Wednesday Fulham Stuff (22/11/17)...

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Results

Tuesday
Derby	2 - 0	QPR
Millwall	0 - 0	Hull
Nottm Forest	1 - 0	Norwich
Sheff Utd	4 - 5	Fulham
Aston Villa	2 - 1	Sunderland
Barnsley	0 - 1	Cardiff
Brentford	1 - 1	Burton
Bristol City	1 - 2	Preston NE
Bolton	2 - 2	Reading

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PSG starlet wants to leave, chased by Fulham and QPR

PSG starlet Christopher N'Kunku has told PSG that he wants to leave in January.

This comes after Unai Emery stated that N'Kunku was the defensive midfielder of the Parisians' immediate future.

For the Parisians, on the other hand, the priority would be to develop the youngster

Fulham and QPR are known to like the player, who was talked up as an alternative to Blaise Matuidi during the summer, but has only ended up totalling 22 minutes.

He came on at the weekend as his side beat Nantes 4-1, and made another eight Ligue 1 appearances last season.

The trouble is that the likes of Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Adrien Rabiot are ahead of him in the pecking order, and monopolizing whatever playing time there is.

The 20-year-old, who comes from just outside Paris, is known to favour a move to the Premier League, but lacks the first-team action necessary to make it that far.



http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/psg-starlet-wants-to-leave-chased-by-fulham-and-qpr-13283

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Sheffield Utd 4-5 Fulham

Ryan Sessegnon's hat-trick was the first of his career on his 50th Fulham appearance

Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick as Fulham denied Sheffield United top spot in the Championship with a 5-4 win.

Leon Clarke put the hosts ahead from close range, but Sheyi Ojo slotted in to equalise and Sessegnon's 25-yard strike gave Fulham the lead.

Clarke levelled before Sessegnon volleyed in Ojo's cross from the right.

Ojo notched his second and Sessegnon drilled in his third, with Samir Carruthers' strike and Clarke's late third goal not enough for the hosts.

Clarke's hat-trick was his second treble in three games, with eight goals across that period, but it was not enough to help his side move above leaders Wolves as the visitors claimed a first victory at Bramall Lane since 1985.

Chris Wilder's side had been on course for a third successive league win when David Button spilled John Fleck's shot to Clarke for the opener, but Cameron Carter-Vickers' poor backpass handed Ojo the equaliser.

Sessegnon, making his 50th appearance for Fulham, dominated the game, repaying Ojo for his earlier assist as he played in his team-mate for their side's fourth goal, before scoring the decisive fifth.

Carruthers' heavily deflected first Blades goal and Clarke's header third set up a nervy finish for Slavisa Jokanovic's side, but they held on for a first win in seven matches.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41978135

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Sessegnon hits hat-trick as Fulham win nine-goal thriller

Sheffield United 4 Fulham 5

Teenager Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick on his 50th appearance for Fulham as they ended a six-match winless streak in thrilling fashion.

Winger Sheyi Ojo, on loan from Liverpool, grabbed the Whites' other two goals on his return from a seven-week injury lay-off.

He had not played since dislocating his shoulder in the Whites' win at QPR on 29 September – coincidentally, their last victory.

Fulham went in at the end of a breathless first half 3-2 up, despite falling behind after only six minutes.

Whites keeper David Button failed to hold John Fleck's swerving shot and Leon Clarke snapped up the rebound.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side turned the game on its head with goals on 28 and 30 minutes.

First, Ojo pounced on an underhit Cameron Carter-Vickers backpass to clip in a left-footed shot and then Sessegnon curled in from the edge of the box.

Clarke levelled with his second of the evening, firing under the body of Button from an acute angle, but Sessegnon restored Fulham's advantage as he met Ojo's cross with a right-footed volley.

Substitute Aboubakar Kamara set up the fourth on the break, feeding Ojo whose shot took a deflection and nestled in at the near post.

Sessegnon then drilled in a low shot with 11 minutes to play as Fulham became the first team to score five on the Blades' own patch since Oldham Athletic in January 1988.

But the hosts were not finished. Samir Carruthers pulled a goal back before Clarke completed a hat-trick of his own in injury time, heading in from close range, but Fulham held on.

