Tuesday Fulham Stuff (15/05/18)...

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Results

Monday
Fulham	2 - 0	Derby

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was a proud Head Coach after guiding his team to a first ever Play-Off victory.

The Whites recovered from a 1-0 First Leg defeat at Pride Park to triumph 2-1 on aggregate over Derby County, courtesy of second half efforts from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi.

"Today my team played fantastic football," Jokanović said. "We controlled everything, we created many chances, we were really focused and organised, and didn't give them many opportunities to make dangerous situations.

"In the second half we pushed stronger, scored two fantastic goals, and I must be really satisfied for the team, our supporters – we need this kind of happiness. These people deserve this night."

Having been on a 23-match unbeaten run, some critics had begun to write off Fulham following consecutive defeats, but Jokanović was pleased with the reaction shown by his side.

"We improved our mentality," he stated. "We played a little bit different and bad game against Birmingham, and we played a very good game against Derby first leg. This is my point of view.

"I know in football that the result is more important – if you lose the game people are not happy, but in the first and second legs we followed our style and we did an important job."

An appearance at the national stadium is something that has alluded Fulham for decades, and while Jokanović was pleased to reach the Final, he knows nothing has been achieved yet.

"We haven't played at Wembley for 43 years so this is great for us," he admitted. "It's great we beat many records this year, we are really satisfied, really proud and happy after this leg.

"But we know it's not enough to take the fans to Wembley, now we need to work towards this game that is ahead of us. The whole season depends on this last game.

"We know how important it was to bring the team there, but it's more important we show enough quality and confidence to win the game.

"Now we must clear our minds, rest our bodies, and start to prepare for this game which is in 12 days. We have time to be ready for the game."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/14/head-coach-reaction-second-leg

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Fulham 2-0 Derby County

Ryan Sessegnon has scored 16 goals in the Championship this season

Fulham overturned a first-leg defeat by Derby to book their place in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

Trailing 1-0 from the game at Pride Park, clinical second-half finishes from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi put Slavisa Jokanovic's side through.

Teenager Sessegnon first fired into the top corner from close range, before Odoi flicked in a header from a corner.

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had chances to add further goals, as the Rams created little.

Fulham - beaten play-off semi-finalists last season - will play either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough in the final on Saturday, 26 May.

Having struggled to break down Derby in the first leg, Fulham demonstrated why they are unbeaten at Craven Cottage since October with a display full of flowing, attacking football.

The Rams frustrated their opponents during the first half, though, with Scott Carson superbly saving Mitrovic's close-range header and it was not until after the break Fulham made their dominance count.

The Cottagers find out who they will face in the final on Tuesday, when Villa take a one-goal advantage over Boro back to the West Midlands.

Fulham finally end play-off hoodoo

Victory in the semi-finals ends a run of seven play-off games without a win for Fulham.

In 2016-17, Reading defeated the west London side 2-1 on aggregate, but they are now one match away from a return to the Premier League for the first time since relegation in 2014.

It will also be the Whites' first visit to Wembley since 1975 when they were beaten by West Ham in the FA Cup Final.

Denis Odoi was held aloft by Fulham fans at full-time

Fulham finished third in the Championship and 13 points ahead of Derby, only missing out on automatic promotion because of a final-day loss at Birmingham.

But their form at Craven Cottage has been magnificent since the turn of the year, scoring more goals at home than any other side in 2018.

And they became only the second team out of 17 in a Championship play-off to lose the opening tie and then go through.

Derby will now spend an 11th successive season in the second tier despite reaching the play-offs in three of the past five campaigns.

Should England take a gamble on Sessegnon?

In Sessegnon, Fulham have one of the outstanding young talents in England.

The Championship Player of the Season, who turns 18 on Friday, has been touted as an outside contender for a place in Gareth Southgate's 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.

The left-footed winger was kept quiet in Friday's first leg, but this time was instrumental in most things Fulham did in the final third.

He had already seen a shot well saved by Carson before the break when found in space by Kamara, but made no mistake from Stefan Johansen's chest down just two minutes into the second half.

Fulham's leading scorer has now netted 22 times in 80 career appearances, despite spending most of his first season playing from left-back.

England's squad will be announced on Wednesday.

Reaction - 'The fans did a crucial job'

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic told BBC London:
"I must be very satisfied personally, for my players and the fans. We made a great step and will bring the team to Wembley after 43 years.

