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Sunday Fulham Stuff (23/04/17)...

Started by WhiteJC, April 23, 2017, 07:38:30 AM

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WhiteJC

 
Results















Friday
Norwich
2 - 0 Brighton
Saturday
Brentford
3 - 1 QPR
Bristol City
3 - 2 Barnsley
Burton
2 - 1 Leeds
Huddersfield
1 - 4 Fulham
Nottm Forest
3 - 2 Reading
Rotherham
1 - 0 Ipswich
Sheff Wed
2 - 1 Derby
Wigan
0 - 0 Cardiff
Wolves
0 - 0 Blackburn

WhiteJC

 
Fulham thrash Huddersfield again to boost play-off bid


Huddersfield Town 1 Fulham 4




A first-half goal blitz saw Fulham recover from an early setback to secure a mightily impressive victory which keeps them on course for a play-off spot.

Facing a Huddersfield side above them in the table, and still with an outside shot of automatic promotion, the Whites scored four times in less than half an hour to have the game wrapped up by half-time.

They had fallen behind in the opening minutes when Floyd Ayite fouled Chris Lowe in the box – and the German full-back converted the spot-kick himself.

His opposite number at Fulham, Scott Malone, equalised on the quarter-hour mark when his shot went in at the near post.

And with not quite 20 minutes on the clock, the Whites had completed the turnaround, Ayite atoning for his earlier error by winning the penalty from which Tom Cairney fired the Whites in front.

Stefan Johansen then took centre stage, scoring twice more before the break as Fulham – who beat Huddersfield 5-0 at Craven Cottage earlier in the season – threatened another rampage.

He first slotted past Terriers keeper Danny Ward after Ryan Sessegnon's shot had been blocked and later dispossessed Jonathan Hogg before driving on to score.

The Terriers did carry a threat of their own, with Christopher Schindler and Philip Billing both nodding just wide.

They also had chances in the second half, with Rajiv van la Parra curling wide and Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli twice denying Collin Quaner, with Sessegnon forcing Ward into a save at the other end.

Another defeat for Leeds further boosted Fulham's play-off hopes – they now need just one more win to virtually guarantee a place in the promotion shake-up.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks (Odoi 46), Kalas, Ream, Malone; McDonald, Johansen (Kebano 86); Ayite, Cairney, Sessegnon; Aluko (Piazon 76).
Subs not used: Button, Sigurdsson, Parker, Cyriac.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-thrash-huddersfield-again-to-boost-play-off-bid

WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield Town 1 - 4 Fulham


Scott Malone started the Fulham comeback

Fulham came from behind to score four first-half goals and thrash play-off rivals Huddersfield, moving them to within two points of their opponents.

The hosts led when Chris Lowe drilled in from the spot after the defender was brought down in the box by Floyd Ayite.

But in a five-minute spell Scott Malone levelled from a tight angle and Tom Cairney's penalty put Fulham ahead.

Stefan Johansen fired in a rebound to make it 3-1 and the Norwegian robbed Jonathan Hogg to complete the scoring.

A win for Huddersfield would have sealed their play-off place but they remain five points clear of seventh-placed Leeds, who were beaten at Burton.

Fulham, the Championship's top scorers, also benefitted from Leeds' slip-up as Slavisa Jokanovic's side now have a three-point buffer in sixth.

Ayite, who conceded a penalty for the opener, won the spot-kick which put the Cottagers in front as he was felled by Hogg.

A less eventful second half saw Rajiv van La Parra curl wide for the Terriers, while Collin Quaner was denied by Marcus Bettinelli when through one-on-one.

David Wagner's side have now gone 11 games against Fulham without winning, while seven of Huddersfield's 13 league defeats have come against sides currently occupying the top six.

Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner: "It's still in our own hands and we have three games left. We have shown unbelievable consistency all season and we have been in the top six virtually the whole season. In my opinion we have been the most consistent team in this division so far.

"Fulham are a great side and deserved their win but we played a big part with the errors we made. Defeat hurts, of course, but I have been able to trust the players who made mistakes over the whole season and we move on.

"The start we made probably cost us as we lost focus and concentration and against a team like Fulham you need to focus. To move on you have to know why you lost and we know why we lost."

Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic: "I am very happy at how we are at this time. We are solid and this is important for us. To win 4-1 is a great result but perhaps I miss the clean sheet.

"The team showed great character and confidence and we were very brave. We scored four goals but it could have been more. Our standards are improving and this is exactly what we have to do.

"I am not looking at the table. I am only thinking about the next game. Now we need to rest and concentrate on the regular part of this competition."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39605558


WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield 1-4 Fulham: Stefan Johansen scores first-half double as Fulham strengthen their playoff hopes in typically free-scoring style

    Fulham came from behind to beat Huddersfield 4-1 at the John Smith's Stadium
    David Wagner's side took the lead with a fourth-minute penalty from Chris Lowe
    Scott Malone equalised before Tom Cairney put Fulham ahead after 20 minutes
    Stefan Johansen doubled the visitors' lead nine minutes before half-time
    Johansen scored his second of the first-half to put his side 4-1 up at the break

Fulham strengthened their top-six position and delivered a psychological blow to one of their potential Championship play-off opponents with a typically free-scoring win.

The four-goal dispatch moved the London club to within two points of Huddersfield – and also offers Newcastle the opportunity to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League with a win over Preston on Monday evening.

And it confirmed Slavisa Jokanovic's men as the form team of the second tier at the business end of the season.


A brace from Stefan Johansen (right) helped Fulham come from behind to beat Huddersfield


Chris Lowe's penalty put Huddersfield in front after four minutes at the John Smith's Stadium


Lowe celebrates his opening goal which gave the home side the perfect start on Saturday


Huddersfield's lead lasted only 12 minutes however, with Scott Malone levelling the scores


Despite selling Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele - their leading marksmen in 2015-16 - last summer, they are the division's top scorers, and a team churning out victories with ease.

This, their 10th in 15 attempts, was done and dusted halfway through despite a horror start.

