Friday Fulham Stuff (22/09/17)...

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QPR v Fulham - Match Officials

After the splendid 3-1 victory away to Nottingham Forest, on Tuesday evening, Fulham face another away trip this Friday.

Slavisa Jokanovic will be taking his team on the short trip up the road to take on our West London rivals, Queens Park Rangers.

The fixture, being broadcast live to the nation, has the potential to be a robust frantic affair.

With that in mind we now have the names of the officials who will be taking charge of the fixture:

• Referee - Peter Bankes
• Assistant Referee - Mark Pottage
• Assistant Referee - John Flynn
• Fourth Official - Stephen Martin

With regards to the referee, Peter Bankes, he has taken charge of 11 games this season and has issued 39 yellow cards and 2 red cards.

This will be the first time he has taken charge of Fulham this season.

Last season he took charge of the following game involving Fulham:

• 24 August - Championship - Fulham 0 Bristol City 4 - Yellow Cards Issued 4 Red Cards Issued 1

COYW`s




Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=506605#ixzz4u2wD6m89

[WhiteJC]

The historymakers
by Dan on September 28, 2017

Tuesday night's win at Nottingham Forest served as a timely boost ahead of the local derby at QPR on Friday and nudged the Whites into the top half of the table. It was noteworthy for another reason, however, that hasn't been widely publicised. The 3-1 victory at the City Ground was Fulham's 850th competitive win in the second tier of English football since their foundation.

Fulham fans are fiercely proud of their illustrious history, even if it hasn't translated into winning a major trophy, which does tend to baffle the modern football fan. Thanks to the goals from Aboubakar Kamara, Stefan Johansen and Neeskens Kebano on Trentside, Fulham are now the sixth most successful side in terms of wins in what is now known as the Championship. They sit behind Barnsley, Leicester City, Leeds United and Hull City in the all-time list.

London's first professional football club has enjoyed its far share of success – and Slavisa Jokanovic's side will be chasing another victory at Loftus Road tomorrow night.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/the-historymakers/

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR vs Fulham: A look back at the last five west London derbies ahead of Friday night under the lights

QPR and Fulham meet on Friday night under the lights at Loftus Road - we take a look back at the previous derbies ahead of tomorrow night

Fulham take on QPR in the first league west London derby of the season under the lights at Loftus Road with both sides only separated by a single point.

The Whites are currently sitting in 11th place in the league table after ten games having won three of those games so far, while Rangers sit in 13th, having won the same number of matches.

However, Slavisa Jokanovic's side have only lost twice in the league, against Sheffield Wednesday and Burton, while QPR have been beaten three times.

Ahead of tomorrow night's game, we've taken a look at how the last five derbies between the two sides played out.

QPR 1-1 Fulham, January 21, 2017 - Championship
Fulham left Loftus Road in January with a point after Chris Martin atoned for his earlier penalty miss in the game, bagging a 75th minute equaliser in a fiery encounter.

Martin missed his penalty early in the game before Ryan Manning grabbed his first senior goal after he latched onto a loose Kevin McDonald backpass to slot home, giving Rangers the lead.

The Scottish forward then got his goal after he diverted in a Tom Cairney strike but tempers flared on the pitch and on the sideline, with Marc Bircham being sent to the stands after clashing with Fulham's managerial staff.


Heat of the moment: Tempers flare as QPR face Fulham (Image: Lewis Darling)

Fulham 1-2 QPR, October 1, 2016 - Championship
Sone Aluko smashed his last minute penalty against the post, while Tom Cairney also missed an earlier spot kick, as QPR left Craven Cottage with all three points early in the season.

Conor Washington put QPR in front via a deflected strike before Tim Ream drilled the hosts level, which was what their first half deserved.

Idrissa Sylla's header restored the visitor's lead before Jozabed hit the bar with a freekick, meaning that Fulham's winless run would extend to seven in all games.

How fortunes changed come the end of the season.

QPR 1-3 Fulham, February 13, 2016 - Championship
Slavisa Jokanovic recorded his first victory as the new Fulham boss when Fulham visited Loftus Road in February 2016 - the Whites' second win over their rivals that season.

