Fulham time wasting and feigning injury isn’t clever – it’s cheating

It was a car journey to the Amex Stadium on Sunday for the visit of Fulham. The trains were out of action and the weather was forecast to be atrocious with yellow warnings issued all over the South Coast.

And it was not just the weather that received yellow warnings. Referee Michael Salisbury booked three Cottagers over the course of the match. It should have been more.

Some said Joao Palhinha deserved a red warning as well for the blow he delivered to the face of Pascal Gross. Having watched the replay back, I tend to agree with assessment.

Was Mr Sailsbury perhaps not seeing everything he should have done? Inexperience or turning a blind eye? Either way, it was a terrible decision.

Luckily, we managed to get from the Bridge Car Park to the cover of the stadium before the heaviest deluge of rain I have seen descended on Falmer.

What a shower I thought to myself, talking about the rain of course, although by full time the same applied to Fulham.

The amount of time wasting and feigning of injury whenever Brighton looked to attack was so blatant. Some might call it clever play. Really, it verged on cheating.

Having said that, the Albion had chance after chance to score even amongst all Fulham’s antics. Some days, it just does not go your way in front of goal. This was one of those days.

I did smile when walking back to the car afterwards, overhearing a Fulham fan say to his young son, “Are Brighton in Europe?”

The son looked up and did not seem to know. I thought I would be helpful, telling the pair: “Yes, we are. We beat Ajax on Thursday night. Group B is tight, but we are doing okay.”

Nights like winning against the four time European champions are the ones to remember when things do not go our way, as was the case on Sunday. There will be the occasional speedbumps in the road, but we are still enjoying the best days in Albion history.

The players entered the field to flame throwers and white fireworks. The stadium was then called together to celebrate the late Sir Bobby Charlton’s passing and also that of Everton Chairman, Mr Bill Kenwright CBE. Two men who gave so much to the beautiful game.

When Fulham revealed their bright pink kit, I originally thought Grimsby Town had returned to the Amex. You certainly could not mistake the Cottagers on a dismal day like Sunday.

It was great to see Adam Lallana back in the starting XI following injury. Alongside him in midfield was Pascal Gross, making his 200th Premier League appearance.

As normal, Brighton set the pace, confidently controlling the ball and dominating possession. It did not take long for chance to comes.

Carlos Baleba had a crack parried away by Bernd Leno only as far as Kaoru Mitoma on the left. The Japanese Bullet Train sent the ball to Adam Lallana, his chip found Simon Adingra at the far post but he could not quite force it over the line.

Mitoma went racing away again down the left. It is always so exciting to see this happen. A shooting chance was made for Baleba, whose attempt was for the pie man in the South Stand as Warren Aspinall on BBC Radio Sussex always says.

In other words, it went a long way over the bar. Never mind, I am a Baleba that Carlos will bury one of these in the back of the net soon.

Shortly after the physical assault involving Palhinha and Gross, Brighton took the lead. Gross moved down the left and with space opening up, threaded a ball towards the right foot of the onside Evan Ferguson.

With one touch, Ferguson set himself onto his left and placed the ball perfectly into the corner away from the reach of Leno.

The closest Fulham came to scoring in the first half was when a Willian cross found Bobby Decordova-Reid. He though produced similar to Baleba, sending a shot for the pie man in the North Stand.

All of these shots from distance going nowhere near the goal made me miss Julio Enciso and his ability to score from 30 yards. I am really looking forward to seeing him return to the team.

Ferguson had a chance to make it 2-0 just before the break, only for Leno to prove himself equal to it this time.

What joys were we in for during part two I wondered? Certainly no hotdogs in the East Upper, all sold out again for the second game running.

El Captain Lewis Dunk stepped up to take an early free kick after Lallana was brought down just outside the Fulham box. Dunk smashed the ball as hard as he could and it flew over the wall, dipped and then skidded off the top of the crossbar.

The rain was coming down heavier than ever now and Baleba went close again. This young man has so much potential, he will be making us all smile pretty soon.

Then out of nowhere came the sucker punch. A misplaced pass amidst the downpour, Baleba could not get there and Palhinha beat Jason Steele with 65 minutes played.

The goal provided a real boost for Fulham and it looked for a while like they would soon have another. Steele had to make an amazing reaction save and I was amused to see water literally running out of his right ear as he waited for the resulting corner to come in.

I never liked playing football in the torrential rain, nor golf when I played professionally. Weather for ducks, rather than people taking part in sport.

With all Fulham’s injuries and timewasting, there were nine minutes added on at the end of the 90. The visitors seemed surprised by this, although I am not sure how. It was the very least Brighton deserved to try and find a way through.

Unfortunately though, that was that. The players looked visibly disappointed in their post-match interviews, but they should be proud of their efforts over recent weeks.

Six days off between the Fulham game and the trip to Everton should provide some much needed respite and the chance to regroup. Bring on the Toffees.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony

Seagulls Best Ever Season Volume 2 charts Brighton’s record breaking 2022-23 campaign through the eyes of Tony Noble, an East Stand Upper season ticket holder at the American Express Stadium. It is available from Waterstones, WHSmith, Amazon Bookstore and all good bookshops as well as the Albion Superstore at the Amex and via this link.