Leicester were beaten 2-0 as Fulham consigned Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side to a seventh defeat in a row at a frustrated King Power Stadium.
Foxes fans aimed chants at the coach and the board, booing and jeering substitutions as the game was taken away from them in the second half following goals from Emile Smith Rowe and substitute Adama Traore.
The win moves Marco Silva’s side up to ninth but the focus of most inside the ground was on the failings of Leicester.
They remain only two points from safety but in far worse form than any of their relegation rivals. Despite a promising start, Van Nistelrooy has four points from his nine games in charge.
How Leicester’s day unravelled
Timothy Castagne almost scored an unfortunate early own goal on his return to Leicester, while Victor Kristiansen curled wide for the home side with his weaker foot following a good run. But the afternoon unravelled for the Foxes once Fulham went ahead.
Good work from Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson led to Sasa Lukic sending the ball into Smith Rowe’s path to nod home. Soon afterwards, Wilson’s cross found the unmarked Traore at the far post to volley in a second and the mood became bleak in Leicester.
The withdrawal of Bilal El Khannouss had already led to chants letting Van Nistelrooy know they questioned his decision-making abilities and there were more jeers when Jordan Ayew was taken off – in the fans’ view, belatedly – for the popular Facundo Buonanotte.
It was not only the Dutch coach who was the focus of the ire with chants for the sacking of the board recurring throughout a second half in which Fulham appeared far more coherent. The boos at the final whistle only underlined the fractious atmosphere.
Steve Cooper was hardly beloved by Leicester supporters but it is worth remembering that he left the team outside the relegation zone after a dozen games. The situation has deteriorated since he departed and Van Nistelrooy is under real pressure now.
Van Nistelrooy: Most disappointing defeat
“No, I thought today was extremely [disappointing]. I saw more Wednesday [when Leicester lost by the same score to Crystal Palace] than today. Of course, results have been disappointing, but today a lot more, because we lacked in too many areas.”
He added: “For me, it’s about today. The disappointment is big, because we lacked in all aspects of the game. And that wasn’t [the case] before the other games that I’ve managed here. So today, that is the most disappointing one.”
Asked why he took off El Khannouss, Van Nistelrooy replied: “Because the crowd [does not] want a substitution, it doesn’t mean I have to explain all the reasons behind the substitution.
“It’s not for the public, out of respect for the players to come on, because they are valuable members of the squad, and they deserve minutes to help this team as well. It’s not about one person in this team, in this squad.”
Asked if the mood of the crowd is affecting the players, Van Nistelrooy said: “We have to deal with it. We cannot change it, we have to face it. There’s no feeling sorry for anybody, we’re professionals, we have to deal with it.
“We have to make sure we perform so that the crowd is up and supportive. And that’s our task. There’s no other excuse or explanation necessary. Sometimes you deserve criticism, and you have to accept it, because it wasn’t good enough.”
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Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted Leicester did not deserve anything from their clash with Fulham
Player of the match: Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson created the most chances of any player in the first half but it was his involvement in both Fulham goals after the break that helped win the game for his team. The first came from him playing on the right, the second after his switch to the left.
Wilson’s clever touch to divert Jimenez’s cross back into the danger zone was key to the opener, while he had the awareness to pick out Traore for the second. He was the last to leave the field, conducting the crowd as he departed. It was an impressive display.
“I think he’s performing at a very good level,” said Silva of Wilson in the press conference after the game.
“On the ball, off the ball, he’s been one of the examples. The way he’s working hard really off the ball too and being able to score or be able to assist is everything that we expected from a forward player at the level that we are playing.
“Congratulations to him. He should keep this level because at this level he’s going to keep helping us for sure.”
Silva sympathises with Van Nistelrooy
Fulham head coach Marco Silva speaking in the press conference:
“Of course, we all know what our job means and if you ask me if I have sympathy, of course I have. Ruud, I think, doesn’t need it because he’s a professional that knows really well the job that he has right now.
“But if you ask me, of course, yes, he’s here to take decisions like I’m here to take decisions as well and we don’t take decisions related with the reactions that we expect or not. For sure, he took a decision that he wanted and he expected it to be the best for the team in that moment. That’s it.”
Analysis: Fulham ease to victory
The verdict from Sky Sports’ Pat Rowe:
“After easing their way into the fixture at the King Power, Fulham cruised to victory without getting out of second gear.
“Emile Smith Rowe marked his 100th Premier League appearance in style after nodding home the opener, which was quickly followed by Adama Traore climbing off the bench to side-foot his effort expertly – which is not often said about his style of play – into the bottom corner.
“Marco Silva’s side always appeared to be in control of the game and have now solidified their spot in the race for European football after climbing into ninth – just two points shy of Aston Villa and Man City ahead of them.
“It has been 13 years since the Cottagers last dusted off their passports for a trip round Europe but with Raul Jimenez recapturing his finest form, Harry Wilson shining off the right and the duo of Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi flying on the opposite flank, those dreams could become reality by the end of the season.”