Fulham were out of sight by half time, with goals from Ross McCormack, Tom Cairny and Moussa Dembele putting Fulham 3-0 up in the first 45 minutes.

Luke Garbett should've made it four before Tjaronn Chery grabbed a consolation goal, side footing the ball into the net from a Rangers corner.

The defeat left Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with just two wins from 13 games as QPR manager.


Bagging a goal: Tom Cairney at Loftus Road (Image: Fulham Chronicle)

Fulham 4-0 QPR, September 25, 2015 - Championship
Fulham thrashed QPR in the first west London derby of the season in a game to forget for the visitors as they lost Charlie Austin to injury.

Moussa Dembele got Fulham off to the perfect start just 117 seconds into the game when he nodded home, before Ben Pringle got his goal from 18-yards.

Ross McCormack scored in clinical fashion to make it 3-0 after just 31 minutes while he got his second, forcing the ball home after Gabriele Angella had turned Ryan Frederick's cross onto the bar.

It was Fulham's first clean sheet of the season.

Fulham 3-2 QPR, April 1, 2013 - Premier League
It was the side from the Cottage who came out on top the last time these two played in the Premier League, leaving QPR's hope of survival hanging by a thread.

Dimitar Berbatov capitalised on two Christopher Samba errors before an own-goal from Clint Hill saw the Whites race into a 3-0 lead, with things looking ominous for QPR.

However, Adel Taarabt scored a low strike before Loic Remy scored, atoning for his penalty miss, but QPR were unable to muster any more magic after Steve Sidwell had been sent off.

QPR were relegated come the end of the season.


Dimitar-inspired: Dimitar Berbatov inspires Fulham to a win over QPR (Image: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Image)




http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/qpr-vs-fulham-look-back-13686027

[WhiteJC]

 
Queens Park Rangers: Jack Robinson 'cannot wait' for Fulham derby

QPR defender eagerly anticipating clash with Cottagers on Friday night

Queens Park Rangers defender Jack Robinson is excited for Friday's west London derby at home to Fulham in the Championship.

The Rs entertain the Cottagers in front of the Sky Sports cameras, looking to get one over their local rivals and one-time tenants at Loftus Road.

QPR head into the game off the back of consecutive draws, but the 24-year-old says Ian Holloway's men will be fired up to break their four-game winless run in the league.

"We can't wait for Friday night," Robinson told the club website. "We'll rest up, get our recovery in, and make sure we're ready for the derby.

"You don't need to look for additional motivation for local derbies — that takes care of itself.

"We need to follow up these couple of draws with a win on Friday and if we do that, we'll be moving into the international break in the right direction."

Robinson has had an extended run in the first-team for QPR recently, lasting the distance in each of the west Londoners' last five matches.

It is a welcome return to regular football for the former Liverpool man, who saw his 2016/17 campaign hampered by injuries.

And though his recent run of games may have come about owing to injuries to others in the QPR squad, Robinson is just happy to be back playing.

"I just want to keep playing games," he added. "I've managed to string together a run of matches now and that was always a target of mine.

"Now it's time for me to push on and really show what I can do, because I'm really enjoying playing here and I feel my performances are improving week on week."



http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/football/queens-park-rangers/queens-park-rangers-jack-robinson-cannot-wait-for-fulham-derby-1-5213301

[WhiteJC]

 
Adetayo Edun, Dennis Adeniran Named In England Squads

Two players of Nigerian descent have received call-ups to England's youth teams, ahead of international fixtures in October.

The English Football Association announced on Thursday morning that Fulham midfielder Adetayo Edun has been named in the Young Lions U20 squad for their upcoming games against Italy and Czech Republic.

Manager Keith Downing's team face Italy at the Municipal Stadium of Gorgonzola on October 5, before returning to England for a game against the Czechs at St. George's Park on October 10.

Edun made his debut for England U20s in their 3-0 win over the Netherlands back in August and earned his second cap against Switzerland U20s during the first international break of this season.

Everton new signing Dennis Adeniran has also been called up for international duty, with manager Paul Simpson naming him in the U19 squad for the double header against Czech Republic (October 6) and Slovakia (October 9).

The former Fulham starlet previously represent England's U17 and U18 teams.

