Sunday Fulham Stuff (24/09/17)...

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Results

Saturday
Preston NE	0 - 0	Millwall
Bolton	0 - 3	Brentford
Fulham	1 - 1	Middlesborough
Leeds	3 - 2	Ipswich
Norwich	0 - 0	Bristol
Derby	1 - 1	Birmingham
QPR	0 - 0	Burton
Reading	1 - 1	Hull
Sunderland	1 - 2	Cardiff
Wolves	2 - 1	Barnsley
Aston Villa	2 - 1	Nottm Forest

[WhiteJC]

 
U18s: Fulham 3-0 Brighton

Fulham beat Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 on Saturday morning at Motspur Park. Timmy Abraham scored a brace, and Djed Spence put the icing on the cake with a long range injury-time goal.

Both teams came into this match unbeaten in all competitions. Last time out the Whites beat Aston Villa in the PL Cup, with an impressive 4-0 victory.

In the 7th minute, Nicolas Santos-Clase picked the ball up in midfield and darted through a number of defenders into the left of the box but his cross was cleared.

A minute later the Young Whites registered their first shot on goal, a ball was cleared to Steven Sessegnon 30 yards out and the centre back struck the ball well but Tom McGill caught his effort.

10 minutes in and Fulham were controlling possession with the Seagulls trying to press high. Spence made an excellent run down the right hand side and floated a ball into Jayden Harris at the back post.

He in turn tried to get an effort at goal but a block from a yellow shirt came in.

In the 14th minute Spence was at it again with some clever footwork, tormenting the left back, he cut a ball across goal to Santos-Clase but the Spaniard didn't connect well and his effort was saved.

The deadlock was broken by the Young Whites in the 20th minute. A deft through ball from Hilton put both Cameron Thompson and Hilton through on goal.

Thompson sprinted left into the box, dragging a defender away and giving Abraham an alternative option, instead the front man went himself from a tight angle and slammed a shot past the keeper into the top left corner of the goal.

Brighton had another very good chance, Tyrese Fornah fired a ball into the box, Ben Clarke-Eden headed on target but Luca Ashby-Hammond saved.

In the final 10 minutes before the break Brighton stepped it up a gear and had the better of the chances with only a goal separating the teams.

In the 37th minute the Seagulls had thought they had scored. A shot was rocketed at goal and Ashby-Hammond palmed the ball onto the bar and back into play, it fell for Danny Cashman who poked the rebound into the back of the net, Fulham were saved by the offside flag.

At the beginning of the second half Brighton had a good chance, with Fornah having a shot blocked. With a free kick Ashby-Hammond was called in to make another fantastic save.

However, it was the Young Whites to score next, widening the gap further. On the break, Hilton cut a ball to Abraham left inside the box, surrounded by defenders he slammed a shot at goal and it beat McGill for the second time.

That goal put the wind back in Fulham's sails. Abraham won the ball in midfield, in a 2 on 1 he unselfishly passed to Thompson, who blasted a shot that the keeper just kept out.

In the 58th minute Harris then had a pop from 25 yards out, and it was creeping into the left but a diving save kept Brighton's deficit at 2.

Fulham won several free kicks on either side, but Tyrese Francois couldn't get his curling efforts beneath the bar.

The game was put to bed in injury time, with Spence winning the ball in his own half. He sprinted the pitch and shot from outside the area, straight across the keeper into the bottom left hand corner.

Next week the Young Whites face Chelsea, the only team in the league not to drop a point this season.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/23/u18-fulham-3-0-brighton

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Fulham denied victory by late Middlesbrough goal

Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 1

Aboubakar Kamara's first Fulham goal was not enough for victory as they again let slip a lead at home.

Kamara's header from a Ryan Sessegnon cross on 86 minutes looked to have won the game against the pre-season promotion favourites.

But after they failed to clear a corner a couple of minutes later, Ashley Fletcher's miscued shot fell into the path of full-back Cyrus Christie, who slammed home the equaliser.

