Haaland’s 50th of the season and Alvarez’s wonder strike enough to take Manchester City top of the Premier League table.
Jacob Steinberg has filed his piece from Craven Cottage and with that I’ll say cheers for now.
Thanks to everyone who got in touch and to the rest of you for staying with me throughout. Haaland’s 50th and Alvarez’s beauty took City to the top of the Premier League and it’s hard to see them moving from there.
Til next time…
That’s as close to a rearguard as I’ve seen from City.
There were two yellow cards for time wasting and they only managed one shot on target after the 51st minute.
Fulham gave as good as they got.
I’m heartened by the calls for football socialism on these pages. Here’s Rick Harris picking up on an earlier thread:
“I think James Boyle could be on to something with his Haaland lottery idea, but why stop there? Why not wait until 19 games in and let the teams from the bottom place up to 11th pick the best player from the teams from first down to 10th? Southampton would surely be mid-table if they’d bagged Haaland, but Saka, Rashford, Guimares, Kane etc redistributed might mean by now only 10 points would separate top from bottom.”
Nights spent at the top of the Premier League this season:
Arsenal – 247
Manchester City – 14
“Before the game I said to my partner I’d be happy if we didn’t concede more than four”
That’s from Richard Hirst. They didn’t win but this must surely count as a moral victory for Fulham. A pair of 2-1 defeats to what is being hailed as the best team on the planet is a testament to the work going on at Craven Cottage.
Results from elsewhere in the league:
Bournemouth 4-1 Leeds
Man United 1-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 3-1 Southampton
After leading at St James Park, another loss for the Saints means they’re rooted at the bottom of the table now six points from safety.
Newcastle keep hold of third though Man United, two points behind, have a game in hand.
Bournemouth move up to 13 with 39 points while Leeds troubles continue after a torrid run of seven games without a win. They’re 16th with 30 points, level with Nottingham Forest just above the relegation zone.
“This Haaland kid, now that he’s had most of a season to adapt to the Premiership, might surprise some folk next season.”
He just might, Alex W. He just might.
City are top of the table. It wasn’t a classic but it was enough thanks to Haaland’s 50th and Alvarez’s worldie. Eight wins on the bounce, they’ll spend only their 14th night of the campaign ahead of the rest of the pack.
Fair play to Fulham. They never went away and chased an equaliser. It wasn’t to be and in truth, it might have been a more painful day were it not for Leno’s heroics.
More reaction to come.
90+8 min: Walker is booked now for time wasting. City not exactly romping to victory.
90+7 min: Grealish is lucky not to see another yellow for applauding the referee after winning a free kick.
90+6 min: Ederson is taking an aaaaage to restart the game after an offside call against Fulham. He’s booked for time wasting.
90+5 min: Grelish and Tete are at it again. It’s a Fulham free kick after the former grabbed the latter as they both fell to the ground.
90+4 min: City now with a sense of composure in Fulham’s half. They’re teasing their hosts. Alvarez has just been named player of the match.
92 min: Vinicius does so well after coming deep to collect the ball. He holds it up and spots Solomon on the run down the left. But the pass to the flying Israeli is poor and goes straight out for a throw. That looked promising for a moment.
90 min: Eight added minutes as a consequence of the Pereira injury.
89 min: Cairney with another superb take before shovelling it on to maintain the attack. Wonder why he wasn’t considered a starter.
Meanwhile Bournemouth have a fourth. That’s another chastening away day for Leeds.
88 min: City aren’t exactly holding on here, but they’ll be yearning for the final whistle. When they win the ball in their own half they’re hacking it up field rather than playing it out from the back.
86 min: Superb from Soloman who wins his little battle with Foden. Not exactly sure how he got out of that tight corner but he did. Fulham on the attack again down the right. They’re being patient. One chance is all they need.
85 min: City play silly buggers at the back and were it not for Rodri’s quick thinking and outstretched toe Fulham were in.
84 min: Credit to Vinicius. He hasn’t won over all Fulham fans but he’s done a great job today. Here he is under pressure winning a free kick for his team.
83 min: Haaland wins a free kick after holding the ball up and inviting contact from Diop. It’s in a handy spot on the right to chuck it in the mixer. Grealish does just that but no one in red and black can get on the end of it.
82 min: A double change for City.
Mahrez makes way for Foden.
Alvarez (who must be knackered after running himself into the ground) is replaced by Silva.
81 min: City no longer pressing with the same zeal. Cairney controls with a delightful turn to spring another attack. He’s been brilliant since coming on.
A Walcott own goal and another from Wilson has Newcastle 3-1 up over Southampton with seven minutes to play.
79 min: Fulham are playing with more width. They’ve got plenty of outlets and have managed to stretch City’s press. They’re bossing possession. Solomon slips in Robinson down the left who crosses but City clear.
