History was made as Rebecca Welch became the first woman to referee a Premier League game. Burnley can create some history of their own if they avoid relegation. Before today’s victory, they were on eight points after 17 games; the fewest any club at the same stage of the season has survived with is 10.
Theirs is a desperate fight for survival so this triumph, lifting them off the bottom of the table after Wilson Odobert’s spectacular strike and Sander Berge’s equally well-hit goal, will do nicely.
Fulham, dominant if blunt in the first half, were well beaten and no amount of blaming the officials could excuse a second-half showing in which they were inferior to opponents who suddenly found inspiration. Not that the referee could be faulted: Welch made a quiet, assured debut. “We were to blame,” Marco Silva said.
Welch received a ripple of applause during her warmup, a collector’s item in itself for referees, and had female company in her ear with Natalie Aspinall as assistant VAR. Craven Cottage’s genteel reputation had perhaps played its part in this match being chosen for a groundbreaking occasion.
As the game settled into a low-tempo lilt Welch let things flow, far less pernickety than some of her colleagues. It took until the 22nd minute for the first foul to be awarded, a stonewaller as Jordan Beyer tripped Andreas Pereira. That was cheered by the home fans who were less amused when Calvin Bassey was booked for a hand-off on Josh Brownhill. Thus rang out the first “you don’t know what you’re doing” chant of Welch’s top-flight career.
On Fulham’s left, Alex Iwobi was granted space aplenty, always looking to cut in and test James Trafford, on whose first-half excellence Burnley’s victory was founded. “I thought we were brilliant,” said the goalkeeper. “We came in at half-time and the manager and staff gave us some points on how we could really punish them.”
Fulham are without Raúl Jiménez for their Christmas schedule; the Mexican, who had finally hit form, is serving a suspension after his red card at Newcastle. His replacement, Rodrigo Muniz, rattled the side-netting in the first half and even attempted an Alejandro Garnacho-style bicycle kick but Fulham missed the hold-up play Jimenez also brings to their team. Willian, his hamstring troublesome, was missed yet more.
Towering in the technical area, wearing a Kendall Roy-esque baseball cap, there has been little talk of a succession plan for Vincent Kompany but a well-funded team with high hopes have found the step-up to this level extremely tough. Visits to London had been a particular bane. At Brentford and Arsenal Burnley were submissive but there was far more determination here, even when Fulham were dominating. “It’s never perfect but it was a really good performance,” said Kompany. “The players managed the game well.”
Burnley’s best chance of the first half had come when Lyle Foster broke clear only for Tosin Adarabioyo to block his shot. That might have served as a warning.
Fulham’s lack of a cutting edge soon haunted them. Burnley began the half with serious intent, Zeki Amdouni skidding an effort wide in what proved to be a rehearsal for Odobert’s goal. A quick exchange with Foster and a crashing 25-yard shot gave them the lead. Bernd Leno was left helpless, unprotected.
“We started in the worst way possible,” said Silva. “After that moment we didn’t perform like we usually do.”
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
Fulham pushed on but ineffectively, their fans reminding Welch of Burnley’s time-wasting tactics. VAR was called into play when it was claimed Foster had used his arm. Welch pleaded for patience, the players eventually acquiescing, until it was relayed the ball had hit Foster’s chest and there should be no penalty.
Fulham would have been better served to concentrate on defending. Berge ran 40 yards with the ball and unleashed a low drive that Leno probably ought to have saved. Up in the Putney End, a full-throated uproar confirmed Burnley have not given up the fight.
Kompany, before addressing the fans with a punch of the air, exchanged warm words with Welch on a fine day for both of them.