"We believe in our way and the team have showed their confidence. It is a fantastic achievement.

"We will play the final and know that people only remember the team who wins the game.

"We must enjoy this moment and be happy, especially for our fans as they pushed us all year at home and did a crucial job for us tonight too."

Derby manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:
"The way we performed was the most disappointing thing for us. I think it's very easy to be critical, but I don't think that's the right thing to do.

"I think the players over the two legs have given everything and worked incredibly hard.

"We've tried everything, we've had a go, we're disappointed. Sometimes you've got to handle that disappointment and move on.

"Three out of the four teams are going to be disappointed at the end of these play-offs and unfortunately we're the first ones."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44026478

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Dennis Odoi's goal...

http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2017_2018/play-offs/home/derby-county#photogallery

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Fulham are going to Wembley! Championship play-off final awaits as Ryan Sessegnon, Denis Odoi earn 2-0 Craven Cottage win over Derby County

Fulham are one win away from the Premier League after overturning a one goal first-leg deficit to knock Derby County out of the Championship play-off semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate..

Slavisa Jokanovic's side, who had blown their hard-earned shot at automatic promotion and succumbed to a meek 1-0 defeat at Pride Park in the first leg, offered a timely reminder as to why they belong in the top flight, playing Derby off the park throughout.

They had to wait until the second half for their reward as Ryan Sessegnon and Dennis Odoi struck to earn them a place in the £170million playoff final later this month.

If they replicate tonight's display they will surely be back in the Premier League for the first time since 2014.

At half-time it would have been a brave Fulham fan who made such a prediction. Aleksandar Mitrovic had tamed Curtis Davies but could not find a way past Scott Carson. Too often the Newcastle loanee swivelled and shot wide from outside the box and on the one occasion he did get closer to goal his bullet header was blocked by an implausible save by the Derby goalkeeper.

Mitrovic wasn't the only player to be denied by the former England shot-stopper, though Sessegnon had only himself to blame when he spurned a three-on-one, failing to bring Aboubakar Kamara's pass under control and firing straight at the goalkeeper.

Derby's counter-punching and intelligent pressing was earning them half-chances at the other end, though they were unable to draw a save from Marcus Bettinelli. Cameron Jerome came closest but couldn't quite beat Odoi to a fizzing cross by Ikechi Anya.

With Premier League vultures circling over Tom Cairney, Ryan Fredericks and Sessegnon there was a sense that the second half could dictate the fortunes of Fulham for years to come. Luckily for them they have surely the best 17-year-old in the world in their ranks and, as he so often has this season, he made a telling contribution when his side needed it most.

Matt Targett's delivery from the left was knocked into his path by Stefan Johansen but it would still take an excellent finish to beat Carson, even from six yards out. That was just what Sessegnon provided, leathering the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

From that moment on it was obvious the next goal was going to Fulham, though its provider was far from predictable. Denis Odoi, the 5ft8in auxiliary centre-back, rose through the air to meet a Sessegnon corner at the near post, flicking an exquisite header across Carson and into the far corner.

With 25 minutes left Fulham still had to hold on and their task would have been much easier had Kamara made the most of his one-man breakaway. With only Carson to beat outside the area he chose to knock the ball past the goalkeeper and hurl himself to the floor, earning a yellow card for his troubles when he could so easily have scored.

Their visitors never looked like making them pay, though Andi Weimann had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty denied after grappling with Sessegnon. There was, though, no way that the brilliant youngster could be anything other than the hero tonight.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-championship-playoff-final-wembley-sessegnon-odoi-derby-craven-cottage-a3838976.html

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Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi send Fulham into Championship play-off final at Derby's expense

Championship play-off semi-final second leg – Craven Cottage – Fulham 2 (Sessegnon 47, Odoi 66) Derby County 0 (Fulham win 2-1 on aggregate)

Fulham advanced to the Championship play-off final after a 2-0 victory at Craven Cottage secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Derby.

Following a goalless first half, Ryan Sessegnon drew Fulham level on aggregate after smashing a close-range effort into the roof of the net.

Denis Odoi's superb 66th-minute header proved to be the winning goal, with Fulham – who finished third in the table – now one game away from a return to the Premier League.