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Odoi; Cairney, McDonald (Johansen 82), Norwood; Ojo (Fonte 74), Ayite (Kamara 68), R. Sessegnon.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Edun, De La Torre, Kebano.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/sessegnon-and-liverpool-loanee-sheyi-ojo-star-as-fulham-win-at-sheffield-united

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović would have liked Fulham to have made life easier for themselves, but he was still happy to leave Sheffield triumphant.

An intense game at Bramall Lane saw the Whites claim a 5-4 victory over Sheffield United to end the recent winless run.

"It was a crazy game," he admitted. "It was great entertainment for the supporters, a little bit less for us!

"We needed a victory after some games where we didn't play at a good enough level. We must be satisfied with three points, and now we keep moving forward.

"We tried to attack them where in the past they have tried to attack teams. We found space, we played with fast players, they found this space very well and they showed their quality to finish the chances we created.

"I think we caused more problems and damage than they did. At the end of the day, there's only one goal difference, I feel we deserved a little bit more of a comfortable victory, but they're one of the best Championship teams and I must be satisfied."

While scoring five goals away from home is some feat, Jokanović acknowledged that his side can't expect that sort of firepower every week.

"We tried to stop their centre-backs overlapping, we tried to stop them getting many people in our box," he explained. "They found some space between our lines and did some damage.

"For the first, second and third goals I didn't think they did enough to score them, but in the end it's our fault they scored four goals and we need to be more solid. We cannot expect to score five goals to win a game."

The Blades have been a surprise package in the league this season, and Jokanović was full of praise for Chris Wilder and his team after the frenetic game reached its conclusion.

"Sheffield United are a team in great form," he stated. "They are full of confidence, they are a fast and strong team who play with energy to win games.

"We made things complicated for them tonight, but they still showed great spirit to try and change the situation. When you are playing against one of the top teams you must expect this.

"They are only recently promoted from League One, but they are one of the realistic candidates to be a Premier League team next season, and so you have to respect the coach and the team for what they're doing this season."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/november/21/head-coach-reaction-sheffield-united

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Sheffield United 4-5 Fulham: Ryan Sessegnon hat-trick in thriller denies Sheffield United the chance to go top of the Championship

    Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick as Fulham beat Sheffield United on Tuesday
    Slavisa Jokanovic's men secured their first win at Bramall Lane since April 1985
    Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo also scored a brace for the visitors
    Leon Clarke scored three for the Blades while Samir Carruthers also notched

Sheffield United squandered the chance to go top of the Championship as a Ryan Sessegnon-inspired Fulham ran riot in a goalfest at Bramall Lane.

Despite a hat-trick from the division's leading scorer Leon Clarke, last season's play-off semi-finalists cantered to a fourth win on the road courtesy of teenager Sessegnon's own treble.

Needing a victory to surpass Wolves at the summit, the Yorkshire club took the lead just five minutes in when Fulham goalkeeper David Button parried John Fleck's long-range effort and Clarke swept in the rebound. 


Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick as Fulham defeated Sheffield United 5-4 on Tuesday


Sessegnon bent a 20-yard shot out of Jamal Blackman's reach to put Fulham in front


Sessegnon then fired home from a cross to score his second of the evening


Sessegnon completed his hat-trick on his 50th appearance with a low drive across goal


Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo also scored twice to help Fulham to victory at Bramall Lane

But they gifted Fulham the first of two goals in as many minutes just shy of the half-hour to turn the game on its head.

There was no apparent danger when on-loan Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers drastically underhit a back pass to Blackman and Ojo nipped in to slot below the onrushing goalkeeper.

Carter-Vickers had not long removed his head from his hands when a moment of brilliance from the highly-coveted Sessegnon put the visitors in front.

Using Floyd Ayite's run into the left channel as a decoy, the highly-talented teen glided through the heart of United's midfield and bent a 20-yard shot out of the giant Blackman's reach.

Suddenly, the loss from central positions of Paul Coutts – out for the season with a broken leg incurred at Burton last Friday – looked more significant.

But further up the field, in Clarke, they have one of English football's in-form strikers.

The 32-year-old was slipped into the left-side of the area by Fleck and, after buying half a yard on Ryan Fredericks with a step-over, thrashed in low to make it 2-2.