Igho Kingsley




http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=24805

[WhiteJC]

 
Luke Freeman says motivation won't be an issue for QPR as they look to bounce back from Barnsley disappointment against west London rivals Fulham

QPR host the Cottagers at Loftus Road in a game televised live on Sky Sports, and the midfielder says that any player who isn't up for the challenge is in the wrong game.

Luke Freeman has said getting pumped for tomorrow night's game with Fulham shouldn't be a problem for any of the team.

QPR host the Cottagers at Loftus Road in a game televised live on Sky Sports, and the midfielder says that any player who isn't up for the challenge is in the wrong game.

Speaking to GetWestLondon, he said: "As a professional footballer if you're not going to get yourself psyched up for a west London derby which is live on TV I'm not sure what's going to float your boat.

"The gaffer is going to try and do his bit as well but we won't need much to get us going."

The Hoops have stuttered in recent weeks and are on a run of four league games in a row without a win despite being favourites for three of the games against Millwall, Burton and Barnsley, but Freeman, who scored a late equaliser against the Tykes midweek, says that losing the favourites tag against Fulham could work to their advantage.

He said: "I think it suits us being the underdog. Sometimes when we're expected to beat teams it doesn't always seem to go that way, so we suit being the underdog and I think having that tag against Fulham will help us in front of our own fans on Friday night.

"It'll be a great atmosphere, and for it's now about recovery and making sure we're ready to go."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/luke-freeman-says-motivation-wont-13687534

[WhiteJC]

Kamara doubtful for derby
by Dan on September 28, 2017

Aboubakar Kamara could miss tomorrow night's west London derby with QPR after injuring his hamstring during Fulham's win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed the club's medical staff would be monitoring the French forward's progress in the run-up to the derby, which has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports, after he ended the game at City Ground complaining of pain in his hamstring. The 22 year-old has scored two in two and his absence, after an excellent display against Forest, would be a real blow for Fulham.

Jokanovic told his pre-match press conference at Motspur Park this afternoon:

    Kamara finished the game against Nottingham Forest with a problem and we will analyse the situation [ahead of the QPR game].

The Fulham head coach opted to play both Kamara, who had opened his Fulham account with a fine header against Middlesbrough on Saturday, and fit-again Portuguese forward Rui Fonte against Forest, but could reshuffle to field Fonte as a lone forward in the more familiar 4-3-3 if Kamara fails to prove his fitness.

The Serbian head coach is no doubt about what to expect at Loftus Road tomorrow night and will underline the importance of the fixture to his players.

    In front of us is a derby. It's important for our supporters and we will head into it with a desire to win the game. I know what the fans expect of us. We must be motivated and do everything we can to win. We must be ready for everything QPR have. Like always, we will try to dominate, take risks and be brave.

Jokanovic expects two of Fulham's more long-term injury absentees to be available again after the international break. Floyd Ayite, who came off in the first half against Cardiff with a hamstring complaint, should be fit to face Preston North End and loan signing Rafa Soares, who came through 60 minutes for Fulham's Under 23 side at Blackburn earlier this week unscathed, is making good progress.

    We expect Ayite to be back for the game after the international break. We're going to observe Rafa Soares during the break. He's had two sessions, so his fitness is not at the highest level.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/kamara-doubtful-for-derby/

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic gives Fulham injury news ahead of QPR game, including update on Tom Cairney

The Fulham boss has given updates on Floyd Ayite, Aboubakar Kamara and Tom Cairney ahead of the QPR game tomorrow night

Fulham will be without Floyd Ayite for their west London derby with QPR, but there is an air of optimism that Tom Cairney could be back from injury after the international break.

The Scot has been missing since the win over Ipswich as he struggles with a knee injury and although Slavisa Jokanovic still can't give a definitive time line on his return, there is an optimistic view that he could return after the international break.

Meanwhile, Aboubakar Kamara will face a fitness test ahead of the game after he suffered an injury late in the 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, but the club hope he will be available for the derby.

Speaking about injuries, Jokanovic said: "At the moment we are still without Tom Cairney, Floyd Ayite and Lucas Piazon.

"Aboubakar Kamara finished the game on Tuesday with some problem and we are going to assess him, but the other parts of the squad are available for the game.

