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Thursday Fulham Stuff (20/04/17)...

Started by WhiteJC, April 20, 2017, 07:50:53 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and Reading "fear" Fulham - Alan Curbishley
The ex-West Ham boss believes the Cottagers have been playing without fear compared to their Championship counterparts


Alan Curbishley in his stint as West Ham manager

Alan Curbishley believes the play-off chasing sides have been fearing Fulham over recent weeks, while the Londoners themselves have been playing without fear or pressure.

The Cottagers moved into a play-off spot after beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday, with Leeds United dropping out of the top six on goal difference after defeat to Wolves.

Ryan Sessegnon, Sone Aluko and Neeskens Kebano scored the goals to sink the former Premier League side and the ex-Charlton and West Ham boss believes they will go on to secure a play-off spot come May 7.

He told Football on 5: "They've all been fearing Fulham, I think Fulham in seventh spot, picking up these results and now Fulham have jumped in there.

"You don't see them dropping out now and someone will have to come out now.

"They seem to be the only team playing without fear and I think Leeds have been gripped by a little bit of fear recently, same as Newcastle, and one or two others in there and it's going to go right to the wire."


http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-leeds-united-sheffield-12910680

WhiteJC

 
Sheff Weds On Sale

Tickets for Fulham's match with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough are now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Members.

Prices for the match are £39 adults and from £5 for juniors and the Club will be putting on subsidised coaches for this fixture, meaning you can travel to and from Sheffield for just £5.

There are two options; on the day (Sunday 7th May) from Craven Cottage or Motspur Park at 5.30am, or on the Saturday – from Craven Cottage only – at 11am.

Fans travelling the day before must source their own overnight accommodation, and will be dropped at the coach interchange in Sheffield. The coach will pick you up from the ground post-match.

You can book your coach tickets in person from the Ticket Office, or over the phone on 0843 208 1234 (option 2). Match tickets can be bought by these means, or online.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/april/19/sheff-weds-on-sale

WhiteJC

 
Report: Arsenal's move for Celtic or Fulham stars may depend on 27-year-old's decision on future

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Celtic's Kieran Tierney and Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon.

A report in the Daily Mirror has suggested that what Arsenal decide to do regarding their interest in Celtic's Kieran Tierney and Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham depends on what decision Kieran Gibbs comes to regarding his own future.

The Mirror reports that the Gunners are hopeful of winning the race to sign Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer after offering him a four-year deal.

But with Nacho Monreal on his way out of the Emirates at the end of the season, according to the Mirror, Gibbs' future could be crucial to deciding what Arsenal subsequently do in the window.

The Mirror adds that the 27-year-old has been offered a new contract, but with only one year left on his current deal (via transfermarkt) it would hardly be a surprise if the Gunners let him go if he turned down the deal after struggling for game-time this term.

And it appears that if Gibbs does decide to move on, Arsenal will intensify their interest in Tierney or Sessegnon, who have both enjoyed tremendous seasons with Celtic and Fulham respectively.

Tierney has already become a stalwart of the Hoops side that has been so dominant this season, while Sessegnon's progress is somehow even more startling with the 16-year-old already one of the most impressive full-backs in the Championship having helped the Cottagers into promotion contention.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/19/report-arsenals-move-for-celtic-or-fulham-stars-may-depend-on-27/


WhiteJC

 
Who really have the better fanbase: QPR or Fulham?

West London is home to one of the biggest teams in England with Chelsea currently holding the bragging rights but in QPR and Fulham, there are two other sides that continue to battle it out for the plaudits.

And with those two sides currently in the Championship, we want to take a look at the supporters from both teams and really work out who are the best.

In terms of supporter footfall, Craven Cottage sees around 18,600 fans attend games every weekend whilst numbers at Loftus Road are slightly lower, with around 14,300 turning out each week to watch Ian Holloway's QPR.

