Sunday Fulham Stuff (19/11/17)...

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Results

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

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Result: Matej Vydra earns Derby County point at Craven Cottage

Derby County remain outside the Championship playoff zone on goal difference, despite battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The promotion-chasing Rams had to hold on for a point in the end, as the Cottagers were again left frustrated on home soil in a match that they will argue they should have won.

Fulham are now unbeaten in eight matches here against Derby, with six of those finishing all square, but their failure to pick up all three points means that they are stuck down in 17th place.

The first real chance of the evening fell the way of Floyd Ayite, who forced Scott Carson into making a big stop at the end of Oliver Norwood's delivery.

Fulham were just about the side on top in the opening quarter of the match, but that Ayite header was the closest either side came to scoring prior to Norwood's breakthrough strike on the half-hour mark.

The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee lofted a free kick over the wall and past the reach of Carson, who appeared to be a little unsighted as the ball floated past him.

Not a great deal separated the sides in a first half of few chances, and Derby will therefore feel that they merited their goal when it arrived through a fine Vydra finish shortly after the restart.

Wales international Tom Lawrence, fresh on the back of netting against Panama earlier this week, danced past a couple of players and slipped the ball through for his teammate to bury it home.

David Button was needed to deny David Nugent from a promising position soon after, as County looked for a quick-fire second, while up the other end of the field Luca de la Torre should have done better with his headed chance.

There was a real end-to-end feel to the match as it wore on, with Chris Baird doing well to deny Ryan Sessegnon on the line, and it was the Cottagers who ended the contest on top.

Derby had to dig deep at the end with some frantic defending, seeing the job through to put their disappointing 4-2 loss against Reading last time out behind them.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/derby-county/result/result-vydra-earns-derby-point-at-craven-cottage_312190.html

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Match report: Fulham 1-1 Derby County

Matej Vydra strike sees the Rams nick a point at Craven Cottage

Derby County came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Top scorer Matej Vydra netted his eighth goal of the season five minutes into the second half of Saturday evening's Championship encounter in West London.

The Czech Republic international's strike cancelled out Oliver Norwood's free kick, which had put Fulham in front on the half-hour mark.

The result means the Rams remain seventh in the table, just outside the play-off zone on goal difference behind Middlesbrough, who play Leeds United on Sunday.

Gary Rowett made three changes to the side that were beaten 4-2 at home by Reading before the international break - a result that ended their seven-match unbeaten run.

Chris Baird started at right-back against his former club in place of Andre Wisdom, who missed out due to personal reasons.

Joe Ledley returned in midfield after missing the previous game with a hamstring injury, while top scorer Matej Vydra was also recalled to the starting line-up.

Johnny Russell and Sam Winnall both made way and dropped to the bench. Chris Martin was also named among the substitutes, against the team he played for on loan last season.

Skipper Richard Keogh was fit to retain his place, having been forced off early on against Reading because of a thigh strain which kept him out of Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off against Denmark.

Tom Lawrence (dead leg) and Bradley Johnson (rib) had both shaken off knocks and were OK to start.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic also made three changes following the defeat at Wolves.

Kevin McDonald was suspended, while Stefan Johansen and Neeskens Kebano both missed out due to injury.

So, Jokanovic handed a league debut to Tayo Edun, while Tom Cairney and Tomas Kalas were recalled to the side.

The was little to choose between the sides in the opening exchanges.

Highly-rated Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon got into the area on the left but his cut-back was cleared by Ledley.

At the other end, in the 10th minute, David Nugent almost pounced on as Kalas headed backpass but keeper David Button just got there first.

Three minutes later, the home side nearly took the lead.

Norwood chipped a cross in from the left and Floyd Ayite nipped in between Curtis Davies and Craig Forsyth but his deft back-header was well saved by Scott Carson, who dived low to his left to push the ball around the post.

A now-trademark surge out from the back by Keogh was warmly applauded by the away fans but the defender's eventual cross from the right was headed away.

As the game approached the half-hour, Davies was penalised for a foul on Rui Fonte around 35 yards from the Derby goal.

Norwood's long-range attempt struck the arm of Nugent in the Rams wall and another free kick was awarded, this time just outside the D.