"We expect Ayite will be available for the game after the international break.

"With Cairney, there is a more optimistic and less optimistic view, in this moment I cannot give you any new information, but in the more optimistic situation we are hoping he will be available for the games after the international break against Preston."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-gives-fulham-injury-13688663

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR v Fulham extra security checks

FOLLOWING the recent terrorist incidents, supporters are requested to arrive at Loftus Road and enter the stadium as early as possible for Friday's fixture against Fulham.
       
This will allow the required time for additional searches and security measures to gain entry into the ground to take place, which are likely to lengthen queuing times.

All fans are also reminded, where possible, to avoid bringing bags to Loftus Road on a matchday.
The terror threat remains at severe and this reminder follows the advice to all venues.
QPR would like to thank our supporters for their help and co-operation in making Loftus Road a safe and enjoyable environment for all.


https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/qpr-v-fulham-extra-security-checks/

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic wants Fulham to keep their heads ahead of fiery west London derby with QPR

Tempers flared in this fixture last season, both on and off the pitch, with QPR first team coach Marc Bircham being sent to the stand after clashing with Slavisa Jovanovic

Slavisa Jokanovic wants his Fulham side to keep clear heads as they face QPR in a west London derby that has the potential to be a fiery encounter.

Tempers flared both on and off the pitch last season, with Jokanovic and his backroom staff clashing with their QPR counterparts which saw QPR coach Marc Bircham sent to the stands, while Tom Cairney was lucky not to see red after the players had words with one another.

The two sides meet once again tomorrow night under the lights at Loftus Road with only a point separating them in the Championship league table in a game that has the potential to be yet another fiery encounter.

Jokanovic knows it's important for his players to keep their heads tomorrow in order to win the match - something he knows is important to everyone connected to Fulham.

He said: "It's always important [to keep clear heads], we know it's a west London derby and how important it is for us, for our supporters and all the people here at the club.

"It's important for us to be focused and be ready for everything that we are going to find during the game.

"QPR are physically very strong and we will find many challenges and we must be ready for the second phase, in this season QPR have had a little bit more possession of the ball than they did last season.

"We've tried to make analysis on them and they are one of the top teams in the category of possession of the football.

"They aren't a team who connect so many passes and in this kind of formation can be a little bit fake.

"In the past few games they played in a 4-3-3, at the start of the season they used a shape with five players at the back and last season when we played them they played with five in the back and we weren't so comfortable during the game.

"We must be ready for everything from QPR, for our side, like always, we are going to try and dominate the chances, take the risks and be brave and looking for three points."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-wants-fulham-keep-13689086

[WhiteJC]

 
Team News

Slaviša Jokanović provided an injury update in his pre-Queens Park Rangers press conference on Thursday.

"At the moment we are still without Tom Cairney, Floyd Ayité and Lucas Piazon," he confirmed.

"Aboubakar Kamara finished the [Nottingham Forest] game with some problem and we are going to assess him.

"We expect Floyd can be available for the game after the international break."

When pushed on a timescale for Cairney's return, Jokanović explained that it's hard to be specific.

"There exist more optimistic and less optimistic views," he stated. "At this moment I cannot give you any new information, but a more optimistic view says he could be available for the Preston game."

We saw Rafa Soares feature in a Fulham shirt for the first time this week, with the left-back playing 64 minutes of the PL2 trip to Blackburn Rovers.

"He's had a few days working with us," Jokanović revealed. "He's not at his physically best level, but this international break is good for him to get his fitness to its highest level.

"We're going to try and organise a game to check him and some people who didn't have enough minutes at the beginning of the season."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/28/team-news

[WhiteJC]

 
Jordan Cousins in frame for QPR against Fulham

Jordan Cousins could be added to the QPR squad for the west London derby against Fulham.

The former Charlton midfielder got 75 minutes under his belt for Rangers' reserves on Monday to prove his fitness after a hamstring problem.

Steven Caulker's condition will be assessed after he played for an hour in the 1-1 draw at Barnsley on Tuesday.

Caulker could be needed again with fellow defenders Grant Hall (tendonitis), Nedum Onuoha (hamstring) and James Perch (knee) all sidelined.

Fulham are still without their skipper Tom Cairney.

