Fulham are really struggling and I don’t just mean on the pitch. It was a night of incisive finishing from Leeds and a whole host of missed chances for the home side, further proof that Matt Smith still loves us and wants to come home. And home he should come.

For a match that means almost nothing to Leeds it was incredible to see so many fans travelling down for the game, with 3,500 in the away end and a suspiciously Leeds “neutral” area too. All told there must have been 4,000 fans invading the cold Thames-side stadium. I’d not been to Craven Cottage for a very long time indeed and actually, it’s quite a nice stadium. It was a night of very strange decisions by the home side, or at least as I saw it.

Why would you put a huge number of away fans (a group known for being loud) next to the tunnell? That doesn’t make sense to me, because when the home side walk onto the pitch they’re immediately faced with an intimidating wall of sound. Which wouldn’t be a problem if the home fans could support the team. Before the match, during the first half at 0-0, after they conceded, after the red card, whatever was going on the home crowd were silent. Aside from the occasional jeer I didn’t hear a single song. In fact they were taunted after about half an hour when they finally made some noise, at which point they sat back down. I don’t understand the mentality of attending a match when your team is struggling and not trying to be the 12th man. Either way, Leeds can out-sing any crowd. Let’s look at the match.

Selection and formation

Leeds opted to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has given us promotion-tier form in 2015. Byram was recalled to the side (with significant impact), Sharp was started as the sole forward with Taylor, Mowatt and Sam behind him. Our midfield pair was the tried-and-true Cook/Murphy combination while the back-four remained unchanged (Berardi, Bamba, Bellusci and Wootton). A pretty normal selection and a very normal formation – with Steve Morison dropped to the bench in place of Byram being fit again.

Match

Fulham started strong, we didn’t even manage to complete the customary punt to the front-left, they closed us down. Scott Parker was running everything in midfield whereas that proven Smith/McCormack partnership looked like it might end us. Ross kept lobbing the ball forward for the friendly giant to either head towards goal or knock down for a teammate. Smith was winning everything in the air, within the first 30mins Fulham had a series of very good chances. Ross was through on goal within the first 10 minutes and tried to play the ball across Silvestri, who was in unstoppable form.

Fulham battered the Leeds goal and we made hard work of clearing it. While I have faith in our defense to keep clean sheets since the introduction of Bamba, I do sometimes get frustrated by our insistance in trying to play out of defense, when I’d rather it was simply cleared. There’s a time and a place for playing the ball, but when you’ve spent 15 minutes under the kosh, just get the thing clear.

McCormack did have the ball in the back of the net (right in front of the away fans) but was flagged offside, which calmed my pulse because I couldn’t handle the notion of him celebrating in front of us. Fulham continued to attack.

But we held on, the entire back-four involved in keeping that clean sheet. Rather against the run of play Leeds then went up the other end, Berardi crossed the ball, Byram leapt around 140 feet in the air and powered a header into the goal (via the floor, which makes it rather hard to save). A great goal and Leeds’ first genuine attempt. The atmosphere in the away end was electric, as it had been all evening. The goal simply knocked things up to 11.

I half expected the Fulham crowd to either wriggle in discontent or find their voices and start trying to back the team – instead they were as apathetic as the average opera-goer. They sat in quiet disappointment. Credit needs to go to the Fulham players for not dropping their heads, they continued to push, fight and play football. The home support was worryingly silent still, I’m not sure how the players motivate themselves.

We entered half time a goal to the good and comfortably the second best side in this game.

After the break Leeds were renewed in their energy and intent (Redfearn would later disclose that the players received a bollocking in the dressing room which added new life to the game). Suddenly our midfield were putting moves together, pressing, with Byram overlapping on the wing and dancing past defenders. 2 minutes after the restart the unthinkable happened, Leeds scored from a corner. Mowatt hit the set-piece, the ball found its way through the box without being cleared allowing for Sol Bamba to head the ball into an open net. Right in front of the away end, too. Panamonium. Utter chaos. Brilliant.

