Fulham squandered a chance to cut the gap on the automatic promotion places by crumbling to a disappointing defeat at home to Reading.
In what was a meek display from Scott Parker’s men, they were downed by early strikes in both halves from John Swift and Charlie Adam. Substitute Ivan Cavaleiro sparked hope of a fightback with a goal four minutes after coming on in the second half, but Reading held firm.
“I’ve stood in this position many times this year with the same feeling,” a frustrated Parker said. “Ultimately, you need something more than flamboyant play sometimes to win a match. You need a desperation.”
It may have been different had Bobby Decordova-Reid taken a golden chance in the ninth minute. Quite how he missed will be a mystery to all inside Craven Cottage.
Reading goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made a double save to deny Aleksandar Mitrovic and Decordova-Reid, who then looked set to convert the rebound from six yards. Somehow, he hit the post.
Fulham were punished just five minutes later. The Royals countered when an under hit Harrison Reed pass was intercepted and a sweeping move culminated in Ovie Ejaria twisting and turning on the edge of the area to make an angle for the onrushing Tyler Blackett.
The defender zipped his cutback into John Swift, who steered the ball into the far corner for his third goal in as many matches.
From then on, Reading happily soaked up Fulham’s play and tried to hit on the counter but the only other chance of note they had in the first period was when Adam had a shot from inside his own half.
It wasn’t an effort that troubled Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak but the Scotsman had better luck from close range three minutes after the interval. The impressive Ejaria collected the ball on the left, skipped around Cyrus Christie and teed Adam up to smash home emphatically.
Lucas Joao then missed a great chance from six yards as Reading added more adventure to their play.
But an open game suited Fulham and they had hope of salvaging something when Cavaleiro struck with a shot across goal that snuck inside the far post. He then saw a shot from range tipped onto the post before top-scorer Mitrovic had a header tipped brilliantly onto the bar by an outstretched Cabral in the last minute.
Defeat is a major blow for the hosts with the top two of West Brom and Leeds in action later on Wednesday but Reading manager Mark Bowen was ecstatic with a victory that puts his side five points off of the play-off places.
“This will spur us on,” Bowen said. “We can remind ourselves for the rest of the season, wherever we go, that we did it before so why not again?
“We are trying to get ourselves in touching distance of where we want to be come April and this will give us huge confidence.”
Rooacnstz
0
Here we go guys can't wait to c u in the EPL next season