Norwood had another go and though his powerfully-struck shot looked fairly close to Carson, the keeper could not get a hand on it as the ball flew into his net.

Vydra almost found himself in on goal after nicking the ball off Tim Ream but Denis Odoi got across quickly to make a crucial tackle.

Derby ended the half well but Ream did well to head clear as Johnson attacked Baird's inviting cross in added time.

Early on in the second half, Forsyth made an important sliding tackle to deny Ryan Fredericks after the Fulham right-back had advanced into the area.

And that intervention looked all the more valuable when Derby equalised in the 50th minute.

Tom Lawrence's neat little pass from just outside the box found the run of Vydra and he calmly flicked the ball past Button from eight yards with the outside of his right boot.

Suddenly, the momentum of the game had changed - and the Rams might have gone ahead five minutes later.

Odoi trod on the ball, presenting it to Tom Huddlestone and his first-time pass over the top released Nugent. The striker got into the box but his angled drive was parried by Button.

Fulham made a couple of changes and one of them, Luca de la Torre, almost had an immediate impact in the 65th minute, heading narrowly over after Ayite hooked the ball in from the right.

Derby lost Johnson to injury, the midfielder replaced by Andreas Weimann as he limped off while appearing to hold his hamstring.

Martin came on at the same time, to a chorus of boos from the home fans who still remember his controversial loan spell at the club.

Fulham pushed for a winner, with Ayite drilling a low centre right across the face of goal in the 75th minute.

Moments later, the Cottagers had a penalty appeal turned down when Lawrence tangled with Sessegnon in the area. Replays suggested they may well have had a case.

Ayite then blazed over a first-time effort from Aboubakar Kamara's cut-back from the right.

Cairney fired over as the clocked ticked down and, in stoppage time, Odoi's shot appeared to strike the arm of Baird in the box - but Derby survived and earned themselves a share of the spoils.

FULHAM: Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Odoi, Edun (de la Torre, 64), Norwood, Cairney, Ayite, Fonte (Kamara, 60), R Sessegnon. Other subs: Betinelli (gk), Soares, S Sessegnon, Cisse, Kait.

DERBY COUNTY: Carson, Baird, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth, Huddlestone, Ledley, Lawrence (Russell, 79), Vydra (Martin, 72), Johnson (Weimann, 72), Nugent. Other subs: Mitchell (gk), Hanson, Pearce, Winnall.

REFEREE: D Bond (Lancashire).



http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/match-report-fulham-v-derby-798982

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Fulham 1-1 Derby County

Oliver Norwood's strike, his third of the season, was drilled straight down the middle of Scott Carson's goal

Matej Vydra's second-half goal earned a point for Derby County at Fulham, but the Rams missed the chance to move into the Championship play-off places.

Vydra calmly slotted past David Button after the impressive Tom Lawrence's smart turn and pass.

Oliver Norwood had lashed the hosts ahead with a free-kick that fizzed past Scott Carson, despite being directed towards the middle of the goal.

Fulham looked the more likely to win it in the closing stages, but remain 17th.

Floyd Ayite wasted their best opportunity to snatch victory, shooting first time over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

Derby otherwise defended resolutely and move up to seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Middlesbrough, who play Leeds on Sunday.

Gary Rowett's side were outplayed for long periods of the first half, with Carson superbly palming Ayite's header away before Norwood's opener.

They briefly improved after the break, but failed to carve out another clear sight of goal after Vydra's equaliser.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41951288

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was satisfied with his side's performance, but believes his team needs to be more clinical in the box.

"We showed a great level. We played well, we created many chances, but the referee didn't see two clear penalties," said Jokanović.

"We made one mistake. They scored a goal without making any dangerous situations in our box. After this, we created many things. I don't know how many times we crossed the ball into the six-yard box, but we couldn't find the solution for someone to put the ball into the net. We're not clinical enough in the box.

"Generally, we created many chances without finding the benefit. We must stick with our style, we must move the ball, create chances and finish chances. We didn't have many problems tonight - one mistake and we paid a big price.

"We showed confidence. I didn't see my team playing without confidence. We are frustrated because we didn't finish what we created.  My team offered a good performance, we didn't have many minutes of trouble against an experienced team like Derby. Winning always breeds confidence. We didn't win tonight, but we offered many positive things and we have to be confident on Tuesday night."

