HARRISON Reed hailed the impact made by match-winner Carlos Vinicius after he came off the bench to seal Fulham’s first home win of the season against Luton on Saturday.
The Cottagers dominated possession, but it was the Hatters who enjoyed the better chances on a sunny afternoon by the banks of the Thames.
Thankfully their wastefulness in front of goal meant the game was still goalless when Vinicius entered the fray on 62 minutes to replace Raul Jimenez.
The change quickly paid off when the substitute scored from close range after visiting keeper Thomas Kaminski could only push Willian’s cross invitingly into his path.
Reed accepts Fulham were made to work hard for their three points, but was thrilled to see Vinicius score the winner.
He said: “These games are dangerous where a team comes with tactics where they want to sit, they want to frustrate us.
“We know out of possession and when we’ve got the ball that is when they are at their most dangerous because they are setting up their little counter attacks.
“They created a few chances which could have gone against us and then the game is looking a different way. In those games it is always very difficult to play against nine defenders in a deep block to create chances, to carve out opportunities.
“We felt at half-time it was going to be a game where stayed patient and it was going to be a 1-0 or 2-0 win here or there. Obviously we showed our quality.”
Reed added: “Vini has come on and shown the impact. I’m delighted for him, he is a really good character and popular figure in the dressing room.
“He was knackered after his celebration.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. He has come in and had to be patient last season with Mitro being the frontman.
“His impact when he has got his game time is brilliant and this season the same.
“Raul has come in, made an impact and started the first few games. Vini has shown off the bench what an impact he can have for us.”
Midfielder Reed committed his future to Fulham by penning a new long-term deal two days before the victory over Luton and revealed it had been in the pipeline for some time.
He said: “It is something I spoke about with the club for a little while.
“I decided the time was right now to push forward and get it all done.
“It happened relatively quickly. I made it very clear I wanted to stay at the club and my long-term future for myself was here.
“Thankfully the club saw the same thing so I’m over the moon to have signed for another four years with the option for a fifth.
“My thoughts have always been with Fulham FC, I’m really pleased to get that done and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Reed added: “It does feel like home. I spoke about it really on in my Fulham career that I felt it could be somewhere I call home for me and my family.
“We’ve settled really nicely here . There is a really good feeling around the club and playing a lot of the games since I’ve been here obviously does help.
“I couldn’t be happier to committing my future here.”
Despite a tricky start to the season overshadowed by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s switch to Saudi Arabia, Fulham now have seven points on the board.
Reed also highlighted some key moments which have gone against his side, notably the controversial decision to allow Manchester City’s second goal on the stroke of half-time to stand in the 5-1 loss against the champions just before the international break.
He said: “When you are in it and in those games – and getting on the end of some decisions where you feel a little bit hard done by – it is tough, especially going to Arsenal and City.
“It was a great point at Arsenal but the way the City game went for us was really, really tough.
“We spoke about it during the week – we’ve got the squad together now, the transfer window is closed and it is full focus on us.
“Of course decisions have gone against us, but it is more about how we deal with that and our performance out on the pitch. That is what is going to earn us points with wins like today.
“We will focus on ourselves, control the things we can and look forward.”
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