Huddersfield were handed the perfect start when left-back Chris Lowe surged upfield and was felled in the area by Floyd Ayite, the Fulham man tracking back.

There were no protests from the visitors, who trailed seconds later when Lowe took the kick himself and slotted beyond Marcus Bettinelli's dive.

It was not only the lead that Huddersfield held in the early stages of the contest. They also monopolised possession against a team that has enjoyed the ball more than any other in the Championship.

And for the opening quarter hour it appeared that Fulham were on course to fall out of the play-off spots in the same week they punctuated them.


Malone's first-half goal was his sixth in 37 appearances for Slavisa Jokanovic's side this season


Tom Cairney's penalty after 20 minutes put the visitors ahead at the John Smiths Stadium


Cairney's 11th league goal of the season took him ahead of Chris Martin as Fulham's top scorer


However, once Fulham got into their stride they totally over-ran their higher-placed opponents.

Sone Aluko displayed some sublime touches around the area and although his first couple of flicks and threads came to nothing, it was not long before they began to pay dividends.

Moments after Ryan Sessegnon hoisted over the top following a jinking run and centre from Johansen, Aluko was involved centrally once again and the ball broke invitingly for the anticipating Scott Malone, who took it in his stride and deposited low into the far corner.

Then, within seconds of surviving Huddersfield's riposte to their equaliser – Christopher Schindler heading Aaron Mooy's corner wide – Fulham turned the game on its head.

Ayite, the transgressor in the first penalty incident, then turned hero at the other when his aggressive burst was interrupted by Jonathan Hogg.

Tom Cairney calmly converted his 11th league goal of the season, to move ahead of suspended striker Chris Martin as the club's joint-top scorer.

That honour was short-lived, however, as Stefan Johansen's quickfire double provided Fulham with a gaping advantage at the break.


Midfielder Johansen doubled Fulham's lead with nine minutes still to play in the first half


The Norwegian doubled his tally for the afternoon to put the game to bed before half-time


Huddersfield manager David Wagner greets his Fulham counterpart, Jokanovic before kick-off



First, the Norwegian playmaker arrived on cue to round off a stunning break from Slavisa Jokanovic's team.

Aluko was bumped this way and that on the byline in front of the dugouts but somehow wriggled out of the traffic to instigate another attack, and when Sessegnon's attempt from 20 yards was blocked it rebounded into the path of Johansen whose drive flew past Danny Ward.

That took him into double figures for the campaign, and he was soon gifted number 11 when Hogg laboured on the ball in front of the back four.

Johansen stole it off him and slotted past the advancing Ward to jeers from the home support at the John Smith's Stadium.

Any lingering hope David Wagner's team had of getting back into the contest vanished with their failure to convert one of two fine chances either side of half-time.

Philip Billing, their giant German midfielder, rose highest to glance a header agonisingly wide from a Lowe corner and then Rajiv van la Parra also grazed the upright with a curling effort shortly after the re-start.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4435356/Huddersfield-1-4-Fulham-Stefan-Johansen-nets-double.html#ixzz4f3Lx4e1n
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield Town 1-4 Fulham Player Ratings: Stefan Johansen is the two-goal hero in Yorkshire
Fulham put on a stunning first half show to beat play-off rivals Huddersfield 4-1 in their own back yard


Goal time: Tom Cairney celebrates (Photo: John Rushworth/ PhotoEye.co.uk)

Two goals from Stefan Johansen and further goals from Tom Cairney and Scott Malone helped Fulham put on a show as they battered Huddersfield 4-1 at the John Smith's Stadium.

Slavisa Jokanovic chose the same team that brushed aside Aston Villa on Easter Monday, with Ryan Sessegnon keeping his place in the side after bagging his seventh goal of the season in the win.

Huddersfield had a ferocious start and got themselves ahead within five minutes when Floyd Ayite tripped Chris Lowe as he charged into the box - the man who was fouled stepped up and slotted the ball into the right corner despite Marcus Bettinelli guessing correctly.

But Fulham got level when some lovely intricate football on the edge of the area saw Malone break free and behind his man before he slotted the ball into the bottom corner with just under 20 minutes played.

It was only minutes later than Fulham were ahead when Ayite was fouled in the box by Jonathan Hogg - Cairney stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slotted it home to give the away side a 2-1 lead.

Johansen made it three after 35 minutes when Aluko roasted two Huddersfield men with one swift dragback of his foot, with Sessegnon's shot rebounding to Johansen who slotted the ball into the same corner as Malone.

The Norwegian got his second and Fulham's fourth when he nicked the ball off Hogg at the back and slotted it past Ward to send the travelling fans into dreamland.

The second half was a lot quieter, but Sessegnon should've made it five when Cairney played him through one on one, but the youngster hit the ball right at Ward.

Bettinelli 7: Had a fairly quiet game but looked commanding in and around his box with a number of strong punches and catches to relieve pressure on the back four.

Fredericks 7: Had a good half but was taken off at half time as a result of his yellow, and he was lucky not to have seen red for a second yellow late in the first. Was good going forward again but Slavisa Jokanovic put the team first when subbing him.

Malone 8: Scored another great goal when he got round the back of his man to slot the ball past Ward to drag Fulham level. Did his defensive duties well in the second half and competed well with Scannell out on the left.

McDonald 8: Had a decent game but was caught out early on by the relentless pressure that Huddersfield exerted on the Fulham midfield. Grew in stature and once again marshaled the back four, keeping Aaron Mooy fairly quiet.

Cairney 8: Huddersfield tried to press the midfield and it worked in the first ten, but after that Cairney was able to exploit the space left by the three men tasked with closing his space down to devastating effect.

Ayite 8: His movements caused so many problems for Huddersfield back four in the first half and played a part in the opening two goals. Still looked to get involved in the second half despite not seeing as much of the ball and looked Fulham's biggest threat going forward.

Ream 7: Another solid game from the centre back who did well to help weather the early pressure that Huddersfield put on Fulham. Stayed strong in the second half after the introduction of Sean Scannell and Isaiah Brown.