Ryan Sessegnon of Fulham celebratesGetty Images

Needing to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first-leg, the Cottagers unsurprisingly started the contest on the front foot, but somehow Derby survived an onslaught in the opening-half.

The visitors had mainly Scott Carson to thank as the experienced goalkeeper produced a number of important stops to maintain their advantage, including an outstanding one-handed save to deny Aleksandar Mitrovic at point-blank range.

But six minutes after the restart Fulham finally struck the tie's leveller. Sessegnon, so often the saviour for his club, was in the right place at the right time to finish from close range.

And midway through the second period the hosts edged in front - and from the most unlikeliest of sources. Odoi, one of the smallest players on the pitch, glanced in from a corner delivery at the near post to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Derby responded with some urgency but couldn't find the goal which would have brought the game to extra-time. Their 10-year wait for a return to the Premier League continues.

Fulham - who had never previously won a play-off match before - now have a trip to Wembley to contest on May 26 when they will meet the winner of Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

Villa hold a 1-0 advantage over Boro going into Tuesday's return leg at Villa Park.

TALKING POINT

Cottagers seal a trip to Wembley, and must be favourites to win promotion: Fulham have been the team to watch in terms of exciting football in the Championship this season and they produced another exhilarating attacking display to come from behind to put Derby to the sword.

They were desperately unfortunate not to seal automatic promotion, but Slavisa Jokanovic refused to allow his side to give up on returning to the top-flight for the first time since 2014. After two below-par performances, Fulham were back to their free-scoring best and now be must be confident of winning at Wembley, no matter who their opponent is.

MAN OF THE MATCH

He isn't 18 until Friday, but Ryan Sessegnon delivered the goods with yet another performance beyond his tender age. Reports of an England call-up had the potential to unsettle the youngster, but obviously his priority is the play-offs and now he has the perfect chance to celebrate his birthday month with a promotion to the Premier League.

PLAYER RATINGS

Fulham: Bettinelli 6, Fredericks 7, Odoi 8, Ream 7, Targett 7, McDonald 7, Cairney 7, Johansen 7, Kamara 7, Sessegnon 9, Mitrovic 8. Subs: Norwood N/A, , Kalas 5.

Derby: Carson 8, Wisdom 6, Keogh 7, Davies 7, Forsyth 6, Anya 5, Huddlestone 6, Johnson 6, Weimann 6, Lawrence 6, Jerome 6. Subs: Palmer 5, Vydra 5, Nugent 5.

KEY MOMENTS

8' - SAVE! Fulham's lightening-quick counter-attack almost results in the equaliser! Kamara's perfectly-weighted pass finds Sessegnon, but the youngster gets the ball stuck under his feet. He eventually gets the shot away inside the box, but Carson makes a top-drawer save.

36' - FULHAM CHANCE! Mitrovic is fed on the edge of the area, a drop of the shoulder allows him space but he rifles a venomous left-footed shot agonisingly wide of Carson's post.

44' - ANOTHER FULHAM CHANCE! This should be the moment... Mitrovic rises highest to meet an inch-perfect cross, but from point-black range the Fulham forward heads straight at Carson. Is it going to be Derby's night?

47' - GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Derby (1-1 on aggregate): Sessegnon, the teenage sensation, grabs the crucial opener for Fulham! It's game on now! Targett's cross is knocked down into the feet of Sessegnon and the 17-year-old smashes it into the roof of the net.

66' - GOAL! Fulham 2-0 Derby (2-1 on aggregate): Odoi, one of the smallest players on the pitch, heads the Cottagers in front in the tie! The Fulham defender meets a corner delivery at the near post and he glances it into the top corner.

KEY STATS

    Fulham recorded their first ever win in the Football League play-offs, having drawn two and lost five of their previous seven games.
    The last second-tier team to win the play-offs after a semi-final first leg defeat was Bolton Wanderers, who overturned a 2-1 defeat against Wolves in 1995 (3-2 on aggregate), before beating Reading in the final.
    Ryan Sessegnon is the first 17-year old to score in an EFL play-off game since Max Clayton scored for Crewe Alexandra in May 2012.



https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/championship/2017-2018/_sto6755514/story.shtml

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Play-Off Journey Ends At Craven Cottage

Derby County's season came to an end at Craven Cottage as goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi secured a 2-1 aggregate victory for Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final.