Middlesbrough therefore followed Norwich and Cardiff in taking a point from Craven Cottage this season with goals in the last 10 minutes.

To add to their woes, Fulham had lost winger Floyd Ayite to injury late in a first half in which they had the best chances.

After Middlesbrough's Chelsea loanee Lewis Baker had forced Whites keeper David Button to tip over, Fulham looked slick going forward but Oliver Norwood and Ayite were both denied by visiting keeper Darren Randolph.

Boro enjoyed a purple patch midway through the second half and started to threaten on the break, Patrick Bamford firing into the side netting and Marvin Johnson shanking wide.

Kamara, brought on for Johansen, then missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when he wastefully shot off target having been sent clear by Rui Fonte's pass.

He made up for it by nodding in at the far post but was let down by his defence, who could not prevent Middlesbrough's equaliser.

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon; Johansen (Kamara 70), McDonald, Norwood (Cisse 89); Ojo, Fonte, Ayite (Kebano 42).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Odoi, Djalo, Mollo.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-denied-victory-by-late-middlesbrough-goal

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Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 1

CYRUS CHRISTIE'S 88th-minute strike salvaged a point for Middlesbrough after they also conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

An entertaining game looked to be heading to a stalemate with the scoresheet blank with four minutes left, but Aboubakar Kamara headed home a cross from the dangerous Ryan Sessegnon to break the deadlock.

Boro levelled just two minutes later though, with Christie drilling home his first goal since a summer move from Derby County after Ashley Fletcher's initial shot had been blocked.

The result extends Boro's unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions, and moves Garry Monk's side up to fifth position in the table.

Monk made two changes to the side that started last weekend's Championship win over QPR, with Jonny Howson and Patrick Bamford remaining in the starting line-up after their impressive displays in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Aston Villa.

Boro started brightly, and threatened as early as the eighth minute as Lewis Baker fired in a 20-yard effort that was tipped over by Fulham goalkeeper David Button.

Baker was stationed on the right of midfield, but while the Chelsea loanee carried a threat in attack, he failed to provide much support for his right-back, Christie. As a result, Fulham full-back Sessegnon was the most threatening figure in the first half as his rampaging runs on the overlapped caused a succession of problems.

Howson made a couple of crucial defensive interventions in the first 25 minutes, with Boro goalkeeper Darren Randolph also called upon to make a number of important saves.

The first came in the tenth minute, and saw the Irishman turn Oliver Norwood's free-kick around the post after the Fulham midfielder tried his luck from a wide position when a cross looked his likeliest option.

Two minutes later, Randolph was involved again, saving with his legs after Floyd Ayite dribbled past Dael Fry to make it into the box.

Randolph completed a hat-trick of first-half stops shortly after, claiming Sheyi Ojo's shot after the Liverpool loanee cut in from the left-hand side.

Boro's best first-half opening came midway through the opening period, and saw Baker curl over from the edge of the area after he had been teed up by Christie's run down the right.

Bamford went close as he dragged a low shot wide of the target following a slick through ball from Howson, and Marvin Johnson also threatened as he surged past former Boro defender Ryan Fredericks, only for his low effort to whistle wide of the post.

However, Fulham continued to cause a host of problems down Boro's right-hand side, and when Ayite pulled the ball back invitingly, Norwood curled just over the crossbar.

There was no let-up in the tempo after the interval, and Sessegnon was at the heart of the action again as he surged into the area six minutes after the break, only for his shot from Ojo's cross to sail harmlessly over.

Fulham cranked up the pressure at the start of the second half, winning a succession of corners, but the Boro defence held firm and the visitors almost broke the deadlock on the counter-attack in the 67th minute.

A swift attacking move initiated by Howson ended with Bamford playing a one-two with Assombalonga, only for his low strike to flash into the side-netting.

Fulham's best chance of the second period came with 16 minutes left, and should really have resulted in the opening goal.

