Saturday Fulham Stuff (30/09/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Results

Friday
QPR	1 - 2	Fulham

[WhiteJC]

 
U18s Host Brighton

The Young Whites take on Chelsea this Saturday, the only team in the Premier Leauge South to have dropped no points this season. Kick off is at 11am at Chelsea's Cobham Training Ground.

The Blues are top of the table with 15 points, and Fulham are close behind on 13 in 2nd place, Leicester City are also on 13 in third place with an inferior goal difference.

Chelsea have scored 14 goals and have impressively conceded zero goals. The only team to score more than the Blues are Fulham with 15, however have conceded four.

It looks to be a very close match up as both teams have played four of the same opponents. Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-0, the Whites won 4-0 in the Cup.

Last time out Chelsea beat Swansea 5-0 in South Wales, the only team that Fulham dropped points against where they drew 1-1 at The Swans' Training Ground. Since then the Whites have won four on the bounce in all competitions.

Score updates will be provided from the Clubs twitter account @FulhamFC.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/29/u18s-travel-to-chelsea

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR 1-2 Fulham: Visitors claim local bragging rights with Jack Robinson own goal and Stefan Johansen strike despite late Rangers onslaught

    Jack Robinson's own goal put Fulham ahead away against local rivals QPR
    Defender deflected in Ryan Fredericks' shot four minutes before half time
    Win marred by on-loan winger Sheyi Ojo suffering a dislocated shoulder
    Fulham could have made win safe late on but Rui Fonte blazed penalty over bar
    However just over a minute later Stefan Johansen scored from edge of the area
    Conor Washington slammed home as QPR pressed in nine minutes added time

Queens Park Rangers suffered an 11th Friday night league loss in a row as Fulham bagged the west London bragging rights at Loftus Road.

Separated by just three miles, a Jack Robinson own goal then a Stefan Johansen strike secured Fulham the win as 3,000 away fans made the short journey home happy.

Substitute Conor Washington made it a grandstand finish but QPR could not find a leveller amid a frantic nine minutes of added time.


An own goal by Jack Robinson (background) put Fulham ahead away against local rivals QPR


Stefan Johansen scored from edge of the area to secure all three points for the visitors


Conor Washington slammed home as QPR pressed for an equaliser in nine minutes added time



QPR (4-1-3-2): Smithies; Baptiste, Lynch, Robinson, Bidwell; Scowen; Wszolek (Smith 60), Luongo, Freeman; Mackie (Washington 76), Sylla (Wheeler 84)

Unused subs: Manning, Furlong, Lumley, Osayi-Samuel

Goal: Washington 90+2

Bookings: Luongo 17, Mackie 22, Lynch 83

Fulham (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon; Norwood, McDonald, Johansen; Mollo (Odoi 62), Fonte (Cisse 90+3), Ojo (Kebano 55)

Unused subs: Bettinelli, Madl, Graham, Djalo

Goals: Robinson og 41, Johansen 85

Bookings: Norwood 63, Fredericks 64, Button 86




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4934644/QPR-1-2-Fulham-Visitors-claim-West-London-bragging-rights.html#ixzz4u8licl14
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović believes Fulham deserved to take three points from Friday's tense meeting with Queens Park Rangers.

Conor Washington halved the Whites' 2-0 lead in the second of nine minutes added on at the end, but Jokanović's men held firm to take the bragging rights.

"I'm always happy, especially when we win a West London derby," he stated. "I am happy for the supporters, too. I believe we deserved it.

"At the end we suffered when QPR were in our territory and they started to push us in the box with many players. I must be satisfied because we survived this complicated moment. We suffered after their goal but fortunately we defended well and won the game."

Fulham have hit form ahead of the international break, taking seven points this week, but Jokanović – who confirmed Sheyi Ojo has gone to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder – believes his side can only improve.

"We are a completely new team," he explained. "Tonight was 50 per cent of the players from last season. We believe when we start working all together and push each other that all the players can be better than they actually are right now.

"We need to compete in training to be ready to compete during the competition. We are going to push each other to try and be successful."

Just before Stefan Johansen scored the Whites' second goal, Rui Fonte sent a penalty over the bar, giving fans a chilling sense of déjà vu from last term.