The Scotland midfielder has yet to recover from the knee injury which has kept him out for a month.

Floyd Ayite has also been ruled out and Lucas Piazon is still recovering from a broken leg.

Rafa Soares is close to making his debut after an ankle problem, while Aboubakar Kamara needs a late fitness test.



https://www.clubcall.com/fulham/jordan-cousins-in-frame-for-qpr-against-fulham-1864324.html

[WhiteJC]

Book review – My life in football, by Micky Adams
by Dan on September 28, 2017

Football autobiographies are ten a penny these days. A star player 'writes' one to cash in on hitting the big time. A sacked manager pens a few chapters lifting the lid on why it wasn't his fault that the team kept conceding silly goals. Or a recently retired pro tells tales from inside the dressing room. The formats are rather tired – and there's little insight that you wouldn't gain from a few months on the after-dinner circuit.

You can tell a good football book these days because they have a different angle. It isn't about settling scores or reliving the glory days, but offering you – the person who will likely never be good enough to experience professional sport themselves – an insight into the lonely world of an elite performer. The pressures manifest themselves not just on the field of play but in the quieter moments when the sportsperson is left to contemplate the future should things not go according to plan.

Micky Adams had a storied football career having been in the same dressing room as Matt Le Tissier and Alan Shearer at Southampton in the early days of the Premier League and, so many years after an abrupt and deeply unsatisfactory departure from Craven Cottage, he remains a cult hero at Fulham. His contribution during an injury-ravaged eighteen months as a player who had been convinced to drop down the divisions to join Ian Branfoot's rescue act might not have been what the supporters had expected, but Adams more than made up for that in his first managerial job.

Pitched into management at the age of 33, when he freely admits he was 'young, naive and a hot head,' an impetuous Adams went about a club that was at rock bottom, without any money, training facilities, kit or – seemingly – much hope. The powers-that-be might have expected Adams to feel his way into management, but having watched several players take advantage of Branfoot's softer side, the new boss was keen to put his foot down. He was equally determined to take on the legendary Jimmy Hill, who was frequently late to board meetings and had been used to seeing underlings tolerate his own views on the game as Adams tells it. The book recounts Adams insisting to his chairman that seventeen members of the 1995/96 squad should be handed free transfers. whilst it also notes that, when Adams achieve promotion the following season against all expectations, Fulham missed out on the Division Three title because Hill had persuaded his fellow chairmen to switch from goal difference to goals scored in the event that teams finished level on points.

The still unbelievable success of that season is told in humorous detail. Darren Freeman, now a manager himself at Lewes, comes across just as daft as he did in Simon Morgan's book. The skipper himself was unsettled by Tony Pulis at Gillingham earlier in the season, before Adams insisted that he should be told what was bothering Morgan. The slight tactical tweaks that saw Fulham adopt a very modern 3-4-3, with Nick Cusack converted from a striker to a sweeper/holding midfielder, that allowed Mick Conroy, so starved of goals in the previous campaign, the sort of service upon which he thrived.

The secret of Fulham's outstanding season that generated the fateful interest from Mohamed Al-Fayed appears to have been a pre-season tour to Ballygar, where Adams' promotion-winning medal is now located, fixed up by the GMB's Paul Kenny. It wasn't the most glamorous of tours given what players are used to these days – and Freeman was caught out on two trips getting up far too early for a spot of fishing – but it fostered the sort of camaraderie that carried Fulham through a remarkable year. Even the briefest of returns for prima donna Paul Parker couldn't upset the applecart.

Adams admits he can only truly appreciate how special that season was now that he is far removed from management – with no desire to return. For a club that had been heading towards oblivion, not just in football terms but financially, that season was something so special. From being a soft touch, Fulham could scare the opposition now – no surprise given their line-up featured Carpenter, Mark Blake, PauL Watson, Morgan and Terry Angus – but they also played some fine football along the way as well. Young Sean Davis, who did go on to make it, and the terrifically talented Paul Brooker, who sadly didn't, played their part alongside the likes of Robbie Herrera and, famously, Rodney McAree.