Ojo scored his first for the club by calmly slotting past the keeper to bring Fulham level


The Liverpool loanee then scored a second with the help of a deflection


Leon Clarke also scored a hat-trick but ended up on the losing side for the hosts

Yet in keeping with the unpredictable nature of the first half, parity lasted just four minutes - Ojo curved in a centre from the right for Sessegnon to feather in a far-post volley.

Ojo, borrowed from Liverpool, then marked his return from a dislocated shoulder with a second on a breakaway 20 minutes from time.

Wilder reacted by re-shaping the hosts for a late aerial assault and saw substitute James Hanson denied immediately when Tom Cairney hacked his 76th-minute header off the line.

It seemed that the game had been put to bed just a couple of minutes later when 17-year-old Sessegnon tripled his league career goal tally.

Once again running at the United defence, his trickery fashioned a shooting chance and he rifled across Blackman to make it 5-2.

But the reigning League One champions simply refused to give up and Samir Carruthers' deflected shot reduced the arrears to two before Clarke completed his second hat-trick in as many outings at Bramall Lane and eight goals in three matches overall.

Hanson's poor pass appeared to have halted United's surge forward but Billy Sharp picked out his strike partner, who stayed onside to plant a downward header past the flailing Button.

There were penalty appeals at both ends during six minutes of injury time but Slavisa Jovanovic's team held on to push into mid-table and condemn United to only a second home defeat since promotion.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5105395/Ryan-Sessegnon-hat-trick-leads-Fulham-5-4-win.html#ixzz4z8tWjL4n
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Sheffield United 4-5 Fulham player ratings: Super Ryan Sessegnon and excellent Sheyi Ojo star in sensational game

Teen star and Liverpool loanee were the pick of the bunch on a crazy night at Bramble Lane

Fulham came out on top of one of the maddest games the Championship has ever seen as Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick on his 50th appearance for the club as they won 5-4.

The home side took the lead very early on when John Fleck was allowed too much time and space in midfield as he charged toward the Fulham goal - his shot was spilled by Button into the path of Clarke who smashed home.

Fulham dragged themselves level, somewhat underservedly, when a terrible back pass was picked up by Ojo who slotted home before Sessegnon got the side ahead just a minute later, smashing home from the left.

United were then level through Clarke again as he skinned Ream and stuck it under Button, but a lightening break saw Ojo deliver a wonderful ball for Sessegnon at the back post to volley in.

Ojo got the side's fourth after some lovely leg work down the right from Kamara set the winger up - the strike took a deflection but the Liverpool loanee didn't care.

Sessegnon got his hat-trick when a lovely ball found him down the left, he took it down and slammed it past Blackman to make it 5-2 to the visitors.

The home side got one back when a deflected strike wrong footed Button, then Clarke got his hat-trick in six minutes of added time as he popped up at the back post to nod home unmarked.

Button 5 : Spilled the early shot for Sheffield United's first goal. Should have done better for the second and will be disappointed to have let the ball under his body.

Fredericks 6 : Linked up well with Ojo down the right when Fulham broke, but his temperament came into question again in the first half.

Sessegnon 9 : Scored a lovely goal down the left to put the side ahead. Got the side's second and continued to cause problems down the left in the second half. His third goal was a lovely take down to beat his man and smash it home. What a performance on his 50th appearance.

Odoi 7 : Was fairly quiet in the first 45 minutes, but understandable with Sessegnon in front of him taking the plaudits. His second half performance was much better and he looked solid down the left.

McDonald 6 : Saw the ball for the goal happening but going to the man left space in behind him. Frustrated the home crowd with his break up play in the middle but it wasn't the best of performances.

Cairney 6 : Didn't have the best of games as Sheffield United closed him down at every opportunity. Lovely defending on the line in the second half saw Fulham keep a two-goal advantage.

Norwood 6 : Tried a few too many show boat passes but started to cause problems as the game became stretched in the first half. Tried the more difficult passes in the second half instead of the easy balls.

Ayite 6 : His movement in the box enabled other players to find themselves free - notably Sessegnon for the third. A lovely double piece of skill in the second half was his best moment of the night.

