Monday Fulham Stuff (30/01/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 4-1 Hull City: Paradise for Cottagers as Chris Martin and Ryan Sessegnon inspire them to FA Cup upset against terrible Tigers
Sone Aluko scored opening goal for Championship Fulham against Hull City
Evandro responded early in the second half with his first goal in English football
Chris Martin restored the lead after finishing off a sublime team move
Martin then set up Ryan Sessegnon for the full-back to complete the upset
Stefan Johansen made it a rout with a powerful finish from 10 yards out
Abel Hernandez then missed two penalties in a minute on nightmare day for Hull

A turncoat, a teenager and a substitute goalkeeper got together and slapped the troubled souls of Hull City out of the FA Cup. To look at Marco Silva in the immediate aftermath, there was a chance he might just throw in a kick or two for good measure.

What a shambolic, humiliating way for a Premier League club to exit the competition, picked apart by the 11th ranked side in the Championship and given the sort of lesson that could reoccur in the second tier next season. Silva was visibly angry, even if a Cup run was low on his agenda.

And yet this bizarre, brilliant match wasn't nearly so much about Hull and their aspirations as Fulham and their many fascinating narratives.


Sone Aluko (centre) opened the scoring for Fulham after 17 minutes at Craven Cottage


Evandro responded early in the second half with his first goal in English football


Chris Martin (left) celebrates with Ryan Sessegnon after slotting in Fulham's second goal


Martin then set up Sessegnon for the young full-back to complete the fourth round upset


Stefan Johansen celebrates after making it 4-1 with a powerful finish from 10 yards out

There was Chris Martin, who desperately wants to end his loan at Craven Cottage and go back to his parent club Derby County. What a compelling mess, with the striker having remotely signed a new deal at County on Saturday and then stated his plan was to return 'as soon as possible'. Fulham are not budging and told him he is stuck here until the end of the season, despite his previous agitations to leave.

He was given his share of boos early on, but it was he who put Fulham 2-1 ahead in the second half after Hull's Evandro had cancelled out Sone Aluko's opener.

From there it was about Ryan Sessegnon, a 16-year-old who is already the Football League's youngest ever scorer and the boy who made it 3-1 here. He is wanted by Chelsea and Tottenham, among others, and showed precisely what the hype is about. He plays at left-back but could just as easily be a flying winger given his speed, trickery and delightful desire to run at players.

Stefan Johansen made it 4-1 before Hull's final indignity, which was Abel Hernandez having two penalties saved in two minutes late on by stand-in goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. A glorious day for the underdog; a stinker for bigger boys everywhere.


Aluko is congratulated by his team mates for giving the Cottagers the lead in the FA Cup tie


Five minutes after half time Evandro met Andrew Robinson's free kick with a diving header


Martin finished into an empty net after a good build up involving Sessegnon and Aluko

Slavisa Jokanovic was ecstatic, particularly in discussing Sessegnon's contribution. He said: 'This kid is working hard, and he is in the right place. It is 100 per cent this player is going to be at the highest level soon, and I hope I'm going to enjoy working with him in the squad for a long time. But in this business you never know what is going to happen.'

That uncertainty has been illustrated by the Martin saga. Fulham's manager reiterated his position that Martin will not be allowed to leave, saying: 'He signed a new contract, which is great news for himself and his family. His highest contract, probably. But it doesn't change his situation with us. He is going to stay.

'I do understand why Derby would want this player (back). They believe one of their best strikers is in our dressing room. I believe the same.'


Fulham then put together another superb flowing move which was finished off by Sessegnon


Fulham played some sumptuous football and deserve their spot in round five of the FA Cup


Johansen turned a comfortable win for Fulham into an embarrassing rout for Hull

Indeed, Martin was excellent here. Interestingly, he also turned the supporters in his favour after assisting Sessegnon's goal, so maybe there will be a happy ending after all.

For Hull, who had won three of Silva's first five games before this one, the outlook is rather bleak. Aside from the scoreline and performance, they also lost Curtis Davis inside 10 minutes to a hamstring strain, stripping the Premier League's thinnest squad even further.

Silva said: 'It's not a good day for us. Now we need three or four new players in the next few days. If we want to stay in the Premier League, we need more quality in.'

With the Cup now gone, that is the best they can hope for.


