Promotion favourites Fulham were beaten 1-0 by Barnsley on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship. Luke Thomas scored the all-important goal for the Tykes in the first half.
Promotion Favourites Fulham Downed By Luke Thomas
Debut Striker Scores to Down Whites
Fulham were unable to get a winning start to their Sky Bet Championship campaign as they were beaten 1-0. Barnsley were under the cosh for much of the game; however, the newly-promoted side held on after Thomas’ first-half goal.
The Tykes debutant scored what proved to be the winner when he reeled onto Mike Bahre’s pass and beat Marcus Bettinelli with a powerful shot.
Defender Mads Andersen twice cleared off the line as Barnsley were put under pressure. Substitute Anthony Knockaert forced a save from Tykes ‘keeper Samuel Radlinger as the visitors were left frustrated.
Scott Parker Describes Fulham Performance As ‘Disappointing’
Fulham were relegated from the top flight last season. The Whites conceded 81 league goals and sacked two managers.
However, an opening day defeat to Barnsley left Whites boss Scott Parker disappointed.
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle in the first game of the season, which it proved to be,” Parker, who was appointed on a permanent basis in the summer, said to BBC Sport.
“We started ok in the first 10 minutes of the first half, but Barnsley got a grip of the game and caused us a few problems.
“In the second half we got into the game and we had chances which they defended heroically at times, but overall it’s very disappointing.”
Daniel Stendel Praises Tykes In ‘Deserved’ Win
Daniel Stendel led Barnsley to promotion from League One last term; however, the German gave debuts to six summer signings as he made a plethora of changes to his promotion-winning team.
“I’m very happy about the result but more about the performance today,” he said to BBC Sport. “We knew that Fulham have a good squad but if we played with more conviction we had a chance to win this game.
“Most of the time we played really well, Fulham had some chances in the second half, but we deserved to win.”
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