Ream 7 : Allowed the home side's attacks too much space and time, but did compete well with Clarke as the game went on. Was a different man second half and had a sensational game.

Ojo 8 : Was having a decent game but his positioning was what allowed him to capitalise on a poor back pass and slot home. Despite looking dead on his feet in the second half, he managed to get the second goal.

Kalas 6 : Like Ream, afforded too much space and time to the United attack, resulting in the first goal. Did well in the second half and defended strongly under increased United pressure.

Subs -
Kamara 7 : Set up the fourth with lovely leg work down the right to play in Ojo. Quietened down after that.

Fonte 6 : Didn't do too much when he was brought on.

Johansen 6 : A few sloppy passes put his side under pressure after coming on at 5-2 - looked too lax on the ball thinking the game was won.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sheffield-united-4-5-fulham-13935653

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Sheffield United 4 Fulham 5: It's difficult to make sense of that, admits stunned Blades boss Wilder

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was keen to keep the attention off Ryan Sessegnon after his hat-trick inspired a breathless 5-4 win at Sheffield United in the Sky Bet Championship.

Aged only 17, Sessegnon's star continues to rise after his heroics for England Under-19s in the summer and his treble, in addition to Sheyi Ojo's brace, helped the Cottagers win a first game in seven, going back to the end of September. Leon Clarke of Sheffield Utd celebrates scoring the first goal. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage Leon Clarke of Sheffield Utd celebrates scoring the first goal. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage That only tells half of the story, though, as the Blades rallied from 5-2 down to nearly snatch a point, thanks to a second successive Bramall Lane hat-trick by Leon Clarke, who has scored 12 goals in the last 10 games. But Sessegnon will probably win the fight for the match-ball as he showed the class which suggests he has a big future in the game, not that his boss wanted to talk about it.

"It's always the same question - Ryan, Ryan, Ryan," Jokanovic said. "Ryan is growing up in the right direction, he is a young player with a clear head, he wants to improve and learn. He wants to be better in the future.

"We will try and support him, but he had the support of his team-mates today." The Cottagers have been on a poor run of form, but the boss was relieved to see his side get the three points, though did not enjoy the experience. "It was a crazy game, it is great entertainment for the supporters, it is less for us," Jokanovic added. "At the end of the day, it is a victory. We have to be satisfied with three points and we go forward." After Clarke put his side ahead in the fifth minute, Ojo and Sessegnon overturned the lead, only for Clarke to grab his second. Sessegnon then notched the fifth goal of the first half to put Fulham back in front and they ran away with it in the second half as Ojo also notched a double and then the England youngster grabbed his hat-trick.

The Blades did not go down without a fight, though, and Samir Carruthers and Clarke's third took it down to the wire as Fulham barely hung on. "It's difficult to make sense of it," boss Chris Wilder said. "To concede five at home, you are not going to give yourself a fantastic chance. "I was proud of the players for the way we went for it. I don't want my team to go out the back door - it's happened too many times over the last few years. It's been too easy for teams to win here. "Whatever team gets a result here this year they will have to go through the mill, they will have to make sure they earn it. "Fulham earned it today, though I don't think they cut us open. The plus points are that the players went right to the end and asked the question of a talented Fulham side."




Read more at: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-4-fulham-5-it-s-difficult-to-make-sense-of-that-admits-stunned-blades-boss-wilder-1-8870085

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Sheffield United 4-5 Fulham: Cottagers edge nine-goal thriller

Ryan Sessegnon and Leon Clarke both scored hat-tricks as Fulham beat Sheffield United 5-4 at Bramall Lane to end a six-game drought and stop the Blades going top of the Sky Bet Championship.

Sessegnon's treble, in addition to two goals from Sheyi Ojo, had put the Cottagers in a seemingly commanding position at 5-2 up before Clarke completed his second successive hat-trick at Bramall Lane - after Samir Carruthers had also scored - to threaten the comeback. But Fulham held on to record their first win since the end of September and inflict just a third home league defeat of 2017 on the Blades.

Aged only 17, Sessegnon's star continues to rise after his heroics for England U19s in the summer, while Clarke took his tally to 12 goals in 10 games.

