Under-pressure Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa is facing another ‘must win’ match this weekend when his early season strugglers travel to Coventry City.
The Spaniard has been under increasing pressure to turn things around at Craven Cottage after failing to win any of his first six Premier League games. However, a narrow 1-0 home victory over Hull City at the weekend gave the head coach a bit of breathing space.
Reports had suggested that several members of the squad have been left unconvinced by Arbeloa’s methods and it was widely held that going into the clash with the Tigers he had two games to save his job.
The London Standard reported prior to Saturday’s win that the previous weekend’s stoppage-time defeat to Ipswich, in which Fulham led until the 88th minute, had left the 43-year-old on the brink of the sack, leaving the home game against another newly promoted side, Hull, as a must-win.
Failure to beat them, it was claimed, could have resulted in him being relieved of his duties just three months after taking over from Marco Silva in July.
Now facing a third consecutive test against a promoted Championship side, the question is whether the Hull win will act as a turning point in Arbeloa’s Fulham reign?
“It is certainly a start,” said Sky Sports’ William Bitibiri.
“With reports suggesting the Spaniard had two games to save his job, he needed a response and his players delivered one. Fulham played with an intensity and attacking fluency that had been missing during their winless start to the Premier League season.
“They registered 10 first-half shots, moved the ball quickly and repeatedly exposed a Hull side who struggled to impose themselves. Alex Iwobi’s goal was deserved, but the hosts could easily have won by a greater margin.
“There were encouraging signs of an identity taking shape, with the performance even prompting thoughts of ‘Arbeloa-ball’ at Craven Cottage.
“Yet one result cannot erase the concerns of the opening weeks, and Fulham made the closing stages unnecessarily nervy before Ryan Sessegnon’s stoppage-time red card.
“The win lifts them out of the relegation zone and gives Arbeloa breathing space. Whether it proves a turning point depends on what follows. For now, he has bought himself time and shown what his Fulham side can be.”
Arbeloa, meanwhile, insists he will not abandon his principles, describing his approach as a work in progress built on belief and a Spartan mentality.
Iwobi’s first-half goal secured the crucial victory against Hull, although Fulham created enough chances to win by a greater margin.
“My players believe in our ideas and they play the way that we were playing even when we were losing games,” Arbeloa said. “For me, it was so important to see their commitment.”
He admitted, however, that he was concerned by Fulham’s failure to take their chances, having seen a similar pattern unfold before.
“I saw this movie before,” he said, after his side missed several opportunities to extend their lead.
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