Fulham are often considered as one of the "nicer" clubs in London, with the mixed fan area behind the goal offering seats to those who don't follow either side, whilst the QPR faithful are battling to get back into the Premier League with attendances falling as the team remains in the second tier year-after-year.


https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/who-really-have-the-better-fanbase-qpr-or-fulham/

WhiteJC

 
Fulham transfer "would have been a dream" – Striker says club overruled manager

Stefan Kutschke would have signed for Fulham in 2014 had the club not taken the decision out of Felix Magath's hands, according to the player himself. The 28 year old striker was strongly linked with Fulham at the time, and a transfer nearly went through, but signing players wasn't down to Magath alone.

Speaking to German magazine SportBild, Kutschke was asked about the situation: "We had met in Berlin. Mr Magath was a coach at Fulham and wanted to have me. I was in London and looked at everything. That would have been a dream. But he could not decide on transfers alone. Instead of me they brought in a Scottish player from the second division. Too bad."

That Scottish player was Ross McCormack and it didn't work out too badly for Fulham. Over in Germany, Stefan Kutschke is now playing for Dynamo Dresden, a club he supports, so missing out on his Fulham dream had some benefit in the end.

This is Dynamo Dresden's first season back in Bundesliga 2. They're not doing badly at all, helped by 18 Kutschke goals. Currently in fifth place, Dynamo will look to kick on and aim for a return to the big time as soon as possible.


http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-transfer-dream-striker-says-club-overruled-manager/

WhiteJC

 
McDonald: Fully Deserved

Kevin McDonald took pride in the professional nature of Fulham's performance on Easter Monday.

The Whites saw off Aston Villa 3-1 at Craven Cottage to make it maximum points from the long weekend, and the anchor man was satisfied with how his team went about it.


"Without being amazing I thought we were really professional," he told fulhamfc.com. "We didn't force things, we kept the ball when we needed to, we attacked when we needed to, and I thought it was all in all a good performance.

"To get six points out of our last two games, we've done so well and fully deserved the six points. We'll go again come Saturday in what's another really tough game, probably one of the toughest to play, but we're on a really good spell and we'll be fully confident going into that."

Whereas Fulham had a man sent off in the first half on Good Friday, it was the other way round three days later when Villa's Jonathan Kodjia was dismissed.

"I think we realised what a great chance we had when they went down to 10 men," McDonald stated. "They're obviously a good team and they'll be strong next season, but it was such a good chance for us.

"Even 11-v-11 we fancied ourselves massively, but 11-v-10 we fancied ourselves even more. Our heads could have dropped when they equalised but we know what's on the line and I thought we were really professional.


"We put ourselves under a little bit of pressure when they equalised through a great goal, but we fully deserved the points. I think we've shown in our performances recently that we deserve to be where we are."

Fulham's top-six quest was aided by Wolverhampton Wanderers' win at Elland Road. And while McDonald was obviously pleased his former colleagues did his new side a favour, he wasn't surprised by it.

"I really thought that if anyone was going to do Leeds at home it was going to be Wolves," he explained. "They're strong away from home, they showed it here against us, and they've obviously done the same again at Leeds. They've done us a massive bonus so I gave them a text saying thanks very much!

"There's so many twists and turns, in this Championship anything can happen, but we've put ourselves in there and given ourselves a great chance.

"It might come down to the last game of the season, it might be done before then, but as long as we're in there that's all that matters."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/april/19/kevin-mcdonald-fully-deserved


WhiteJC

 
Tottenham should forget about Bruma; Ryan Sessegnon is a much better prospect

If Tottenham Hotspur really want to sign a new left-sided player they should forget about the Portuguese player and focus on the Fulham teenager.

Shortly after reports that Tottenham Hotspur had agreed a summer deal for Galatasaray winger Bruma, the Turkish side released a statement on their website throwing cold water on the claim, and in truth there is a far better option for Spurs in the form of Ryan Sessegnon.

According to a recent report in the Daily Mail, Tottenham are very keen on the Fulham youngster, who has shot to prominence this season despite being only 16.

He may predominantly be a left-back but Sessegnon has all the attributes to be a successful winger, as he proved with a two-goal haul against Newcastle United earlier this season.