Johansen 9: Bagged two goals in the first half, the second coming after he has chased down Hogg to win the ball. Was another of the Norwegian's great performance in midfield, winning the ball and getting forward. Hobbled off with only minutes left which will be a worry.

Aluko 7: Displayed some lovely touches yet again and roasted two Huddersfield defenders to set up Fulham's third goal. Was quieter in the second half as Huddersfield controlled more of the game ans was subbed for Lucas Piazon with 14 minutes left.

Kalas 7: A last ditch tackle in the first half denied the hosts what was to be a certain goal and you have to credit his marking. Worked well once again with Ream to snuff out the threat of Scannell and Brown in the second half.

Sessegnon 7: Tracked back and put in a fantastic goal saving tackle on Tommy Smith just after the Cottagers had taken the lead. Should've scored Fulham's fifth early in the second half but another solid game from the youngster.

Subs:
Odoi 6: A clever sub by Jokanovic, although Odoi was booked early in the second - something the referee got completely wrong in my books. You could tell he was only returning from injury a looked a yard off the pace of his team mates.

Piazon 6: Didn't have too much time to have any influence on the game.

Kebano N/A: Replaced the injured Johansen with only minutes left in the game.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/huddersfield-town-1-4-fulham-12928985

WhiteJC

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was pleased with the reaction shown by his team as they came from behind to comfortably defeat Huddersfield Town.

The Whites found themselves trailing early on at the John Smith's Stadium, but four first half goals turned the game on its head and earned a huge win in the race for the Play-Offs.


"We conceded an early goal but this team showed great character and confidence and started to be braver and stronger," Jokanović explained. "We scored four goals in the first 45 minutes and managed the game to finish with the three points.

"We were organised very well and we created a few chances [in the second half]. We tried to manage the situation and my players understand. In the second half we did exactly what we had to do.

"I am very happy with how solid we are. I missed a clean sheet today. This is important for us. Okay, 4-1 is nice, a great result, but sometimes I miss 1-0 and I think maybe in the future I'll be a little bit more lucky.

"We are in a good mental moment. We believe we can play good football and compete very well."

Leeds United's defeat at Burton Albion was a favourable result for Fulham, but Jokanović insists he is not looking at how the teams around us are getting on.

"No, I am thinking only about Brentford, our next game," he stated. "Two games are in front of us and anything can happen.

"It's not time to look at the table, it's time to rest our bodies and rest our minds and be fresh and push in the last two games in this regular part of the competition.

"I have enough experience in the Championship to know many strange things can happen. We cannot relax and think everything is done."

Stefan Johansen netted Fulham's final two goals of the afternoon, which Jokanović – who is confident he'll have the midfielder available for Brentford after limping off – says was just reward for his tireless running.

"Stefan did a fantastic job for the team," he said. "He's working hard, pushing and pressing very well, and he benefitted from this by scoring two goals. I'm happy with him and I'm happy with my team, which is more important."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/april/22/head-coach-reaction


WhiteJC


Stefan Johansen's double caps stunning Fulham win at Huddersfield

A scoreline to prompt delight on the banks of the Thames and Tyne alike, perhaps, but it brought dismay in the shadow of the Pennines. "What's going on?" came a plaintive cry from the Revell Ward Stand, bemusement greeting Fulham's brilliance as Huddersfield, imperious at home for much of this season, found themselves 4-1 down before the break. The day they could have guaranteed a play-off place produced disappointment, mitigated only by Leeds's loss which means they still require two points to clinch a top-six finish.

"This club was waiting 45 years for a situation like we have at the minute," said the Huddersfield manager, David Wagner, seeking to restore an air of optimism and laughing off questions about automatic promotion. Yet his team may have eased Newcastle's passage back to the Premier League. Beat Preston on Monday and Rafa Benítez's side will be up. They could be joined by Fulham. Tenth in early February, Slavisa Jokanovic's team capped their well-timed surge with a stunning response to a fourth-minute deficit. They eviscerated Huddersfield with their excellence. They scored four; it could have been more.

They have momentum, that most priceless of qualities. "My team starts to believe they are a good football team," said Jokanovic wryly. "I believe many months ago but they start to trust now." As others feel the pressure, Fulham play with flair and freedom. They have 13 goals in four games, 36 in 15. They are the division's most prolific team, which is all the more remarkable as they were stripped of last season's 36-goal strike partnership of Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembélé. Now the many goals are shared around. In the absence of the suspended top scorer Chris Martin, Stefan Johansen assumed that mantle with two goals. Tom Cairney's penalty means arguably the classiest central midfielder in the division is definitely the most productive. Scott Malone added a sixth of the campaign from left-back.

He and the precocious Ryan Sessegnon, who would have scored but for a fine save from Danny Ward, gave Huddersfield a traumatic time on their right flank. The teenager was a captivating presence but if anyone epitomised Fulham, it was Floyd Ayité, and not merely because he lent pace and incision. The Togolese winger was culpable when they went behind. He made amends swiftly and emphatically. A man who gave a penalty away won one after a redemptive solo run. He also teed up Malone as he contrived to contribute to three goals in a frantic opening 20 minutes.

Left-backs began by trading strikes. Like his close friend Jürgen Klopp, Wagner has a penalty-taking full-back. Chris Lowe established himself as the John Smith's Stadium's answer to James Milner by both earning and scoring a fourth-minute spot kick after Ayité tripped him.

His counterpart responded in kind, Malone angling in a leveller when Ayité found him after a searing overlap. When Ayité was fouled, Cairney put Fulham ahead from 12 yards. Then Johansen added two goals in nine minutes, the first after Sessegnon's shot was blocked, his second completing an unwanted double for Jonathan Hogg. The midfielder had conceded a penalty and was then caught in possession by Johansen when the Norwegian strolled through to score.

Wagner described defensive mistakes as "three half own goals," arguing they suffered from a surfeit of excitement. "We were surprised by how great we started and got over-motivated and over-euphoric," he said. After beating Huddersfield by an aggregate score of 9-1 this season, elation should be confined to the Londoners, but Jokanovic countered that a play-off spot is not yet secured. "Mathematically, it is so simple," he said. "At the moment we don't do nothing."