"It's only one penalty that we missed this season," Jokanović said. "It's the first time we shoot and the first time we missed.

"I cannot explain it. I ordered that Rui take it in this situation. I expect we'll be successful next time. He can take another one."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/29/head-coach-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR 1-2 Fulham

Ryan Fredericks' effort was officially credited as a Jack Robinson own goal

Fulham held on at west London rivals QPR to claim back-to-back Championship wins for the first time this season.

The visitors' opener came with a stroke of fortune as Ryan Fredericks' strike was heavily deflected off Jack Robinson to wrong-foot goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

Rui Fonte blazed over from the penalty spot before Stefan Johansen's low finish looked to have sealed victory.

But substitute Conor Washington's strike made it 2-1 and QPR pushed for a late leveller that just would not come.

Fulham's Sheyi Ojo was taken to hospital with a dislocated collarbone in the second half and that contributed to nine minutes of stoppage time being signalled, with Washington's close-range finish coming in the second of those.

The hosts then bombarded Fulham's penalty area in the closing moments and Luke Freeman and Matt Smith both went close before Tomas Kalas hooked the ball off the line as Fulham held on.

Defeat extended QPR's winless run to five games, while Fulham's victory was their third in their past four away games.

Johansen's crisp effort ultimately proved decisive for Slavisa Jokanovic's improving side, ensuring his team-mate's miss from the spot was not costly, with Fonte also having gone close on the counter in an open first half.

QPR boss Ian Holloway: "The disappointing thing was the second goal, just after they missed a penalty and justice was done there.

"But after that, they broke again and when that ball got squared, how can we have two touches on the edge of our area, just after they've missed a penalty?

"We kept going and we should have got a point out of that. But such is life."

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic: "I am always happy with three points and to win a west London derby.

"We had to be brave. The last few minutes it was a completely different game. A lot of things were happening in the penalty box, but we defended well.

"Unfortunately we have another player in hospital tonight. It is some kind of dislocation of his shoulder. But hopefully after the international break we will get some of our important players back."



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

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham survive late QPR fightback to win derby

QPR 1 Fulham 2

Fulham survived a late QPR rally to secure another derby victory at Loftus Road.

Ryan Fredericks' heavily deflected shot put the visitors ahead, Fulham striker Rui Fonte missed a penalty and Stefan Johansen doubled the lead before Conor Washington's injury-time goal set up a frantic finish.

Fulham held on for a second successive away win, condemning unlucky Rangers to a first home league defeat of the season.

The opening goal came five minutes before half-time, when Fredericks' shot struck QPR defender Jack Robinson, completely wrong-footing keeper Alex Smithies.

A minute after blasting a penalty over the bar, Fonte made amends by finding space on the right and pulling the ball back for Johansen to fire home.

Rangers battled on and were rewarded when Jake Bidwell's free-kick was won in the air by Matt Smith and Washington netted with the help of a deflection off Fredericks.

The home side had dominated much of a second half in which Fulham's on-loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo was stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his shoulder following a challenge from Joel Lynch.

Fulham keeper David Button pushed away a shot from Massimo Luongo shortly after the interval and Luke Freeman went close to equalising with a free-kick.

Matt Smith, on as a substitute against his former club, then headed Freeman's left-wing corner over the bar.

Having absorbed plenty of pressure, Fulham were handed a chance to make it 2-0 when Neeskens Kebano went down under a challenge from Lynch after dispossessing the QPR defender.

Fonte's dismal spot-kick was Fulham's fourth penalty miss in their last three matches against the R's.

Johansen's emphatic finish with five minutes remaining gave the Whites some breathing space but Rangers responded – and very nearly levelled in the closing stages.

Button denied Washington after the striker had been set up by Freeman, and Tomas Kalas cleared off the line from Smith.

QPR: Smithies; Baptiste, Lynch, Robinson; Wszolek (Smith 59), Scowen. Luongo, Freeman, Bidwell; Mackie (Washington 76), Sylla (Wheeler 84).
Subs not used: Lumley, Furlong, Manning, Osayi-Samuel.