The Rams fought bravely in the first-half to hold on to their first-leg lead, but the Cottagers struck twice after the break to secure their place at the Wembley final.

The home and away support provided a fitting backdrop to the game in the early stages with vociferous backing for their teams, and it was Fulham that created the first clear opportunity after eight minutes.

Aboubakar Kamara – in for Floyd Ayite – broke away fortuitously when Craig Forsyth's clearance deflected into his path to start a three-on-one attack.

He seemed to delay his pass, though, and by the time he had found Sessegnon, Scott Carson was in the right position to make a fine stop.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was Fulham's target-man once again and he played a neat one-two with Sessegnon on 20 minutes before striking tamely at Carson.

Derby were lively on the break but the home side continued to find sight of goal, with Stefan Johansen next to take aim, but he fired well over the crossbar.

Mitrovic went even closer on 36 minutes before Kamara had a swerving effort kept out, but on the stroke of half-time, Carson pulled off an incredible, box-office stop to deny Mitrovic's powerful header.

The reprieve didn't last long as Fulham took the lead on the night just two minutes into the second-half.

Johansen found space in the area before finding Sessegnon, and the 17-year-old made no mistake as he fired high past Carson from close range to restore parity.

Mitrovic went close again on the hour-mark but six minutes later, the home side took control of the tie when Sessegnon's in-swinging corner found the head of Odoi, and he directed his effort just inside the far post.

Gary Rowett summoned Kasey Palmer and Matej Vydra to try and find an equaliser, and the pair were involved as Andreas Weimann headed over the bar.

Ultimately, finding the leveller proved to be a step too far for the Rams, but the players showed their class as they stayed on the pitch to applaud the incredible Derby support at full-time.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett (Kalas, 76'); Cairney (Norwood, 90'), McDonald, Johansen; Kamara, Mitrovic, Sessegnon.

Substitutes not used: Button, Christie, Piazon, Ayite, Fonte.

Derby County: Carson; Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Wisdom, Huddlestone, Johnson, Anya (Vydra, 67'); Lawrence (Palmer, 67'), Jerome (Nugent, 75'), Weimann.

Substitutes not used: Roos, Pearce, Hanson, Ledley.

Major Moment...
Gary Rowett will be disappointed that his side conceded the decisive goal from a set-piece.

Sessegnon's delivery was good but Odoi was allowed far too much room and he directed his header perfectly just inside the post to change the whole complexion of the tie.

Who Impressed...
Carson kept Derby in the tie for most of the night in the capital. He made several key stops but the one from Mitrovic on the stroke of the break was inspired.

Matt Targett's cross was a good one and Mitrovic – who is so deadly in the air – couldn't believe that the ball didn't hit the net.



https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2018/05/derby-fulham-report-3

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Fulham 2 Derby County 0 (2-1 agg): Sessegnon leads comeback to book play-off final spot
A goal and an assist from Ryan Sessegnon saw Fulham reach the Championship play-off final at the expense of Derby County.

Fulham booked their place in the Championship play-off final with a 2-0 win over Derby County on Monday that sealed a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-final.

Gary Rowett's side won the first leg courtesy of a Cameron Jerome header but they were second best for the majority of the return fixture at Craven Cottage.

Ryan Sessegnon, named the division's player of the season last month, scored the first and set up Denis Odoi's decisive header to send Slavisa Jokanovic's into a meeting at Wembley with either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough.

Derby produced a dogged defensive effort to keep Fulham at bay during the first leg and Monday's fixture followed a similar pattern, with the hosts enjoying 67 per cent of possession and managing 10 shots on target to the visitors' one.

A stunning save from Scott Carson to deny Aleksandar Mitrovic kept the score at 0-0 at the interval, but Sessegnon punished a rare piece of slack defending two minutes into the second half, collecting a loose ball in the box and rifling high into the net.

The 17-year-old provided the telling assist 19 minutes later, bending a corner onto the head of Odoi, who glanced the ball over Carson and into the left-hand corner of the net to keep Fulham's promotion hopes alive for one more match.



https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/fulham-2-derby-county-0-2-1-agg-sessegnon-leads-comeback-to-book-play-off-final-spot?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeeda

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Fulham 2-0 Derby (2-1 agg): Ryan Sessegnon inspires Cottagers to Wembley play-off final


Ryan Sessegnon celebrates after scoring Fulham's opener

Fulham ended their play-off hoodoo in style by coming from behind to beat Derby 2-0 and put themselves one win away from the Premier League.

