Monday Fulham Stuff (25/09/17)...

[WhiteJC]

Christie's late leveller cuts Fulham down again
by Dan on September 24, 2017

It must seem like groundhog day for Slavisa Jokanovic at the moment. In their last two matches at Craven Cottage, Fulham have taken a late lead only to surrender their slender advantage at the last. For table-topping Cardiff a fortnight ago, read Middlesbrough – now unbeaten in five games – yesterday. The fact that Fulham's football was the most fluent their home fans had enjoyed this season was rendered moot by the sloppy defending that allowed Cyrus Christie to slam home his first Boro goal.

The failure to see out matches has been something that exercised Jokanovic already this term. The hosts were unable to claim an opening day win over Norwich due to a defensive aberration and Fulham's defenders had at least two opportunities to clear a deep corner before the former Derby right back fired a powerful equaliser past David Button. The resignation on the Fulham bench contrasted sharply with Garry Monk's jubilation and the former Leeds manager hailed this as 'an excellent point'.

This draw will feel like a defeat for Fulham, especially after Saturday's reverse at Burton. Jokanovic's side were bolder both with and without the ball than they had been both at the Pirelli Stadium and, arguably, in any other fixture at Craven Cottage since the start of the campaign. Rui Fonte returned to the starting line-up in place of Neeskens Kebano after a brief cameo from the bench at Burton – and the Portuguese striker's clever runs dragged Middlesbrough's centre halves all across the field from the outset.

Monk, whose success with Leeds last year was based on a defensive resilience, set up his side to try and keep Fulham's fluent football at bay. He paired the experienced Ben Gibson with the latest revelation at centre half, Dael Fry, and the England under-21 international delivered a superbly composed display that looked as if he had been starring for his hometown club for all of his twenty years. Boro's front three interchanged regularly and it was the lively Lewis Baker, who fashioned the first effort at goal, with David Button stretching to tip over a rising drive from the Chelsea loanee in the seventh minute.

Fulham's response came courtesy of the flying Ryan Sessegnon, who was cynically chopped down by Christie in full flight, and the excellent Darren Rudolph displayed fine agility to turn aside Ollie Norwood's swirling free-kick. The Republic of Ireland international then blocked a low drive from Floyd Ayite with his feet at the near post after Stefan Johansen had found the Togolese winger with a fine thread pass. The home side continued to probe but Boro almost went ahead when winger Marvin Johnson tricked his way past Ryan Fredericks and Kevin McDonald before dragging a low shot just wide of the far post.

Norwood nearly found the net from long range with a rising effort that narrowly cleared Rudolph's crossbar before Ayite was forced off with a suspected hamstring pull, replaced by Kebano, The home side nearly finished the first period in the perfect manner, when Fonte did fantastically to collect a low Fredericks, spin away from two defenders and locate Norwood from the penalty spot but the Northern Ireland international missed the target with a snapshot.

Jokanovic's side continued where they had left off after the break. Sheyi Ojo seized on a slip by Fabio to get in behind the Boro backline but the onrushing Sessegnon could not provide the telling connection at the back post. Fonte almost punished Gibson for a short back pass when he charged down Randolph's clearance but the ball wouldn't break for another white shirt. Kebano was a beguiling presence down the right and after some outrageous trickery, he won a free-kick in a central area that Norwood curled agonisingly wide.

The hosts looked in complete control but were nearly the architects of their own downfall midway through the second period when an ambitious Tomas Kalas pass was picked off by Brett Assombalonga. The former Nottingham Forest forward failed to make the most of a lightning break, failing to shift the ball wide of Kalas to two waiting red shirts, and a ricochet saw his shot rebound invitingly for Bamford, who found the side netting with a rasping drive from 20 yards. In their best spell of the game, Monk's side also saw Johnson spurn a presentable opening with a weak shot – before Jokanovic threw on Aboubakar Kamara to ask more questions at the other end.

The £5m arrival from Amiens linked up impressively with Fonte and their improved understanding saw the barrel-chested Frenchman sprint clear of the last man to reach a threaded pass from the former Braga forward, but he sliced his shot horribly high in the Hammersmith End as he snatched impetuously at the opportunity to beat Randolph from eight yards. It was a bad miss but the 22 year-old didn't allow his head to drop and, just as it looked as if this might be the first goalless draw here in 130 Fulham league matches, got his reward when he leapt imperiously to meet a deep cross from Sessegnon and sent a powerful header in via the crossbar.

Kamara and the Cottage rose as one to acclaim his first goal and, as the Fulham faithful celebrated what appeared a season-igniting strike with four minutes to play, you wondered whether Jokanovic's side could be more ruthless than against Cardiff and see out the game. It took just two minutes for the underwhelming answer to arrive. Fulham failed to clear their lines twice from a deep corner and there was Christie, who took a touch, and fired home like a veteran finisher rather than a full-back, to restore parity. Hauling themselves off the turf to extend their unbeaten run to five games showed the never-say-die attitude that Monk has imbued on the Teessiders.

Barker, who had moaned his way what finished as a pulsating encounter, passed up a gloriously chance to complete the archetypal smash and grab raid in added time when he twisted and turned beyond Fulham defenders before his shot was bravely blocked at source by the sliding Sessegnon. The seventeen year-old had turned the game Fulham's way and then prevented his side losing it in an incredible closing nine minutes, but the look at his young face after the final whistle was one of utter devastation that the Whites had drawn their fifth Championship fixture in nine.