He further reinforced his credentials with another goal in Fulham's 3-1 win against Aston Villa earlier this week and with five goals, two assists and a string of superb showings so far this season, his class is clear for all to see.

In contrast Bruma is 22 and is still struggling to perform on a consistent basis.

He has been touted as the next big thing for years now and while eight goals and eight assists this season is a decent return, Sessegnon has the ability to surpass the Portuguese youngster in no time.

Sessegnon will not come cheap and much may depend on what division Fulham find themselves in next season, but Tottenham should forget about Bruma and target a player six years his junior but already his equal.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/19/tottenham-should-forget-about-bruma-ryan-sessegnon-is-a-much-bet/

WhiteJC

 
Tickets Selling Fast

Tickets for Fulham's away matches at Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday are selling fast.

The Whites faithful have been keen to show their support for the team as we continue on our top-six quest, with more than 1,500 tickets for our match at Hillsborough being sold within six hours of going on sale.

The Club has subsidised coaches for this fixture, with £5 return tickets available, and the option of departing on either the Saturday or the Sunday.

This coach offer is also available for this weekend's trip to the John Smith's Stadium, making it a cheap day out to Follow Fulham Away, with match tickets priced at just £20.

A limited number of tickets remain for our meeting with Huddersfield, so order yours today to avoid disappointment. Tickets are no longer available to buy online for this fixture, so visit or call the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 to secure your seat.

Your support has been crucial this season, so get behind the boys as they tackle the final hurdles – COYW!!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/april/19/tickets-selling-fast

WhiteJC

 
West Ham cannot miss the opportunity to sign Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon this summer

West Ham United should make every attempt to sign the Fulham youngster.

The Hammers have endured a woeful campaign in the Premier League this season, after their disastrous recruitment drive during the summer transfer window in 2016.

Both Slaven Bilic and the board have a long way to go to make up for their past failures, and a good start would be for them to target highly talented youngsters in the summer, rather than making the same mistakes again by signing washed up has-beens, based on their name alone, rather than what they could actually bring to the club.

And a fantastic option for West Ham would be Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon.

The 16-year-old has been heavily linked with the Craven Cottage exit door recently, with Tottenham Hotspur rumoured to be extremely keen on signing him (Evening Standard).

The Hammers should intervene, however, and go all out to sign the supremely talented teenager, especially with first choice left-back Aaron Cresswell's concerning regression this season.

The Fulham man should not just be viewed as competition for the 27-year-old though. He is wonderfully versatile, and has displayed his attacking qualities on numerous occasions this term, scoring seven goals and chipping in with two assists in 27 appearances for Slavisa Jokanovic's side.

He would be a great asset for the Hammers in the wide attacking areas, with Robert Snodgrass failing to deliver since making his January switch to the club.

Whilst it will not be easy to compete with the likes of Tottenham for Sessegnon, the East London outfit do have the advantage of being able to offer the young star more opportunities for regular first-team football.

There is little doubt that if the 16-year-old continues to progress along the trajectory in which he has done so far throughout his fledgling career, he will become one of the best players in the world.

And West Ham could secure themselves a real superstar in the making by making a strong push for the Fulham man this summer.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/19/west-ham-cannot-miss-the-opportunity-to-sign-fulhams-ryan-sesseg/


WhiteJC

 
Ryan Sessegnon to sign professional contract with Fulham when he turns 17 in May

    Ryan Sessegnon has scored five goals in 27 appearances for Fulham this season
    The 16-year-old has attracted interest from a number of Premier League sides
    The left back is set to put pen to paper on a professional deal at Fulham 

Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon will put pen to paper on a professional contract with the promotion-chasing Championship club next month.

Sessegnon, who turns 17 on May 18, has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham. Both Manchester clubs have watched the talented teenager too.

Him signing a deal with Fulham is unlikely to put off the Premier League's giants ahead of this summer. Fulham will, however, demand a large fee for their starlet if they do sell.