Fulham's Head Coach handed a league debut to Fulham academy graduate Tayo Edun and is excited about the development of the young prospect, as well as the American Luca de la Torre.

"It's also good news for England and the Fulham academy that we used Tayo today, who is a European champion with the youth England national team," said Jokanović.

"We also used Luca de la Torre, who is another young player who has been working with us for over a year. Both players showed they can play in this level. They didn't play scared, and they impressed against one of the more experienced teams in the Championship. This can be important and exciting news for us."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/november/18/head-coach-reaction-derby

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Struggling Fulham draw with Derby

Fulham 1 Derby 1

Fulham remained 17th in the Championship table after Matej Vydra's second-half equaliser denied them victory at Craven Cottage.

They went ahead on the half-hour mark courtesy of Oliver Norwood's free-kick – his third goal of the season.

But Derby hit back five minutes into the second half when striker Vydra slotted home after being set up by Tom Lawrence.

The goal came against the run of play, with Fulham having dominated the first half.

They were on top from the start and Derby keeper Scott Carson produced a fine save to keep out Floyd Ayite's header before Norwood's opener.

And after the Rams levelled, Ayite missed a great chance to restore the Whites' lead when he fired over.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/struggling-fulham-draw-derby

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Fulham 1-1 Derby County: Rams miss opportunity to break into top six

Derby missed an opportunity to break into the top six of the Sky Bet Championship as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

The Cottagers took the lead through Oliver Norwood, before Matej Vydra equalised in the second half.

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic gave a league debut to Adetayo Edun, who trained with the England senior squad last week, while captain Tom Cairney returned after a knee injury.

Gary Rowett resisted the temptation to start Chris Martin against his old club, preferring to stick with David Nugent in attack.

Neither team created a clear-cut opening in the first 10 minutes, although the hosts had the first attempt after 14 minutes.

A floated cross into the box by Norwood found the head of Floyd Ayite, whose flicked header was saved spectacularly by Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Fulham had the bulk of possession, forcing a number of corners, while the visitors seemed stuck in their own half.

The West Londoners deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Norwood fired a free-kick on the edge of the box over the wall and past Carson.

Derby finished the half on the back foot and were forced to be defensive after the restart as their opponents looked for an early second goal.

However, it was the visitors who struck next. Tom Lawrence collected the ball and was able to run towards the Fulham goal without being challenged. His flick to Vydra was enough for the Czech to slot home past David Button.

The goal perked up a previously flat Derby side, with Nugent seeing his 55th-minute effort matched by Button.

Fulham made two substitutions, with Rui Fonte and Edun making way for Aboubakar Kamara and Luca de la Torre respectively.

American De la Torre almost netted with his first touch in the 65th minute but his header from an Ayite cross went just over the crossbar.

Derby made a double substitution, with Andreas Weimann replacing the injured Bradley Johnson, and Vydra making way for Martin, who was subjected to boos from the home fans after refusing to play against Reading last season.

Fulham applied pressure late on, with Ayite placing a 79th-minute effort high over the bar.

But they could not find a winner, meaning the hosts extended their run to six games without a victory and only one win at Craven Cottage in nine attempts.



Read more at https://talksport.com/football/fulham-1-1-derby-county-rams-miss-opportunity-break-top-six-171118262529#h0rAfEsC4WZ56jpZ.99

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Fulham 1-1 Derby- Player Ratings
by Lydia on November 18, 2017

Another game at the Cottage, another 2pts dropped. While this was a much better performance than we have seen recently, our lack of cutting edge is a worry. In the second half Fredericks and Odoi between them sent in enough dangerous crosses into the box for us to score a hatful, but we didn't manage to even force Carson into a save! Derby defended very well, but I can't help but feeling frustrated at the result of that match. We might feel hard done by with a couple of possible penalties not given, but overall, we can't blame the ref for not taking our chances. The equaliser was avoidable but at least we did look a bit tidier in defence as we have done recently.

Anyway, here are my player ratings. Feel free to disagree, I love a good footballing discussion!

