Eddie Howe accepts that it wasn’t our finest display at Fulham, but hailed our ability to win while playing well below our best in a 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
Speaking to ITV after the match, he stated “you win these games in the mind”, feeling we showed the resilience and motivation levels needed to get over the line in a “difficult game” in London.
It was the first time Howe has beaten a Premier League side in the FA Cup and sends us into the last 16, with goals from Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn getting us into the hat for Sunday’s draw.
He also confirmed that Miguel Almiron missed out through illness, with Jamaal Lascelles absent due to a minor calf problem. Here’s what Howe told ITV after the win:
“Difficult game. Not our finest performance. But you win these games in the mind. The resilience had to be there and the motivation had to be there and it was.
“Second half was a lot better in terms of technical delivery. We are pleased to win, keep a clean sheet and score two goals.”
“We aren’t at our fluent best and have injury problems, but in these games you have to dig out a result and get into the next round. That’s where I have to praise the players. We weren’t at our best in the first half.
“Sean’s finish is a great one and Dan…even he couldn’t miss that one! But he’s scored some important goals for us.
“The Carabao Cup whet the appetite for everyone (last season) and we were so dissapointed, so hopefully we can go a long way in this competition.”
Howe on Almiron and Lascelles:
“Illness, he (Almiron) went down Thursday night. Missed training yesterday but hopefully we can get him back soon.”
“[On Lascelles] Calf problem. We think it’s minor.”
