NUFC player ratings vs Fulham – One 10, three 9’s, several 8’s, a few 7’s, two 6’s and one 5

For the first time since the opening day, we have finally won a game in the Premier League.

The performances this season have been very good as a whole, but we haven’t had the rub of the green. Injuries, bad finishing and VAR decisions have gone against us. However, the underlying numbers suggested we would be winning games sooner rather than later.

We were helped by an early red card for Fulham, but the performance was clinical. The three points were deserved and even without the red card, Fulham would have struggled. Below, we rate the performance of each player.

Nick Pope – 6 – The goalkeeper will be disappointed that he lost his clean sheet in the latter stages. After his mistake for England, it was an assured performance from Pope. He had little to do, but looked proficient in every thing that he did.

Kieran Trippier – 8 – The England international is our playmaker from deep. He is always looking to get on the ball and his forward passes are crucial in our build-up play. Trippier made 69 passes, including two key passes. Two tackles, one interception and three clearances show his quality defensively too. 

Fabian Schar – 7 – Like Trippier, Schar was confident in possession. There were a couple of loose passes, but this was a big improvement on the performance we saw against Bournemouth. Three successful aerial duels show that he competed well when challenged. 

Sven Botman – 9 – It was great to see the Dutchman brought back into the team. He was excellent today, in and out of possession. Botman looks so assured when doing his defensive work, while his calmness in possession is very important to Howe’s style of play. A pass success rate of 94% was the joint highest on the pitch.

Dan Burn – 7 – Some were surprised to see Dan Burn at left back. Howe seems keen to keep him in the starting eleven, even if that means shifting him out of position. He was good today and kept the ball well, with a pass success rate of 92%. However, he doesn’t offer an attacking threat and that means a sustained run at games at left back isn’t the answer. 

Sean Longstaff – 8 – It was good to see Longstaff given a chance in the starting eleven, as it led to Bruno Guimaraes being used in a more advanced role. Longstaff had two shots, two key passes and three tackles in a very good display. His anticipation for the goal was excellent. 

Bruno Guimaraes – 9 – This may have been Bruno Guimaraes lacking fitness, but he was one of the best players on the pitch. He was dictating the game. It was impossible for Fulham to contain him with a man disadvantage. Guimaraes made four key passes, the joint highest of any player on the pitch and he was withdrawn early. Three tackles show his aggression out of possession. 

Joe Willock – 9 – There won’t be great fanfare about Willock’s performance. That is unfortunate, as he was at his very best, creating chances and offering a goal threat. He got two assists during the game, with his second for Miguel Almiron showing great composure in the final third. On another day, he would have grabbed a goal too. Four key passes and a pass success rate of 94% underlines the improvements he is making under Howe. 

Jacob Murphy – 8 – There was a lot of unrest on social media when he was handed a surprise start, but he didn’t let us down. Worked hard, caused problems down the left with his pace and regularly ran at a Fulham side who struggled to cope with him throughout. Slipped in Willock down the left in the build up to Almiron’s second.

Miguel Almiron – 10* – There has been a lot of debate about the South American on social media this week. He showed his quality today, with two excellent goals. The first showed his individual quality, while the second showed excellent reading of the game to get a tap in. He was unlucky to see a hat-trick goal ruled out for a marginal offside. Almiron needs to take confidence from this display. 

Callum Wilson – 7 – We have missed Callum Wilson. There is a calmness in the final third when he is in the team, as the rest of the side know he will score goals. It didn’t take him long, as he opened the scoring shortly after the red card. The strike from Willock may have been heading in, but Wilson made sure and showed his own hunger to score goals. He came close another couple of times, including one attempt against the woodwork. In the general play, he didn’t offer a lot, with just 12 touches. 

SUBS:

Elliot Anderson – 6 – The teenager was lively when he came on. It looks like things will happen when he gets on the ball, although he was easily dispossessed at times. He was close to grabbing an assist, but Almiron strayed narrowly offside. 

Ryan Fraser – 5 – The Scottish international came on once the game was won, so he didn’t have pressure on him. 

Matt Targett – N/A – Came on at right-back in the closing stages.

Jamal Lewis – N/A – Hard to give a rating based on a late cameo, however he did switch off at the back post for Fulham’s goal.

Jamaal Lascalles – N/A – Didn’t have a real chance to get into the game. The changes at the back did lead to us conceding though.