Button-6- Truth be told, Button had little to do in the first half apart from dealing with one cross and a handful of back passes. It was a combination of Button and Sessegnon that led to conceding possession for the Derby equaliser but h made amends with an important block from a Nugent shot when Fulham were caught flat at the back just after. When called into action, Button generally did a good job.

Fredericks-8- Once again Fredericks was our best performer in both attack and defence. His final ball let him down on a number of occasions in the first half, but in the second half he did everything that he could have to create chances. Fredericks seems to be the only player in a Fulham shirt willing to actually run at defenders and make an attempt to get the ball into the box and it's just a shame that we don't have someone there to stick it into the net at the minute.

Ream-6- Ream looked a lot tidier tonight than he did against Wolves. With his frame, he was always going to take a while to adapt to Jokanovic's passing game but I thought that he did a better job than normal with this. Apart from one or two misplaced passes, Ream didn't do a lot wrong tonight.

Kalas-6- Recalled after being dropped against Wolves, Kalas nearly early gifted Nugent an opener after just 9minutes with a weak back header. Thankfully, he put this early mistake behind him and produced a performance more like the ones we saw from him last season. He still has improvements to make, but a competent display from the loanee.

Odoi-7- Dennis Odoi must have one of the best touches at the club. He seems to be able to take the ball down from anywhere, and this helped us out big time on a couple of occasions in the first half. What I like about Odoi is that when he does make a mistake, he busts a gut to get back. This was shown when he lost the ball high up the pitch after about 50minutes but came charging back to take the ball off the toe of Nugent when he was threatening a shot. He is a better option than Sessegnon at LB.

Norwood-7- Back in his preferred anchor role just in front of the defence, Norwood showed a wealth of ability tonight. He nearly set up Ayite for an early opener with a beautifully whipped cross and linked play up well with Cairney. His goal to break the deadlock was superb.

Cairney-7- Tom Cairney makes things happen. He cut the Derby defence open on 16min with a low ball that was just slightly too heavy for Sessegnon. He was our main play maker throughout but was guilty on a number of occasions of trying to walk the ball into the net. We certainly look a better team with Cairney in the side so let's hope that he is back for good!

Edun-5- In for Johansen who woke up this morning with a fever according Jokanovic. It took about 38minutes for him to do anything of note but when he did get himself into the game he did well, particularly when linking up with Sessegnon in and around the box. I also thought his efforts to get back and defend when required was a real plus in his performance. He made way for De La Torre after 60minutes but he can be reasonably happy with his performance tonight.

Ayite-6- Ayite nearly opened the scoring with a looping header with just 13minutes gone after a swerving run into the box but that was as close as the winger got. His build up play with Fredericks was very positive tonight but he was another one guilty of over playing the ball when in attack. He should have done better from Kamara's cut-back late on but sent his effort into row Z instead.

Fonte-4- Lots of willing running from our striker tonight but struggled to really get into the game. By half way through the first half he had had little or no deliveries into the box for him to do anything with. We seemed very reluctant to cross the ball in the air into the box and you could see just how frustrated Fonte was getting with this tactic. Another game goes by with Fonte not living up to his price tag but I can't help but feel that he just needs someone to play alongside for him to make an impact.

Sessegnon-4– On corner duty but failed to beat the first man with a number of these. He looked dangerous down the left when given freedom but gave the ball away on far too many occasions after falling over. He also lost the ball in the build-up for Derby's equaliser and failed to get back to defend so a good bit of the blame for it could land on his shoulders. He was unlucky not to get a penalty in the second half when he was upended by Tom Lawrence but other than that, it was a poor performance from the youngster.

Subs-

Kamara-5- Came on for Fonte in the 60th minute and produced a better performance than his last few outings. He found himself in a wide position in the 78th minute and found Ayite with a low cross which was wasted. He hasn't quite learned how to use his strength to put pressure on defenders without fouling them which is frustrating because if he learned how to do that, he would be a right pain in the backside for defenders.