Rui Fonte played Kamara clean through the middle, but the Fulham striker displayed a chronic lack of composure as he slashed at a shot that flew horribly wide.

When he next had a chance, though, he was rather more clinical. Sessegnon surged to the byline to stand up an 86th-minute cross from the left, and Kamara climbed above substitute full-back George Friend at the back post to head home via the inside of the upright.

The goal was a body blow to Boro, but the visitors showed commendable spirit to claim an equaliser within two minutes of falling behind.

Fletcher's shot on the turn was blocked in the area, but the ball fell invitingly for Christie, who drilled into the bottom left-hand corner to claim his first Boro goal.

Fulham (4-1-4-1): Button; Fredericks, Ream, Kalas, Sessegnon; McDonald; Ojo, Johansen (Kamara 70); Norwood (Cisse 90), Ayite (Kebano 42); Fonte.

Subs (not used): Bettinelli (gk), Odoi, Mollo, Djalo.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Randolph; Christie, Fry, Gibson, Fabio (Friend 75); Baker, Clayton, Howson, Johnson; Bamford (Fletcher 75), Assombalonga (Downing 89).

Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Shotton, Leadbitter, Tavernier.



http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough/15551628.REPORT__Cyrus_Christie_s_late_strike_secures_Middlesbrough_a_point/

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was ultimately disappointed with the nature of the draw against Middlesbrough but saw an improved performance against a top team.

Fulham went ahead in the 86th minute thanks to Aboubakar Kamara's headed goal but were pegged back two minutes later when Cyrus Christie scored from a failed clearance at a corner.

"There was an important mistake at the end of the game," said Jokanović. "We had the chance to clear this ball in our box, one time, two times, three times, four times and when you don't do it they can punish you and we paid an expensive price for playing this important moment with not enough confidence and we weren't solid enough."

Prior to the goal the Fulham Head Coach made a tactical change, bringing off midfielder Stefan Johansen for an out-and-out striker in the form of Kamara, and the Serbian was pleased with his decision to bring on another attacker.

"We tried to take some kind of risk and we know we can lose a little bit of control without Stefan but we tried to go and win the game and he played well in this period of the pitch and scored a very good goal and this is very good news for himself.

"In my opinion we are close to our maximum level, I cannot be disappointed with our performance, it's one of the best performances against one of the best teams in the Championship.

"We controlled the situation against two very, very strong strikers and they didn't create many things.

"It's true we didn't shoot too many times but especially in the first half, and in the second too, we crossed so many times and we didn't finish this kind of action.

"It is always like we didn't shoot enough times but we arrived in the last third so many times and scored only one goal," said Jokanović.

Fulham failed again to maintain a lead and see out a game, but Jokanović believes that among things in our control there have also been things that have gone against the Whites this season.

"First of all we are a different team to last season, we are unlucky with many, many injured people at the beginning of the Championship and today we lost Floyd Ayité who is an important player for us.

"At the end this is the third time where we arrived with a few minutes with some kind of advantage and we didn't win the game.

"In this situation we need to be more confident and we need to resolve this kind of situation in our box.

"It's not the first time and we need to encourage ourselves to not make these kind of mistakes.

"Ayité has a hamstring problem, in this moment I cannot give you a clear answer on this.

"We arrived from one poor game against Burton, I know in the end the only important thing is our results and we haven't made enough good results to show Craven Cottage.

"I believe we played better football, I believe we played with our characteristics and I believe also we created enough things to not only score one goal but to score more goals.

"People say where is plan B, C and D but I don't believe these are better than plan A and in this moment we are going to try and follow in this style.

"I must be satisfied with the fight in my team and I must be satisfied with the performance against one of the top teams in the league but unfortunately we are disappointed because of one important situation in our box and we didn't make a good enough job and we paid an important price," he said.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/23/head-coach-reaction-middlesbrough

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Fulham boss confirms injury blow to attacker and rules him out of Nottingham Forest trip

Fulham will be without attacker for a few games

Fulham forward Floyd Ayite looks likely to miss out the next couple of weeks at the least following an injury picked up today against Middlesbrough.