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/22/huddersfield-fulham-championship-match-report

WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield Town vs Fulham FC: How Fulham ran riot over the Terriers
How the crucial Championship clash between the play-off chasing sides unfolded

Huddersfield Town were beaten 4-1 by an in-form Fulham side today, with the Terriers having to wait to secure their spot in this season's Championship play-offs.

Chris Lowe put the hosts in front from the penalty spot just four minutes into the match, but first half goals from Scott Malone and Tom Cairney put the Cottagers in control and a Stefan Johansen brace secured all three points before the interval.

Despite the loss, Leeds United and Reading also failed to record a point today, with one win in their last three now enough for Town to cement a spot in the play-offs.

Here's how the match unfolded...

First Half

3 Minutes: Lowe is tripped in the box!!! Penalty!

4 Minutes: Lowe converts the spot kick! 1-0!

14 Minutes: Heart-in-mouth time for Town as Sessegnon breaks into the box and shoots... but it's just over the bar.

16 Minutes: Malone sneaks in at the back post and scores for Fulham.

18 Minutes: Mooy finds Schindler with the free kick, but the German's flashed header goes wide.

19 Minutes: Penalty to Fulham. Hogg on Ayite.

20 Minutes: Cairney steps up and converts.

36 Minutes: Johansen makes it three after a blocked Sessegnon strike.

42 Minutes: Billing nods inches wide from a corner.

45 Minutes: Hogg dispossessed by Johansen who runs through and scores.

Second Half

53 Minutes: Mooy dispossesses McDonald and the ball breaks for Van La Parra who bends it inches wide of the far post.

54 Minutes: Ward just about keeps Town in the game with a great save from Sessegnon.

76 Minutes: Quaner steals in and is one-on-one with Bettinelli... who denies him a third goal in three games.

90+2 Minutes: Quaner goes through, but Bettinelli saves from a tight angle.
Line-Ups

Huddersfield Town (4-2-3-1): Ward; Smith, Schindler, Hefele, Lowe; Billing (Brown, 54), Hogg; Lolley (Scannell, 54), van La Parra, Mooy; Quaner

Subs Not Used: Coleman, Whitehead, Hudson, Cranie, Wells

Booked: Billing

Fulham (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Malone, Ream, Kalas, Fredericks (Odoi, 45); Johansen (Kebano, 86), McDonald, Cairney; Sessegnon, Aluko (Piazon, 77), Ayité

Subs Not Used : Button, Parker, Cyriac, Sigurdsson

Booked: Fredericks, Odoi

Half Time: Huddersfield Town 1 Fulham FC 4

Att: 21,023 (1,513)
Next Match: Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, SkyBet Championship, Tuesday April 25 (7.45pm kick-off)



http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-vs-fulham-fc-12929685

WhiteJC

 
Fulham cruise past Huddersfield to strengthen play-off prospects

Huddersfield Town 1 Fulham 4: The visitors are now sixth in the Championship with 76 points to their name

Fulham will no doubt be hoping they face Huddersfield Town in the end-of-season play-offs after taking another big step towards securing a top six spot in the Championship's big promotion encounter of the day.

A remarkable turnaround in their first half fortunes saw Slovisa Jokanovic's side score four times in the space of 29 minutes to seal their fourth successive League win and underline the fact that they have vital momentum in the final straight.

This contest was potentially a dress rehearsal for the play-offs, so it will be Fulham relishing such a prospect more than Huddersfield after an emphatic win which means they have put nine goals past David Wagner's side in two meetings this season.

It was certainly a rude awakening for Huddersfield, who had ambitions of putting pressure on Newcastle for an automatic promotion place before the game, but finished a harrowing experience with some concerns about their own play-off spot.

After Chris Lowe had fired The Terriers in front from the penalty spot, the game turned on its head as Scott Malone and Tom Cairney struck in a four-minute spell before Stefan Johansen's well-taken double effectively wrapped up the win.

Not surprisingly, Jokanovic refused to get too carried away with such a great result, saying: "We are playing with confidence, we are in a good mental moment and we believe we can play good football. We believe we can compete very well and we believe we have a good squad to do that.

"But there is no time to be looking at the table, only to focus on the few games we have remaining in this season, firstly against Brentford. We started a little bit confused here, but we showed great character to hit back with four goals in the first half."

Wagner admitted: "We had a lack of concentration and at least three of the goals we gave away through individual mistakes. I know it sounds ridiculous but the first five minutes didn't help us. We made a great start and scored, but then we got over-euphoric. Fulham are the strongest offensive side in the division and they punished us for doing that."

Huddersfield's Head Coach had wanted his players on the front foot again, after adopting a different style of play at Derby on Easter Monday, and they couldn't have made a better start.

The overlapping Lowe was sent tumbling by a careless challenge by Floyd Ayite, and referee Andy Davies had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

It fell to full-back Lowe to take the penalty and he had the composure to fire his left foot shot beyond the reach of the diving Marcus Bettinelli.

Fulham responded well to such an early setback and could have drawn level again in the 15th minute following a fine move down the left flank.

Malone's initial cross into the six-yard box was cleared by Christopher Schindler after he had been released by Sone Aluko's pass, but Huddersfield failed to clear the danger and Ryan Sessegnon was only a fraction too high with shot from 15 yards.

Huddersfield failed to heed that warning sign and when Ayite threaded pass through to the advancing Malone, he squeezed his shot home from a tight angle.

The pendulum swung further Fulham's way in the 20th minute when Ayite's eventful start to the game continued as he was brought down by Jonathan Hogg in the box.

Cairney's eleventh goal of the season was confidently dispatched from the spot as Danny Ward dived the wrong way as the atmosphere changed dramatically with the scoreline.

Huddersfield hearts were in mouths on the half hour when Cairney tried his luck from long range and Ward moving smartly to his right was relieved to see it flash past the post.