Ryan Sessegnon scored the opener for Fulham against Aston Villa on Monday


The 16-year-old has attracted a lot of interest from Premier League sides this season


The 16-year-old is currently on a scholarship contract and has appeared 27 times in all competitions this season, scoring seven goals.

Sessegnon got the opener in their game against Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Monday, which Fulham won 3-1 to leave them sitting sixth in the Championship.

Fulham have games against Huddersfield, Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday left as they look to beat Leeds to the last play-off place.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4426296/Ryan-Sessegnon-sign-professional-contract-Fulham.html#ixzz4eltBIhk7
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

WhiteJC

 
Ian Holloway could give QPR edge over Fulham in pursuit of Aiden O'Brien

Millwall's sparky striker Aiden O'Brien made his name under Ian Holloway at The Den - no wonder QPR are reportedly challenging Fulham.

While Steve Morison and Lee Gregory do their best impression of the retro 'big man, little man' strike partnership at Millwall, the contribution made by the equally excellent Aiden O'Brien has gone under the radar in some quarters.

Yet, according to The Sun in December, the 23-year-old still has a number of Championship suitors to show for a fine season in the Lions' Den.

However, reported interest from Fulham and QPR may have been questioned after O'Brien endured a slow start to the New Year, netting just once in 16 games between early January and late March. Although his recent return to form could hardly be better timed with Millwall making a late surge into the League One play-off places.

O'Brien produced one of his most influential performances of the season in the Good Friday cruise against Northampton, thumping home the first and setting up Jed Wallace for the third in a 3-0 win to demonstrate both his goalscoring and creative chops.

Therefore, you could understand scouts from Fulham and QPR making more trips to their London rivals in the final weeks of the season. Slavisa Jokanovic's Cottagers hardly appear in need of attacking reinforcements, boasting the most goals of any team in the Championship.

However, with doubts surrounding the future of on-loan Derby County frontman Chris Martin and in-demand wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon, that may change quickly.

Yet, QPR would appear to have the upper hand in any potential summer deal. According to Sky Sports in 2014, O'Brien was handed a new two-year deal by then Millwall boss Ian Holloway, with the manager rating the youngster extremely highly.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/19/ian-holloway-would-give-qpr-edge-over-fulham-in-pursuit-of-aiden/

WhiteJC

 
Ross McCormack has surgery to remove FIVE cysts from his jaw and writes off season at Nottingham Forest

    Ross McCormack had a three-hour operation in Glasgow to remove the cysts
    They were caused by an infection his mouth an operated on a fortnight ago
    The 30-year-old McCormack is on loan at Nottingham Forest from Aston Villa

Ross McCormack has written off his troubled season following an achilles injury and surgery to remove five cysts from his jaw.

The Aston Villa striker is on loan at Nottingham Forest, though he has not been at training for three weeks.

The 30-year-old, a £12.5million signing for Villa from Fulham last summer, needs an injection in his injured achilles and endured a three-hour operation in Glasgow a fortnight ago to remove the cysts which were caused by an infection in his mouth.

   
Ross McCormack needed surgery to remove five cysts from his face, caused by an infection

As Sportsmail's exclusive pictures show, McCormack has significant facial swelling and doctors have advised him not to train for 10 to 14 days. Forest have been supportive of the Scotland player but, with his achilles also needing rest, McCormack believes he has played his last game of the campaign.

'It's been a freakish couple of weeks in what has been an abnormal season for me,' McCormack told Sportsmail. 'Forest have been good with me. I wanted to help them but the doctors have advised that I avoid contact in training and rest up.

'I'm not used to seasons where I don't play a lot of games and don't get my goals. I desperately want to get back to that. The move to Villa did not start as planned but hopefully I can get myself sorted and come back in the summer nice and fresh.'

McCormack had scored only three goals for Villa, after hitting 23 for Fulham last season, before a fallout with manager Steve Bruce.

He failed to report for training after insisting the electric gates at his home were stuck, prompting Bruce to exile him from the squad. Villa will look to sell McCormack in the summer after he was loaned to Forest in January.

