HARRISON REED CHATTED TO BROADCASTERS FOLLOWING FULHAM’S VICTORY OVER SOUTHAMPTON, REFLECTING ON HIS SIDE’S PERFORMANCE AND SEASON SO FAR.
How satisfying is it, from the Fulham perspective, to come here and win in the manner that you did?
It was our goal to start strong and to win this game of football. And to do it 2-0, with a clean sheet, when we knew it was going to be a tough afternoon against a team fighting for their lives, we’re really happy.
At the start of the season, a lot of people were predicting Fulham might be down the other end. Could you have imagined being where you currently are today?
Why not? We came into the season full of confidence, from day one we knew our standards and we knew what we wanted to do. I think we’ve shown consistency throughout the season, still with a lot of things to learn and improve on, but as a changing room, inside that training ground, we knew what we’re capable of.
How much would it mean to go on and secure that top half finish?
It would be amazing. I think T [Cairney] said last week that we haven’t really celebrated what we’ve done this season, with the consistency we’ve shown and the amount of points we’ve accumulated. We’ve still got our goals in-house, and we’re looking to achieve that.
Two strikers on the scoresheet – Carlos Vinicius has really stepped up when Aleksandar Mitrović wasn’t available, but now he’s available again he’s straight back on the scoresheet…
You felt it as soon as Mitro stepped on the pitch. He was hungry to get on the scoresheet. His words in my ear as soon as he scored and we were walking back was, ‘Reedy, I want another one, so let’s keep going.’ Vini’s done fantastic. He had a tough season early on, having to be patient behind Mitro, but when we’ve needed him he’s really stepped up.
For you personally, is there a touch of sadness regarding the occasion and what it means for Southampton?
I definitely have that feeling sitting in the dressing room, and obviously on the pitch after [the game]. A club that I was part of for a very long time, it’s not nice to see them go down, but I have no doubt they’ll bounce back and come back strong.
