PNE star disappointed goal did not count for more

The Belgian scored in the second half to pull PNE level after Ross McCormack had given the visitors an early lead.

But the Cottagers went back in front within 10 minutes and inflicted North End’s first home defeat since January 23.

Vermijl got a rare recent chance to shine, coming on as a 22nd minute substitute for the injured Calum Woods.

“It was nice to score but what we really wanted was the result,” Vermijl told the Evening Post.

“In the end we were left frustrated by Fulham, that was disappointing.

“We deserved more from the game but we couldn’t find a second equaliser.

“Fulham frustrated us by staying really deep and slowing the game at every opportunity.

“They only had two or three shots on goal and scored with two of them to win the game.

“The game was very stop-start, it wasn’t the flowing type which we normally get.

“There was a lot of time added on at the end, Fulham were complaining about the seven minutes but you could see from the second half that it was the right decision.

“Unfortunately, we could not find a goal in that added time to get us what our play deserved.”

Vermijl’s goal was one of real quality, with him beating two players down the right and powering a low shot through the legs of Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

The 24-year-old said: “When the ball broke to me, I saw Ryan Tunnicliffe coming towards me at full pace.

“I chopped it past him, saw some space to go into and I knew I had it in my locker to go past the next player.

“It was a tight angle and I just hit it as hard as I could so that the keeper didn’t have the time to react.

“The goals I have scored previously have tended to come from that same angle.”

Having at first been credited with scoring the winner against Bolton last month before it was seen that Eoin Doyle had got a vital late touch, Vermijl certainly won’t be having this one taken off him.

His other goal for PNE came in August against Watford in the Capital One Cup.

Vermijl is on a season’s loan from Sheffield Wednesday and has made 27 appearances, with 19 of those starts.

He is not looking beyond the end of the campaign yet in terms of what his future holds, his focus instead on North End’s last six games.

There is a strong chance of him starting at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Woods having suffered a calf strain.

Said Vermijl: “It is difficult to know what will happen with my situation.

“I’m just concentrating on the rest of this season and playing in as many of the games as possible.

“Hopefully we can have a good last six games and make a strong finish. Middlesbrough will be tough but our record against the top teams is good.”