The impressive striker put in a good first half performance at Craven Cottage but was taken off with four minutes to go until half-time.

Post-match, White boss Slavisa Jokanovic has ruled Ayite out of Tuesday's game at Nottingham Forest and faces an anxious wait on an MRI scan.

It's not the first time Ayite has struggled with hamstring problems either. It is likely at this stage he will also miss the west London derby with Queens Park Rangers next Friday night.

"It's his hamstring again," confirmed Jokanovic.

"I don't know how long he will be out for in this moment, I don't have the information.

"But if it's something then we will probably miss him for the next two games."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-boss-confirms-injury-blow-13665422

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Fulham 1-1 Middlesborough

Cyrus Christie scores the equaliser for Middlesbrough

Cyrus Christie's late goal earned Middlesbrough a point at Fulham.

Fulham substitute Aboubakar Kamara thought he had given the hosts victory at Craven Cottage when he headed in Ryan Sessegnon's cross on 86 minutes.

But two minutes later Republic of Ireland full-back Christie fired in to level for the visitors.

Kamara had missed a glorious chance before his goal when he blazed the ball over the crossbar with only goalkeeper Darren Randolph to beat.

Fulham were the joint-top scorers in the division last season with 85 goals, but have struggled to find the back of the net this campaign, scoring just nine times in nine matches.

The game looked set to end in a first goalless draw in 130 league games at Craven Cottage before French striker Kamara's pinpoint header gave them the lead.

Christie then pounced on some poor defending to score his first goal for Boro since joining from Derby in the summer.

Fulham have now drawn five of their Championship fixtures this season, while Garry Monk's Middlesbrough are unbeaten in five matches and are fifth in the table.

Fulham head coach Slaviša Jokanović said:
"There was an important mistake at the end of the game. We had the chance to clear the ball in our box and when you don't do it they can punish you and we paid an expensive price.

"In my opinion we are close to our maximum level, I cannot be disappointed with our performance, it's one of the best performances against one of the best teams in the Championship.

"We didn't shoot too many times but we arrived in the last third so many times and scored only one goal."

Middlesbrough manager Gary Monk said:
"We haven't hit our full stride yet but it's coming. When it clicks, there won't be many teams who can stop us. We are still improving.

"Both teams had an attacking mindset so it was always going to be an open game. Both teams had chances but both could have been more clinical.

"We came back quickly for the equaliser and ended up pushing for the winner. The character of the players is undeniable. It must have been great entertainment for the fans."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41289622

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Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic bemoans Middlesbrough's equaliser: 'The only moment they put us under pressure'

The Fulham boss claimed his side 'dominated' the game but was left disappointed as his side dropped more points

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic felt his side "dominated" the game against Middlesbrough but was left ruing another late lapse in concentration.

Aboubakar Kamara headed the Cottagers into an 86th-minute lead and put the hosts within touching distance of the victory, but moments later Cyrus Christie drilled home to earn Boro a share of the spoils.

The result leaves Fulham 13th in the standings, and it was further frustration for Jokanovic as his side again squandered points from winning positions.

Asked if he felt Fulham deserved more from the game, Jokanovic said: "Yes, but we got a draw. This is our realistic situation and what you deserve or what you don't deserve is less important.

"I can't be satisfied with the result but we were closer to our maximum level, we performed well and created many things.

"We dominated the game, scored an important goal in an important moment but in the end I don't know how many times we shot at goal or hit the target. We arrived a minimum of 20 times into the last third in a position to cross the ball but didn't finish our chances.


Aboubakar Kamara (#47) of Fulham celebrates (Image: Getty Images Europe)

"In the end we took a risk, we tried to create more chances and scored the goal. We didn't find many problems in our defensive line, we (kept) a forward line with the quality of Patrick Bamford and (Britt) Assombalonga quiet.

