A fan’s view: Inside Fulham’s wondrous Wembley win

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Fulham extinguished an entire lifetime of Wembley heartache on Saturday afternoon, making the dreams of the Craven Cottage faithful come true in an epic day for all involved with the club.

For some, the moment came when they caught the first glimpse of the famed arch on Wembley Way.

Or when the White Wall of 38,000 Fulham supporters reared its head in a cauldron of noise as the teams walked out.

Or when Tom Cairney slotted home a 170 million pound goal halfway through the first half.

Or when the final whistle blew and all of the agony of the last twenty minutes was extinguished in pure relief.

Or perhaps when the Whites lifted the trophy and the players, fans, and staff alike revelled in a carnival atmosphere long after the end of the match.

But, whenever the long-dreamt moment came, it was sure to have been sublimely unforgettable.

After four years in the Championship, the Cottagers returned to the Premier League with a wondrous Wembley win. Fulham were back where they belong, and they were back with a bang.

A stark contrast in the two halves defined Fulham’s 1-0 win: a swashbuckling first 45 in which the Whites took the lead was juxtaposed by a tense closure of last-ditch defending.

However, few could argue Fulham were not deserving of the victory, due in part to their superb first-half display. It truly was Fulham at their very best, calm in possession, ambitious in attack, and dominant in every manner.

Capped off by a wonderfully worked goal in the 23rd minute, the Whites were firmly in control.

Ryan Sessegnon collected Stefan Johansen’s driven pass, eluded Conor Hourihane and slipped in a delightful ball that left Alan Hutton and John Terry helpless and showing their advanced age.

The pass from the 18-year-old was so precise that Cairney did not even have to break stride before slotting coolly past Sam Johnstone.

The east side of Wembley erupted in a roar unlike any Fulham supporter had heard in some time. Pandemonium set in and Fulham had their crucial lead.

Once this Fulham team take the lead, they very rarely look back.

Attacks continued throughout the first half, led by the excellent right-wing combination of Aboubakar Kamara and Ryan Fredericks, yet the advantage remained just the one goal.

The second half truly tested Fulham’s promotion credentials, as the focus shifted to their resolute defence. Perhaps unfairly, their backline receives far less credit than their flashier attack, yet is just as impressive.

The Villans came raring out of the gates in the second half, but Fulham stood strong and began to attack with renewed vigour with around thirty minutes to go.

But, in the 69th minute, disaster struck that nearly derailed the Londo outfit’s fairytale.

After Denis Odoi’s reckless challenge on Jack Grealish resulted in his sending off, Villa threw everything at the Whites in a bid to send the match to extra time.

At times it seemed inevitable the Midlands club would breach the ten men of Fulham. But, with promotion on the line, a heroic defensive performance followed.

Led by the unquestioned Player of the Season Tim Ream, Fulham’s rearguard repelled attack after attack in the second half.

And, when the final whistle brought the match to a close, the outpouring of utter joy and relief was a sight to behold.

The pain of the Felix Magath era had finally been exorcised, and the Fulham faithful gleefully rejoiced in their return to the Premier League.

In the end, the four years spent in the Championship were not all as bad as some had feared.

It was certainly an eye-opening experience for many fans who had grown up knowing only top-flight football, and this season, in particular, was glorious for all involved.

Fulham will likely never see such a period of dominance, togetherness, and overall brilliance that defined the 23-game unbeaten run ever again.

As a result, promotion was so sweet not just for the fact that Fulham will be playing in the best league in the world, but also for the significance it has on the incredible group of players Slavisa Jokanovic assembled.

Defeat would have certainly seen the Whites’ star performers depart the Cottage this summer, but victory meant we have the pleasure of seeing this tremendous band of brothers play together in the Premier League.

What a band of brothers this team is. The celebrations at full time fulfilled the dreams of generations of Fulham supporters who yearned for Wembley success.

The celebratory scenes were remarkable: Cairney and Kevin McDonald lifting the trophy, Bettinelli celebrating with a flare, Kamara dancing all over the place, Odoi redeemed and bouncing on top of the crossbar, and Sessegnon tapping the badge.

The buildup to match was all about Fulham’s poor support, Fulham’s inexperience, Fulham’s play-off failure.

But, in the end, it was all about Fulham lifting the trophy and Villa consigned to another year in the second division: a fitting end to a marvellous season.