Thursday Fulham Stuff (22/02/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Results

Wednesday
Bristol City	1 - 1	Fulham
Derby	2 - 2	Leeds
Ipswich	0 - 1	Cardiff
Wolves	2 - 2	Norwich

[WhiteJC]

 
Rosenior: Sessegnon deal already done

Leroy Rosenior believes that a deal with Fulham for Ryan Sessegnon has already been done and suggested that the teenager could be on his way to Tottenham in the summer.

The former Fulham defender, who since retiring has regularly worked on the BBC as a pundit, revealed that he thought a Premier League club had already agreed a deal to sign dazzling wide man Sessegnon, but wasn't 100% sure which team had won the race.

"I think that a deal has been done for Ryan as teams have been in for him," said Rosenior on the Totally Football Show.

"It's a Premier League side with strong rumours of Tottenham, I wouldn't be surprised if other sides have been in for him as well.

"He's stays at Fulham before moving in the summer, his future is already mapped out."

The Evening Standard previously reported that Spurs could attempt to sign the teenage sensation in the summer, while the Telegraph reported that Tottenham were joined by Manchester United and Liverpool in the running for Sessegnon.

The Telegraph's report suggested that the British transfer record would be smashed by whichever club was successfully in signing the 17-year-old.

Sessegnon has attracted a lot of attention this season due to putting in impressive performances for Fulham at left-back and as a left-winger.

The 17-year-old has scored 12 goals in 35 appearances for Fulham this season, and has also grabbed four assists during this campaign.

OPINION

It's hardly shocking if Rosenior is right about Sessegnon's future already being sorted. Tottenham do seem to be the Premier League club constantly linked with the 17-year-old, so it seems very likely that if someone has won the race, then it's them. Sessegnon will no doubt flourish at Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino, as the Argentinian manager has a knack for developing young talent. The 17-year-old, ahead of joining Tottenham, already looks capable of stepping up to play in the Premier League given the way he has torn up the Championship this season. It's interesting that the teenager might have already decided his future, as he could get Premier League football with Fulham next season, and you think the Cottagers would be keen to keep him at the club.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/02/blogs/premier-league/rosenior-sessegnon-deal-already-done/

[WhiteJC]

 
Travel Disruption

This weekend there will be no District Line services between South Kensington/Edgware Road and Wimbledon/Kensington Olympia/Ealing Broadway/Richmond.

Therefore, fans will not be able to travel to the Wolverhampton Wanderers game via Putney Bridge and should make alternative arrangements.

Putney mainline train station is approximately a 20-30 minute walk to Craven Cottage, as is Hammersmith tube station which is serviced by the Circle, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines.

Furthermore, until mid-May there will be highway works taking place on Fulham High Street with a contraflow system being introduced at the junction with New Kings Road towards Fulham Road.

Vehicle access will be restricted and congestion is expected in the surrounding area on matchdays.

Fans are therefore advised to plan and allow for plenty of time for their journey to and from Craven Cottage.




http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/february/21/travel-disruption

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović felt Fulham's meeting with Bristol City was "a great battle" between two contrasting styles at Ashton Gate.

Aleksandar Mitrović's first goal for the Club was cancelled out by a Bobby Reid strike, meaning the Whites remain two points above our rivals in the Play-Off positions.

"We faced a different kind of football game, it was a great battle," Jokanović stated. "They were really solid, strong, bordering on the limit.

"In my opinion it was sometimes over the border of the limit but that was not the opinion of the referee. I must respect this.

"Sometimes I was a little bit confused about the rules, what is a foul and what is not.

"In the end I cannot complain, all credit to Bristol City, they play a different way to us, and both teams were close to winning three points; us with our weapons, them with their little bit different weapons.

"In some moments it was like a kind of rugby game; so many pushes, so many situations where I was a little bit confused about what the limits were in this battle, and what is over the limit."

The result means Fulham are still without defeat in the Sky Bet Championship since the middle of December, and Jokanović was pleased to keep the run going.