But at the end, it's a last situation where we weren't solid enough. We had chances to clear the ball one time, two times, three times, four times - but if you don't do this then you are in a dangerous situation.

"This is the only moment in the game where they brought so many players towards our box and put us under some kind of pressure. "

Whereas Boro fans head back to the North-east buoyant after another show of spirit from their side, it was an exasperating conclusion for Fulham's faithful.

The west Londoners have now dropped valuable late points at home against Norwich, Cardfiff and Boro, but Jokanovic was keen to take the positives moving forward.

"This is our moment, we were a bit unlucky with so many injured players, we lost Floyd Ayite so I have to find a solution for the next game, and I'm disappointed that we played a good game but didn't win," he added.

"If we play bad then it'll be harder for us (to take), but this situation in the 88th minute I can't complain about effort, intention or the ambition of my team.

"But it's not the first time this has happened for us. It happened against Norwich, Cardiff and this afternoon it's similar.

"It's an important result. It's a problem because in my opinion we are close to our best level, but at this level we still don't win the games.

"Our only option is to keep going, be brave and push in a similar way. If you believe it's time for revolution or something completely different, it's simple - that's not my opinion. We will try to win games in a similar way like we did this afternoon.

"Unfortunately this situation has killed us in this important period of games where you have to be solid, focused and don't lose the important points."



http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-manager-slavisa-jokanovic-bemoans-13665488

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Fulham boss: I am not satisfied with the result against Middlesbrough, we had chances to kill them off

Fulham boss reacts to draw with Middlesbrough this afternoon

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was left to rue Middlesbrough's instant reaction to Aboubakar Kamara's goal this afternoon.

The striker looked to have won all three points for the Whites at Craven Cottage with a brilliant header at the back post.

However, the lead lasted no more than 120 seconds as Cyrus Christie found the bottom corner to ensure Boro went back to the north-east with a point.

Post-match, the Fulham boss, who is now without Floyd Ayite due to injury, felt his team deserved maximum points.

"I felt we should have won, but in the end we drew. What we deserved or what we didn't deserve isn't important," he said.

"I can't be satisfied with the result. We performed well and created chances, we dominated the game.

"We scored an important goal in that moment, and in the end I don't know how many chances we had on target but we had around 20 chances and didn't finish it off today.

"We took a risk, kept on creating chances and scored the goal, and I thought our defence did well against Bamford and Assombalonga, but we weren't solid in the end and didn't clear the ball for their goal.

"It was the only moment in the game where Middlesbrough brought so many people in our box and put us under pressure which we didn't survive.

"We have been unlucky with injuries and now have lost Floyd Ayite, so we have to find a solution for the next game.

"In the end it's disappointing for us when we played a good game. Up until 88 minutes I can not fault or complain about my team's ambition.

"But it's not the first time this has happened to us, it's a similar story."


Aboubakar Kamara thought he had notched the winner this afternoon
(Image: Paul Burgman/Press-Photos.com)

Fulham were the better side in the first period and created a number of chances, but they struggled to convert, with Rui Fonte hardly in the game up front.

Kamara came on for Stefan Johansen in the second half as Jokanovic looked to be bold and go for the win.

And it nearly paid off. But slack defending allowed the visitors to steal a point when it looked ever so unlikely.

"At the end of the day it's about the results and how many games you're going to win, it's not about the statistical side of the game," said Jokanovic.

"In my opinion, we are close to our best level, but with this level we are still not winning the games.

"We took a risk and took off a midfielder and went on to score today, we put Middlesbrough under stress but it wasn't enough and we need a solution.

"That is to keep going and be brave and push on. The situation killed us today in what was a very important period of the game.

"We had to be focused and solid and don't lose the points. We are going to depend on the players who were on the pitch to improve the situation in our box.