The 32-year-old needed only five minutes to continue his impressive run of form. The striker showed a predator's instinct to tuck home the rebound from close range after John Fleck's 20-yard shot was sloppily spilled by Fulham goalkeeper David Button.

Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon (left) celebrates after putting the Cottagers 3-2 ahead

United continued to attack with more vigour but Fulham turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes on the half-hour. They were gifted an equaliser as Tottenham loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers, acting as last man, missed his kick, allowing Ojo to race through and slot home.

Then in the 30th minute, Sessegnon was given time to venture forward and he impressively curled into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The lead lasted only eight minutes, though, as Clarke banged in his sixth goal in just 76 minutes of action at Bramall Lane to make it 2-2, drilling through the legs of Button from an acute angle.

A crazy first half had one more goal in it as Fulham went back in front when Sessegnon converted Ojo's brilliant cross from the right in the 42nd minute.

Unsurprisingly, the second half failed to live up to 45 minutes that preceded it, until Fulham looking like running away with in the final 25 minutes.

With the hosts pushing for a leveller, Fulham found space on the break made it 4-2 as Aboubakar Kamara found Ojo, whose low shot was deflected into the corner and then Sessegnon flashed one across goal to complete his hat-trick.

It looked like game over, but the Blades were not going down without a fight and after Carruthers saw an effort deflected past Button, Clarke ensured it would be a fight for the matchball when he headed home Billy Sharp's cross.

United could not scramble a leveller and Fulham were left to celebrate a breathless win which eases the pressure on boss Slavisa Jokanovic.

The managers

Chris Wilder: "It's difficult to make sense of it. To concede five at home, you are not going to give yourself a fantastic chance. I was proud of the players for the way we went for it. I don't want my team to go out the back door - it's happened too many times over the last few years. It's been too easy for teams to win here.

"Whatever team gets a result here this year they will have to go through the mill, they will have to make sure they earn it. Fulham earned it today, though I don't think they cut us open. The plus points are that the players went right to the end and asked the question of a talented Fulham side."

Slavisa Jokanovic: "It's always the same question - Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Ryan is growing up in the right direction, he is a young player with a clear head, he wants to improve and learn. He wants to be better in the future. We will try and support him, but he had the support of his team-mates today."

"It was a crazy game, it is great entertainment for the supporters, it is less for us. At the end of the day, it is a victory. We have to be satisfied with three points and we go forward."



http://www.skysports.com/football/sheff-utd-vs-fulham/374833

[WhiteJC]

Sessegnon hat-trick stuns Sheffield United
by Dan on November 21, 2017

When he turns in performances like the one that terrorised Championship pacesetters Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this evening, it is hard to believe that Ryan Sessegnon is just seventeen. The teenage starlet celebrated his fiftieth senior appearance for Fulham with a hat-trick that blunted the Blades' bid climb above Wolves at the top of the table, ended the Whites' six-game winless streak and earned Slavisa Jokanovic's side their first win at the oldest league ground in English football since Leroy Rosenior grabbed all three points in April 1985.

The visitors were grateful for Sessegnon's predatory instincts at the end of 105 pulsating minutes because they were somehow clinging on by their fingertips to a precious victory, having been 5-2 ahead with twelve minutes to go. Chris Wilder has already proven that he doesn't know how to go gently into the night – and his side were almost rewarded for their commendable never-say-die attitude. Substitute Samir Carruthers cut the gap to just two goals with four minutes to play and, when Leon Clarke powered home a close-range header for his third of the evening in the first of six added minutes, it appeared the home comeback was on.

Somehow a shattered Fulham defence held firm and, with James Linnington waving away penalty appeals at both ends in a nerve-shredding finale, it was left to captain Tom Cairney to carry the ball deep into United territory and earn Jokanovic's side the most improbable victory of their stuttering season. It owed much to the returning Liverpool loanee Sheyi Oyi, whose early recovery from a dislocated shoulder allowed him to score twice either side of half-time and create another goal for Sessegnon. The England Under-20 World Cup winner more than justified the faith his head coach showed in him – and injected both pace and power into what had previously been a rather toothless Fulham attack.

