Sunday Fulham Stuff (05/02/17)...

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Results

Friday
Wigan	0 - 0	Sheff Wed
Saturday
Ipswich	2 - 2	Reading
Barnsley	0 - 0	Preston NE
Birmingham	1 - 0	Fulham
Blackburn	1 - 0	QPR
Bristol City	1 - 0	Rotherham
Burton	2 - 1	Wolves
Cardiff	0 - 1	Norwich
Newcastle	1 - 0	Derby
Nottm Forest	2 - 1	Aston Villa

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REPORT- FORTUNE SCORES AS ARSENAL U18S ARE BEATEN BY FULHAM

U18 Premier League

Fulham 3 Arsenal 2 (Fortune, Coyle)

Second half goals from Yassin Fortune and Trae Coyle weren't sufficient to prevent Arsenal U18s from falling to a defeat away to their Fulham counterparts today.

The young Gunners found themselves three goals down at Motspur Park but, despite improving significantly in the second period, still saw their impressive recent run come to an end.

With a host of youngsters having left the club on loan in the closing stages of the transfer window, several key players weren't involved for the U18s today as they are instead expected to feature for the U23s against Everton on Monday – with Josh DaSilva, Vlad Dragomir, Donyell Malen, Tolaji Bola, Joseph Olowu and Eddie Nketiah all falling into that category.

In their absence, there were a batch of players brought into the U18 side, with Zech Medley, Daniel Ballard, Robbie Burton and Jay Beckford all starting, the latter making a rare appearance.

Arsenal got off to a bad start with Kostas Pileas scoring an own goal, and then Fulham doubled their advantage courtesy of substitute Michael Elstone.

Early in the second half it was 3-0 to the hosts as Joseph Felix found the net from the penalty spot.

Arsenal attempted to reduce the deficit and they did just that when Fortune scored his first goal of an injury hit season.

The Frenchman was substituted shortly afterwards and replaced by schoolboy Tyreece John-Jules, who proceeded to tee up Coyle to make it 3-2.

Fulham, however, managed to hold on to take all three points.

Arsenal: Crean; Osei-Tutu, Medley, Ballard, Pileas; Gilmour, J. Willock; Beckford, Burton, Coyle; Fortune.

Subs: John-Jules (for Fortune, 63), Thompson (for Beckford, 77), Omole (for Ballard, 84). Not used: Barden.


https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/report-fortune-scores-as-arsenal-u18s-are-beaten-by-fulham/

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Fulham suffer punishing defeat at Birmingham as former Tottenham man sent off
Fredericks off as Blues get first win under Zola

Fulham left St Andrew's with nothing to show for their efforts after a bruising encounter with Birmingham City.

Lucas Jutkiewicz's goal 15 minutes from time was enough to give Gianfranco Zola his first victory as Blues manager.

There was further pain for Ryan Fredericks as he was harshly sent off for a late tackle on Craig Gardner. He will miss games with Wigan, Nottingham Forest and former side Tottenham Hotspur, unless Fulham successfully appeal the red.

It was harsh in the context of the game with Fulham playing much the better football and the home side resorting to pumping long balls forward, which caused problems for the Whites defenders.

The opening 45 was similar in style to the 2-0 win at Burton Albion where Fulham played the better football but lacked sufficient tools to breach the Birmingham defence.

The Blues caused Tim Ream and Tomas Kalas problems with high balls over the top and David Button had to be alert.

Birmingham forced a number of corners in the second half and every time Fulham countered, Tom Cairney was scythed down with Cheick Keita and Maikel Kieftenbeld booked for their deliberate fouls.

The game changed on 68 minutes as Fredericks went in late on Gardney and, after the home players reacted with fury, referee Andrew Madley pulled out the red card to dismiss the full back.

That lifted Birmingham and they took advantage as Keita's cross was turned home by Jutkiewicz.

Floyd Ayite had the best chance for an equaliser in stoppage time but, with a clear sight of goal, he miscued his shot wide.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/fulham-suffer-punishing-defeat-birmingham-12557492

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Reaction: Burton Albion 2-1 Wolves, Woodrow scores last-gasp winner for the Brewers

Burton Albion look to end a busy week on a high by securing their first home victory of 2017 at the expense of Wolverhampton Wanderers today (3pm). The Brewers were sent to their fifth straight Pirelli Stadium in midweek as Fulham beat them 2-0, while Paul Lambert's in-form Wolves side followed up an FA Cup victory at Anfield by downing Barnsley 3-1.

