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| Blackburn Rovers’ Jordan Rhodes inflicts more pain on 10-man Fulham | Blackburn Rovers’ Jordan Rhodes inflicts more pain on 10-man Fulham |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| In April 2011, Mohamed Al Fayed, the then Fulham chairman, erected a statue of Michael Jackson, the late pop superstar and his friend, outside Craven Cottage. It attracted huge ridicule, nationally and internationally. | In April 2011, Mohamed Al Fayed, the then Fulham chairman, erected a statue of Michael Jackson, the late pop superstar and his friend, outside Craven Cottage. It attracted huge ridicule, nationally and internationally. |
| The Fulham fans loathed it, but, in September 2013, it was removed by Shahid Khan, the new owner. Never again would the Premier League club be regarded as such a laughing stock. | The Fulham fans loathed it, but, in September 2013, it was removed by Shahid Khan, the new owner. Never again would the Premier League club be regarded as such a laughing stock. |
| And yet a year on, they are. The supposed stability that Khan, a Pakistani‑born American billionaire, would bring to the banks of the Thames has swiftly evaporated in a fog of relegation and three managers in the past nine months. | |
| Now, they sit at the bottom of the Championship, after a seventh defeat in eight matches this season. There is much work to be done before they can regain their credibility. | |
| At least Felix Magath, who was dismissed on Thursday, has vacated the premises. Nicknamed “Felix Bingo” because of his random team selections, his bewildering presence over 217 days is partly responsible for Fulham’s spectacular fall. | At least Felix Magath, who was dismissed on Thursday, has vacated the premises. Nicknamed “Felix Bingo” because of his random team selections, his bewildering presence over 217 days is partly responsible for Fulham’s spectacular fall. |
| As, too, are Magath’s predecessors – Martin Jol, who lasted 173 days at the helm, and René Meulensteen, 76 days. The double Dutch and German incumbents of Khan sent Fulham into a spectacular spiral. | |
| Still, as Khan searches far and wide for a fourth manager during his tenure, he may just have a better option on his doorstep. Kit Symons, the Under-21 coach and now caretaker manager, did not do a bad job first time up. | |
| For one, he brought Bryan Ruiz back in from the cold. The Costa Rica winger had impressed during the World Cup finals in Brazil and yet, bewilderingly, had been left on the fringes by Magath this season. | For one, he brought Bryan Ruiz back in from the cold. The Costa Rica winger had impressed during the World Cup finals in Brazil and yet, bewilderingly, had been left on the fringes by Magath this season. |
| Ruiz shone in patches before, not surprisingly, tiring. “He had a good game with some fantastic touches,” Symons said. “He played well in a good team performance that I was pleased with.” | Ruiz shone in patches before, not surprisingly, tiring. “He had a good game with some fantastic touches,” Symons said. “He played well in a good team performance that I was pleased with.” |
| So pleased that he will be putting his name forward, no doubt among the many others that Khan will consider – Neil Lennon, Steve Clarke, Tim Sherwood, Danny Murphy et al. | So pleased that he will be putting his name forward, no doubt among the many others that Khan will consider – Neil Lennon, Steve Clarke, Tim Sherwood, Danny Murphy et al. |
| What are Symons’ chances? “I’d like to think this was a start,” he said, “but obviously it’s all geared to results. I know the Championship well, so I hope that goes in my favour, and managing is something I’ve always wanted to do. I just want the owner to pick the best manager for this club.” | |
| Fulham started slowly but at least looked more organised than in recent defeats. They were deservedly level at half-time but were a man down when the defender Shaun Hutchinson was sent off for a wild tackle on Lee Williamson in first-half stoppage time. | |
| Williamson was carried off on a stretcher, fortunate to escape with only bad bruising to both legs, while Hutchinson was mortified. “Shaun was distraught in the dressing-room,” Symons said. “It was a poor tackle and he knew it. He’s very upset.” | Williamson was carried off on a stretcher, fortunate to escape with only bad bruising to both legs, while Hutchinson was mortified. “Shaun was distraught in the dressing-room,” Symons said. “It was a poor tackle and he knew it. He’s very upset.” |
| Hutchinson apologised to Williamson afterwards. “It’s lucky there was no break,” Gary Bowyer, the Blackburn manager, said. “There’s a lovely pattern down his legs.” | Hutchinson apologised to Williamson afterwards. “It’s lucky there was no break,” Gary Bowyer, the Blackburn manager, said. “There’s a lovely pattern down his legs.” |
| The absence of the central defender left Fulham depleted for the whole of the second half and vulnerable at the back, which Jordan Rhodes exploited to the full in the 58th minute. | The absence of the central defender left Fulham depleted for the whole of the second half and vulnerable at the back, which Jordan Rhodes exploited to the full in the 58th minute. |
| Rhodes drove in his fourth goal of the season after a shot from Corry Evans had fortuitously deflected into his path. Despite a late Fulham flurry, they were done for again. | |
| Still, Blackburn found themselves in a similar mess not so long ago. In the 2012-13 season, they used five permanent and caretaker managers until Bowyer was appointed in May last year and steadied the ship. Jol, Meulensteen and Felix Bingo did not work. This time, Khan had better get it right. | |