They had to scrap for it at times, but Fulham’s pursuit of Leeds in second continues after Preston’s push to stay in the play-off places was dealt a blow.
After Leeds had beat Hull to go eight points clear of third place, Fulham couldn’t afford to drop points. This win, courtesy of David Nugent’s own goal and Aboubakar Kamara's late strike, sets Scott Parker’s side up nicely for tough fixtures against promotion rivals Bristol City, Brentford and Leeds.
How sweet it would be for Parker should Fulham find themselves in second at the end of that run having erased the five-point gap that stands between them and Leeds.
For Alex Neil’s side, well, they demonstrated their organisational qualities but ultimately fell apart when dealing with Tom Cairney’s creativity and dynamic forward runs by Ivan Cavaleiro and, more surprisingly, Cyrus Christie.
They have a two-point cushion in sixth place but surely their limitations going forward will mean they don’t move any higher or somehow cause a shock in the play-offs in May.
They were without Ben Pearson here and that made the job of controlling the midfield much more difficult. Preston’s push for the play-offs has been powered by their gritty approach, which is very much endorsed by manager Alex Neil and executed on the pitch by Pearson.
Fulham favour a rather more progressive style of play under Parker but were guilty of dawdling on the ball while trying to pick the perfect route forward in the early stages.
From the off, Preston closed down at a rapid rate and Fulham struggled to find their rhythm. They were also slow to react when experienced striker Nugent got the ball under control before setting Tom Barkhuizen free down the right. Barkhuizen moved forward and into the Fulham area but an excellent tackle from Michael Hector stopped him from going any further.
It was a signal, though, that Fulham had to be more alert, particularly when marking. But three minutes later, after failing to pick up Nugent, Preston had the ball in the Fulham net. Thankfully for Parker’s defence, Sean Maguire, who turned in Nugent’s flick on from Daniel Johnson’s corner was offside and the goal was chalked off.
It was becoming a struggle for Fulham’s central midfield duo of Tom Cairney and Harry Arter to start attacks but they helped in controlling the overall tempo of the play. And without Pearson, Preston weren’t getting close to them as they effortlessly moved the ball from side to side.
Fulham enjoyed one of their better moves of the game when Bobby Reid took control of the ball inside the Preston box after a fine ball after some smart play by Christie. Reid shifted the ball onto his left foot but his effort went wide at the near post.
The rain and wind which swept off the River Thames made any aerial play somewhat difficult but it was Preston who handled the conditions better as they pressed on. Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak had to carefully judge the trajectory of Alan Browne’s scuffed volley to prevent the visitors from taking a fortuitous lead ahead of half-time.
It was a first half that lacked intensity from Fulham. Preston are resilient and it takes more than slow build-up play to worry them. Fast, sweeping moves that leave them retreating back to their own goal is the way to go and Fulham finally got the message in the opening stages of the second half and lasted until the final whistle.
Cavaleiro, who saw little of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, moved higher up the pitch, placing more pressure on full back Darnell Fisher. Anthony Knockaert did the same on the other side, which forced Andrew Hughes to defend more than he usually likes. It unsettled Preston and on 58 minutes they went behind. Nugent misjudged Knockaert’s corner and sent a looping header over goalkeeper Declan Rudd and into his own net. Had it been at the other end, the 34-year-old striker would have been proud.
Buoyed by taking the lead, Fulham pushed higher and Preston were scrapping for second balls.
Cairney became a more dynamic presence in attacking midfield and his instinctive delivery from the left had to be dealt with by Rudd before it could reach Aleksandar Mitrovic. Christie was the next to try and extend Fulham’s lead but his dipping volley crept wide. Fulham's job was complete in stoppage time when Kamara finished from close range after running from inside his own half. He sped forward, played a pass across to Cavaleiro only for the ball to come back to Kamara to bury his strike.