He scored on his Forest debut against Norwich, but will now sit out crucial games against Reading, QPR and Ipswich as his club fight relegation.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4425918/Ross-McCormack-surgery-remove-FIVE-cysts.html#ixzz4eluruSBt
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook


WhiteJC

 
Tom Smith To Start – Strongest 4-2-3-1 Huddersfield Line-Up To Face Fulham

Predicted Huddersfield Lineup To Face Fulham

Huddersfield have Newcastle in their sights once again and believe that they can overhaul the Geordies, and claim 2nd place and with it, an automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Yorkshire outfit suffered a late blow on Monday, when Derby managed an 88th minute equaliser, costing the Terriers a vital 2 points. Reaching the playoffs is quite a feat for David Wagner's men, but it would leave them in a very tricky position.

They've had to put everything they've got into this league campaign and it looks like they are just running out of steam somewhat. Going up against the likes of Leeds, Reading or perhaps this weekend's opposition Fulham could be quite a task come May.

They need another massive effort against a talented Fulham side who are on the up, so Wagner may freshen things up by re-introducing Tom Smith and Nahki Wells.

Possible Huddersfield XI:
Manager: David Wagner
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK – Danny Ward

The Welsh international stopper has kept 10 clean sheets this season in the league and will probably need another one here.
RB – Tom Smith

The very talented attacking right-back came off the bench last time and should start on this occasion.
CB – Michael Hefele

The big German has been a major positive for Huddersfield this season and will once again be crucial during set pieces.
CB – Christopher Schindler

The former 1860 Munich man is another mainstay and will line up next to his countryman.
LB – Chris Lowe

Providing 1 goal and 4 assists so far, Lowe's threat down the left is important on a day when the midfield may well stay very narrow.
CM – Dean Whitehead

The veteran midfielder partnered Mooy last time out and might play again here. A full 90 minutes maybe?
CM – Aaron Mooy

The personification of a box-to-box midfielder, Mooy's record of 4 goals and 6 assists is impressive but not really what is required this time. His ball-winning and passing ability will be much more important against Fulham.
RW – Joe Lolley

Although he was replaced at Derby, the young winger can try again to impress. Should start the game.
CAM – Elias Kachunga

Wagner is insistent on playing German players and you can see why. Kachunga is another player with serious talent and will look to add to his 12 goals for the season.
LW – Rajiv van La Parra

Goals have seriously been lacking from his game this season. Nevertheless, he has talent and can force his way into the side once more.
ST – Nahki Wells

Came off the bench to replace van La Parra last time, but may get the nod up front on this occasion, though it may be a little harsh on goal scorer Collin Quaner.


http://soccersouls.com/2017/04/20/tom-smith-to-start-strongest-4-2-3-1-huddersfield-line-up-to-face-fulham/

WhiteJC

 
Go For It Paul Lambert – This £3.83m Derby Ace Could Be A Shrewd Signing For Wolves In The Summer

Chris Martin Would Be A Great Addition For Wolverhampton And Here's Why

Currently on loan at Fulham, striker Chris Martin will become a free agent at the end of this season when his contract expires at Derby County.

It's taken a while for the talented forward to reach the levels he is capable of. Martin had spells in the lowers leagues with Luton and Norwich, though his climb came with the Carrow Road club being promoted to the Championship in 2010.

Back then he didn't really flourish at this level and was loaned to Crystal Palace and then Swindon, before he found his footing at Derby County. 52 goals followed for the East Midlanders before finding himself out of favour once more, leading to his current loan spell at Craven Cottage.

With a new manager in Gary Rowett on the scene, it is possible that Martin might be wanted at Pride Park, though it is more likely that he'll be seeking a new challenge. Plenty would benefit from the 28-year-old's talents; he's now passed double figures for goals for the fourth time, with his best being a 22-goal haul for Derby in 2013/14.