The evening had initially appeared to be following the traditional script in S2. The Blades began with all the intensity and confidence of a side that has got used to sweeping opponents aside over the past two seasons, although Jokanovic and his coaching staff would have been furious with how former Rangers midfielder John Fleck was encouraged to carry the ball to within 20 yards of the Fulham goal and rifle a shot at David Button. The Fulham goalkeeper did well to get a hand to it, but as the visiting defence stood and watched, Clarke poached his tenth goal of the season. It was inexcusably easy.

Nobody could have legislated for the turnaround that occurred in the space of a couple of minutes just before the half-hour. Ojo had already shown the appetite to get behind the Blades back line and he certainly didn't need any invitation to gallop onto a woefully underhit backpass from Cameron Carter-Vickers and tuck an assured finish past Jamal Blackman. From their next attack, Fulham went in front. Sessegnon, starting as the left winger in a fluid front three, drove at the heart of the home defence – ignoring the intelligent run of Floyd Ayite outside him – and bent a brilliant finish beyond Blackman's left hand from more than 20 yards. It was a thing of a beauty from the European U17 champion who turned down the continent's leading clubs to continue his footballing education at Fulham.

An insanely open contest developed a physical edge to it as the first half wore on with John Lundstram, who came in after Paul Coutts unfortunate leg break at the weekend, lunging nastily at Tom Cairney and Billy Sharp manhandling an incensed Ryan Fredericks. Fulham looked to have weathered a prolonged spell of home pressure, but Clarke slipped past Tim Ream with a stepover to create half a yard of space and his low drive burst through Button at the goalkeeper's near post to level the scores. It was another tame goal to concede – and Fredericks' enraged scowl at the ease with which the Blades wiped out Fulham's advantage said it all.

Jokanovic has always encouraged his side to play with freedom and, incredibly, they went back in front before a breathless first period had even concluded. The excellent Ojo sauntered down the right and carved out an inviting cross, which Sessegnon stroked home on the volley at the back post. Wilder's men emerged with renewed purpose after the interval and both Jack O'Connell and Clarke went close with chances earlier in the second half before an excellent piece of defending from Ream denied Enda Stevens a sight of goal.

The Blades then threw on the impressive David Brooks and Carruthers in an attempt to conjure up an equaliser but it was actually the Londoners who increased their lead on the break. The recently introduced Aboubakar Kamara accelerated away from the Blades defence and unselfishly squared the ball for Ojo, whose low finish squeezed past Blackman with the aid of a deflection. When Cairney acrobatically cleared James Hanson's header off the line and Sessegnon completed his hat-trick with a rasping drive from the right angle of the box, Fulham seemed home and dry at 5-2.

But that reckoned without United's undying spirit. After Kamara had an audacious finish ruled out for a seemingly innocuous challenge in the build-up, the Blades took renewed belief from Carruthers' deflected strike that completely wrongfooted Button. The streams of home fans who had left early looked to have overlooked their side's battling qualities when Clarke converted a dangerous cross from his captain Sharp to claim his second hat-trick in successive Bramall Lane appearances – and Fulham were left nervously clinging to the slenderest of leads during a seemingly never-ending period of added time.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): Blackman; Carter-Vickers (Brooks 58), Jake M. Wright, O'Connell; Basham, Stevens, Lundstram, Duffy (Carruthers 60), Fleck; Sharp, Clarke. Subs (not used): Moore, Stearman, Donaldson, Lafferty.

BOOKED: Lundstram, Sharp, Brooks.

GOALS: Clarke (6, 39, 90+1), Carruthers (86).

FULHAM (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, Odoi, Kalas, Ream; McDonald (Johansen 83), Norwood, Cairney; Ojo (Fonte 74), R. Sessegnon, Ayite (Kamara 68). Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Edun, de la Torre.

BOOKED: Fredericks, Ayite, Odoi, Kamara.

GOALS: Ojo (28, 69), R., Sessegnon (30, 43, 78).

REFEREE: James Linnigton (Isle-of-Wight).

ATTENDANCE: 25,455.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/sessegnon-hat-trick-stuns-sheffield-united/

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic delighted with 'crazy' victory
by Dan on November 21, 2017

Slavisa Jokanovic was delighted that his Fulham side ended their six game winless run with a victory over in-form Sheffield United at Bramall Lane tonight – but believes his side could have made things more comfortable for themselves.