"We must be satisfied with this point," he said. "We didn't find enough space, like an important Premier League team [Manchester United] didn't find in this stadium [in the EFL Cup].

"We always come to try and win three points, we didn't do it today but there are many games ahead of us and we must be ready for the next challenge.

"We have good momentum. Our unbeaten run is now 11 games and we need to be confident and we need to trust in ourselves and try and play our style.

"We tried today, we weren't successful like we were in some games in the past, but we showed personality to try and follow our style, try and move the ball, but it wasn't easy for us."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/february/21/head-coach-reaction-bristol-city

[WhiteJC]

 
Bristol City 1-1 Fulham

Bobby Reid scored his 16th Championship goal of the season for Bristol City

Bristol City held fellow play-off contenders Fulham to a draw to pick up a third successive Championship point.

On-loan Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring with his first goal for Fulham, poking in Cyrus Christie's cross at the back post.

But Robins' top-scorer Bobby Reid tucked Josh Brownhill's pass beyond Marcus Bettinelli to equalise.

The two sides cancelled each other out in the second half as Fulham extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

The stalemate sees both sides remain where they were in the Championship table, with Fulham fifth and Bristol City sixth, now two points ahead of Sheffield United.

However, another draw, following late collapses against Sunderland and Leeds, means Lee Johnson's side have still managed just one win in 2018.

Despite only mustering one shot on target, the hosts perhaps had the better chances to nick it, with Hordur Magnusson heading Ryan Kent's free-kick narrowly wide and Reid failing to get on the end of a Famara Diedhiou knock-down.

Mitrovic, meanwhile, could not quite reach a teasing cross from Ryan Sessegnon and Slavisa Jokanovic's in-form side were left to settle for a point.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic told BBC Radio London:

"It was a different kind of game - very hard, but we tried to follow our style, move the ball but we didn't find enough space.

"They pressed us and put us under a strong press. We had chances to win the game, and they had some too.

"It's not an easy place to play. Some of the more important teams from the Premier League didn't find enough space to move the ball. We cannot be completely satisfied as we came here to win the game."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43053718

[Mince n Tatties]

Rosenior: Sessegnon deal already done

Leroy Rosenior believes that a deal with Fulham for Ryan Sessegnon has already been done and suggested that the teenager could be on his way to Tottenham in the summer.

The former Fulham defender, who since retiring has regularly worked on the BBC as a pundit, revealed that he thought a Premier League club had already agreed a deal to sign dazzling wide man Sessegnon, but wasn't 100% sure which team had won the race.

"I think that a deal has been done for Ryan as teams have been in for him," said Rosenior on the Totally Football Show.

"It's a Premier League side with strong rumours of Tottenham, I wouldn't be surprised if other sides have been in for him as well.

"He's stays at Fulham before moving in the summer, his future is already mapped out."

The Evening Standard previously reported that Spurs could attempt to sign the teenage sensation in the summer, while the Telegraph reported that Tottenham were joined by Manchester United and Liverpool in the running for Sessegnon.

The Telegraph's report suggested that the British transfer record would be smashed by whichever club was successfully in signing the 17-year-old.

Sessegnon has attracted a lot of attention this season due to putting in impressive performances for Fulham at left-back and as a left-winger.

The 17-year-old has scored 12 goals in 35 appearances for Fulham this season, and has also grabbed four assists during this campaign.

OPINION

It's hardly shocking if Rosenior is right about Sessegnon's future already being sorted. Tottenham do seem to be the Premier League club constantly linked with the 17-year-old, so it seems very likely that if someone has won the race, then it's them. Sessegnon will no doubt flourish at Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino, as the Argentinian manager has a knack for developing young talent. The 17-year-old, ahead of joining Tottenham, already looks capable of stepping up to play in the Premier League given the way he has torn up the Championship this season. It's interesting that the teenager might have already decided his future, as he could get Premier League football with Fulham next season, and you think the Cottagers would be keen to keep him at the club.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2018/02/blogs/premier-league/rosenior-sessegnon-deal-already-done/

Thisisfutbol talking tosh as usual, and can't believe Leroy coming out with that nonsense..Don't believe a word as "Thin Lizzy" would say.