But Fulham were not to be denied as they gained the comfort of a two-goal cushion nine minutes before the break when the right-hand side of Wagner's defence was exposed once again as Sessegnon's initial shot ricocheted to Johansen who finished in some style.

Huddersfield's misery was complete in the final minute of the half when the unfortunate Hogg was caught in possession and with the home defence at sixes and sevens once again, Johansen punished them with another well-taken strike, all five goals by this point from left foot strikes.

The home crowd tried to lift their players at the start of the second half and they were up out of their seats in anticipation of renewed hope when Rajiv Van La Parra curled a 20-yard shot towards the far corner, but it drifted the wrong side of the post.

Moments later though, Sessegnon could have extinguished any hope of a Huddersfield fightback when he was sent clear, but Ward came to his side's rescue.

Fulham were reminded then that they couldn't take their foot off the pedal when Colin Quaner latched onto a mis-placed clearance, but his shot was smothered by the legs of Bettinelli.

After being the occupants of third place for so long, Huddersfield now slip to fifth and their fans could only console themselves with Leeds' defeat at Burton.

Huddersfield Town (4-1-4-1): D Ward 6 - T Smith 5, C Schindler 6, M Hefele 6, C Lowe 7 - J Hogg 5 – J Lolley 6, A Mooy 7, P Billing 6 (Sub I Brown 54 mins, 5) - J Lolley 5 (Sub S Scannell 54 mins, 6), R Van La Parra 6 - C Quaner 6.

Fulham (4-1-4-1): M Bettinelli 6 – R Fredericks 6 (Sub D Osdoi 45 mins, 5), T Kalas 6, T Ream 7, S Malone 7 –  K McDonald 6 - S Johansen 8 (Sub N Kebano 86 mins), T Cairney 7, R Sessegnon 6, F Ayite 7 - S Aluko 7. (Sub L Piazon 76 mins).

Referee: A Davies

Attendance: 21,023


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/huddersfield-fulham-play-off-championship-table-goals-cruise-past-a7697156.html


WhiteJC

 
Frenetic Fulham fightback floors Terriers

by Dan on April 22, 2017


MATCH REPORT BY PHIL PULLEN

Fulham hadn't put together four successive league wins in the seventeen years since a Barry Hayles hat-trick bamboozled Watford until this afternoon when a stirring comeback at Huddersfield tore apart the Terriers' hopes of securing a play-off place this weekend and put Slavisa Jokanovic's side just a win away from clinching a top sixth berth themselves. That outcome looked a long way off when Chris Lowe's early penalty put the hosts in front – but, such is Fulham's confidence of late, the swift concession didn't appear to overly inconvenience the visitors. Stefan Johansen was imperious in central midfield, scoring twice capping a display brimful of his boundless endeavour, and Jokanovic insisted that the Norwegian captain would be fine for next weekend's derby against Brentford.

The Serbian coach afforded himself a smile afterwards – as well he might given how unlikely the idea of Fulham extending their season looked as recently as February. After a tame defeat at struggling Birmingham, the Whites found themselves tenth in the Championship some eleven points off sixth-placed Leeds, but Jokanovic has engineered the kind of second-half season form that took Watford to the Championship two years ago. It isn't desire and gusto that has characterised Fulham's rise – the flawless possession-based football makes the Londoners easily the most watchable side beneath the top flight – and they could have scored double the four goals they put past Danny Ward this afternoon.

The manner in which they tore through Wagner's side was reminiscent of the 5-0 win at Craven Cottage before Christmas. They showed commendable in character in shrugging off the setback after Floyd Ayite was adjudged to have fouled Lowe, who drove the spot-kick clinically past Marcus Bettinelli, punishing Huddersfield's own attempts to play out from the back. Ayite's clever flick eventually found its way to Scott Malone – and the former Cardiff left back found the far corner from an acute angle to give Fulham a foothold in the contest.

Just four minutes later, the away side were in front. Ayite made amends for his early mistake, driving down the Huddersfield right and drawing an ill-advised challenge from Jonathan Hogg inside the box. Tom Cairney stepped forward just as he had at Carrow Road on Good Friday and, just like at Norwich, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a precise left-footed penalty. The Whites might have just finally found a reliable man from twelve yards after all that trouble this season.

By now, Fulham were flying. The underrated Sone Aluko, full of persistence and no little skill, did sensationally to wriggle his way past two would-be tacklers tight on the left touchline and ferried the ball to Cairney. The skipper carried the ball to the edge of the box before teeing up the onrushing Ryan Sessegnon and, when the teenager's shot was deflected, Johansen smashed home the rebound with the goalkeeper already committed to a dive in order to try and save Sessegnon's shot.

The other side of Johansen's game was in evidence just before the break. The Norwegian harried Hogg into a mistake outside the box having led the high-press from the off and raced in on goal, shrugging off a robust tackle, to fire home his second of the game. Huddersfield had just spurned a decent chance to reduce their arrears at the other end with Philip Billing sending a free header wide from a corner – but Johansen's second strike put the game beyond the hosts' reach.

Fulham might have extended their lead in a second half when they were largely content to sit on their commanding lead – but Sessegnon failed to beat Ward in a one-on-one when a splendid defence-splitting pass from Cairney sent the sixteen year-old clean through. At the other end, Bettinelli rode to Denis Odoi's rescue – making a brilliant reaction save from Collin Quaner after the Fulham substitute had chested the ball straight to the Huddersfield forward. The biggest cheer from the home fans was reserved for news of Leeds' defeat at relegation-threatened Burton Albion – but the Terriers will be terrified by the prospect of meeting Jokanovic's side again in the play-offs in three weeks time.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1): Ward; Smith, Lowe, Hefele, Schlinder; Hogg, Billing (Brown 54); Lolley (Scanell 54), van La Parra, Mooy; Quaner. Subs (not used): Coleman, Hudson, Cranie, Whitehead, Wells.

BOOKED: Billing.

GOAL: Lowe (pen 4).