De La Torre-7- I know he only had about 27th minutes on the pitch, but I was very impressed with what De La Torre contributed to the team. He came on for Edun in the 63rd minute and nearly scored with his first touch with a looping header from an Ayite cross. He was much better at getting forward than Tayo Edun was, but was perhaps just a step or two behind a goal scoring position on a couple of occasions when Fredericks sent in a good cross. I think we will maybe start seeing more of the American, especially considering how much we miss someone willing to burst forward. Very impressive cameo for the young man.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/fulham-1-1-derby-player-ratings/

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Slavisa Jokanovic rues defensive mistake as Fulham draw 1-1 with Derby

An Oliver Norwood free kick gave the Whites the lead but Matej Vydra pegged them back early in the second half

Fulham boss Slaviša Jokanović was left ruing a moment of defensive madness as Derby stole a point in a 1-1 draw at the Cottage.

Oliver Norwood put the Whites ahead on the half-hour mark with a powerful free-kick from 25 yards out, but Matej Vydra snuck behind the Fulham defence five minutes after the interval to pull the Rams level.

Jokanović said: "We made one mistake and paid a very expensive price. They scored the goal without making any dangerous situations in our box before or after.

"We are also not clinical enough in the box but this is not news to us.

"We are frustrated because we didn't finish a good performance. We didn't win tonight but with this confidence we can win on Wednesday night."

Fulham arguably should have had two second-half penalties after Ryan Sessegnon was tripped inside the box and Tom Cairney's shot appeared to strike the defender's arm.

Jokanović said: "The referee didn't spot two penalties. He didn't show enough personality to point to the spot."

Cairney was on full-form following a long lay-off from a knee injury.

Jokanović said: "Tom Cairney can make people play better with him – all the team play at the highest level around him."

"We also played an eighteen year old (Edun) and he played very well for one hour and also we played Luca De La Torre and they have both shown they can play at this level. They didn't seem scared to play against one of the most experienced teams in the Championship."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-rues-defensive-mistake-13922200

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'I don't think they were penalties' - Chris Baird on Derby County's 1-1 draw at Fulham

Rams survived a couple of late shouts as they came away from Craven Cottage with a point on Saturday evening

Chris Baird felt referee Darren Bond was right to turn down two Fulham penalty shouts in the closing stages of Derby County's 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

Bond waved play on when Tom Lawrence tangled with Ryan Sessegnon in the area and it was the same outcome in added time when Denis Odoi's shot appeared to strike the arm of Baird.

"To be fair, it did hit my body first and then went on to my arm - but my arm wasn't raised," said the former Northern Ireland international.

"It was close to my body and it was only a yard away, so it would have been very harsh if he'd given it.

"The one with Tom Lawrence, I don't think there was much in it. I think he (Sessegnon) went down too easily.


Chris Baird in action at Fulham (Image: Andy Clarke)

"Thankfully, he didn't give it. I don't think they were penalties, personally. Some they give, some they don't."

Baird was recalled to the Derby side at right-back - against his former club - after Andre Wisdom was ruled out due to personal reasons.

Oliver Norwood's free kick put Fulham ahead after half an hour but Matej Vydra's equaliser five minutes into the second half earned the Rams a point.

"It was a tough game but the boys did very well to come back into it after going a goal behind," said Baird.

"To get the goal was fantastic and we showed some really good defending at the end when we came under a bit of pressure.

"All in all, I think a draw was a fair result.

"There wasn't much in it at half-time. The gaffer (Gary Rowett) just told us to take more care with the ball. We knew that ourselves - we were a bit sloppy at times.

"We were always in the game at 1-0. The important thing was not to concede any more.

"When we came out in the second half, we showed a bit more character and got back into the game with the goal.

"In the end, we had to settle for a point.

"They didn't create too much. It was mainly possession. They are good at it - we know that - but we defended really well when we had to.

"We had a spell in the second half where we could have maybe gone on and got the second goal. We put a bit of pressure on them.

"But when you're away from home, you are going to come under pressure yourselves. They've got the crowd behind them - but I thought our fans were fantastic and really got behind us."

Vydra netted his eighth goal of the season following a fine assist from Tom Lawrence.

"I was delighted for Vyds and it was great play from Tom Lawrence," added Baird.

"It was fantastic - great reaction from Tom to win the ball back in the first place and then go on that little mazy run and scoop it through for him. It was a great finish from Matej, so I'm delighted for both of them.

"We could maybe have gone on to win but it wasn't to be."



http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-dont-think-were-penalties-799277