[WhiteJC]

 
Bristol City 1-1 Fulham: Hot shot Bobby Reid cancels out Aleksandar Mitrovic's first goal for the Cottagers

    Reid's 16th goal of the season earned the home side a point at Ashton Gate
    Mitrovic, on loan from Newcastle, fired the visitors in front after 14 minutes
    Lee Johnson's men levelled after 35 minutes through neat finish by Reid

Rafa Benitez might have binned striker Alexander Mitrovic at the start of the season but Newcastle's loss looks very much like Fulham's gain.

The big Serbian got his first goal since moving on loan in January as Slavisa Jokanovic's side stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games.

It was a sweet moment for the striker who was signed by Newcastle United for £14.5million by Steve McClaren but was never trusted by Benitez because of his disciplinary problems.


Bobby Reid scored his 16th goal of the season to secure a point for Bristol City on Wednesday

He was in the right place early on to tuck home a clever pass from Cyrus Christie and heap more misery on City whose own promotion hopes are faltering.

The only shame for the 24-year-old, convinced by fellow countryman Jokanovic that being part of a Championship promotion chase would help his Serbia World Cup chances, was that it wasn't a winner.

Jokanovic said: 'Of course it was good for Alexander to score his first goal. We trust in him, we believe he is the player we need in our squad.

'He showed not only tonight but also against Villa at the weekend that he is a quality player, and he is different to what I had in my squad.

'Players need time to be on the pitch and they have to be given an opportunity – he will have more of those with us and we expect he can still improve.

'I was pleased with my team because it was a great battle – Bristol go to the border of what is allowed and sometimes I wonder what is a foul and what is not.

'We didn't find space but then neither did some important Premier League teams when they came here this season.'

City, whose own season has been faltering with only two wins from 11, struck back as Bobby Reid swapped passes with Josh Brownhill to tuck home his 16th of the season on Wednesday night.

Bristol City assistant Dean Holden said: 'I thought we played really well – to go a goal down early on was always going to be difficult especially against the form team in the division but I thought we stood up and gave a response.

'We've had a lot more games than anybody else in the league but we are still looking fit and strong.'

There couldn't have been a greater contrast in the form coming into the game.

While Fulham have been closing in on the promotion chase, City have been struggling. Since their night of the season when they knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup, they had just 10 points from the same number of games.

It probably wasn't surprising then that the visitors had the first attempt at goal, with Mitrovic trying to find his range with a shot that Frank Fielding saved comfortably.

The City keeper could do nothing, though, when the Serb plundered his first goal since arriving on loan.


On-loan striker Aleksandar Mitrovic fired the visitors in front after 14 minutes

Full back Cyrus Christie made it, weaving his way across the edge of the area before rolling the ball with the outside of his right foot to where Mitrovic couldn't miss.

It was a big blow for City boss Lee Johnson, and it didn't get any better as within a minute Magnus Johanssun then somehow managed to steer a free header wide of the open goal from a free kick.

That at least raised some hope in the crowd, though, and they began to get behind their team through a series of free kicks, corners and long throws that built a bit of pressure.

But ironically it was just Fulham looked like they had weathered that storm that the home side drew level.


Mitrovic reacted quickly and planted a shot past goalkeeper Frank Fielding from close range

Josh Brownhill won the ball and opened things up with a perfectly weighted pass to winger Ryan Kent, before moving forward to play a neat exchange of passes with Reid that ended with the midfielder tucking away his 16th of the season.

Mitrovic and Reid both had chances early in the second half but failed to capitalise and the game slid into a stalemate for a while.

When it finally opened up it was Fulham who missed a big chance, with Ryan Sessegnon picking the ballup from Bailey Wright's mistake but firing his cross just an inch too far in front of Mitrovic for him to get his second.

