Fulham’s defensive frailties came back to haunt them yet again on Saturday afternoon, as the Whites fell to a 2-0 home defeat against West Ham United.
Although Fulham started the match brightly, they conceded off West Ham’s first two shots on target, revealing why the Cottagers desperately need Gary Cahill.
Reports in Sky Sports this week linked Claudio Ranieri with a January swoop for the Chelsea centre-half, an astute deal that would bolster Fulham’s threadbare defensive options.
Tim Ream and Alfie Mawson were particularly to blame for the Hammers’ second goal, contributing horrid individual mistakes yet again.
A simple cross from the left wing found the head of Javier Hernandez, yet Mawson was beaten by the flight of the ball.
Ream attempted to shift over and cover, yet also failed to make contact and instead left his original man, Michail Antonio, unmarked at the far post to slide home.
Simple, yet costly, defensive errors such as this need to be eliminated from Fulham’s play immediately.
The addition of seasoned, experienced professionals such as Cahill, an England international who has won both the Premier League and the Champions League, will do Fulham’s back four a world of good.
Cool heads are needed at the back if the Whites stand any chance of maintaining their Premier League status come May, and the acquisition of Gary Cahill would represent an ideal first step for Fulham.