The Whites were left clinging to the slenderest of advantages in the dying embers of stoppage time having led 5-2 at one stage – and Jokanovic described the ninety minutes as 'a crazy game'. He lauded his players for being brave enough to attack the Blades at pace and pose real problems for one of the Championship's best sides, but pointed to sloppy defensive mistakes that put the victory in doubt.

Speaking to the press after a pulsating encounter in south Yorkshire, the Serbian head coach said:

    It was a crazy game. It was great entertainment for the supporters, a little bit less for us! We needed a victory after some games where we didn't play at a good enough level. We must be satisfied with three points, and now we keep moving forward.

    We tried to attack them where in the past they have tried to attack teams. We found space, we played with fast players, they found this space very well and they showed their quality to finish the chances we created. I think we caused more problems and damage than they did. At the end of the day, there's only one goal difference, I feel we deserved a little bit more of a comfortable victory, but they're one of the best Championship teams and I must be satisfied.

Jokanovic was critical of how easy Leon Clarke found it to notch another Championship hat-trick, bemoaning the poor defensive mistakes that allowed the Blades back into a contest that had seemed cut and dried.

    We tried to stop their centre-backs overlapping, we tried to stop them getting many people in our box. They found some space between our lines and did some damage. For the first, second and third goals I didn't think they did enough to score them, but in the end it's our fault they scored four goals and we need to be more solid. We cannot expect to score five goals to win a game.

The Fulham head coach was full of praise for how the home side kept going in adversity and the way in which his opposite number Chris Wilder changed the contest late on.

    Sheffield United are a team in great form. They are full of confidence, they are a fast and strong team who play with energy to win games. They are only recently promoted from League One, but they are one of the realistic candidates to be a Premier League team next season, and so you have to respect the coach and the team for what they're doing this season.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/11/jokanovic-delighted-with-crazy-victory/

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic admits Fulham needed their 'crazy' win at Sheffield United

Two hat-tricks from two different players in two different sides saw Fulham come out victorious in a 5-4 victory

Fulham's win against Sheffield United was great entertainment for the fans, if not for Slavisa Jokanovic , but it was a win the side needed.

Ryan Sessegnon bagged a hat-trick in a crazy, end-to-end match at Bramall Lane, where Sheyi Ojo also scored twice as Fulham put end to a winless run of six games.

Jokanovic revealed that the side set up to attack the hosts and it worked, although Sheffield United didn't take the message and decided to make the game into a goalfest.

And the boss thinks that his side created more chances than United but admits they're one of the best in the division.

He said: "It was a crazy game, it was great entertainment for the supporters, a little bit less for us.

"We needed a victory after some games where we didn't play at a good enough level. We must be satisfied with three points, and now we keep moving forward.

"We tried to attack them where in the past they have tried to attack teams. We found space, we played with fast players, they found this space very well and they showed their quality to finish the chances we created.

"I think we caused more problems and damage than they did. At the end of the day, there's only one goal difference, I feel we deserved a little bit more of a comfortable victory, but they're one of the best Championship teams and I must be satisfied.

"We tried to stop their centre-backs overlapping, we tried to stop them getting many people in our box

"They found some space between our lines and did some damage.

"For the first, second and third goals I didn't think they did enough to score them, but in the end it's our fault they scored four goals and we need to be more solid. We cannot expect to score five goals to win a game."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-admits-fulham-needed-13935815

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Sheffield United 4 Fulham 5: Ryan Sessegnon the star in 'crazy' thriller


Ryan Sessegnon scores his first senior hat-trick for Fulham in a 'crazy' 5-4 away victory over second-placed Sheffield United Credit: Nigel French/PA

Ryan Sessegnon's first senior hat-trick inspired Fulham to a stunning win, in a game rightly described as "crazy" by their manager Slavisa Jokanovic.

The 17-year-old was the star of the show in an extraordinary, wide-open contest that will stay in the memory of those present. Fulham led 3-2 at half-time, then looked like they had won the game by establishing a 5-2 lead with less than five minutes left. Sheffield United struck two late blows though to set up an incredible finish.