FULHAM (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, R. Sessegnon, Kalas, Ream; McDonald, Johansen (Kamara 70), Norwood (Cisse 90); Ojo, Ayite (Kebano 42); Fonte. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Odoi, Djalo, Mollo.

BOOKED: McDonald, Fonte.

GOAL: Kamara (86).

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Randolph; Christie, Fabio (Friend 76), Gibson, Fry; Clayton, Howson, Baker, Johnson; Bamford (Fletcher 76), Assombalonga (Downing 90). Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos, Shotton, Tavernier, Leadbitter.

BOOKED: Christie.

REFEREE: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

ATTENDANCE: 20,718



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/christies-late-leveller-cuts-fulham-down-again/

[WhiteJC]

 
Abraham Scores Brace For Fulham, A Week After Talks With NFF Boss Pinnick

Tammy Abraham's younger brother Timmy Abraham opened his account for the season as Fulham claimed a 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove in the U18 Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

A week ago, the two Abrahams, who are strikers, held high-level talks with Nigeria Football Federation supremo Amaju Pinnick over their international future.

On 20 minutes, Timmy broke the deadlock when he scored from a tight angle after he was teed up by Sonny Hilton, and doubled the Cottagers advantage six minutes into the second half, slamming a shot into the net despite being surrounded by defenders.

Born December 28, 2000, Timmy Abraham joined Fulham in the summer of 2017 from Charlton Athletic.

On the pitch Timmy is a carbon copy of his senior brother Tammy, he plays as a central striker and drifts wide when without the ball.

The 16-year-old Abraham is a first-year scholar at Fulham.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=24748

[WhiteJC]

 
U23s Travel to Blackburn

Fulham travel north to face Blackburn Rovers on Monday evening at the Lancashire F.A. Ground.

Last time out the Whites got their first win of the season, with an impressive 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Motspur Park.

Tayo Edun scored a first half goal to break the deadlock, before Stephen Humphrys and Elijah Adebayo added to ensure three points for Fulham.

Peter Grant's men face tough opposition in Blackburn, who sit second in the table only to Middlesbrough.

Rovers drew their last game 1-1 away at Norwich City, which were the first points that they dropped this year.

The only team that both have faced is Reading, who the Rovers went on to beat 5-3 away from home, whereas Fulham lost 2-1 in a tight fixture at Adams Park.

You can follow live updates of the match from our twitter page, @FulhamFC.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/24/u23s-travel-to-blackburn

[WhiteJC]

 
NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan issues statement against Donald Trump
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS have explained their defiant stance against United States president Donald Trump.


Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locks arms with the players

On Friday night the president used Twitter to call for players who failed to stand up for the national anthem to be struck off by the NFL.

But in a statement put out by owner Shahid Khan, he labelled Trump's tweets as "divisive and contentious."

Around 27 players of Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars knelt for their clash at Wembley Stadium and Khan, who also owns Championship football club Fulham, defended his side's actions.

Khan wrote: "It was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for the playing of the U.S. national anthem at Wembley Stadium.

"I met with our team captains prior to the game to express my support for them, all NFL players and the league following the divisive and contentious remarks made by President Trump, and was honoured to be arm in arm with them, their team-mates and our coaches during our anthem.

"Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in any forms - race, faith, our views and our goals.

"We have a lot of work to do, and we can do it, but the comments by the president make it harder.

"That's why it was important for us, and personally for me, to show the world that even if we may differ at times, we can and should be united in the effort to become better as people and a nation."



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/858212/NFL-Jacksonville-Jaguars-owner-Shahid-Khan-statement-kneel-protest-Donald-Trump

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic tells Fulham to 'be brave' after Boro setback
by Dan on September 24, 2017

Slavisa Jokanovic urged his Fulham players to be brave and believe in their ability after his side squandered another lead late on against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage yesterday.

The Serbian head coach was exasperated on the touchline after Cyrus Christie's 88th minute strike after Fulham failed to clear a corner cancelled out Aboubakar Kamara's first goal since signing from Amiens in the summer. Jokanovic isn't about to change his style and felt his team's display against a side unbeaten in seven games was their most complete home performance of the campaign so far.

    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.

    I can't be satisfied with the result. But we performed well and created many chances. In my opinion, we're close to our best level, but even with this we still don't win games.

    A popular question is always where was your Plan B, C, D or E but if this plan is not better than Plan A, then it does not make sense for another plan. The solution is keep going and be brave and push in a similar way. We are going to try and win the game in a similar way that we tried this afternoon.'

Jokanovic was pleased with how his introduction of Kamara, who linked up encouragingly with fellow August arrival Rui Fonte, altered the course of a tight contest. The French striker soared majestically at the back post to put Fulham ahead, showing admirable persistence after spurning a glorious opportunity to break his duck minutes earlier after a fine one-two with Fonte, and added more zest to the attack after replacing Stefan Johansen.

    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.'

The Fulham boss confirmed that Floyd Ayite, who limped off before half time, had injured his hamstring and is likely to face another frustrating period on the sidelines.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/jokanovic-tells-fulham-to-be-brave-after-boro-setback/