After saving Abel Hernandez's first penalty, Fulham keeper then brought the Uruguayan down


Bettinelli then kept the retake out too to round off a miserable afternoon for Marco Silva's men


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4168714/Fulham-4-1-Hull-Cottagers-run-riot-against-awful-Tigers.html#ixzz4XEBzdmW6
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[WhiteJC]

 
SUMMARY: Fulham 4-1 Hull City - FA Cup Rd 4

Hull City picked a reasonably strong side that showed seven changes from the midweek League Cup victory over Manchester United, but the decision backfired with spectacular consequences, as Curtis Davies was subbed just 10 minutes into his return with an injury - and consequently went on to tumble out of the tournament in wretched fashion.


Tigers tumble

As is always the case when Hull City meet their former players, you just knew Tom Cairney or Sone Aluko (or both) would score. In the instance, the latter gave Fulham a 17th minute lead. Diomande fired just wide, before Abel Hernandez raced clear, beat the keeper... and then fired over. But the linesman was flagging for hand ball anyway. Therefore, Aluko's goal separated the teams at the interval.

City got off to the perfect start after the break when Evandro headed in Andy Robertson's cross on 49 minutes. But the joy was short-lived, when Chris Martin netted for Fulham five minutes later to restore the lead. That signalled the end of City's FA Cup run as Sessegnon added a third on 66 minutes, before Johansen wrapped up affairs on 78 minutes, that left the Tigers smarting from a 4-1 defeat. Already humbled, a double dose of insult was added to the ignominy as Hernandez, missed two late penalties to add some respectability to the scoreline.


http://www.hullcityindependent.net/?page=news&news_id=1979

[WhiteJC]

 
Aluko inspires Fulham to cup victory over Hull

Fulham 4 Hull City 1
Sone Aluko scored one goal and set up another against his former club as Fulham sent Premier League strugglers Hull tumbling out of the FA Cup.

The Whites winger – who played for Hull in the final three years ago – volleyed home his side's opener and, after Goebel Evandro levelled early in the second half, further goals from Chris Martin, Ryan Sessegnon and Stefan Johansen completed the rout.

Marcus Bettinelli then saved two late penalties from Abel Hernandez to ensure that Fulham feature in the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 2011.

Aluko put the Whites ahead in the 16th minute, finishing smartly after Tomas Kalas headed down a free-kick, and he might have increased his tally twice, but was denied by last-ditch tackles from Harry Maguire and Tom Huddlestone.

The Tigers had offered little threat prior to their equaliser, which arrived soon after the restart when Brazilian midfielder Evandro scored with a diving header.

But it took Fulham just four minutes to restore their advantage as Aluko's pass split the defence and Sessegnon set up Martin for a straightforward tap-in.

Martin turned provider for Sessegnon to score Fulham's third goal from close range and the impressive Tom Cairney teed up Johansen to drill home number four with the aid of a deflection.

Hernandez might have reduced the deficit with a late penalty, but his kick was kept out by Bettinelli, who conceded a second spot-kick by bringing down the Hull forward in the aftermath – and promptly saved that one as well.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/aluko-inspires-fulham-cup-victory-hull

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was pleased with his side's efforts as Hull City were put to the sword in the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.

Fulham outplayed their Premier League opponents to record a 4-1 victory and book their place in Round Five.

"It's great news for us as we've beaten a team who play at a superior level to where we are," Jokanović stated. "Our performance was very good today, we tried to find our style, we moved the ball well against a strong Hull team who showed an important improvement in the last weeks.

"Today we have to be satisfied with our performance and I believe we deserved this victory. We created chances and scored the goals, and we have to be satisfied after testing ourselves against a Premier League team.

"We are in the next round and we are mid-table in the Championship. This is the situation and we must push hard and push up in both competitions."

Ryan Sessegnon enjoyed another excellent game at left-back. Having seen a first half goal ruled out by a questionable offside call, he set up Chris Martin to make it 2-1 before netting himself after the break.

"This player scored two goals, made one assist," Jokanović stated. "He scored in the first half, and this was a completely legal goal.

"This kid is working hard and I believe he is in the right place to grow up. He showed personality. He's only 16-years-old but he's 100 per cent going to play at the highest level.

"I expect I'm going to have the opportunity to enjoy working with him and using him in my squad for a long time."

The Fulham Head Coach was also asked about Martin's current situation, after Derby County announced on the eve of the game that he had signed a new contract with them.

"His situation is fantastic," Jokanović explained. "He signed a new contract which is great news for himself and his family.

"It's probably his highest contract, but in our situation there is no change; he is going to stay with us. He showed commitment today for working with the club.

"I understand why Derby like this player, they believe the best Derby striker is in my dressing room. I believe the same.