Fulham: Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon, Norwood, McDonald, Johansen, Ojo (Kebano 55), Mollo (Odoi 62), Fonte (Cisse 90).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Djalo, Madl, Graham.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/qpr-fulham-championship-report-30092017

[WhiteJC]

 
Result: Fulham survive late Queens Park Rangers fightback to claim derby victory

Fulham have survived a frantic Queens Park Rangers fightback in a spell of injury time which lasted nearly ten minutes as the Cottagers ran out 2-1 winners in Friday night's Championship clash at Loftus Road.

The home side began brightly but the first chance of the game fell to the Cottagers in the fifth minute, with Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo getting in behind the QPR defence down the right-hand side, but his subsequent effort flew wide.

At the other end, Jake Bidwell's cross on seven minutes fell kindly for Idrissa Sylla, but the 26-year-old blazed his shot over the bar, although it would not have counted as he was in an offside position.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/qpr/result/result-fulham-survive-late-qpr-fightback_308439.html

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR 1-2 Fulham: Away side win West London derby

Fulham celebrate at Loftus Road

QPR suffered a familiar Friday night feeling as Fulham won the West London derby 2-1 at Loftus Road.

An own-goal by defender Jack Robinson, who deflected in a shot from Ryan Fredericks, and a Stefan Johansen strike ended Rangers' unbeaten home run this season.

Conor Washington hit a late consolation for Rangers but the defeat extended a remarkable, unwanted record for the hosts who have now lost the last 11 matches they have played on a Friday.

These sides are separated by only three miles and, at kick-off, were just a point apart in the Sky Bet Championship but it was Fulham who catapulted themselves out of mid-table and to within a point of the play-offs.

Fulham are fourth in Sky Bet's Championship title odds at 9/1. That's behind Wolves (11/4), Cardiff (100/30) and Leeds (15/2).

QPR are out at 500/1 to finish at the top and 5/1 for relegation.
Reaction

Ian Holloway could not believe QPR did not come away with a point.

Former Cottagers striker Matt Smith had a header cleared off the line - and then goalkeeper Alex Smithies somehow nodded wide from in front of goal in the final stages.

Rangers boss Holloway revealed: "The boys are calling him Toblerone head after that. I wouldn't have sent him up if I'd known that!

"It's quite a surreal feeling when you see your team still fighting and the chances coming, and we would have got at least what we deserved, a point."

Slavisa Jokanovic was relieved to see Fulham hold on during a frantic finale.

"I am always happy with three points and to win a west London derby," he said.

"We had to be brave. The last few minutes it was a completely different game. A lot of things were happening in the penalty box, but we defended well."



https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/fulham-win-west-london-derby/110679

[WhiteJC]

 
Ryan Fredericks: 'Fulham can scrap it out'

Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks has hailed his side's ability to "scrap it out" after holding on for a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

The Cottagers took the lead in the 41st minute through a Fredericks drive from long range that went into the goal via Jack Robinson's unfortunate deflection.

Slavisa Jokanovic's charges doubled their advantage in the 85th minute through Stefan Johansen, but Conor Washington halved the deficit for QPR in the second of nine minutes of injury time.

What followed was a frantic end to the game as the hosts had their West London rivals under siege, but the visitors were able to hold out until the final whistle.

"It was scrappy towards the end. They brought on big Matt Smith and to be fair he caused carnage at the end, but we held on," Fredericks told Sky Sports News.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/fredericks-fulham-can-scrap-it-out_308441.html

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR 1 Fulham 2: Late drama as Holloway's men suffer first home defeat

QPR are without a win in five Championship games after suffering a dramatic London derby defeat at the hands of Fulham.

Fulham held off a late QPR fightback to win 2-1 at Loftus Road and hand Ian Holloway's men their first home defeat of the Championship season.

Jack Robinson deflected Ryan Fredericks' shot in for an own goal four minutes before half-time as the visitors moved in front.

Rui Fonte blazed a penalty over the bar for Fulham with seven minutes to go, but redeemed himself by setting up Stefan Johansen to seemingly seal victory two minutes later.

Fulham still had work to do, though, as QPR threatened a fightback.

Substitute Conor Washington scored with a deflected effort two minutes into stoppage time, before defender Tomas Kalas had to clear Matt Smith's header off the line to preserve the points during a frantic finale.

QPR's first loss in front of their own fans leaves them 14th in the table and without a win in five league games. Fulham, meanwhile, are now four better off and move up to eighth, Slavisa Jokanovic's side gaining momentum, having only lost once in seven games.



Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/qpr-1-fulham-2-late-drama-holloways-men-suffer-first-home-defeat#2fwGX4xVcssR42Od.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham deserved derby triumph – Jokanovic

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said his side fully deserved their derby victory at QPR.

The visitors won 2-1 at Loftus Road, surviving a late barrage from Rangers following Conor Washington's injury-time goal.

"I am always happy when we win a derby like this and I am happy for the supporters," Jokanovic said.

"I believe we deserved it. At the end of the game QPR brought us into their territory and pushed in the box with many players and we survived these complicated moments.

"We suffered in the last few minutes after they scored and fortunately we defended well and won the game.

"They put many people forward and used their weapons and we showed our strength on the field."

Jokanovic added that Sheyi Ojo had been taken to hospital.

The on-loan Liverpool winger was stretchered off in the second half after falling awkwardly on his shoulder following a challenge from Joel Lynch.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/jokanovic-fulham-deserved-win-dealing-qpr-weapons

[WhiteJC]

 
Sheyi Ojo taken to hospital after dislocating his shoulder in Fulham's win at QPR

Fulham forward Sheyi Ojo was admitted to hospital tonight after suffering a dislocated shoulder in his side's 2-1 win at London rivals QPR.

The Liverpool loanee had to be stretchered off the field in the 55th minute following a challenge with QPR centre-back Joel Lynch in which Ojo fell awkwardly on his left shoulder.

Though Cottagers' boss Slavisa Jokanovic welcomed a hard-fought win at Loftus Road but was once more left cursing his side's luck as they lost another bright young prospect, having already seen Lucas Piazon break his leg early in the season.

"We are not lucky this start of the season. We have one player more in the hospital.

"[It's a] dislocation of the shoulder. That's all we know."

An own-goal from Jake Robinson and a low drive from Stefan Johansen set Fulham on course for a victory that could have been far more comfortable had Rui Fonte not blazed an 85th minute penalty over the bar.

A Conor Washington strike set up a thrilling finale in West London as QPR chased an equaliser that, despite a string of late chances, they could not claim.

Victory moved Fulham within a point of the playoff places as they continue to recover ground following their slow start to the season. Their manager is convinced that even better form is to come when he gets his full complement of players.

Jokanovic added: "I need to change my team every week [because of injuries]. Tonight is 50 per cent of the players from last season.

"Every week we try to find some different options and use some different players.

"When we start working together all of our players will be better. I need them [to be able to] compete in training to compete in the competition. I don't have enough for opposite sides in my training."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/sheyi-ojo-taken-to-hospital-after-dislocating-his-shoulder-in-fulham-s-win-at-qpr-a3647406.html

[WhiteJC]

 
QPR 1-2 Fulham Six Things: chances galore

Had QPR and Fulham been more ruthless in front of goal, we could potentially be talking about one of the second tier's highest-scoring matches ever, rather than what looked on paper like a run-of-the-mill 2-1 win for the visitors. That came thanks to goals from Ryan Fredericks and Stefan Johansen, though Conor Washington's injury-time strike sparked a late scare. Here's six talking points from the match.

QPR's bright start

The hosts' football involved using Idrissa Sylla's physicality by getting him involved early, before bringing midfielders into play. That plan worked well early on with the well-liked Luke Freeman unsurprisingly the Rs' liveliest performer. He saw a seventh minute shot from the edge of the box deflected wide, then seven minutes later, the ex-Bristol City man combined with Massimo Luongo to find Pawel Wszolek in the area, but the Pole dragged his shot wide.

Fulham's midfield

The match represented a clash of QPR's power and passion against Fulham's possession and panache. As midfielders Johansen and Oliver Norwood came to the fore, so did the away side, who could have gone ahead within the first half hour given a little more final third incision, notably from striker Rui Fonte. Right-back Ryan Fredericks, who blocked Jake Bidwell's 29th minute effort, was a driving force for the Cottagers, showing the confidence to either attack the flank or cut inside, depending on where the space opened up. He deserved to score the opener on 37 minutes, even if it came via a cruel Jack Robinson deflection.

