Antonee Robinson enjoyed a winning return to the Fulham starting lineup on Saturday.
Robinson played the full 90 minutes in the Cottagers’ 3-1 Premier League victory over Burnley. It marked the veteran left back’s first club appearance since September 28 and his first league start since May 25.
The result was Fulham’s first road victory at Turf Moor since April 1951.
Emile Smith-Rowe propelled Marco Silva’s side ahead after nine minutes, but Lesley Ugochukwu equalized for Burnley 12 minutes later to make it 1-1.
Robinson played a part in Fulham’s second goal of the match, chipping an over-the-top ball for Harry Wilson to race onto. Wilson’s cross was then headed in by Calvin Bassey, giving the West London club a 2-1 advantage.
Wilson extended Fulham’s lead to 3-1 before the hour mark, but Burnley would trim the deficit in the final minutes as substitute defender Oliver Sonne netted his first Premier League goal.
Fulham would hang on though for the full three points, moving itself up to 13th place in the league standings.
The 28-year-old Robinson delivered a solid showing in his first appearance in 76 days. Robinson won five duels, completed four tackles, and made six defensive recoveries.
Robinson’s return comes at a crucial time in Fulham’s season, with Ryan Sessegnon now sidelined. An EFL Cup quarterfinal trip to Newcastle United comes next for Fulham on Wednesday before final league matches this year against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United respectively.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino will surely be hoping Robinson can stay fit and healthy ahead of the FIFA World Cup next summer. The veteran defender did not feature for the national team this year but could return as early as next March.
He played well to boot. Made a critical intervention on an opposing advancement into the box; deftly stuck his foot in to tackle away the ball and picked up numerous loose balls that propelled his team forward.
There was one tricky moment between he and the LCB. the CB played an attacker on side and A-Rob stepped wide to mark an advancing opponent which enlargened the gap between he and his nearest defender (who should have stepped) allowing the attacker into a dangerous place and conceding the equalizing goal at 1-1.
Still not sure who is to blame BUT the run was FANTASTIC! And I think they will both be dissapointed that their sync with each other was so off.
Durn good to see.
That is all.
Return of the Jedi!