At the other end Jamie Paterson tried a volley after Tim Ream's wayward header but again was off target, and a great piece of defending by Denis Odoi stopped Reid getting his second.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5419605/Bristol-City-1-1-Fulham-Promotion-rivals-share-spoils.html#ixzz57onPyZWB
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[WhiteJC]

 
Mitrovic scores as Fulham draw at Bristol City

Bristol City 1 Fulham 1

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his first Fulham goal as the Whites extended their unbeaten league run to 11 games.

But the Serbian striker's 14th-minute opener was cancelled out on 35 minutes by the Robins' top scorer, Bobby Reid, and it ended honours even.

Cyrus Christie marked his debut with an assist, rolling a pass with the outside of his right boot which was snaffled up by Mitrovic, ghosting in behind the City defence for a simple tap-in from close range.

Reid levelled it up by firing past Marcus Bettinelli after a neat exchange of passes with Josh Brownhill in the Fulham box.

Christie almost restored Fulham's lead at the start of the second half with a powerful low shot after Lucas Piazon had opened up a yard of space.

And Mitrovic was inches away from making a decisive connection after Ryan Sessegnon seized on a mistake from City skipper Bailey Wright to put an inviting cross into the danger area.

Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic made three changes from Saturday's win over Aston Villa in a bid to keep his side fresh, with Christie, Denis Odoi and Piazon replacing Ryan Fredericks, Tomas Kalas and Floyd Ayite.

And he was rewarded with another competent display on the road, characterised by good spells of possession and calmness when the hosts' high tempo made life difficult.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Christie, Odoi, Ream, Targett (Ayite 75); McDonald, Johansen; Piazon, Cairney (Norwood 79), Sessegnon; Mitrovic (Kamara 75).
Subs not used: Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Kebano.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/mitrovic-scores-fulham-draw-bristol-city

[WhiteJC]

 
Bristol City 1-1 Fulham: PLAYER RATINGS as Mitrovic scores his first goal in Fulham colours

The Serbian's goal wasn't enough for three points but it extended the unbeaten run to 11 games

Aleksandar Mitrovic's first goal in Fulham colours wasn't enough for all three points after Bobby Reid made sure the points were shared at Ashton Gate.

Slavisa Jokanovic made three changes for tonight's game with Bristol City, handing Cyrus Christie his Fulham debut while also picking Denis Odoi and Lucas Piazon.

It was Fulham who got themselves ahead when Christie drove into the box and delivered a beautiful cross with the outside of his boot to find Mitrovic, who poked home his first goal for the away side.

Bristol City got themselves level though after constant aerial pressure kept Fulham penned inside their own half, with Reid the man to slot the ball into the net to make it 1-1 after 35 minutes.

Mitrovic had a great chance in the 69th minute when Ryan Sessegnon won the ball high up the pitch, crossing it into the six-yard box where the striker was lurking, but an outstretched boot failed to prod it home.

Here's how we rated the side:

Bettinelli 6: Didn't look comfortable at dealing with the aerial bombardment that Bristol were sending his way. Did better at coming off his line in the second period.

Christie 8: Lovely ball for the goal with the outside of his boot and looked good in the air. Was one of Fulham's best players.

Odoi 6: Could've done better with his clearance for the Bristol equaliser and struggled in the air against a big Bristol attack.

Ream 7: Looked solid in the first half, although a few misplaced passes caused some nervy moments.

Targett 6: Tried to attack down the wing but wasn't able to cause as many problems. Defensively looked good but Bristol got success down his side. Came off with a suspected ankle injury.

McDonald 6: A few uncharacteristic misplaced passes from the Scotsman in the first half. Did well with defending the long balls when called upon.

Johansen 7: Pressured high and raced round the pitch to try and force Bristol into mistakes. A few unforced errors crept into his game in the second half. Looked most likely to make something happen.

Cairney 6: Wasn't at his best in the first half but was able to keep a composed figure on the ball. Looked drained when he was replaced by Oliver Norwood.

Sessegnon 6: Struggled to get into the game in the first half, but had a few moments where he was able to get behind the defence but without causing problems.

Piazon 5: Like Sessegnon, looked isolated at time and tried to drift inwards to see more of the ball.

Mitrovic 7: Was a nuisance from the start and thoroughly deserved his goal. Was more isolated in the second half and was subbed on 74 minutes.

Subs -

Ayite 6: Added an outlet on the left side and mucked in defensively in the midfield.

Kamara 6: Was introduced to try get behind the Bristol defensive but wasn't give the ammunition to do so.

Norwood 6: Introduced to add some stability to the midfield, which he did for the ten minutes he was on.




https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-city-1-1-fulham-14320989

[WhiteJC]

 
Everything Slavisa Jokanovic said after the 1-1 draw with Bristol City

Here's everything the head coach had to say in his post match press conference at Ashton Gate

Fulham made it 11 unbeaten with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Bristol City - here's everything that Slavisa Jokanovic had to say after the game.

Were you able to enjoy what was a cracking match?

"Really I am not able to enjoy so much, we face some different kind of the football game and it was a great battle.

"They were really solid, strong on the border of the limit, and in my opinion over the border, but it's not the opinion of the referee and I must respect sometimes I am a little bit confused about rules and what is and what is not a foul.

"At the end, I cannot complain, it's really all the credit for Bristol, they play a different way to what we play and both teams were close to win the three points.

"Our weapons were a little bit different, at the end we must be satisfied with this point, we didn't find enough space like important Premier League team and we didn't find in this stadium so many spaces.

"I must be satisfied with this one point, we always come to try and win three, we didn't today but there are many games ahead and we must be ready for next challenge."

Good news that Mitrovic scored his first goal?

"It's good news, he can score second too, at the end it was heavy work for him, this is between other things that I was a little bit confused about, what is foul and what is not.

"At the end, it's like rugby at some moments, there's many pushes and situations where I simply be a little bit confused what is the limit in this battle and what is over the limit."

Happy with how he has settled?

"Yes, we expect he can be better like I expect from other players, we can still be better in the future.

"This is second game that he started with the team, he scored the goal and didn't have an easy job but it's not question about one player, I must be satisfied with hard battle and how my team tried to play in this pitch."

Are players up for challenge over next few weeks?

"We are in good momentum, now 11 games and we need to be confident and need to trust in ourselves and try play our style.

"We tried today, we weren't successful like we were in some games in the past but we showed personality to try follow the style and try move the ball.

"It wasn't easy for us, it wasn't easy for other squads that faced Bristol here in other competitions,.

"We try, we win one point, we must be satisfied and keep going."


(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Is Mitrovic full of confidence?

"Are you his uncle?

"We trust in him, we believe he is a player that we need in his squad , he showed not only today after scoring one goal, he showed against Villa and game before that he is a quality player and different kind of the style to what I have in my squad.

"At the end all the players need time and to play the game to show if they are valid or not.

"He didn't have enough opportunity and with us he has more to be on the field and at the end it will depend on him if he can still push and be more dangerous and useful for my team."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everything-slavisa-jokanovic-said-after-14321866

[WhiteJC]

Reid pegs Fulham back to claim a point
by Dan on February 21, 2018

Slavisa Jokanovic called this absorbing promotion clash at Ashton Gate a battle between contrasting styles – and he couldn't have been more correct. Whilst the Serbian suggested that Bristol City, whose third straight draw means they have yet to record a league win since the turn of the year, 'go to the border of what is allowed,' he would also have been bitterly disappointment that – just as in their last away trip at Bolton – Fulham failed to build on a promising start to claim all three points on their travels.

Where it was Matt Targett who headed the Whites in front at the Macron Stadium, Jokanovic's latest deadline day signing, his compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic, clinically converted a cross from debutante Chris Christie to give Fulham the perfect start to this pivotal promotion six-pointer. But the visitors, who certainly played more of the football throughout on a cold evening, were pegged back once again by a familiar foe in the form of Bobby Reid – and were indebted to some desperate defending at the death for the point they took back to London.

