Parker: Everything we planned worked well

Fulham coach, Scott Parker has lauded his lads for the grit over their 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage.

Anthony Knockaert’s tap in the sixth minute was enough to secure maximum points for the White, who could have gone two or three goals up before half time.

Thrilled with the different performances, he saw in either half of the clash; the former England international pointed out that his lads were electric from the blast of the whistle till the opening half but had to dig in to grind out a vital 1-0 win.

Describing the first half-hour performance as fantastic, Parker lauded is lads for the way they played, adding that they moved the ball well. Parker, who noted that the tactics adopted on the training ground during the week worked well ahead of the clash, used Bobby Decordova-Reid as a false nine, who overloaded the team in the middle of the pack said the group was dynamic at times with some lovely bits of play.

Admitting that Fulham had the opportunity of killing the game earlier in the second half, Parker said things got a bit edgy when they failed to convert their chances.
He added that if the scoreline had been 2-0, 3-0 at half-time, everyone would have said it was a fair reflection of the first interval.

With the team unable to get the second goal without conceding, Parker said another clean sheet, having had one against Hull City in a previous match was key
Noting that it was a good performance all round, he summarised that Fulham moved the ball well in the first interval in a dynamic fashion, and they showed grit to see the game out.

The back-to-back win has moved the London club within four points of second-place Leeds United, who lost against QPR. Although being positive about the outcome, Parker said playing on Friday night put pressure on others above them.

Speaking further, the coach said Fulham’s main objective is to focus and keep working on getting positive results in a bid to secure a return ticket to the top flight immediately after being relegated last season.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed