Touch of Claus

I'm still solidly behind Dowie although I'm worried sick about our prospects for this season. Tonight's defeat was definitely the most painful so far this season, because we could not really call upon the myriad of excuses (injuries, red cards, poor referees) that has tempted us that it was only bad luck not bad football that accounted for our position. It also ensured we will go at least 365 days without an away win, a terrible statistic that emphasises our woeful lack of confidence.

Dowie has one of those faces that tells the watching world exactly what he's thinking, and as a result I am certain he feels as bad as we do. Indeed looking at the attached photo, go on tell me you're not also offering to draw him into your bosom, cradle his weary head and reassure him that "there there Iain, it will all be ok in the end."

I think we will have to accept that tonight was just one of those nights. It certainly wasn't a classic and we didn't deserve to lose on the balance of play; by my reckoning Fulham scored from both their chances, but then again I suppose we only created half-chances (luckily we have a striker for whom that's enough). Typically the game was won by a touch of class from our former playmaker showing the type of breaks behind the defence that our own pedestrian midfield is unable to copy.

If one was going to criticise Dowie, you could argue he brought back Diawara prematurely, whilst Hasselbaink's place in the team is becoming increasingly questionable as Dowie is perhaps tempted to go 4-5-1 just to make us harder to beat. However pinning the blame on Hasselbaink would be premature given that we have now played 720 minutes of football this season without anyone other than him or Bent finding the net. The problems lie behind the front two, not within them in my view.

The midfield is going to have to begin contributing more goals and assists, but with the notable exception of Rommedahl during the first half tonight, their impact is minimal offensively. Faye has done enough this season to warrant a regular defensive midfield place but as we know Hughes isn't good enough, whilst Andy Reid is painfully slow despite some neat touches. As a result the balance felt all wrong tonight. Maybe the answer is to accept a lack of creativity in central midfield by pairing Faye with Kishishev, but allowing Thomas and Rommedahl to taunt full-backs with their pace and guile?

Either way, whichever formation or team selection Dowie opts for against Watford, anything other than a win is too horrible to contemplate.