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. On eight points after 17 games before today’s victory, when the fewest any club at this stage of the season has survived with is 10, theirs is a desperate fight for survival. Victory at Craven Cottage taking them off the bottom after Wilson Odobert’s spectacular strike and Sander Berge’s equally well-hit goal will do nicely for the struggle ahead.
Fulham, dominant but 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 blamed: Welch made a quiet, assured debut and it was Fulham’s players who took full opprobrium from their audibly disappointed fans.
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