Sleepless Jol pleased to step into New Year with away joy
WEST BROM 1 vs FULHAM 2
FULHAM manager Martin Jol is relieved his side secured only a second away win of the season against high flying West Brom, despite New Year celebrations keeping the squad awake.
Dimitar Berbatov put the Cottagers ahead with a low drive from the edge of the area but West Brom levelled within moments of the re-start courtesy of a Roman Lukaku’s close-range strike.
However Alexander Kacaniklic ensured Fulham’s second win in their last 13 matches on the hour, as Bryan Ruiz’s superb pass found him with space to turn and fire past goalkeeper Ben Foster.
“I said we needed a quiet hotel and it was unbelievable. There were 2,000 people in front of my window. I think it kept the players up too so I was worried,” said Jol. “To then get a win under our belts the next day, on 1 January, is fantastic.
“In the second half, they changed their formation a bit, the crowd got behind them and we conceded a soft goal again.
“But we picked things up again, found ourselves in midfield and, over the whole game, I felt the win was deserved.”