FULHAM (4-1-2-3): Bettinelli; Fredericks (Odoi 45), Malone, Kalas, Ream; McDonald; Johansen (Kebano 86), Cairney; Ayite, R. Sessegnon, Aluko. Subs (not used): Button, Sigurdsson, Parker, Piazon, Cyriac.

BOOKED: Fredericks, Odoi.

GOALS: Malone (16), Cairney (pen 20), Johansen (36, 45).

REFEREE: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

ATTENDANCE: 21,023.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/04/frenetic-fulham-fightback-floors-terriers/

WhiteJC

 
Sheffield Wednesday Sold Out

Supporters are advised that tickets for Fulham's final away league match against Sheffield Wednesday have now sold out.

The Club have taken the maximum allocation of tickets available for this fixture, and therefore no further tickets will be available for Fulham fans.

From Monday morning the Ticket Office will be running a waiting list, should any tickets be returned. Supporters can be added to the waiting list by contacting the Ticket Office on 0843 208 1234 (option 2) (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

Thank you for your fantastic support!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/april/22/sheffield-wednesday-sold-out

WhiteJC

 
Leeds United suffer Brewers droop as play-offs go for a Burton

In a season where Leeds United strung together a series of performances that gave their fans a smattering of hope that promotion could be on the cards, hope has been abandoned in a cruel way.

In a play-off place for 142 days and 26 games, Easter Monday's 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves saw the Whites drop out of the play-off places. It was only a small drop from 6th to 7th, but it was a drop all the same.

They can fall no further, that is the only saving grace as Leeds now stare down the twin-barrels of football's shotgun and games against Norwich City (home) and Wigan Athletic (away). Today's game against Burton Albion was one that the Whites needed to win to keep up with the likes of Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday above them, and battling for the last two of the play-off places.

They didn't. The old defensive fragilities that were present in recent seasons crept back in and, again, like in the Wolves defeat, proved deadly. Call it a lapse of concentration, call it momentarily turning off, call it what you like, Leeds threw today's game away – with their play-off hopes following pretty close behind.

OK, you can get all Fermat's Theorem about it and say that mathematically it is still possible that Leeds United can go up, I mean let's be positive and see that Leeds are only three points behind Fulham who are really who the Whites should be aiming to hunt down.

Hunting down a side bang in form like Fulham, who smashed four past promotion rivals Huddersfield in the first-half today, is all good and well, but Leeds seem to be doing it with one eye closed – you know like when the oncoming car looks like it might hit you.

At the moment Leeds look toothless in attack. there is a saying in Spain: un gato con guantes no caza nada (a cat with gloves can't hunt anything), and the Whites have played both recent games against Wolves and Burton like they were wearing gloves...and running barefoot over coals.

When they needed to raise their performance when it mattered most, they drooped against the Brewers, now sitting three points, and 13 goals, behind a Fulham side who face in-form Brentford in next Saturday's game and Sheffield Wednesday in a final crunch game.

Rather than having it in their own hands, Leeds United are relying on Fulham to mess up and grant them a play-off place. Essentially Leeds need to win both their games against Norwich and Wigan, hoping that either Brentford or Sheffield Wednesday take points from the Cottagers.

Four points from the Whites will not be enough, unless Fulham win, or draw, only one of their last two games. Six points are a must, no disputes about it – it must be six. If Leeds United want to hunt down Fulham then they need to take of the gloves and come out fighting. Forget the probings of a boxing match, Leeds need to get nasty because it's down to the bare knuckles now.

If they don't, then this season is going to end like talking to that pretty girl all night in a nightclub. It will seem to be all promising, things seem to be going somewhere, only for the lights to come on at the end of the night and you traipse off home alone. Disappointed. Frustrated. Alone.

And not even enough for a kebab.
Addendum: Yes, I'm an angry Leeds fan


http://the72.co.uk/79549/leeds-united-suffer-brewers-droop-play-offs-go-burton/


WhiteJC

 
Fulham make thumping statement at play-off rivals Huddersfield
London club move three points ahead of seventh-placed Leeds who lose at Burton

Fulham continued their surge for the Sky Bet Championship play-offs as they won 4-1 at Huddersfield on Saturday while Leeds lost at Burton.

The Cottagers have won their last four games, scoring 13 goals in the process, and are now three points ahead of seventh-placed Leeds and only three behind third-placed Reading, with a far superior goal difference to any of the other teams in the play-off picture.

Despite falling behind to Chris Lowe's early penalty, they levelled through Scott Malone and scored a spot-kick of their own through Tom Cairney before Stefan Johansen's double made victory safe by half-time.

Leeds then suffered a major blow as all the goals came in a five-minute second-half flurry, Marvin Sordell and Michael Kightly putting Burton ahead before Kyle Bartley pulled it back to 2-1.

Reading lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest, meaning Newcastle will join Brighton in the Premier League if they beat Preston on Monday.

Forest led 3-0 10 minutes after half-time through Britt Assombalonga's double and a Mustapha Carayol strike, and though Yann Kermorgant pulled two goals back Reading could not find an equaliser.

Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to beat Derby 2-1 and keep their own play-off ambitions on track. Darren Bent put the Rams ahead but Steven Fletcher and Gary Hooper hit back.

At the other end of the table, Wigan live to fight another day after a goalless draw with Cardiff in which Craig Noone hit the bar for the visitors. Wigan's relegation will be confirmed, however, if Birmingham avoid defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Blackburn also drew 0-0 against Wolves and are two points behind Birmingham, Sam Gallagher and Craig Conway missing decent chances to win it for Rovers.

Rotherham, already relegated, claimed a first win in 18 games by beating Ipswich 1-0. Tom Adeyemi scored the goal after 79 minutes.

Bristol City twice came from behind to beat Barnsley 3-2. Alex Mowatt and George Moncur put the Tykes ahead but Tammy Abraham and Jamie Paterson equalised and Aden Flint scored a 74th-minute winner.