It remains one of the more controversial decisions of the Al-Fayed tenure that Adams was never given an opportunity to finish what he started. He is candid, writing about the impact of seeing Kevin Keegan and Ray Wilkins in the crowd and responding to incessant rumours about his own future from the outset, and admits he might have made a mistake in not standing up to the Harrods tycoon. Adams is forthright – as you'd expect the Sheffield-born full-back who took no prisoners to be – and the book is all the better for that.

As a cult hero at Craven Cottage, it's the sections that detail his time at Fulham that garner most attention for this audience but the book includes plenty of fascinating details on the remainder of his managerial career, especially on the promotions with Brighton and Hove Albion and Wycombe and just how it all fell apart at Leicester. Now employed as a consultant to other young coaches, the book, written with the experienced football journalist Neil Moxley, should be required reading for anyone who loves the game. It's just a bonus that it contains the inside track on one of Fulham's most memorable seasons.

My Life in Football by Micky Adams, with Neil Moxley, is published by Biteback Publishing and priced at £20.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/book-review-my-life-in-football-by-micky-adams/

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR v Fulham
FRI, 29 Sept 2017 Championship
Venue: Loftus Road Stadium

Jordan Cousins has yet to feature for Queens Park Rangers this season

QPR midfielder Jordan Cousins (hamstring) could feature after playing for the reserve side on Monday.

Centre-half Steven Caulker remains a doubt despite playing 60 minutes of the draw against Barnsley on Tuesday

Fulham forward Aboubakar Kamara will be assessed ahead of the trip to Loftus Road after picking up a knock in Tuesday's win at Nottingham Forest.

Midfielder Tom Cairney, winger Floyd Ayite and left-back Rafa Soares remain out with injury problems.

SAM's prediction
Home win - 26%   Draw - 27%   Away win - 49%

SAM, the Sports Analytics Machine, is a super-computer built by @ProfIanMcHale of the University of Liverpool.

Match facts
    QPR have won only one of their last six home matches against Fulham (D2 L3), a 2-1 win in the Premier League in December 2012.
    Fulham failed to beat the Hoops in both league matches last season - they haven't gone three without a win against them in all competitions since May 1983 (a run of four).
    The Hoops have lost their last 10 league matches played on a Friday, a run that stretches back to December 2014.
    QPR boss Ian Holloway is yet to defeat Fulham in a home match as a manager (D3 L3).
    QPR are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W4 D2) - their longest run since a run of nine in December 2015.
    Fulham have lost just one of their last eight away from home in the Championship (W5 D2), a 2-1 loss at Burton earlier this month.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41356604

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR v Fulham

With an important if slightly scrappy three points taken in Nottingham on Tuesday night, Fulham's attentions turn to the noisy neighbours down the road, and a visit to one-time temporary home Loftus Road beckons for the Whites.

Fulham might have won on Tuesday, but the performance was particularly unconvincing at times, and if it wasn't for some particularly poor finishing from Nottingham Forest (h/t Daryl Murphy), then we could have been staring down the barrel of another damning defeat to a struggling side.

There are positives though, with another goal and a decent performance from Aboubakar Kamara pre-eminent amongst them. Kamara is a funny one, and whilst I'm delighted that I'm having to eat my words about him in terms of scoring goals, it's important to look at the bigger picture. Fulham looked disjointed at the City Ground, and it remains to be seen whether the cause of that was having a direct player rather than a link-up man in the centre-forward position.

Rui Fonte, playing against Middlesbrough, did all of his best work with his back to goal, bringing the midfield into play and facilitating the slick, elegant play that made Fulham such a force last year. There was very little of that against Forest, and even when Ollie Norwood came on to shore up the midfield, Fulham lacked their usual fluidity.

That said, a win is a win, and teams who have got promoted scrappily will tell you it doesn't matter how you get the points. Talking of wins, Fulham face a side without many of them in the league recently in Queens Park Rangers.

Holloway has his side playing better football than many expected, and has, perhaps more predictably, turned them into a team that are quite hard to beat. To be perfectly honest, their record is pretty similar to that of Fulham, with just three losses and four draws as opposed to the Whites' five draws and two losses.

Something that should worry Fulham, however, is Rangers' knack of scoring late goals to salvage points. We've seen at home this season where Fulham have already dropped six points from winning positions late in games, that the Whites look defensively suspect without a cushion, and this is something that Holloway will be keen to remind his players of.

