. Without Palhinha, Jiminez and Willian, they were still the better team and were unlucky to be level with United until they snatched a deserved late winner.
Well done also to Crystal Palace. Man City. Wolves. Also, Arsenal. Aston Villa and West Ham were all close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JOSE SA (Wolves)
I would have to say this decision was more by default, as there were no real outstanding candidates.
So, I went with the Wolves’s man whose team had fewer shots on goal than Sheff Utd, but he had to deal with whatever they had to offer and earned a clean sheet.
Shout out also to Fulham’s Leno. Everton’s Pickford. Bournemouth’s Neto and West Ham’s Areola.
DEFENDER: LEWIS DUNK (Brighton)
This was probably one of the most difficult decisions this week. However, I went with the Brighton man whose team was off it for most of the game, and he had to defend stoutly, although Everton did score.
However, when they went a man down, you expected Everton to score at least one more and win the game. But he showed his defensive qualities to keep Everton at bay, then became captain fantastic to nick a late goal to snatch a point.
Well done also to his teammate Van Hecke. Everton’s Branthwaite. Fulham’s Bassey. Arsenal duo Gabriel & Kiwior. Man City’s Stones. Palace’s Richards. Wolves duo Dawson & Ait-Nouri and West Ham’s Emerson.
MIDFIELDER: LEON BAILEY (Aston Villa)
It is fair to say he could well be in the form of his life. He was at his menacing best against Forest and ran them ragged.
His trickery and awareness put the first on a plate for Watkins. He was involved in the second with an intelligent pass in the box and scored the fourth to wrap up the game.
Shout out also to his teammate Douglas Luiz, who was close to winning this. Also, McGinn. Arsenal’s Jorginho. Man City duo. Foden & Rodri. Fulham duo Reed & Iwobi. Forest duo Niakhate & Gibbs-White. Newcastle’s Willock and Brighton’s Gross.
FORWARD: JARROD BOWEN (West Ham)
After all the goals he has scored for West Ham, it’s a surprise that this is his first hat-trick.
It was a fully deserved, once again being the talisman with three tidy and instinctive finishes to sink Brentford.
Well done also to Arsenal trio Saka, Havertz & Martinelli. Palace duo Ayew & Mateta. Villa’s Watkins. Wolves’ Sarabia. Brentford duo Maupay & Wissa, also Fulham’s Muniz.
MANAGER: MARCO SILVA (Fulham)
Fulham went to Old Trafford having not won in their last 18 meetings, with only one away win all season. With missing three of their best players, the odds did not look good,
However, they played with confidence, were the better team and were rewarded with the opening goal. But when United got a last-minute equaliser. They did not feel sorry for themselves. Not satisfied with a point, they caught United on the break to get a deserved winner.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta. Villa’s Emery and West Ham’s Moyes.
UNSUNG HERO: DOUGLAS LUIZ (Aston Villa)
It’s not often you score two goals and don’t get an individual award. This is not a knock on Luiz, as his goals virtually sealed the game for his team.
Usually, his goals and contributions come from dead-ball situations, but this time, he showed his awareness to sniff out a chance and expertly finish both with the confidence of a seasoned striker.
Well done also to Arsenal’s Havertz. Man City’s Stones. Everton’s Branthwaite and Fulham duo Bassey & Iwobi.
GAME: ASTON VILLA 4-2 NOTTS FOREST
Villa started the scoring early. Cash threaded a ball down the inside right channel for Bailey, who skipped past a defender and squared for Watkins to tap into an empty net (4).
It was then two for Villa following a good move between Bailey & Cash, who found Ramsey to touch back for Douglas Luiz to smash home (29). Luiz got his second and Villa’s third when he nodded in McGinn’s cross from the right (39).
Forest pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime when Niakhate chested in Awoniyi’s header back across the goal, following Gibbs-White’s corner (45+5).
In the second half, Forest pulled another goal back when Origi slipped a lovely ball in for Gibbs-White to dink over the keeper (48).
However, Villa wrapped the game up after Tilemans seized on a poor defensive pass and slipped Watkins in. His shot was blocked, but it fell to Bailey to tap home (61).
GOAL: EMERSON (West Ham) vs Brentford
Kudus received the ball on the right touchline and galloped down the line. His cross in the box, was headed out by a defender.
As the ball came down, Emerson, just to the left side of the dee, took one touch to control, lined it up, and hit a thunderous, 20-yard effort that arrowed into the top right corner.
There was also a good goal from Everton’s Branthwaite.
FOOL: MAN UTD
As already stated. Fulham has a dismal record against United, was missing three of their best players, came into the game with just one away win.
But Man Utd, even after getting a last-minute equaliser, managed to concede a stoppage-time goal to lose the game.
It is now ten league defeats in a painful season where the top four is starting to slip from their fingers. FOOLS.