Brentford inflicted a sixth successive defeat on QPR with a 3-1 win at Griffin Park. Yoann Barbet's goal and Jota's penalty put the Bees 2-0 up and though Joel Lynch quickly pulled one back, Jota immediately restored the two-goal cushion.


http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/fulham-make-thumping-statement-at-play-off-rivals-huddersfield-1.3058100

WhiteJC

 
Slavisa Jokanovic believes Stefan Johansen will be ready for Brentford after injury in 4-1 defeat of Huddersfield
The two-goal hero was helped off towards the end of the game but the boss believes he will be ready for the west London derby with Brentford

Slavisa Jokanovic believes Stefan Johansen will ready for the game with Brentford at Craven Cottage on Saturday - a tie that could see Fulham claim a play-off spot.

The Norwegian scored twice but was helped off by medical staff towards the end of the game after he scored twice as Fulham beat Huddersfield 4-1 at the John Smith's Stadium.

The result, and Leeds losing 2-1 at Burton, means that if Fulham beat Brentford they will all but secure a spot in the play-offs thanks to the huge goal difference the side have accumulated.

Speaking after the game, Jokanovic said: "He should be okay - Stefan did a fantastic job for the team.

"He's working hard, pushing and pressing very well, and he benefited from this by scoring two goals. I'm happy with him and I'm happy with my team, which is more important.

"I am thinking only about Brentford, our next game.

"Two games are in front of us and anything can happen.

"It's not time to look at the table, it's time to rest our bodies and rest our minds and be fresh and push in the last two games in this regular part of the competition.

"I have enough experience in the Championship to know many strange things can happen. We cannot relax and think everything is done."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-believes-stefan-johansen-12930726

WhiteJC

 
Jokanovic salutes 'solid' Fulham
by Dan on April 22, 2017


Slavisa Jokanovic saluted his Fulham side's character as they staged a superb fightback to thrash play-off rivals Huddersfield for the second time this season and leave themselves just a win off securing a top six spot.

The Serbian head coach was delighted that the visitors quickly recovered from the early concession of Chris Lowe's penalty – and such was Fulham's dominance that the Whites were out of sight by the half-time break.

    We conceded an early goal but this team showed great character and confidence and started to be braver and stronger. We scored four goals in the first 45 minutes and managed the game to finish with the three points.

Jokanovic gently chided his side for failing to keep a clean sheet but was pleased with how Fulham have maintained their momentum as the season heads for the final straight.

    We were organised very well and we created a few chances [in the second half]. We tried to manage the situation and my players understand. In the second half we did exactly what we had to do. I am very happy with how solid we are. I missed a clean sheet today. This is important for us. Okay, 4-1 is nice, a great result, but sometimes I miss 1-0 and I think maybe in the future I'll be a little bit more lucky. We are in a good mental moment. We believe we can play good football and compete very well.

The Fulham boss rejected any suggestion that Leeds' defeat by Burton Albion was a great result for his side – insisting that he knows from his previous spell in English football just how unpredictable the Championship in.

    No, I am thinking only about Brentford, our next game. Two games are in front of us and anything can happen.

    It's not time to look at the table, it's time to rest our bodies and rest our minds and be fresh and push in the last two games in this regular part of the competition. I have enough experience in the Championship to know many strange things can happen. We cannot relax and think everything is done.

Jokanovic also confirmed that matchwinner Stefan Johansen, whose first-half brace knocked the stuffing out of Huddersfield, was substituted late on as a precaution and he should be fine to play a full part in the derby against Brentford next weekend.

    He should be okay – Stefan did a fantastic job for the team. He's working hard, pushing and pressing very well, and he benefited from this by scoring two goals. I'm happy with him and I'm happy with my team, which is more important.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/04/jokanovic-salutes-solid-fulham/


WhiteJC

 
Huddersfield Town 1-4 Fulham: Slavisa Jokanovic has David Wagner's number and other things we discovered
Fulham battered Huddersfield on Saturday in a magnificent performance - here's what our reporter learnt from the victory in Yorkshire

Fulham flexed their muscles once again as they took apart fellow play-off hopefuls Huddersfield in their own backyard in a 4-1 victory.

Stefan Johansen scored twice while Tom Cairney pushed Fulham's penalty woes further to the back of people's minds by converting his, while Scott Malone also got himself on the scoresheet once again.

David Wagner described Fulham as one of the best sides in the league after the game, where he saw his game plan picked apart by Slavisa Jokanovic , despite having the early impotence.

That win, combined with Leeds' defeat to Burton Albion, means if Fulham can beat Brentford they will all but secure a play-off place with a game remaining thanks to their superior goal difference.

Here's what we learned from the win in Huddersfield.

Jokanovic has the upper hand on Wagner
A 9-1 aggregate scoreline from the two Huddersfield games this season speaks volumes.

First Fulham beat them 5-0 at the Cottage in October and now they've beaten them 4-1 in Huddersfield, the first side in the Championship to put four past Town in their own stadium this season.

For the first ten minutes, Wagner's pressing game caused Fulham some serious problems and it was looking as though they would struggle to compete with Huddersfield.

But Jokanovic saw this and changed things, allowing Cairney to sit in deeper so that when the press came he, Kevin McDonald and Johansen could pick the space on the wings that was left.

Fulham never looked back once they equalised and I'm sure Wagner won't want to face Fulham again if they make it to the play-offs.

Johansen is in immense form

Fulham FC's Stefan Johansen celebrates scoring his side's third goal as he rushes past a dejected Huddersfield's Danny Ward.

The Norwegian has been in sensational form the past couple of weeks, something that has seen the midfielder rise to the top of the scoring charts with 13 goals to his name.

It's not only his goals that have helped the side, however, he is as good going forward as he is in defence which was proved when his perfectly timed sliding challenge against Villa set the side on their way to their first goal.

It's no fluke that Fulham's form has coincided with Johansen's - he is an integral cog in the machine and it was extremely worrying to see him hobble off towards the end of the game, but he looks like he'll be okay for the Brentford match.

If he can continue this form until the end of the season, Fulham really could go all the way.

Fulham can see games out

Huddersfield's Philip Billing can't connect with the ball in the Fulham penalty box

Believe it or not, we did discover that Fulham can see games out, despite the 4-1 scoreline.