In Luke Freeman, Conor Washington, Jamie Mackie and (don't even tempt fate) Matt Smith, the Hoops have plenty of players who know how to put the ball in the back of the net, and whilst Fulham definitely have the quality to put Rangers to the sword, Holloway will want blood and thunder under the lights at Loftus Road.

There's plenty at stake beside bragging rights here, and a win for Fulham could kickstart the season and get a positive attitude around the Cottage throughout the international break, alongside providing a glorious evening in W12 for the 3000 Fulham fans who will make the short hop. Fingers crossed.

Last 5 Championship Results:

    D: Barnsley 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
    D: Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Burton Albion
    L: Middlesbrough 3-2 Queens Park Rangers
    D: Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Millwall
    W: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Ipswich Town

Fulhamish's Starting Line-Up:

We know that this is going to go against some people's wishes, and it's not what Slavisa would do, but I'd use Kamara as an impact sub. Now his confidence is up and running, bringing on that kind of weapon against tiring legs who will have been chasing Rui Fonte around for 70 minutes could be a masterstroke. Sess goes back to left-back, Norwood returns, and Kebano and Mollo get the nod for us.

Key Battle:
Josh Scowen v Stefan Johansen

The battle of the engines, if you will. A few envious eyebrows were raised around the Championship when Rangers picked up former Barnsley midfielder Josh Scowen on a free transfer at the beginning of the window. They've been proved right because Scowen has been almost an ever-present in the Rangers midfield since, linking up tidily with Massimo Luongo (not the best midfielder in the Championship, Ollie) and Luke Freeman.

Scowen's industry and ability to recycle possession has been incredibly well-received by QPR fans, who have praised his performances since his arrival. In contrast, Stefan Johansen has not quite had the start to the season that Fulham fans were hoping for. Despite chipping in with his customary goals – StefJo is Fulham's joint top-scorer (Shock) – the Norwegian's performances have been somewhat below the par we've come to expect from him.

Perhaps missing the vision of Tom Cairney beside him, Fulham's No8 has been partly anonymous for some of the season, when many of us were hoping that he would step into the void created by the absence of the talismanic No10. That said, Stef's industry and workrate have remained solid, and it's refreshing to see that even when things aren't technically going his way, he's willing to commit even harder to the industrious nature of his game.

He'll be tested by Scowen, however, and Fulham's midfield will need to step up to the plate if we're to dominate the midfield battle. If Johansen can rediscover his touch, and connect nicely with Norwood and McDonald, then the Whites will have a solid platform on which to push for the bragging rights over our neighbours down the 'Bush.

Fulhamish's Prediction:

It's going to be scrappy and horrible and, if Fulham come out on top, absolutely gorgeous. We're going for 2-1 Fulham with a last minute winner from Sessegnon, and limbs all over White City.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2017-09-28-qpr-v-fulham-2/

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR v Fulham - Fascinating Facts

Local West London derby fixtures, against Queens Park Rangers, are almost most welcome.

This Friday, at Loftus Road, the travelling support will be hoping that their side can add another three points to their total.

But what do the facts and figures tell us to expect?

Here`s a few that might interest you:

• When it comes to matches between the two sides at Loftus Road, Fulham shade it in recent times, the last 6 fixtures have seen Fulham win 3, draw 2 and lose just 1.

• Last season though, Fulham failed to register a win against QPR, the Cottagers haven`t gone 3 games without a win against QPR, in all competitions, since way back in May 1983.

• When it comes to playing on a Friday night, QPR have an awful record, on the last 10 occasions they`ve played they`ve lost. The last time they won on a Friday night was back in December 2014.

• QPR`s current manager, Ian Holloway, has faced Fulham 6 times and has yet to register a win, drawing 3 and losing 3.

• Fulham, on the road, have a good record, the last 8 away games in the Championship, have yielded 5 wins, 2 draws and just 1 defeat.

• QPR are on an unbeaten run of 6 home games, winning 4 and drawing 2.

COYW`s



http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=506681
Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=506681#ixzz4u37b0nnQ

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's Kamara could miss QPR game

Fulham striker Aboubakar Kamara is a doubt for Friday's derby against QPR.