Wolves need a proper no.9 as Andreas Weimann is just not cutting the mustard in that position and other players who would perhaps be more comfortable in deeper or wider areas filling in that position. This is where Martin comes in.

Martin is what fans call a 'proper centre-forward'. 6 feet tall and having no issues with the hustle and bustle of competitive league football; his main attributes go beyond finishing. Martin is the type of player who brings other people into play. Occupying the centre-backs for a full 90 minutes is a big part of Martin's game and without that, other players often cannot find space.

Imagine the £3.83m rated striker up front for Wolves; winning headers, throwing in the odd arm when needed and generally taking care of central defenders. This would allow the likes of Weimann and Helder Costa to thrive by running into space and providing the goals.

It must also be remembered that Chris Martin is capable of 20+ goals if the need arises to throw him up front with two old fashioned wingers in the side providing crosses. However, in a modern 4-2-3-1 system, his job will be to provide a buffer for the other attackers in the side.

Should Wolves sign the Scotland international, they must remember that getting 10 or more goals out of him will be enough. His true worth can be measured by how well Marshall, Costa, Cavaleiro and Dicko play around him.


http://soccersouls.com/2017/04/20/go-for-it-paul-lambert-this-3-83m-derby-ace-could-be-a-shrewd-signing-for-wolves-in-the-summer/

WhiteJC

 
Leeds United: Three wins required to make sure of play-offs – Lee Sobot


Championship play-off run-in

EIGHTY POINTS.

Hard to grasp that Leeds United could accumulate such a total and still miss out on a Championship play-off place on goal difference.

Yet that could be the reality if United's play-off rivals maintain their winning streaks and Fulham share a final day draw with visiting Sheffield Wednesday. Sounds unlikely, but principal rivals Fulham have won their last three games and four of their last five. Yet Leeds can at least take comfort knowing that the Cottagers have an extremely difficult run-in and that in any case their destiny remains in their own hands. However Fulham, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading and even Huddersfield Town fare, United know that three wins from their final three games will seal the club's first appearance in the Championship play-offs since 2006.

Seventy-five points was enough to seal a play-off place in that particular season – with Crystal Palace finishing sixth – as United ended the regular campaign with 78 points. Even two more points would take United to Palace's 2006 tally and an even smaller total of 74 points was enough to seal Sheffield Wednesday's appearance in the play-offs last term. But it is already abundantly clear that something out of the ordinary is likely to be needed in 2016-17 though the final-day fixtures could be United's saving grace.

A miserable Easter Monday jettisoned Leeds out of the play-off places for the first time since November as a 1-0 loss at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers saw the Whites drop from fifth to seventh. Winger Kemar Roofe insisted after the previous weekend's 3-0 win at home to Preston that he rarely looked at the league table – and didn't even know where United were sitting in the Championship ladder. "If you asked me I don't even know where we are in the league," said the winger. "It doesn't bother us, we just take it game by game and just get the three points." But rest assured, Monday's other results would have been the first port of call after departing the Elland Road pitch against Wolves and, not for the first time this season, nearly all of United's play-off rivals won.

Third-placed Huddersfield Town might have been denied victory in a 1-1 draw at Derby County but Fulham's 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa coupled with Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 triumph at QPR was essentially worst-case scenario for Leeds – especially with Reading also being 2-1 victors at home to Rotherham United. Similar sets of results over the next three weekends will mean that United miss out on a play-off place even if taking seven points from their last three games. Wolves missed out in a similar fashion in 2014-15, when a tally of 78 points was only enough to finish seventh as Ipswich Town pipped the Molineux club on goal difference. Yet only 72 points proved enough for sixth-placed Brighton the previous year. The Championship is an unpredictable beast and Leeds are bidding to escape it when English football's second tier is evidently at its strongest. Yet even Fulham would do well to maintain perfect winning ways from their final three games with the Cottagers' run-in suggesting that Leeds might not need nine more points to secure their place in the top six.