A share of the spoils meant that Jokanovic's men had lost ground on Cardiff City, whose own victory means the Bluebirds are now eight points clear in the second automatic promotion spot, and was somewhat deflating given how well the night had began. The Fulham head coach had rung the changes for a second successive fixture and his alterations were vindicated with Christie creating the goal with a splendid bit of adventure down the flank and Denis Odoi, who replaced Tomas Kalas at centre back, bailing out his team-mates on two occasions late in the second half.

It was no surprise given Fulham's ten match unbeaten run – and the Robins' penchant for surrendering winning positions of late – that the visitors settled the swifter. Mitrovic quickly tested Frankie Fielding with a low drive from twenty yards after excellent approach play from Matt Target, but he was far more ruthless with his next chance just before the fifteen minute mark. The goal owed everything to Christie's imagination and persistence as he galloped into space down the right and drilled in a delicious cross that the on-loan Newcastle forward, who hopes to lead the line for Serbia at the World Cup this summer, gleefully guided home to open his account for Fulham.

City, whose most concentrated pressure on Marcus Bettinelli's goal came from Hordor Magnussen's long throws, should have equalised a minute later but the Icelandic defender contrived to send a free header from Ryan Kent's free-kick horribly wide. Fulham repelled the hosts' aerial bombardment pretty effectively but, just as they appeared to rode out a prolonged period of pressure, the visitors conceded in sloppy fashion and it was Reid, a scorer in the Robins' impressive victory at Craven Cottage earlier in the season, who snaffled his sixteenth goal of the campaign.

Josh Brownhill recovered possession in midfield and fed Reid, who worked a clever one-two with Kent after the ball bounced a little fortuitously back into his path, and the attacking midfielder fired low past a helpless Bettinelli. The Fulham goalkeeper was furious by the break with referee Jeremy Simpson, whose indulgence of some particularly robust City tackling raised eyebrows, after being continually impeded from Magnussen's long throws.

Fulham might have been back in front before half-time but for Tom Cairney lifting a decent opportunity over the bar after he seized on awful crossfield pass from Magnussen and raced in on Fielding's goal. Fulham fashioned the first opening of the second half when Piazon used his strength to win a duel on the edge of the Bristol City penalty area and found Johansen. The Norwegian's perfectly weighted pass offered a shooting opportunity to Mitrovic, but Fielding got a strong palm to the Serbian's strike.

At the other end, Reid steered a volley wide before Mitrovic could only glance a corner wide of the near post from an acute angle. There were ironic cheers when referee Simpson finally cautioned Ryan Kent for cynically chopping down Cairney, the subject of several hefty home challenges, as the Fulham captain looked to break clear and, after a lull in proceedings, Fulham failed to convert the best chance of the second period when Sessegnon surged down the left at full speed and cut back an inviting cross which the sliding Mitrovic missed by a matter of inches. Substitute Ollie Norwood tried his luck from thirty yards but his daisycutter was well watched through a forest of legs by Fielding.

A rare mistake from Tim Ream presented Jamie Paterson with a decent chance but the Scot snatched at his shot from the right angle of the box and dragged it disappointingly wide before a frantic final ten minutes delivered two more decent chances for Reid. City's creative hub was first denied by a brilliant block at close range from Odoi as he looked certain to put the home side ahead and then, in the last of five added minutes, Ream arrived in the nick of time to avert the danger as Reid threatened a late winner.

BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): Fielding; Wright, Magnussen (Bryan 74), Flint, Baker; Smith, Brownhill, Kent (Eliasson 80), Paterson; Reid, Diedhiou (Diony 80). Subs (not used): Steele, Kelly, Walsh, Engvall.

BOOKED: Kent, Flint, Reid.

GOAL: Reid (35).

FULHAM (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Christie, Targett (Ayite 74), Odoi, Ream; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney (Norwood 79); Piazon, R. Sessegnon, Mitrovic (Kamara 74). Subs (not used): Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Kebano.

BOOKED: Johansen.

GOAL: Mitrovic (14).

REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 21,236



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/reid-pegs-fulham-back-to-claim-a-point/

[WhiteJC]

'Bristol City bordered on the limit,' claims Jokanovic
by Dan on February 21, 2018

Slavisa Jokanovic hailed his Fulham side's battling qualities after watching what he described as 'a great battle' in an entertaining draw at Ashton Gate this evening, although the Serbian suggested that Bristol City 'bordered on the limit' of legality with their physical tactics.

The Fulham head coach compared periods of a robust encounter to 'a rugby game,' but insisted he had to be happy with a point as the Whites extended their unbeaten run to eleven games. Jokanovic told his post-match press conference:

    We faced a different kind of football game, it was a great battle. They were really solid, strong, bordering on the limit. In my opinion it was sometimes over the border of the limit but that was not the opinion of the referee. I must respect this. Sometimes I was a little bit confused about the rules, what is a foul and what is not.

    In the end I cannot complain, all credit to Bristol City, they play a different way to us, and both teams were close to winning three points; us with our weapons, them with their little bit different weapons. In some moments it was like a kind of rugby game; so many pushes, so many situations where I was a little bit confused about what the limits were in this battle, and what is over the limit.

The Fulham boss eluded to Manchester United's EFL Cup quarter final defeat earlier this season in highlighting that Fulham weren't the only team to struggle to find too much space against Lee Johnson's well-drilled defence.

    We must be satisfied with this point. We didn't find enough space, like an important Premier League team [Manchester United] didn't find in this stadium. We always come to try and win three points, we didn't do it today but there are many games ahead of us and we must be ready for the next challenge.

Jokanovic was far from downcast, though, pinpointing the confidence that his side will take from extending their excellent start to 2018 – and insisting there were still plenty of points to play for.

    We have good momentum. Our unbeaten run is now 11 games and we need to be confident and we need to trust in ourselves and try and play our style. We tried today, we weren't successful like we were in some games in the past, but we showed personality to try and follow our style, try and move the ball, but it wasn't easy for us.

The Serbian had further words of praise for his compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic, who opened his Fulham account with a clinically taken goal early in the contest during another encouraging display.

    Of course it was good for Alexander to score his first goal. We trust in him, we believe he is the player we need in our squad. He showed not only tonight but also against Villa at the weekend that he is a quality player, and he is different to what I had in my squad.

    Players need time to be on the pitch and they have to be given an opportunity – he will have more of those with us and we expect he can still improve.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/02/bristol-city-bordered-on-the-limit-claims-jokanovic/

[WhiteJC]

 
Red & Yellow & Oh I'm Off...Fulham v Wolves (24/2/18)

The Football League have now announced the Match Day officials that will take charge of the game between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday.

Fulham host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday February 24 for the game at Craven Cottage and the match carries a 5.30pm kick off.

Referee: Peter Bankes
Assistant Refs: Timothy Wood and Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Andy Davies

Match Day referee Bankes has officiated 31 games in 2017/18, showing 106 yellow cards and eight red cards so far.

He took in 38 games in 2016/17 with a return of 127 yellow cards and 12 red cards.

He was most card happy that year in the game between Newcastle United and Norwich City where he showed ten yellow cards. He also showed eight yellows and two reds in the match between Rochdale and Bury.

He took in 38 matches in 2015-16 and in those games, across all competitions and football divisions, he handed out a total of 153 yellow cards and five red cards.

He was most card happy in the match between Birmingham City and Reading on August 8 with a total of nine yellows being shown.

Bankes began refereeing in Liverpool in 1996, aged 14. Bankes was subsequently appointed to the EFL Referees List in 2014, prior to which he spent two years as a Select Group Assistant Referee, which included his appointment to the FA Cup semi-final between Wigan Athletic and Millwall. He refereed the National League Play-Off Final at Wembley in 2014. In his two seasons on the Referees List he has overseen two Play-Off semi-finals.

Source - EFL.

Let`s hope it`s not another repeat and more of the players edge closer to automatic bans




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