The Cottagers had not won any of their previous seven play-off ties, including Friday's Championship semi-final first leg, but second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi overturned a one-goal deficit at Craven Cottage and sent them to Wembley.

Sessegnon, tipped for a potential summer move to a big club, will take the headlines but it was an all-out attacking display from Slavisa Jokanovic's men, who were worthy winners.

Fulham, who have only lost twice since December 16, will now meet either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough at the national stadium on May 26 and are 90 minutes away from a first return to the Premier League since 2014.

After a disappointing night at Pride Park on Friday, Fulham were desperate to wipe out their deficit as quickly as possible and they could not have wished for a better chance in only the eighth minute.

The Cottagers showcased their attacking speed as they broke from a Derby corner with Aboubakar Kamara squaring for Sessegnon but the 17-year-old first touch was not great and his shot was too close to Scott Carson, who palmed behind for a corner.

Aleksandar Mitrovic took a while to get into the game, but soon became a threat and was within inches of an opener 10 minutes before half-time when he superbly turned Curtis Davies on the edge of the area and curled just wide.

The only reason Fulham did not go into half-time at least a goal to the good is due to the heroics of Carson, who pulled off three top drawer saves in the space of five minutes.

First he blocked Kamara's swerving shot, then tipped over Ryan Fredericks' dipping effort before saving the best until last when he miraculously kept out Mitrovic's powerful header.

Carson, though, was finally breached just two minutes after the restart as Sessegnon struck.

A long ball in was beautifully chested down by Stefan Johansen to Sessegnon, who showed composure to slash the ball high past Carson.

The onslaught continued and 19 minutes later the hosts found the goal that put Wembley in sight when Odoi climbed highest from a corner to head home into the far corner.

Having turned the tie in their favour, Fulham looked for the goal that would have put it to bed and Kamara had the chance as he beat an on-rushing Carson to the ball. However, instead of trying to score, he shamelessly dived in an attempt to get the goalkeeper sent off and was booked as a result.

That did not bother the home side too much, though, as their game management was impressive, failing to allow Derby to mount any serious pressure.

The negotiated six nervous minutes of added time to spark a celebratory pitch invasion.

STAR MAN: RYAN SESSEGNON - QUOTES

"We pushed and pushed and should have scored early in the first half. But well done to the boys.

"[Scoring the first goal was] very special. We always knew if we were to keep going we'd get the first goal and thankfully I did. It changed the game and really put the pressure on them, then we got the second and won the game.

"In the last two games we kind of lost our way a bit but today we showed composure, playing out from the back and Derby couldn't live with us today.

"I just try to play my own game. I like to play my normal game and I don't let other people bother me. I just get my head down and work hard for the team."



https://talksport.com/football/fulham-2-0-derby-2-1-agg-ryan-sessegnon-inspires-cottagers-wembley-play-final-180514282741

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Fulham 2-0 Derby (2-1 agg): Ryan Sessegnon steers Cottagers into play-off final

Ryan Sessegnon inspired Fulham's passage to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley as they saw off Derby at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

Derby had a one-goal lead from the first leg of their semi-final, but Sessegnon struck the leveller shortly after half-time and then teed up Denis Odoi for the vital winner as they secured a 2-0 win on the night and a 2-1 triumph on aggregate.

For Fulham it's a first trip to Wembley in 43 years, they will now face either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough for a place in the Premier League, with Villa leading their tie 1-0 on aggregate heading into the second leg at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Fulham dominated the first half in search of an equaliser and were denied by two superb saves from Scott Carson ad each end of the half.

Early on a slip up the Derby defence allowed Fulham a three-on-one counter-attack, but Carson did brilliantly on the stretch to deny Sessegnon's drive from the edge of the area. His second stop was even better right on the stroke of half-time as well, as he somehow managed to keep out Aleksandar Mitrovic's powerful header with his arm from point-blank range.


Ryan Sessegnon (right) and Stefan Johansen celebrate Fulham's first goal against Derby

Finally, however, Fulham did level the tie. Sessegnon missed his chance early in the first half but the remarkable 17-year-old wouldn't make the same mistake early in the second. There were 47 minutes on the clock when Stefan Johansen's knockdown found the youngster in the box, and he rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

And the youngster turned creator for Fulham's vital second after 66 minutes as his corner found the head of Odoi, who rose at the near post to find the top corner.