This coming Saturday could be pivotal as ,on a day when United visit sixth-bottom Burton Albion, who themselves face their own battle to stay up, Fulham visit a fourth-placed Huddersfield Town side who are still in with an outside shout of sealing automatic promotion, never mind a play-off place. That said, even faltering Newcastle ought to be able to gain the six points that would guarantee their second-place finish from their remaining fixtures which see home clashes with Preston North End and Barnsley sandwiched by an away day at Cardiff City. But the motivation for Huddersfield is nonetheless crystal clear and the Terriers have lost only four out of 15 games at the Galpharm this season, though Burton managed a 1-0 victory in Town's back yard on April Fool's Day. Even if the Cottagers do bag all three points in West Yorkshire, the following weekend's home clash with Dean Smith's Brentford side is no 'gimme' considering that the Bees have won four of their last six. And then comes the final day trip to Sheffield Wednesday, who will have had a home clash with Derby County and an away day at Ipswich Town to contend with before. The Owls, though, already have two points in the can on Leeds and are subsequently as short as 1-5 to finish in the play-offs, though it should be stressed that Leeds were 1-16 for a top-six finish a few weeks ago when the Whites held an eight-point buffer. The form of Fulham and Wednesday in particular has that gap wiped out leaving Leeds with a tricky conundrum with three games left. Even Reading and Huddersfield have yet to guarantee their play-off places but the Royals are 1-200 with the bookmakers while the Terriers are 1-50. Four points would seal the deal for Reading who have the 'easiest' run-in of the play-offs chasers with Saturday's visit to relegation-battling Nottingham Forest followed by a home clash with surely-doomed Wigan Athletic and a final-day trip to Burton. Jaap Stam's side are virtually home and hosed and similar comments will likely very soon apply to Huddersfield who need five more points to seal their top-six finish. Saturday's clash with Fulham is followed by a Tuesday-night trip to Wolves and the visit to Harry Redknapp's Birmingham City the following weekend. The Terriers then entertain Cardiff City on the final day and, given that Wednesday are already two points clear of Fulham and Leeds, it is no surprise that the bookmakers essentially view the race to finish sixth as a two-horse one. Fulham are slight favourites at 4-6 and Leeds 8-11. Yet, for Leeds, three fixtures clearly stand out head and shoulders above the rest – their own. Burton Albion away, Norwich City at home and Wigan away. Rather than getting the calculators out, Garry Monk's message is likely to be this – win them all and the Whites will be in the play-offs, regardless of what happens elsewhere. Leeds have netted three straight league wins on two different occasions this term – in September and December – when home victories against Reading and Brentford were backed up by a 4-1 success at Preston on Boxing Day. Given the red-hot form of the Cottagers, now would be a very good time to repeat the dose.



Read more at: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-three-wins-required-to-make-sure-of-play-offs-lee-sobot-1-8501369


WhiteJC

 
Leeds beware: Fulham have a secret agent ready to harm their play-off tilt

Fulham's Cauley Woodrow takes on Leeds this weekend with Burton Albion.

For the first time in 2017, Fulham are looking down in the table at Leeds United who have slipped outside the play-off places.

Leeds have three games to rescue their season, knowing that victories in all three will secure a top six spot with Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday facing off on the last day of the season.

The first comes this weekend against Burton Albion, a game in which Fulham have their own inside man who will be attempting to do the west London club a favour.

Striker Cauley Woodrow is on loan at the Brewers, and has netted four goals since joining in late January.

Woodrow's goals have come in big games, against Wolves, Norwich, Nottingham Forest and against Fulham's local rivals Brentford.

The 22-year-old forward has started Burton's last two games and is in line to feature this weekend, along with ex-Leeds forward Luke Varney.

The bad news for Woodrow is none of his four goals have come in his last four appearances, but Fulham will be desperately hoping he can add a fifth to his tally this weekend and damage a key rival's play-off hopes.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/19/leeds-beware-fulham-have-a-secret-agent-ready-to-harm-their-play/

westcliff white

Chris Martin is not a free agent at the end of the season, he had one year left at Derby and ha snow extended that stay.
Every day is a Fulham day