Uncertain times at Fulham. The word is out that the club’s ownership would like to extend Marco Silva’s stay. The manager himself has been noncommittal, while also making explicit his dim view of a lack of summer transfer business. Raúl Jiménez’s winner, coming when it seemed Fulham were incapable of scoring, might still choppy waters for now.
It lifted Fulham away from the increasing threat of a relegation battle but the manager stayed noncommittal. “I don’t need this type of performance to make important decisions,” he said.
Last season’s record points tally and enterprising football has been replaced by staleness and sterility, and Silva could argue little of that is of his making. The Khan family ownership gambled on stasis, rarely a recipe for success when others spend big.
Jiménez’s goal was a measure of the veteran striker’s determination to keep trying when other heads would have dropped but relying on him remains an indictment of the lack of funding Silva and supporters complain of. They will also miss Silva’s game management and risk-taking values should he choose to depart.
Beating Sunderland should register as a coup, the Wearsiders have enjoyed the novelty of the big league though here came the ill wind of reality. With his team kicking off in fourth place, Régis Le Bris is this season’s best newcomer, but Sunderland fell prey to Fulham bringing on quality in Emile Smith Rowe and Samuel Chukwueze. The latter, loaned from Milan, supplied the winner and was a decent piece of business in the thin gruel of Fulham’s summer. “Great impact from him,” said Silva. “These types of games it is very important to be patient, we can’t lose our principles.”
In rotten weather conditions, swirling rain whipping off the Thames, this was a contest to be toughed out. The final whistle was followed by an angry confrontation between players and coaches after 90 minutes of gristle. “I don’t like fighting at the end,” said Le Bris. “If there’s still energy in your tank it means before you didn’t push hard enough.”
Alex Iwobi’s early overhead kick was a moment of improvisation made necessary by the tight squeeze Sunderland made of their penalty area until the crucial, closing minutes. Le Bris said his target remains “around 40 points” to achieve safety, not anything loftier. “We expect tough games, strong opposition, and we need to improve our level,” he said. “We started the season well, which is positive, but we want to be competitive.”
His team’s chosen attacking weapon was quick, wildcat counterattacks, while Fulham’s best chance of the first half also came from a counter, Harry Wilson escaping before missing the target. Robin Roefs, Sunderland’s goalkeeper, made a couple of decent saves from Kevin, though the Brazilian’s finishing was unconvincing throughout.
That Fulham could do with a finisher is a familiar lament, particularly with Rodrigo Muniz out until 2026. Silva has done a fine refurb on Jiménez, but a previous tally of a single Premier League goal told the tale well enough. The Mexican’s willingness, though, remains exemplary. “He always plays with his heart, you know his heart is going to be there,” said Silva of a player who had returned from Texas for Friday morning. “A proper striker’s goal in that situation.”
The first half ended with players jogging gratefully to the dressing room for shelter from the elements. Enzo La Fée, in tights and gloves, had previously been peripheral, but as soon as the second period began, after a raking ball from Roefs, the Frenchman’s shot had Bernd Leno beaten, though also the post. Sunderland, looking ever more capable of nicking something, replaced counterattacking with a dominance of possession.
Sunderland’s lone striker, Wilson Isidor, departed, tired by chasing the channels, replaced by Brian “Mr” Brobbey, unable to repeat his Arsenal heroics off the bench. Smith Rowe and Chukwueze arrived to inject zest into Fulham.
The home support’s hope was sagging as their players flubbed chances, but Sunderland had, not inconsequentially, become far less assured. Fatefully, Chukwueze’s cross skidded into Jiménez’s path, the striker shaking off the bulk of Dan Ballard to show typical bravery in scoring a goal that never looked likely to come.