Kamara picked up a knock during the midweek win at Nottingham Forest and is being assessed ahead of the game at Loftus Road.

The Whites are still without Tom Cairney and Floyd Ayité, while Rafa Soares is still building up his fitness.

Recent signing Soares played for Fulham's development side against Blackburn this week and is expected to be in contention for first-team selection after the international break.

"He's not at his physically best level, but this international break is good for him to get his fitness to its highest level," said boss Slavisa Jovanovic.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-star-doubt-qpr-clash

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR hopeful Sylla will be fit for Fulham game

QPR are hopeful Idrissa Sylla will be passed fit for Friday's game against Fulham.

Sylla was unavailable for the midweek draw at Barnsley after failing to recover from a knee problem in time.

QPR are hopeful Idrissa Sylla will be passed fit for Friday's game against Fulham.

Sylla was unavailable for the midweek draw at Barnsley after failing to recover from a knee problem in time.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/qpr-hopeful-striker-will-fit-fulham-game

[WhiteJC]

 
David Button insists Fulham must not get drawn into playing QPR's brand of football at Loftus Road

The two sides meet under the lights at Loftus Road this evening and Button is expecting a physical contest, but insists his side must play their own brand of football

David Button insists Fulham must not get drawn into QPR's style of football as the two sides meet under the lights at Loftus Road this evening.

The Whites go into the game on the back of three points they picked up in a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest - a game where the side showed character to withstand pressure and leave the Forest ground with the win.

Tonight they face a QPR side who are more physical than the Forest team they played in midweek, with Ian Holloway playing a direct brand of football that has seen the Loftus Road outfit pick up 13 points so far.

West London derbies are always special occasions, and the Fulham stopper is looking forward to what tonight brings but insists his side must concentrate on playing their own game and not be drawn into a dog fight with Rangers.

He said: "This is one we're really looking forward to, night games and derbies are always special games and hopefully we can make it one to remember.

"We know about them, they'll be more physical and direct than Forest were so it's just making sure we stand up to them but also play our own game, which is getting the ball on the floor - we don't want to get drawn into playing their style of football.

"Hopefully we can do that and we can come out on top tonight."

Meanwhile, Aboubakar Kamara is a doubt for tonight's game after suffering a hamstring injury against Forest , while Floyd Ayite will definitely the miss the game through injury.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/david-button-insists-fulham-must-13691484

[WhiteJC]

 
Who should Ian Holloway select for tonight's west London derby between QPR and Fulham?

It's set to be one of the biggest games at Loftus Road this season, and big games call for big-game players.

QPR are preparing for an intense match under the lights as they prepare to face rivals Fulham in the west London derby.

Ian Holloway will be keen to pick up three points going into the international break, so here's a look at the options at Ollie's disposal.

Squad overview

Striker Idrissa Sylla is set to come back into contention after missing Tuesday's trip to Barnsley.

The Guinea international missed the clash with a knee injury, but is likely to take his place on the bench for tonight's game.

Elsewhere it's much the same squad that travelled to south Yorkshire, with just long-term absentees Nedum Onuoha, Grant Hall and James Perch expected to miss out.

Our prediction

I wouldn't be surprised to see Holloway make a couple of changes tonight.

The Hoops have lacked creativity in the last two games against Burton Albion and Barnsley, and so I think there will be a need to freshen things up, particularly in the attacking third.

Conor Washington was dropped to the bench against the Tykes on Tuesday night, so he's likely to take his place up front, while Jamie Mackie has started both games so far this week so he may well be a contender to be replaced by Matt Smith who had offered a focal point to QPR's attacks when introduced in recent weeks.

Elsewhere, Bright Osayi-Samuel will likely drop out of the starting XI after making little impact against Barnsley, meaning David Wheeler or Kazenga Lua Lua could come into contention on the left wing.

In terms of the defence and midfield I could see a similar line up to that which started against Barnsley, with the Hoops defence being one key redeeming feature in a disappointing few weeks.

Predicted XI: Smithies, Baptiste, Caulker, Robinson, Bidwell, Wszolek, Scowen, Luongo, Freeman, Washington, Mackie.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-should-ian-holloway-select-13691646