TIM Ream believes his new central defensive partnership with Calvin Bassey will only get better after the duo were paired together in last night’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.
Fulham were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Joao Palhinha’s header was only kept out by a superb one-handed stop from Guglielmo Vicario, while Carlos Vinicius also saw a header flash wide.
Both of the home side’s goals from Heung-Min Son and James Maddison came after Bassey cleared the ball to Tottenham players.
Although those mistakes proved decisive on the night, Ream felt overall he worked well alongside the summer signing from Ajax, who was in the team playing in his unfavoured side of central defence due to Issa Diop’s injury.
Ream said: “It wasn’t too challenging to be honest – I think it is more for him than anything.
“Playing on his off-side is never easy. I know, I’ve done it and it is just a matter of talking him through the game and making sure his head is on straight.
“We’ve been working on it in training, it is not something new for us.
“It was new for this game obviously, but not new in terms of never working on it before.
“Overall, it was a pretty half decent display, just a few things here and there.
“Obviously we will have a few more games together to iron out some of the kinks and we will go from there.”
The result sent Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League table, but for Fulham it was a case of what might have been had they taken the early opportunities which fell their way.
Ream said: “I’m disappointed obviously. You never like to lose games – two carbon copy goals and it is frustrating to say the least, but in a lot of moments we were competitive in and around their box having half chances.
“Maybe on a different day we put one or two away and it is a different game.
“But at the end of the day, we come away with nothing points wise but there a few things we can take from the game that were somewhat positive.”
He added: “There are positives but I think it is frustrating at the same time.
“I think the frustration is the more overriding feeling because again in moments we did play with no fear, moved the ball and created chances but not taking those.
“On a different day you take them and come away with something different, but I’d say it is definitely more frustration of what could have been.
“We made a few mistakes for their goals.
“At this level against a team like that who are at the top of the table now, they are going to punish you for them.”
Fulham are back on the road this Sunday on the south coast where they take on a Brighton and Ream is determined to bounce back quickly to the Tottenham setback
He said: “It is straight back to recovery and preparation for that game. It will be another tough one, away as well, but it is one we have to look forward to as we do all the games.
“It is one we need to look at and try and put in a good performance but also take some points away from home.
“Hopefully we will bring back three points.”
