The verdict: Fulham player ratings after deflating defeat to Bournemouth

The runners and riders at the Cottage

A goal from flying Brazilian winger Rayan was just enough to give the Cherries all three points at the Cottage after both sides had been reduced to 10 men.

The disappointing outcome for Fulham highlighted how both teams are feeling about their respective campaigns, with Bournemouth improbably challenging for a Champions League spot, while the mid-table Whites appear to be resigned to missing out on a European adventure.

Rayan’s second-half goal made it successive Premier League losses for the Whites, who are 11th in the Premier League standings. It means they failed to score for the seventh time in nine matches in all competitions.

Below are Capital Football’s ratings for Marco Silva’s side.

Bernd Leno 4: Unimpressive in terms of the clinching goal. Rayan’s shot had an xG of 0.02 and the Fulham keeper seemed to struggle to move his feet quickly enough as the ball ended up in the bottom left corner of his net. Did save a thunderous hit from Marcu Tavernier but it was straight at the German.

Timothy Castagne 5: Put in the cross which Rodrigo Muniz headed wide around the half-hour mark, as good as it got in terms of chances for the hosts in that first period. Was also on the receiving end of the late ugly challenge by Ryan Christie that ended up being a dismissal after a VAR review.

Joachim Andersen 2: Fulham’s numerical advantage lasted six minutes thanks to a senseless two-footed tackle by the Danish centre-back. Initially referee Andrew Madley only viewed it a yellow card offence on Adrien Truffert. The former Crystal Palace defender made contact with the ball first but there was excessive force. A VAR review followed and the centre-back rightly had his punishment upgraded. Had a looping header clip the top of the bar in the 44th minute.

Calvin Bassey 5: Made a fine sliding tackle on Truffert early on and the same Bournemouth player had to be alert to head wide his whipped cross at the start of the second half. Tried to bring the ball out of defence and inject a touch of urgency to what too often was pedestrian team play.

Antonee Robinson 5: Had a chance to impress USA boss Mauricio Pochettino, in attendance in west London. The left-back was released into good crossing positions on a number of occasions but the delivery lacked accuracy. One majorly overhit cross in the second period.

Sasa Lukic 5: Completed 45 of his 52 passes and had a 20-yard strike pushed away by Djordje Petrovic in the first half. Painful how Marco Silva played two central midfielders that are both unable to drive with the ball. Booked for dissent after urging Madley to card Marcos Senesi for a foul on Tom Cairney.

Tom Cairney 5: Had the most touches of any player on the pitch - 93 - but so many of them were in deeper positions. Dropped into the backline to receive possession but Bournemouth’s shape made it tricky for the skipper to find forward passes. Had a shot deflected out for a corner in the 68th minute. Replaced by Josh King for the closing stages.

Samuel Chukwueze 3: The Nigerian winger’s prospects of a longer stay in west London are beginning to look slim. Had zero accuracy from his five crosses and stats showed he also failed to execute his one dribbling opportunity. Up against a 35-year-old Adam Smith and turned it into a comfortable afternoon for the veteran. Hooked on the hour, rightly so.

Emile Smith Rowe 4: Replaced at the start of the second half by Issa Diop. Had a shot deflected wide early on. Completed 14 of his 15 passes but so many of those were not penetrative. Made a good recovery challenge on Alex Scott as the Bournemouth man broke into a dangerous position. Three goals this season is simply not good enough.

Harry Wilson 3: Fifth Premier League match in a row that Fulham’s number eight has gone without a goal involvement and that talisman tag has slipped away. Has the Wales international already got his next move lined up and is easing his way through these final weeks? Whatever the reason, it isn’t in dispute this was a totally nondescript outing before he was replaced by Oscar Bobb in the 62nd minute.

Rodrigo Muniz 5: Had the highest xG of any player on the pitch (0.65) - failed to take a huge chance when he headed Castagne’s cross wide of the near post. Looked like he was out of gas from fairly early in the second half but Silva kept him out there for the full 90 minutes. The Brazilian’s only goal this season came on the opening day at Brighton. His barren spell since returning from a hamstring injury is 12 matches. Strengthening the forward line this summer looks one of many issues to address.

Subs:

Issa Diop (for Smith Rowe 46) 4: Did not make any notes about the central defender, who came on so that Fulham could stick with a back four following Andersen’s dismissal.

Kevin (for Chukwueze 62) 6: Made the underworked Petrovic tip over in the 74th minute but the shot was straight at Bournemouth’s keeper.

Oscar Bobb (for Wilson 62) 6: Slick one-two with Lukic ended with the January signing from Manchester City lifting a left-footed effort over the crossbar. Senesi blocked another goalbound attempt. Bright cameo.

Josh King (for Cairney 76) 6: Shuddered the crossbar right near the end and also managed to block as Truffert looked to convert after Rayan’s powerful run had seen the ball drop kindly for him inside the penalty area.

Jonah Kusi-Asare (for Castagne 83): Not on the pitch long enough for a rating.