Hear me out, alright?

The first half was goals galore from the Cottagers, but the second 45 was a 0-0 battle where Fulham saw the game out thanks to some astute defending from Tomas Kalas and Tim Ream, while Ryan Sessegnon should've put his chance away to make it five.

If they get to the play-offs, they will need to see at least one of the games out and this victory will have shown Jokanovic that he has players that are capable of doing so.

After all, they coped with a resurgent Sean Scannell and Isaiah Brown in the second half.

One win and it's the play-offs
So this one everyone will know by now, but we can't write a list of things we learnt without mentioning the biggie.

If Fulham beat Brentford, they'll be in the play-offs, courtesy of that gigantic goal difference they've got.

As if a west London derby against the Bees wasn't big enough, this adds an extra dimension that will see the Cottage absolutely bouncing next Saturday.

What would be better than securing a play-off place by beating that lot from Griffin Park?



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/huddersfield-town-1-4-fulham-12930985

WhiteJC

 
Could Dimitar Berbatov still cut it in the Premier League?

Former Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov has claimed he is still hoping for a Premier League move, but could he still have an impact?

Dimitar Berbatov has been a free agent since he left Greek side PAOK Saloniki in the summer.

The former Bulgarian international made 25 appearances for PAOK, scoring five goals as they finished fourth in the league and qualified for the Champion's League play-off places.

He said during a recent appearance on Goals on Sunday that he would still be interested in a return to the Premier League after his talks with Sunderland fell through, reports Sky Sports.

He last played in the top flight of English football in 2014 with Fulham, who he left to join Monaco after the Cottagers were relegated to the Championship.

Berbatov also had successful spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, the latter with which he won the Premier League title twice. He won the League Cup at Tottenham.

However, at 36 years of age, could Berbatov still have an impact in such a demanding league?

Even during his former days in England, he was never blessed with the pace to burst behind defenders and cause problems in that manner.

He did however, have brilliant ball control and the ability to create chances and goals out of nothing.

It is this ability on the ball that, with fitness maintained, the Bulgarian could still prove to be a threat.

And with the likes of Jermaine Defoe and current Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic still performing well at 34 and 35 respectively, it is not too far-fetched to think that Dimitar Berbatov could count himself among them.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/20/could-former-dimitar-berbatov-still-cut-it-in-the-premier-league/

WhiteJC

 
We Were Long Way Clear of Fulham – Leeds United Legend Bemoans Whites Collapse

Eddie Gray has bemoaned Leeds United having slipped behind Fulham in the Championship standings and believes the Whites now face a tough task getting past the Cottagers back into the top six due to goal difference.

Leeds dropped to seventh on Easter Monday, but were still level on points with Fulham. However, after losing away at Burton Albion on Saturday, combined with Fulham beating Huddersfield Town, the gap is now three points, while goal difference still remains firmly in the Cottagers' favour.

Gray is disappointed in the situation as Garry Monk's men were in front of Fulham in the standings for months before slipping up.

And with Leeds having a goal difference of plus 14 to Fulham's 27, Gray says the Whites are now firmly up against it.

"It's out of our hands now", Gray said on LUTV.

"Basically it is. But Fulham go to Sheffield Wednesday on the last day, but Fulham have a vastly superior goal difference to us.

"It's going to be tough now because of the vastly superior goal difference."

And Gray acknowledges that Leeds have let slip a good advantage over Fulham.

"It's not that long ago we were a long way clear of Fulham."

The pressure has now been piled on Leeds to win their next game, which is at home against free-scoring Norwich City.



http://www.insidefutbol.com/2017/04/22/we-were-long-way-clear-of-fulham-leeds-united-legend-bemoans-whites-collapse/334152/


WhiteJC

 
Fulham loanee Lasse Vigen Christensen on how Burton Albion dealt with pressure against Leeds United

Lasse Vigen Christensen knows just how well Burton Albion have done to deal with the pressure of relegation to secure their first back-to-back wins of the season.

Saturday's 2-1 victory over play-off-chasing Leeds United - courtesy of quick-fire goals from Marvin Sordell and Michael Kightly - lifted the Brewers six points and four places above the drop zone.

A single point from their final two games of the campaign will be enough to secure Albion Championship football for another season.

They have reacted superbly to put themselves in that position at this stage. As recently as the 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town on April 14, Nigel Clough's side were only two points above Blackburn Rovers in 22nd, with the pressure on them to battle back to winning ways.

The Brewers have done just that, capitalising on a confidence-stricken Birmingham City side to win 2-0 at St Andrew's last Monday, before producing a display that mixed class and commitment to down Leeds at the weekend

Fulham loanee Christensen started both of those wins - and he is full of praise for how Albion have fared so well with their relegation rivals breathing down their necks.

"It could prove to be the biggest win, in a way, because we are so close now," he said of the victory over Leeds.

"To go and beat Leeds, in the position they are in and how important was for them to win, that's a massive statement at this time of the season.

"We've done unbelievably to win these last two games when the pressure was on.

"That should put us in a very, very good position, so we should be feeling confident about the situation now.

"We don't want to take anything for granted, so we're just going to go out and do what we have been doing lately in the last two games. Then that will take care of itself."



Read more at http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/fulham-loanee-lasse-vigen-christensen-on-how-burton-albion-dealt-with-pressure-against-leeds-united/story-30287936-detail/story.html#yOZ7eg4q4W57GxDu.99

WhiteJC

 
Liverpool transfer news and rumours: 'Jurgen Klopp not put off by Ryan Sessegnon's price tag'
PLUS: Daniel Sturridge is a fitness worry for Sunday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp is reportedly retaining an interest in Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon despite his £15million price tag.

Sessegnon is set to sign his first professional contract with the Cottagers when he turns 17 next month.

However, the Express say that won't deter Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham from chasing his signature.

It is claimed that Liverpool are keen to sign Sessegnon this summer before loaning him back to Fulham for the entirety of next season.



http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-news-rumours-jurgen-10278145