Fulham's Dennis Odoi celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Derby

Gary Rowett immediately turned to his bench for reinforcements as Matej Vydra and Kasey Palmer entered the fray, but they never really looked like getting back level and Fulham managed to see the game out and seal their path to the final.
Player ratings

Fulham: Bettinelli (7), Fredericks (7), Odoi (8), Ream (7), Targett (7), McDonald (7), Cairney (8), Johansen (7), Kamara (8), Sessegnon (8), Mitrovic (8)

Subs: Norwood (n/a), Kalas (n/a)

Derby: Carson (8), Wisdom (6), Keogh (5), Davies (6), Forsyth (6), Anya (6), Huddlestone (6), Johnson (5), Weimann (5), Lawrence (5), Jerome (4)

Subs: Palmer (n/a), Vydra (n/a), Nugent (n/a)

Man of the match: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Man of the match - Aleksandar Mitrovic
He may not have got himself on the scoresheet but there was very little else wrong with Mitrovic's display at Craven Cottage on Monday night. Curtis Davies got the better of him in the first leg but the Serbian completely dominated here.

The managers

Slavisa Jokanovic: "We've beaten many records this year and we're really proud and happy, but we know it's not enough yet just to take the fans to Wembley. We need to start working for this game because the whole season will depend on it.

"It's important we show enough quality and confidence to win the game, but for no we'll clear our minds and rest our bodies to prepare."

Gary Rowett: "They were two very, very poor goals for us to give away. We didn't make those mistakes in the first leg; we were very defensively concentrated in the first leg. We didn't do the same in the second leg but did but I think our composure let us down tonight."

"Our disappointment is that we've got lots of players in there who've played in these types of games before, but yet in some ways we've looked the more inexperienced team in the way we moved the ball. But that's what these games do, they test you and you've got to show nerves of steel.

When's the play-off final?

The Sky Bet Championship play-off final is at Wembley on Saturday, May 26, live on Sky Sports Football with kick-off at 5pm.



http://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-derby/report/389234

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Fulham are one game away from the Premier League after 17-year-old inspires second-half comeback

TEENAGE SENSATION RYAN Sessegnon scored once and created another as Fulham edged closer to a Premier League return Monday with a 2-0 win over Derby County in their Championship playoff.

Thanks to a 2-1 aggregate victory, the 'Cottagers' will now play the winners of Tuesday's clash between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough with the former leading 1-0 after the first leg at Wembley on May 26.

English wingback Sessegnon, 17 — whose performances have attracted the attention of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and French champions Paris Saint-Germain — brought the tie level two minutes into the second-half with his 16th goal of the season, before his corner was headed home by centre-back Denis Odoi in the 66th minute.

For Fulham — bidding to regain their Premier League status after a hiatus of four seasons — it is an historic moment as it was is the first time they have won in eight play-off matches.

"We showed a lot of bottle today," Sessegnon told Sky Sports.

"Credit to the lads, we pushed and pushed and should have scored in the first half.

"Thankfully I got the goal and it changed the game. The second put pressure on them. We believe in our style of play."

For Fulham owner Shahid Khan, Wembley may become part of the furniture as the flamboyant proprietor of NFL franchise the Jacksonville Jaguars has made an offer reportedly worth £800 million ($1 billion) to purchase the 90,000-seater venue.

"This club needs this kind of happiness," purred Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic to Sky Sports.

"After 43 years we will play at Wembley and it is an important achievement for us."

After a quiet first-half Sessegnon struck early in the second to rock Derby.

Sessegnon — who many are urging England manager Gareth Southgate to take to the World Cup finals this June — seized on Stefan Johansen's chest-down to fire the ball into the net past Scott Carson.

Derby replied with Bradley Johnson bursting powerfully into the area and forcing Fulham 'keeper Marcus Bettinelli into a smart save.

However, the hosts — unbeaten at home since October — turned the screw ever tighter with Serbian international Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara going close.

Carson, though, could do nothing about Odoi's bullet header from Sessegnon's corner in the 66th minute, the Belgian defender rising above his marker to power it into the net.