Fulham didn’t give up though and continued to search for that goal, but Leeds were buoyed by both the 2 goal advantage and the abject lack of burden and it meant Fulham really struggled to get a foothold. With confidence soaring the Whites (playing in the remarkably curse-free gold kit) spread the ball around with gusto, continuing to prod for gaps. Fulham applied pressure of their own, with Smith having chance after chance but failing to capitalise. I believe he still loves us and couldn’t bring himself to score.

With Sharp booked he was substituted and replaced with Morison (who instantly went into defensive midfield mode), while Mowatt was replaced with Antenucci. The latter latched onto a rebound to volley over the helpeless Fulham defense who finally understood that it wasn’t to be their night. Down to 10 men due to a quickfire double of yellow cards and 3 goals down at home, their fans started flooding out. The away end was quite literally rocking under the celebrations as everyone enjoyed the away day.

Statistics

Calling it a “smash and grab” is perhaps unfair on Leeds, but not by much. Fulham had 27 shots and converted 0, whereas we had 8 and converted 3. Fulham had more possession, more corners and made more tackles, but were undone by Leeds respectively clinical chance conversion.

Key performers

Silvestri was brilliant again, stopping shots and claiming crosses (but still punching more than I’d like). Bamba kept things tidy and got a goal (which he has deserved over recent weeks) but did make a few minor mistakes. Bellusci was incredible, confident and everywhere. Byram’s presence in the squad transforms how we play for the better. Berardi did well too, he made some great covering challenges and put in a terrific cross to create the first goal. The midfield boys did well but really only after being shouted at in the dressing room, there were a tad anonymous in the first 45.

I’d be tempted to give Bellusci MOTM, but believe it went to Silvestri.

Ross McCormack

Not a good evening for our 2013/14 talisman, having heard Smith’s name cheered during the team announcements only to then be booed must be rough. That was nothing compared to the abuse that followed; booed whenever he touched the ball and subject to chants of “greedy bastard”, “what a waste of money” and “Ross is going down” (to the tune of 3 Lions). It’s interesting how Smith was sold against our wishes and is therefore welcomed, while McCormack is villified because he pushed through the move in the aim of making more money and playing in a higher division. So it’s mildly amusing that he felt his best promotion chances lay with Fulham given their league position.

He cut the figure of a frustrated man who just couldn’t find the same form that he had for Leeds; that Ross was truly prolific and single-handedly kept us afloat, whereas his fortunes are entwined with Fulham’s and is “mixed” at best.

When he picked up an injury in the second half and was substituted it was uncomfortable, because he had to limp down the length of the away stand in front of 4,000 people who had been booing his every action. But fair play to the man, as he approached the stand he gave the Leeds fans a clap which was largely reciprocated. Sure, many were still abusing him given the nature of his departure, but most were applauding him. I was no different.

You see, I was booing him in his capacity as a Fulham player, booing the fact he consciously left them for us having decided they were better, and taunting him over the realisation that they indeed aren’t better. But once he was off the pitch and a person again I was willing to applaud him for all he’d done for us historically. As he limped out of view normal service resumed. I don’t feel bad for Ross as such, because he’s a money-hungry mercenary who just happened to be brilliant at Leeds, and it’s clear that someone like Derby will try to purchase him in the Summer, but it’s a strange emotion booing someone who only a year ago you adored. But life goes on.

All in all it was a great away performance; a huge number of passionate Leeds fans made the trek and created a memorable evening. What happened on the pitch is what good teams do. We soaked up pressure, frustrated the opposition and took our chances. By the end we were pulling them apart as the belief drained from their souls. This leaves them only 6 points above the bottom 3 who, if we’re honest, probably aren’t good enough to save themselves, but mathematically it’s more than possible.

Us on the other hand, we’re up to 12th and only 6 points from 9th. Considering at the end of 2014 our form would have relegated us, it’s testament to all those at the club for digging in and finding a way to win. Redders needs a new contract and he needs it now. Same goes for the kids. Sign them up, let’s keep winning and see how we go.

Brilliant away day. Some of the most fun I’ve had in months. I just want to go to bed now.