United arrived looking to go top of the table and with a streetwise reputation, but Sessegnon - who draws admiring glances from Premier League clubs - outsmarted them and stayed in the limelight. His manager knew what was coming in the post-match press conference.

Jokanovic said: "It's always the same question - Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. He is growing up in the right direction."

Fulham's Sheyi Ojo, the 20-year-old on loan from Liverpool, deservedly scored their other two. It meant that the young talents upstaged a shrewd veteran - United's 32-year-old Leon Clarke, who scored a hat-trick, taking his tally to eight in three matches.


Sheyi Ojo, left, on loan from Liverpool scored the second of the game's nine goals Credit: Nigel French/PA

The tone for the match, between two admirably attractive sides, was set early on when Clarke struck after goalkeeper David Button spilled. Fulham recovered when United defender Cameron Carter-Vickers made a blunder that Ojo pounced on before slotting in. Sessegnon then charged forward and curled home.

More drama arrived before the break. First, United levelled as Clarke evaded Tim Ream then fired in. Sessegnon refused to be out-done though, volleying in another.

In the second half, Fulham raced clear when Ojo squeezed the ball in, then Sessegnon struck his third. Samir Carruthers pulled one back though with a deflected effort, then Clarke set up a thrilling finale.

United manager Chris Wilder said: "If a team wins here, we have to make them go through the mill. Fulham deserved it."



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/21/sheffield-united-4fulham-5-ryan-sessegnon-star-crazy-thriller/

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Sheffield United lose a NINE-goal thriller – Match Report

Sheffield United lost a nine-goal thriller 5-4 at home to out of form Fulham. The defeat means the Blades have missed their chance to go top. If Wolves beat Leeds tomorrow Wolves will extend their lead at the top to four points.

The first goal came just five minutes into the match as Leon Clarke pounced onto a rebound following a shot from John Fleck which was parried out by David Button. Fulham equalised just under 25 minutes later when Ojo latched onto an awful attempted backpass, by Carter-Vickers, and coolly slotted the ball past Blackman. Just two minutes later Fulham took a shock lead as Ryan Sessegnon hit a beautiful curling effort from about 20-yards out into the bottom right-hand corner.

In the 39th minute, Fleck played a wonderful ball into the left channel for Leon Clarke to run onto. Once he got the ball under his spell he fired a well-hit shot straight under the Fulham keeper to make it two apiece. Before the half-time whistle there was a fifth goal and it went the way of the visitors. When Ojo found himself in behind the Blades defence he crossed a ball to the back post which Sessegnon got on the end of to score his second a Fulham's third of the game.

The sixth goal of the game didn't arrive until the 69th minute as Kamara (who had been on the pitch for barely a minute) set up Ojo who hit a deflected shot to put the Londoners 4-2 up. Less than ten minutes later Sessegnon got his hat-trick to put Fulham 5-2 up and all but end the game as a contest. Well, at least, that's what everyone thought...

With four minutes to go, Carruthers pulled one back for United to give them the slightest glimmer of hope. Six minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official and just one minute into those six Leon Clarke picked up another hat-trick to make it 5-4 and cause a very tense last five minutes for the visiting fans. Unfortunately, for the home faithful and Leon Clarke, his goals are meaningless when it comes to the winning any points.



http://the72.co.uk/93908/sheffield-united-lose-nine-goal-thriller-twitter-reacts/

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Fulham were determined to attack Blades – Jokanovic

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said his side gave Sheffield United a taste of their own medicine in the epic 5-4 win at Bramall Lane.

Teenager Ryan Sessegnon scored a hat-trick, on his 50th appearance for the club, and lively Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo chipped in with the other two in a thrilling victory.

The high-flying Blades have earned plaudits for their attacking style since winning promotion from League One, and Jokanovic revealed he set his side up to outscore them.

"We tried to attack them where in the past they have tried to attack teams," Jokanovic said.

"We played with fast players, they found space very well and they showed their quality to finish the chances we created.

"For the first, second and third goals I didn't think they did enough to score them, but in the end it's our fault they scored four goals and we need to be more solid.

"I feel we deserved a little bit more of a comfortable victory, but they're one of the best Championship teams and I must be satisfied."



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/jokanovic-explains-tactics-behind-fulhams-stunning-win-sheffield-united