Match Report
Fulham (0) 0-4 (1) Manchester City
Fulham v
Premier League Match Day 37 23-24 Craven Cottage
Saturday 11th May 2024 KO: 12:30
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Live on TNT Sports
|
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Man City |
| Goals |
(0)0 |
4 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
- |
Gvardiol 13 |
| Scorers |
- |
Foden 59 |
| Scorers |
- |
Gvardiol 71 |
| Scorers |
- |
Alvarez (pen) 90+6 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
1 |
16 |
| On target |
1 |
9 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
100% |
56% |
| Possession |
36% |
64% |
| Passes |
420 |
769 |
| Passes Success |
85% |
92% |
| Crosses |
13 |
9 |
| Crosses Success |
8% |
44% |
| Corners |
1 |
7 |
| Tackles |
23 |
7 |
| Tackles Success |
23% |
71% |
| Saves |
5 |
1 |
| Fouls |
9 |
6 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellows |
2 |
0 |
| Reds |
1 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Fulham fell to a 4-0 defeat to reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City in our final Craven Cottage fixture of the season.
A brace from Josko Gvardiol, a Phil Foden strike and a penalty from Julian Álvarez saw City run out winners despite a spirited performance from Marco Silva’s side.
There was just one change to the side that played out a goalless draw with Brentford last weekend, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid replacing Sasa Lukic, who missed out with a minor calf injury. Harrison Reed made the bench after recovering from a knock that forced him out of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Fulham started brightly, with Ruben Dias at full stretch to turn behind an Antonee Robinson cross, but it was City who opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
The in-form Gvardiol went on a mazy run, played a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne, before cutting in onto his right foot to finish past Bernd Leno.
Three minutes later, Bernardo Silva teed up Erling Haaland with a cushioned header, but the Premier League’s top scorer couldn’t keep his shot down.
Leno was then forced into action as he pounced to his left side to keep out Silva’s placed shot from outside the box, before Foden tested our ‘keeper from a similar position.
The visitors missed a golden chance on the stroke of half-time when Manuel Akanji skied an effort from just a few yards out following a pinpoint pick out from De Bruyne.
The Belgian midfielder was at the centre of City’s first attack of the second-half, shifting the ball to Silva who saw his effort from a tight angle tipped wide by Leno.
Adama Traore made an impact after coming on for the Whites – and he nearly produced an equaliser. He fizzed a ball across the box but Rodrigo Muniz couldn’t get enough contact on his flick towards goal.
But it was Pep Guardiola’s side who doubled their advantage just before the hour mark. Joao Palhinha produced a perfectly-timed challenge as Silva was about to pull the trigger, but the ball ricocheted to Foden who found the bottom corner with an instinctive finish.
Haaland could have got himself on the scoresheet shortly after as he went through one-on-one with Leno, but the striker’s shot was wild and ended up in the Putney End.
It was Gvardiol who extended the lead with just less than 20 minutes to play as the defender crept around to the back post to finish from Silva’s wicked delivery.
Issa Diop was sent off in stoppage-time after bringing down Álvarez in the box - and the City forward sent Leno the wrong way from the spot.
Fulham : Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Iwobi, Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid (Cairney 45), Pereira (Wilson 74), Willian (Traore 45), Muniz (Broja 67)
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Jimenez, Ream
Booked: Diop (78,f), Robinson (90,f),
Red Card: Diop (90+5,2nd Y,f)
Manchester City : Ederson, Akanji, R Dias, Ake (Walker 22), Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic (Lewis 82), B Silva, De Bruyne (Doku 75), Foden (Bobb 82), Haaland (Alvarez 82)
Unused substitutes: Stones, Ortega, Gomez, M Nunes
Goals:
Gvardiol 13 (It's brilliant from the left-back, who has been among the goals recently.
Gvardiol takes off from the left, driving infield and exchanging passes with De Bruyne.
The Croatian then swerves into the box and slots a right-footed effort into the bottom corner.
First chance, first goal. Absolutely clinical.
FPL Assist: Kevin De Bruyne)
Foden 59 (Huge goal for City!
Silva turns Robinson brilliantly on the touchline and suddenly Fulham are in trouble.
Palhinha flies into Silva on the edge of the box but the ball drops to Foden, who scuffs his shot but does enough to guide it into the bottom corner.)
Gvardiol 71 (Bit too easy from Fulham's point of view, with Silva given far too much time to swing a cross towards the back post.
Akanji and Gvardiol attack the ball, with the latter sliding in and prodding a finish under Leno.
There's a check to see whether Akanji touched the ball - if he did, Gvardiol would be offside.
THE GOAL IS GOOD!)
Álvarez (pen) 90+6 (City resist the urge to let Gvardiol attempt a hat-trick goal, instead tasking Alvarez with slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Leno goes the wrong way. That's eight games in a row in which City have scored a penalty against Fulham.)
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Attendance: 24418
The Premier League's final day will take place on Sunday May 19 with all games kicking off at 4pm. Fulham will take on Luton at Kenilworth Road.