Fulham 2 Manchester C 2:THIS WAS supposed to be such an authentic mismatch that Martin Jol saw fit in his progamme notes to remind everyone: "We are not playing a team of reputations, we are playing 11 v 11."
The Manchester City circus act in town against the Premier League’s bottom-placed team at the start of play? What could possibly go right? That sentiment seemed even more pertinent as Fulham found themselves trailing by two goals with a little over half an hour left of the match.
But such is the magic dust that sometimes flutters down over a football stadium. In the 74th minute, a swing of Danny Murphy’s boot sent this story on its barely credible course, via a ricochet off Vincent Kompany, towards an equaliser that inspired a cheeky “Poznan” celebration in the Hammersmith End.
It was a fightback that was hardly anticipated as City eased to a routine lead, with Sergio Aguero extending his extraordinary start to life in English football with both his team’s strikes. It takes his tally to eight from his first five Premier League games, a feat not repeated since Mick Quinn rampaged through the division with Coventry City in the 1992-93 season.
The opener arrived in the 18th minute, when Gareth Barry nudged the ball to David Silva, and in the blink of an eye the cunning and speed of City’s front line outfoxed Fulham. There were arms raised for offside but Aguero latched on to Silva’s reverse pass to finish with customary smartness. So far, so comfortable.
Roberto Mancini was irritated that, for the second weekend in succession, his team had been dominant in possession without turning it into a forceful scoreline by half-time. If they were given a talking to about their casualness at half-time, Mancini’s team duly clobbered Fulham with a goal 11 seconds after the restart. From the kick-off, Gael Clichy pumped a pass up to Edin Dzeko, whose nod down invited Aguero to do what he does best.
The way Fulham roused themselves was impressive. They reduced the deficit and raised the spirits in the 56th minute when the productive Moussa Dembele and the determined Clint Dempsey combined to release Bobby Zamora, who swivelled to direct a drive past Joe Hart.
Desire and furious energy suddenly coursed through Jol’s team. A well-timed Micah Richards intervention in the penalty area stopped Dempsey from another sight of goal. The City goalkeeper was suddenly feeling the heat and had to dive to his right to parry Dembele’s low shot. Then Fulham’s persistence paid off when Murphy set the place on fire. “It was awful being bottom,” concluded Jol. “But to come back from the death, especially against a team like City, shows we had the belief and the mentality.”
“I’m disappointed,” rued Mancini, admitting complacency might have been a factor. “It was difficult to see Fulham scoring two goals. But a football match is finished after 95 minutes. We conceded a few stupid goals.” The Italian summoned the chutzpah to curse the fact his squad was lacking numbers. With a straight face. “I don’t have players at this moment,” he lamented. “I can only change the full-backs or the strikers.” With City having spent a shade over €344 million on their squad in three years, the amount of sympathy may well add up to zero.