Inverted full-backs

Just as Fredericks caused problems by cutting in from the right in the first half, Ryan Sessegnon did the same from the left in the second period. On two occassions in a five-minute spell, Sessegnon made a dart from left wing-back to meet a cross from the right at the near-post. Even if he wasn't able to score on either occasion, the fluidity of his movement sums up the freedom he plays with for the Cottagers, who had many breakaways after the interval. We saw a mixed two minutes for Fonte, who took a poor spot kick after substitute Neeskens Kebano had been tripped by Joel Lynch, but then teed up Johansen to score an impressive strike which appeared to clinch victory.

Late drama

A spirited QPR though thought otherwise, as did the nine minutes of stoppage time, two minutes into which the influential Matt Smith knocked the ball down for fellow substitute Conor Washington to prod home. Smith made a huge impact from the bench, heading wide one of many pinpoint deliveries from Freeman. Fulham's use of the ball in those closing stages was panicked, with Ibrahima Cisse replacing Fonte to signify a job of shutting up shop. That was completed when Sessegnon and Tomas Kalas combined to clear the ball off the line in the closing stages, but the road could have been smoother.

No cigar for QPR

Ian Holloway's side put in a performance that showed them at both their worst and best. The Rs lack the tactical variation to challenge for the play-offs, with so many bigger-budgeted sides jam-packed with quality ahead of them. However, the spirit they showed to make a fight of the contest at 2-0 down suggests that they won't be in any kind of trouble this season, either.

Psychological boost vital for Fulham

The Cottagers have conceded a lot of costly late goals recently, often due to difficulties in sustaining the high-intensity football they play for much of their games. Those issues were on show again in the closing stages, but the fact they held on is huge, for psychological reasons as well as mathematical ones. Tonight was in the main a good performance, but it also taught them another lesson: need to manage games better – and kill teams off while the football flows.



http://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2017/qpr-1-2-fulham-six-things-chances-galore/

[WhiteJC]

 
USMNT 40 Tracker: Ream's Fulham wins at QPR

Tim Ream kicked off the weekend action for U.S. national team players, starting for Fulham in its 2-1 win at QPR that moved the Cottagers into seventh place in the League Championship. He has played every minute of all 11 games.



https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/75109/usmnt-40-tracker-reams-fulham-wins-at-qpr.html

[WhiteJC]

Johansen fires Fulham to derby win
by Dan on September 30, 2017

It was perhaps a lot tenser than it should have been after Stefan Johansen's sweet strike, but Fulham clung on to claim their second away success in four days at Loftus Road and move to within a point of the Championship play-off positions. Slavisa Jokanovic's side, already ahead through Ryan Fredericks' deflected first-half drive, shrugged off the disappointment of Rui Fonte blazing a penalty high over the School End crossbar to double their lead when the Portuguese forward teed up Johansen with some determined wing play and then showed plenty of resolve to preserve their lead after Conor Washington had halved QPR's arrears at the start of nine minutes of added time.

Fulham's victory was comprised of guts and fortitude as the frenzied nature of a local derby didn't allow for much of their fluent football to flow. The visitors' sense of adventure was evident from the fifth minute when a wonderfully weighted through ball from young Ryan Sessegnon sent Sheyi Ojo away, but the on-loan Liverpool winger pulled his shot across the face of goal. Both Luke Freeman and Massimo Lunogo sent sighters wide from long range, before a swift Fulham break saw Johansen drill a shot into the side netting.

Another rapid Fulham counter culminated in the marauding Fredericks' fashioning a couple of yards of space for Fonte inside the QPR box with a threaded pass, but the former Benfica forward sidefooted well over Alex Smithies' bar when he should have tested the home goalkeeper. Ojo, who looked as if he'd been impeded by a desperate Jack Robinson as he surged through on goal, lacked conviction in his finishing when he was sent clear after another excellent Fulham passing move and placed his shot too close to Smithies.

Just as the first half appeared to destined to finish scoreless, Fulham found a breakthrough. Fredericks, setting off on the sort of run that brought such reward at Nottingham Forest in midweek, found space open up for him in a central position and his low shot spun off Robinson, completing wrongfooting Smithies, and rolling into the back of the net. Rangers almost equalised with a freak goal of their own but Button was alive to the danger and clawed away Freeman's corner before it dropped over him at the far post.