Nigel Clough, though, will have Lasse Vigen Christensen, Cauley Woodrow and Michael Kightly all available this afternoon as he looks for a repeat of last weekend's impressive 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers. Albion will also be aiming to secure a result that keeps them outside the Championship's bottom three, following Wigan Athletic's 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday last night.

Back in September, Will Miller struck a dramatic last-gasp equaliser for the Brewers at Molineux to earn a well-earned draw against Walter Zenga's Wolves.

Four months down the line, Paul Lambert brings his Wolves side to the Pirelli Stadium. Can Albion find some home form again to recreate these scenes? We'll know in a few hours...


Read more at http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/live-build-up-to-burton-albion-v-wolves-will-miichael-kightly-make-debut-against-former-club/story-30111428-detail/story.html#Brr40evYmPRHTfrv.99

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović admitted his Fulham side were far from their best at Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts had the better chances at St Andrew's and earned a 1-0 win through Lukas Jutkiewicz's 75th minute strike, after Ryan Fredericks had been shown a straight red card.

"I'm disappointed, but we didn't play our best game," Jokanović stated. "Birmingham were more solid, they won all the second balls.

"We didn't connect and we didn't combine well enough. We didn't create so many things. The situation with Ryan Fredericks was an extra situation that killed us, and we didn't find enough power to change the game.

"We arrived here with intent, and we believed we could have made a different game and win the points. But in the end it wasn't our best game.

"Credit to Birmingham, they were solid and strong. We had problems with their long balls. I cannot complain, the result was fair.

"I cannot complain about the efforts of my team. They tried, they pushed hard, they wanted to win the game. But it's simple, we didn't play a good game."

The defeat is a blow to Fulham's Play-Off aspirations, but Jokanović knows there is plenty of football still to play.

"We had a setback today," he explained. "We are not happy, but there are 51 points in front of us. Nothing is over, and we are going to be ready for the Wigan game."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/february/04/head-coach-reaction

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Fulham boss bemoans former Tottenham man's red card after Birmingham defeat


Red: Ryan Fredericks is sent off (Photo: Birmingham Mail)

Slavisa Jokanovic felt Ryan Fredericks' red card changed the outcome in Fulham's 1-0 defeat at Birmingham.

The full back was dismissed for a late lunge on Craig Gardner which led to a furious reaction from the home players. Lukas Jutkiewicz scored the only goal of the game soon after.

Fulham were not at their best but Jokanovic was not going to complain about his side's effort.

He told BBC Radio London: "It's disappointing but we didn't play our best game. We had many problems during the game. They were solid and won the second balls. We didn't create so many chances.

"The situation with Ryan Fredericks killed us in one very complicated moment for us where we tried to push and win the game.

"The situation was a real setback. I can't complain about the effort of my team but we didn't play our most brilliant game."

Jokanovic refused to criticise referee Andrew Madley, responding by saying: "Ask me something different. I prefer not to answer."

The defeat is a setback to Fulham's play-off hopes but Jokanovic will take it one game at a time.

He explained: "It's not over. Generally, we had a setback. We're disappointed but there are 51 points in front of us.

"We have to take it step by step and get ready for the Wigan game. I don't know what'll happen in the end.

"Our target is similar for the end of the season but I prefer thinking about the present and the next game.

"The competition is not over. We have to push hard and be competitive and try and win the next game."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-bemoans-former-tottenham-12557779

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Tom Cairney making tracks for Scotland team

Fulhams Tom Cairney has been in fine form and is in line for a Scotland call-up. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Tom Cairney could be in line for a Scotland call-up, with the international manager describing the midfielder's recent performances for Fulham as "terrific".

Seeing the former Under-21 cap being utilised in a slightly different way at club level has given Gordon Strachan food for thought as he attempts to select as many in-form players as possible for the vital World Cup qualifying clashes with Slovenia and England. The win-or-bust matches come several months after the last competitive game and Strachan says that a change in circumstances for several players leaves scope for others to be given a chance.

That includes Cairney, who is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming friendly against Canada, on 22 March, which will serve as a warm-up for the Slovenia head-to-head four days later. "I'm sure people have seen some of our midfield players playing recently and go, 'we're doing no bad in there'. James Morrison is back to his best, Cairney has been a big feature of Fulham.

"Cairney played for Fulham, when he first joined, for about a year as the right side of a four, doing what Matt Ritchie does, what Robert Snodgrass does, the very same thing.

"My opinion at that time was that Ritchie and Snodgrass were the best at doing that right side, left foot thing and Forrest can do his other bit. Now Cairney has moved into a three in midfield. So it's a different person. As a matter of fact, I saw him playing just off a striker at Wolves recently. Then he went back to his normal position in the second half and he was terrific.

