Arbeloa points to late collapses costing Fulham

“It is painful to lose three points the way we did,” Arbeloa said after Fulham’s defeat to Ipswich. His team’s predicament is summed up by the contrast: bottom of the Premier League, Fulham would sit tenth if matches ended in the 75th minute.

Across the first six league rounds, that hypothetical table would give Fulham two wins, two draws and two defeats, with six goals scored and six conceded. That would amount to eight points, compared with the two it has in the actual standings. It helps explain a phrase that is becoming increasingly familiar: “Arbeloa’s Fulham play better than the table suggests.”

Late goals account for much of the gap. Fulham conceded after the 75th minute in four league matches: a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, a 3-2 comeback loss against Crystal Palace, a 1-1 draw with Manchester United and another comeback defeat, 2-1, at the hands of Ipswich. In that most recent loss, Fulham were still ahead with two minutes remaining.

“We have to accept it and prepare in the same way for the next game. We need to keep improving,” Arbeloa said, noting that his side had done many things well in the first 60 or 70 minutes before conceding two late goals. He has also urged patience with young players and called for support to help them develop.

The manager believes Fulham must handle leads better without abandoning its approach: “We need to improve when we are ahead, but we have to keep playing the same way: we don’t need to sit deeper and start defending.” He also pointed to the chances his team creates, while acknowledging that it must take them to win.

Despite the position in the table, Arbeloa said he was not worried about his own future: “I never worry about my position. I don’t feel fear, and you can’t be a coach if you do.”