"But what are we going to do? If they want to use him, I have to send him back at the end of the season. We have an option for him to stay for next season and in this business you never know."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/january/29/head-coach-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 4 Hull City 1: Ryan Sessegnon stars again as Tigers mauled in one-sided FA Cup clash

Ryan Sessegnon celebrates his goal CREDIT: AFP

Fulham booked their place in the fifth round for the ninth time in 10 years after another eye-catching performance from 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon helped them inflict a heavy defeat on Marco Silva's Hull City.

The right-back, born in May 2000 and linked with a host of top clubs, created one goal and scored another to help Slavisa Jokanovic's side create what can best be termed a 'mild upset'.

Hull would not have beaten any team defending as they did here but that should not detract from Fulham's slick, inventive approach in front of a sparsely-populated Craven Cottage.

The game's first chance of the game brought a goal for Fulham as Tomas Kalas rose to head Stefan Johansen's free-kick back across goal and Sone Aluko volleyed into the net.

Sone Aluko scores for Fulham CREDIT: REUTERS

Fulham edged an entertaining first half and had further chances to score. Sessegnon thought he had done so as he slid the ball under Eldin Jakupovic, but he was adjudged to be offside.

Before that, Aluko, who was tormenting his former employers, beat four Hull defenders before shooting wide from a narrow angle.

But Hull had their chances. Adama Diomande fired narrowly wide to the right of goal before Abel Hernandez smashed a shot which stung Marcus Bettinelli's palms.

With the Tigers finishing the half strongly, Hernandez was prevented from scoring by Kalas's brilliantly-timed sliding block on the edge of the six-yard area.

Four minutes after half-time, Silva's side were level. It was a first goal for new signing Goebel Evandro, who has joined from FC Porto, and he stooped to head his new side back into the game following Andrew Robertson's deep cross.

Goebel Evandro levels for Hull CREDIT: REUTERS

There were only level for five minutes as want-away striker Chris Martin, who was booed with each touch by the home support, slid the ball into an empty net after Aluko's excellent pass had found Sessegnon, who in turn fed Martin.

Martin was clearly unaffected by his hostile reception and had a hand in Fulham's third goal which effectively ended the tie. By the time he was subbed, the fans were applauding him off.

More slick passing saw Lucas Piazon feed Martin whose one-touch pass found the on-rushing Sessegnon to beat Jakupovic from close range.

It got better for the Cottagers as Johansen added a fourth, after more good work from Martin and Tom Cairney created the chance amid little Hull resistance.

Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli makes a superb save CREDIT: REUTERS

Cairney almost crowned an excellent team performance with a goal of his own but Jakupovic was just able to push his curling drive around the post.

A lazy tackle from Kalas gave Hernandez the chance to score from the penalty spot. His tame effort was saved by Bettinelli who then fouled Hernandez as he attempted to convert the rebound.

Paul Tierney rightly gave Hull, and Hernandez, another chance. This time, the Hull striker smashed towards the top corner and Bettinelli saved brilliantly as the game ended amid calamitous scenes which summed up Hull's afternoon and much of their season.

Team details
Fulham (4-1-4-1): Bettinelli; Odoi, Ream, Kalas, Sessegnon; McDonald; Aluko (Ayite 80), Cairney (Fredericks 88), Johansen, Piazon; Martin (Petsos 83).
Subs: Button, Malone, Parker, Madl.
Booked: McDonald, Johsnsen, Kalas

Hull (4-2-3-1): Jakupovic; Elabdellaoui, Davies (Maguire 10), Huddlestone, Robertson; Clucas, Meyler (Niasse 62); Markovic, Evandro (Tymon 74), Diomande; Hernandez.
Subs: Marshall, Maloney, Weir, Bowen.
Booked: Maguire

Referee: Mr P Tierney (Lancashire)


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/01/29/fulham-4-hull-city-1ryan-sessegnon-stars-tigers-mauled-one-sided/

[Bill2]

I don't think the Mail reporter likes us, he stated we are the 11th ranked side in the Championship, no mention of the game in hand. Even other managers say we are one if not the best footballing side in the division. There are so many stats we show us to be one of the best footballing sides in any league, just not very good at finding the back of the net.

Come on give some credit where it is due.

[filham]

I don't think the Mail reporter likes us, he stated we are the 11th ranked side in the Championship, no mention of the game in hand. Even other managers say we are one if not the best footballing side in the division. There are so many stats we show us to be one of the best footballing sides in any league, just not very good at finding the back of the net.

Come on give some credit where it is due.
[/quote
They say the league table doesn't lie and in all honesty most of us would be prepared to sacrifice some of our nice football for a top six place in the table. The only objective way to rate a team is on its league position.