The high tempo continued after the break as the game became even more open. Ojo somehow failed to turn in a Johansen cross from close range and then was stretched off with a suspected dislocated shoulder after a heavy tackle – with the lively Neeskens Kebano replacing him. Holloway sent on former Fulham forward Matt Smith to try and spark a Rangers revival but Fulham, operating on the break and soon to introduce Denis Odoi as a third centre half, continued to look threatening.

Sessegnon revelled in the freedom of being a wing-back and saw an effort deflected wide after an intricate Fulham build up and then was foiled by the brave Smithies diving at his feet as the teenager was about to pull the trigger. In response, Freeman rustled the side netting with a curling free-kick from just outside the box as the home side sought to raise the tempo. It was the visitors who spurned the best chance to kill the game, after Lynch had tripped the tricky Kebano in the box, but Fonte sent the spot-kick sailing over the bar.

The Portuguese striker would have been entitled to mope around in the aftermath but his desire to make amends led directly to Fulham's second moments later. Fonte sprinted down the right flank to latch onto Kebano's pass and then tracked infield before squaring the ball for Johansen, whose low shot from just outside the box left Smithies with no chance. If Fulham felt that would seal a routine victory, they had another thing coming.

Holloway now had Smith and Washington posing all sorts of problems for the Fulham back line as the hosts went far more direct – and Rangers grabbed a lifeline in the second minute of injury time. Smith soared above his old team mates to guide a free-kick into Washington's path and the Northern Ireland international swept a sweet volley past an unsighted Button. The Fulham goalkeeper then saved well from Freeman with Luongo and Smith missing the target, and in the last minute of added time, both Sessegnon and Kalas scrambling the ball off the line. From the final corner of the evening, Smithies sent a header wide.

It was heart-stopping but Fulham dug deep to claim both the bragging rights and three precious points.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS (4-1-3-2): Smithies; Baptiste, Bidwell, Lynch, Robinson; Scowen; Wszolek (Smith 60), Luongo, Freeman; Mackie (Washington 60), Sylla (Wheeler 84). Subs (not used): Lumley, Furlong, Manning, Osayi-Samuel.

BOOKED: Lunogo, Mackie, Lynch.

GOAL: Washington (90+2).

FULHAM (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, R. Sessegnon, Kalas, Ream; McDonald, Norwood, Johansen; Ojo (Kebano 55), Mollo (Odoi 62), Fonte (Cisse 90). Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Madl, Djalo, Graham.

BOOKED: Norwood, Fredericks, Button.

GOALS: Fredericks (41), Johansen (85).

REFEREE: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).

ATTENDANCE: 16,415.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/johansen-fires-fulham-to-derby-win/

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic: Fulham 'deserved' derby victory
by Dan on September 30, 2017

Slavisa Jokanovic insisted Fulham fully deserved their derby victory at Loftus Road last night – despite watching his side defend their lead desperately during nine agonising minutes of added time.

The visitors had established a 2-0 lead through Ryan Fredericks and Stefan Johansen, whose cool strike came just after Rui Fonte had missed a penalty, but were made to suffer during stoppage time after QPR substitute Connor Washington had pulled a goal back for the home side. Jokanovic told his press conference afterwards:

    I'm always happy, especially when we win a West London derby. I am happy for the supporters, too. I believe we deserved it.

    At the end we suffered when QPR were in our territory and they started to push us in the box with many players. I must be satisfied because we survived this complicated moment. We suffered after their goal but fortunately we defended well and won the game.

The Fulham head coach also believes that his side, who now sit just a point outside the top six, can only improve as the season goes along.

    We are a completely new team. Tonight was 50 per cent of the players from last season. We believe when we start working all together and push each other that all the players can be better than they actually are right now. We need to compete in training to be ready to compete during the competition. We are going to push each other to try and be successful.

Jokanovic also had to endure the disappointment of another missed penalty, although the Serbian insisted he still had confidence in Rui Fonte as the designated taker.

    It's only one penalty that we missed this season. It's the first time we shoot and the first time we missed. I cannot explain it. I ordered that Rui take it in this situation. I expect we'll be successful next time. He can take another one.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/jokanovic-fulham-deserved-derby-victory/