"My players showed great ambition and desire, but if you give teams a chance in this period to equalise, it will become so complicated for us to win games."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-boss-am-not-satisfied-13665596

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Jokanovic sticks to his guns

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic will not change his approach despite watching his side concede another late equaliser against Middlesbrough.

It had taken Fulham 85 minutes to convert their flowing football into a goal courtesy of Aboubakar Kamara's close-range header, but just two more minutes for them to allow Cyrus Christie to draw the visitors level.

Fulham have already conceded equalisers in the final 10 minutes of home games against Norwich and Cardiff and Jokanovic said: "We deserved all three points, but you don't always get what you deserve.

"We will always try to win games in this way, but this time it killed us at an important point in the game.

"But we are close to hitting our best level and we are going to try and win games in a similar way that we tried to this afternoon.

"I cannot be satisfied with the result but we performed well and created many chances. There must have been 20 times when we were in the final third of the pitch when we didn't finish it off.

"To score was important. In my opinion we are close to our best level, but we are still not winning games. It wouldn't make sense to change too much.

"It is always a popular question to ask: 'What is your Plan B, C, D and E?' But if Plan B isn't better than Plan A it doesn't make any sense to have another plan. The solution is to be brave, to push and keep going."

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk viewed the point very differently, as one gained, not two lost as Boro extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to seven games.

Monk said: "We haven't hit our full stride yet, but it's coming. When it clicks, there won't be many teams who can stop us. We are still improving.

"We knew it would be difficult coming here. Fulham will be challenging again this season. Both teams had an attacking mindset so it was always going to be an open game. Both teams had chances, but both could have been more clinical.

"Our character was on show today. We came back quickly for the equaliser and ended up pushing for the winner. The character of the players is undeniable.

"It must have been great entertainment for the fans. Fulham are always a threat but we dealt with them well and we will look forward to Tuesday's game against Norwich."



https://www.clubcall.com/middlesbrough/jokanovic-sticks-to-his-guns-1863790.html

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Manchester City Tracking This Fulham Wonderkid: One For The Future?

Premier League giants Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Fulham's blossoming starlet Matt O'Riley, as per one of the latest reports by The Sun. His notable outings have even drawn the admiration of Arsenal and Manchester United and thus, it goes without saying that he must be doing something really very good of late.

O'Riley broke into the first team of Fulham this season after impressing for the Cottagers' youth team last season during his 19 appearances and is touted as one of the next big things in English football.

For a 16-year-old, getting into Slavisa Jokanovic's senior squad is a huge achievement and it is unarguably a testament of his productivity and excellence. He has the quality and calibre, which is getting recognized adequately.

Manchester City, in particular, have been the breeding ground of many top quality starlets. They are apparently looking for some English starlets to fill their home-grown quota and no wonder why they are targeting someone like O'Riley. He has appeared twice in the Carabao Cup this season apart from starring once in the Checkatrade Trophy for the London based outfit so far this season.

O'Riley is a central midfielder with sheer creative prowess and is versatile enough to play in a number of positions. Despite his young age, he has shown immense technical and tactical understanding of the game and is a calm and composed figure in the middle of the park. He possesses the ability to dictate the tempo of the game and is also a shrewd passer of the ball.

Moreover, he is generally very comfortable on the ball, pushes his side forward during the attacking endeavours and knits the side together as a unit. He is a strong lad with a commendable height which gives him the edge during the aerial duels as well.

O'Riley constantly moves forward to find the back of the net and creates chances for his teammates as well. The Englishman is in his learning years and has enough time and room for further improvements.

Manchester City made some stunning signings during the summer transfer window, with the likes of Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva making a move to the Etihad Stadium.

It is perceived that the Citizens are now also willing to ensure that they have the requisite youngsters in their arsenal to cater to their needs of future and when a scintillating prospect in the shape of O'Riley is in their sight, they should try to prise him out of Craven Cottage.



http://the4thofficial.net/2017/09/manchester-city-tracking-fulham-wonderkid-one-future/

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