"They've found a position for Tom Cairney that suits him just now, but before the England game he was playing in the Snodgrass/Ritchie area and I do believe they're real top players."

But is he in the reckoning now? "Oh yes, definitely! I've seen him play in some great games recently."

He is not the only player vying for Strachan's attention, with guys likes Stuart Armstrong, at Celtic, and Hearts' Jamie Walker among those also being touted for a place in the squad after impressing on club duty, while there may need to be a few alterations in defence as well. "It's been a long time since the England game and it's amazing how many people have changed. I call it leaving footprints. With some, before the England game, there were no footprints. If there had been people would have been talking about those who were missing.

But since that game there are some leaving footprints with assists, goals and man of the match awards. Some have become captains at their club from not getting a game early in the season. Some others haven't been getting games, Hanley's had one or two games. Charlie Mulgrew is back in the groove but others like Kech [Ikeyi Anya] aren't playing so much. So it's a long time since we last played.

"We've got two games against Canada and Slovenia and we'll have a big squad initially and then cut it down a bit after the first game. There are new faces out there and when people in the media start talking about who's doing well and making an impact then we sit up and take notice too.

"You also have your mates looking out for you too, people like Gary McAllister, Gary Caldwell or Steven Pressley are all at games and they tell you what's going on."



Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/scotland/tom-cairney-making-tracks-for-scotland-team-1-4357999

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Former Tottenham man to miss Spurs reunion after Birmingham red and other talking points as Fulham beaten
Lucas Jutkiewicz's goal 15 minutes from time was enough to give Gianfranco Zola his first victory as Blues manager

Fulham left St Andrew's with nothing to show for their efforts after a bruising encounter with Birmingham City.

Lucas Jutkiewicz's goal 15 minutes from time was enough to give Gianfranco Zola his first victory as Blues manager.

There was further pain for Ryan Fredericks as he was harshly sent off for a late tackle on Craig Gardner.

Below are the five talking points to emerge from Fulham's trip to the second city.

Ryan's red

Red: Ryan Fredericks is sent off (Photo: Birmingham Mail)

Ryan Fredericks was dismissed with just over 20 minutes left in the contest after lunging in on Craig Gardner.

The reaction of the Birmingham players, in my view, played a part in Andrew Madley's decision to bring the red card out.

The feeling in the press box overall was that it is what I would call an 'orange card' – not quite a red but at least a yellow.

Given the deliberate and cynical challenges on Tom Cairney in order to break up Fulham counter attacks, a yellow may well have sufficed.

It's a bitter blow for Fredericks who will miss the games against Wigan, Nottingham Forest and former side Tottenham Hotspur.

Trip Tom

Tom Cairney (Photo: Getty Images Europe)

Birmingham knew that if they were to have any joy in the contest, they must stop Fulham's best player; Tom Cairney.

Whenever the Whites' talisman looked to break forward, the Blues midfielders and defenders sought to stop him by fair means or foul; mainly the latter though.

The captain was visibly frustrated at the way he was being treated and rightly so. With Madley only happy to book the offenders, it gave Birmingham a free rein to rough him up.

That said, the midfielder proved there was nobody like him as, when he could stay on his feet, he was able to shrug tackles off and charge forward.

Direct distractions

Lukas Jutkiewicz and Tim Ream (Photo: Birmingham Mail)

Birmingham were more than happy to lump the ball forward to Lukas Jutkiewicz up front and Tim Ream and Tomas Kalas had a difficult time coping with the aerial bombardment.

On occasions, they were caught out by the long balls over the top and David Button had to rescue them.

Fulham like to play out from the back but they need to work out a way to deal with a side that is up and at them.

Button brilliance

David Button denies Craig Gardner (Photo: Birmingham Mail)

David Button hasn't won the entire Fulham support over since his move from Brentford and ousting the popular Marcus Bettinelli but he made some crucial blocks.

The former Tottenham trainee is an excellent goalkeeper and has proven more than capable a a top-half Championship side.

If you want to look at talented English goalkeepers yet to reach their prime, west London is the place to go with Button, Alex Smithies at QPR and Dan Bentley at Brentford all having excellent seasons.

Jury out on Gohi

New man at the Cottage: Gohi Bi Cyriac

Gohi Cyriac came on for his Fulham debut and missed with his one and only half-chance to score.

It's unfair for Fulham fans to make any judgement on their new number nine as he had limited time on the pitch and the Whites were playing with 10 men.

It is also worth bearing in mind that Cyriak has not been with Fulham for less than a week so will need some time to get to know the squad.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/former-tottenham-man-miss-spurs-12558290