78 min: The free kick is dealt with but it lands at Solomon’s feet. His shot on the swivel is blocked. Fulham on top these last five minutes. No doubt about it.
77 min: Fulham are pressing so high up the pitch even Ederson has a face full of white shirts. Solomon and James combine to steal it from Rodri and now Fulham have a free kick from a promising position on the left.
76 min: A triple change for Fulham.
Wilson for Solomon
De Cordova-Reid for James
Reed for Lukic
They’re going for this!
75 min : De Cordova-Reid shoots from distance and he has Ederson diving to his right. It’s always curling away but that' wasn’t too far off.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@danielgallan Grealish booked for tete a tete with Tete!!
— Colin Christensen (@Christensen_79) April 30, 2023
73 min: Curious to see what Guardiolo does here. He’s got two goal keepers on the bench. Silva and Foden his two attacking options with Phillips a possible assurance for the midfield.
72 min: Haaland gets his head on the second ball after Akanji keeps it alive at the near post from a deep free kick, but Leno is dominant and comes away with it.
71 min: Guardiola doesn’t look happy with what he’s seeing.
70 min: I’m so impressed with Fulham. They’re giving City no respect. And nor should they on their own patch. Tete flies into another challenge and wins the ball.
69 min: This game has exploded. Tete’s challenge on Grealish has the City winger all riled up. The pair push and shove before their teammates separate them. Simon Hooper shows them both yellow and calls for calm.
Silly from Grealish. He was taken out but then ran back into Tete to leave a mark of his own. Didn’t have to get involved.
68 min: There’s a penalty shout for Fulham and I think there’s a chance. No, the check is over. Reid throws himself to the ground after the lightest contact from Walker. Right decision. Fulham though were in, through the guts of City.
67 min: Fulham are giving this a go. Despite the dominance this game feels in the balance.
66 min: Ederson hoofs the next ball that comes his way. The problem earlier came from him getting involved in a long ball that Dias had covered. That allowed Vinicius to get between the keeper and defender.
65 min: A mix-up from Ederson! Fulham have a chance. There’s no keeper in goal. Vinicius has the ball inside the area. Can he offload to a teammate? No, Ederson scrambles and gets enough of the ball and the crisis is averted.
64 min: Haaland is causing all sorts of problems at the back. He’s charging at the Fulham defence. They crowd him out and Fulham counter.
64 min: A short back pass almost has Haaland in business. Leno’s smart work off his line saw to that.
63 min: Cairney has had an impact off the bench. He’s in a pocket of space in midfield. He can’t connect with a teammate but that’s a promising bit of play.
Joe Pearson has just informed me that Napoli have taken the lead. that’ll be the Italian title wrapped up then.
Bournemouth have a 3-1 lead over Leeds with Solanke scoring.
59 min: Vincius looks to be in and feeds Tom Cairney (on for Pereira). The Scot is smothered by four City players and the counter has Haaland careening towards goal. Fulham scramble and hack it away for a corner. That was like watching the T-1000 chasing the car in Terminator 2.
58 min: They’re back at it. Five and a half minutes later. A short free kick routine allows Mahrez to cross from a central position. It’s steered away for a corner that looks promising until Leno gets his hands on the ball.
56 min: Pereira is leaving on a stretcher. There is a suspected “broken limb”. It’s his right leg/ankle.
Elsewhere, Newcastle have equalised against Southampton. Callum Wilson making it 1-1.
54 min: They’re bringing a stretcher our. Akanji is fine so it’s Pareira who doesn’t look like he’ll continue.
53 min: Alvarez has exploded in this half. He’s there agin, inside the area on the right. Wriggling and dancing over the ball. He chips a cross towards the back post but can’t find a buddy. Adarabioyo reaches to head away before Haaland can intervene. A 50/50 ball sucks in Akanji and a Fulham player (need to confirm but I think it’s Wilson) and both men are on the floor getting treatment.
52 min: Mahrez goes short with the corner to better work the angle. His cross isn’t deep enough so Fulham can clear. Alvarez has four Fulham players around him inside the box but still looks dangerous.
50 min: A poor touch from Haaland on the edge of the area means Fulham can counter. But City are right back at them and Alvarez has space to shoot inside the box on the right. It’s on target but Leno, once again, dives low and tips it wide. That was a hectic two minutes.
49 min: Gundogan wins a battle in midfield and comes away with the ball. There are so many shining stars in this City team and I think the German is often overlooked. So just a shout out to him from me.
48 min: That’s another fantastic save from Leno.
47 min: Almost a third. Haaland’s effort from inside the box is tipped wide by Leno down low to his right. Alvarez starts the move with some brilliant control and switch across the field. Haaland is fed with a cutback to the penalty spot and his first time effort looked destined for the bottom corner.