{"id":498471,"date":"2019-08-03T14:10:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T18:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=498471"},"modified":"2019-08-03T14:10:29","modified_gmt":"2019-08-03T18:10:29","slug":"luke-thomas-strike-downs-promotion-favourites-fulham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/08\/03\/luke-thomas-strike-downs-promotion-favourites-fulham\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Thomas Strike Downs Promotion Favourites Fulham"},"content":{"rendered":"

Promotion favourites Fulham<\/a> were beaten 1-0 by Barnsley on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship. Luke Thomas<\/a> scored the all-important goal for the Tykes in the first half.<\/p>\n

Promotion Favourites Fulham Downed By Luke Thomas<\/h2>\n

Debut Striker Scores to Down Whites<\/span><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Tykes debutant scored what proved to be the winner when he reeled onto Mike Bahre’s pass and beat Marcus Bettinelli<\/a> with a powerful shot.<\/p>\n

Defender Mads Andersen twice cleared off the line as Barnsley were put under pressure. Substitute Anthony Knockaert<\/a> forced a save from Tykes ‘keeper Samuel Radlinger as the visitors were left frustrated.<\/p>\n

Scott Parker<\/a> Describes Fulham Performance As ‘Disappointing’<\/h3>\n

Fulham were relegated from the top flight last season. The Whites conceded 81 league goals and sacked two managers.<\/p>\n

However, an opening day defeat to Barnsley left Whites boss Scott Parker disappointed.<\/p>\n

“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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

Daniel Stendel Praises Tykes In ‘Deserved’ Win<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“I’m very happy about the result but more about the performance today,” he said to BBC Sport.<\/a> “We knew that Fulham have a good squad but if we played with more conviction we had a chance to win this game.<\/p>\n

“Most of the time we played really well, Fulham had some chances in the second half, but we deserved to win.”<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>