Fulham Head Coach Scott Parker was delighted with Fulham’s execution of their gameplan on Monday evening.
Victory for Leicester City would have seen them go joint top of the Premier League, but a hard working display by every member of the Whites team saw us depart the King Power with a 2-1 victory.
Certain tactical tweaks were evident during the match, particularly Bobby De Cordova-Reid acting as a right wing-back – to tremendous effect – when his side were out of possession.
“We worked on it all week,” Parker said. “Tracking back down on one side with Bobby Reid, who I thought sacrificed a lot of his game tonight to do that job, and get into a five [at the back] and being solid.
“It was a real disciplined performance. The first goal probably epitomises the gameplan in terms of soaking it up a little bit and being disciplined, then with the players on the pitch – Ruben, Ade, Cavaleiro – trying to hit them on the break.
“The first goal did that. Even the second goal, to get up the pitch like we did, and win the penalty, so I’m pleased overall with that.
“I’m pleased with the team. We’re in a world where it’s win or lose for all of us, and at the end of the day that’s the big picture.
“Our performances over the last six or seven games have been pretty good, but you maybe lose sight of that sometimes, so there was relief and a real pride in the team.
“I’ve spoken to the team about not letting defeats really cripple us. You don’t come to Leicester away [and win] if you’re a team that lacks belief.
“This is a team that’s got pure belief, and this was a massive win for us, a second win now of the season, and something we can use to push forward.”
Fulham’s last away game ended with Ademola Lookman missing a penalty. He bounced back with a brilliantly taken finish against the Foxes, and when asked if that is a mark of his character, Parker replied: “100 per cent.
“He came under a lot of stick three weeks ago for the penalty, and rightly so, like I said at the time, you have to take your medicine for that.
“But even with Cavaleiro tonight, last week he slips at the penalty, and I’m not on Instagram or Twitter but I can only imagine what’s been said, the jokes or the laugher at one’s expense was probably there for everyone to see, and Cav would’ve seen as well no doubt.
“We’ve practised penalties all week, I asked him yesterday if he’s ready to take one tomorrow. He looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘yeah, I’m ready.’
“The courage, the bravery after a slip, to step up there, they’re the things that we need. They’re the things that will determine what these players will become, how good they’ll become, and us as a team, what we’ll become.
“They’re the little moments that you need. Ade’s performance tonight earned the right to score his goal. Cav putting his hand up, putting himself on offer to again be scrutinised.”
The Club had been rocked on Sunday night by news of Papa Bouba Diop’s untimely passing, and so Lookman’s opener was especially poignant when he celebrated by raising aloft a Senegal jersey with The Wardrobe’s 19 on the back.
“This was something which the boys planned tonight, the staff planned, to show our respects,” Parker explained. “I didn’t know Papa personally, but everyone I speak to at the football club – he was here for three years – there’s nothing but warm words about the man.
“Ade showed his respect by scoring tonight and putting up the shirt, so that was pleasing. For someone to lose their life at such a tender, young age is tragic, and [the gesture] goes only a little way to the family.
“I understand the pain they’re going through, but to show our respect to his memory, that’s what he players decided to do.”