Fulham cruised to a 4-1 win at Championship strugglers Reading last night. Scott Parker’s team looked like a title-winning side and it could spell more bench-time for two of their players.

Reading were hoping to turn a dismal start to the season around last night when they hosted Fulham. The Royals under Jose Manuel Gomes have endured a slow start to the Championship, and after last nights 4-1 mullering at home to Fulham, have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

Gomes is a man increasingly under pressure at the Madejski Stadium, but his opponent in the dugout last night is garnering praise for his team’s showing this season. 10th going into the game at Reading, Fulham now sit 4th in the table after ten games, two points behind leaders West Brom.

It’s been a steady start for Parker in his first full-season in football management. At Reading last night, Parker setup his Fulham side in a 4-1-4-1 formation, as to their usual 4-2-3-1. It did the trick, and Fulham recorded their biggest away win since they beat Huddersfield by the same score in 2017.

There were some stand-out performers for Fulham last night, and it could push these two players out of Parker’s starting 11 for while:

Ivan Cavaleiro

Fulham fans were excited by the loan-signing of Portguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro. Scott Parker was keen to bring him to the Championship, where he scored nine goals in the 2017/18 season to help Wolves to promotion.

He’s been a good player for Fulham so far, with nine appearances, three goals and three assists so far. But Cavaleiro spent the entirety of last night’s win on the bench. In a new set-up which favoured more deep-lying wingers, Anthony Knockaert and Bobby Reid were preferred.

It won’t spell the end of Cavaleiro at Fulham, he’ll still be a key figure in their season. But after performing under their new set-up last night, Parker may well choose that formation for future away games, and save Cavaleiro for the more attack-minded games at Craven Cottage.

Harrison Reed

Fulham last night had goalscorer Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen in central midfield, with Bourenmouth-loanee Harry Arter sitting in-front of the defence.

The trio proved solid in their win at Reading. Cairney with two goals to take him to seven already this season, and Johansen and Arter both completing a full 90 minutes for the first time since August.

In the 4-2-3-1 set-up, Harrison Reed usually partners Johansen in the two, with Cairney playing in the middle of the three. Reed was beginning to cement his place in the midfield up until last night, where he was another unused substitute - he’d played every minute of the previous four games.

Reed could be another one who misses out, particularly away from home after last night’s win. Johansen and Cairney looked to link up well in the game. Arter  also looked steady in his role, and his Premier League experience could keep Reed out of the starting eleven.

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