Derby manager Gary Rowett realised dramatic action was required if his side were to avoid remaining outwith the top flight for an 11th season and threw on two of his substitutes including Czech international striker Matej Vydra.

Vydra had a golden chance of bringing the tie all square on aggregate five minutes after his introduction but headed fellow substitute Kasey Palmer's superb cross over the bar.



http://www.the42.ie/fulham-are-one-game-away-from-the-premier-league-4012808-May2018/

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Fulham 2-0 Derby (agg: 2-1): Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi fire side into £170m Wembley play-off final as they bounce back from first-leg defeat

    Fulham reached the Championship play-off final after a dominant 2-0 home win
    Ryan Sessegnon scored Fulham's first from close range early in the second half
    But defender Denis Odoi scored the decisive winner when he headed home
    Slavisa Jokanovic's side will now face Aston Villa or Middlesbrough at Wembley

Ryan Sessegnon may not officially reach adulthood until this Friday but the teenage prodigy once again rose to the occasion by firing Fulham into the Championship play-off final on Monday night.

The super-starlet, who only turns 18 this week, scored the leveller that cancelled out Cameron Jerome's strike from the first leg then set up Denis Odoi for his winner at Craven Cottage.

It lifted the roof off of one of the most scenic stadiums in football and the London club by the river are now only one win away from rejoining the Premier League.


Fulham overturned a first-leg deficit to reach the Championship play-off final at Wembley


Defender Denis Odoi smartly headed home the goal that put the Cottagers into the final


Ryan Sessegnon, who turns 18 on Friday, got Fulham's opener on the night from close range


The ball fell kindly to the young star after it was chested into his path by Stefan Johansen


Having cut an isolated figure in the first-leg defeat, Sessegnon's confidence needed a goal

The final will be worth £170million and Slavisa Jokanovic said: 'After 43 years we are going to play at Wembley – it's a great achievement. The job is not finished.

'Ryan has showed a great level of self belief. He is 17 years old. He is special. He is focused, confident. I cannot explain. A special man.'

Well, not a man yet. As far as Sessegnon is concerned, his 16th goal of the season and a ticket to Wembley was a gift to himself.

'That tops it,' Sessegnon said. 'I think that has to be the best birthday present for me.


Sessengon's strike was well received by Fulham owner Shahid Khan who was in attendance


It was the hosts who were on top for most of the game and Alexandar Mitrovic almost scored


He rose to meet a header late in the first half only for Scott Carson to pull off a stunning save

'We just have to go there and hopefully we get in the Premier League. I just try to play my game. I don't let other people bother me. I just keep my head down and try to play.'

Play like this, with such attacking prowess, and Jokanovic's side will cause Aston Villa or Middlesbrough serious problems at Wembley.

History was not on Fulham's side. The Cottagers had never won a play-off match in their history – a hoodoo which stretched back to a defeat by Bristol Rovers in 1988-89.

Their billionaire owner, Shahid Khan, had flown from America to be at Craven Cottage to witness them right that wrong and the obligatory pitch invasion at full-time.

Khan, the so-called 'Tache with the Cash' who is attempting to buy Wembley, will now get to visit his potential new premises with the Cottagers on May 26.

Fulham's attacking intent was apparent from the get-go. Only Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson denied them from taking a first-half lead. He was constantly called into action.

Tom Cairney tried his luck from distance, Aboubakar Kamara stung Carson's palms with a piercing shot from 20 yards before a rocket from Ryan Fredericks had to be tipped over.


Cameron Jerome, who got the only goal in the first leg on Friday, struggled to get any service


He looked with hope for a penalty but his half-hearted appeals were waved away by the referee

Aleksandar Mitrovic then thought he had scored a header from inside six yards but Carson had other ideas. Somehow, the 32-year-old saved with a strong right arm.

Two minutes into the start of the second half, though, Carson was finally beaten and it was by the teenager tipped for big things.

The ball was chested down by Stefan Johansen into the path of Sessegnon and the youngster controlled before smashing a shot into the roof of the net. Craven Cottage was rocking.


Welsh winger Tom Lawrence used his pace to trouble the Cottagers but was forced to defend


Ikechi Anya, a change from the first leg win, ended up among photographers after a fall

'He's one of our own,' the supporters sang as Fulham piled the pressure on Derby, searching for the winner.

In the 66th minute, they got it. Sessegnon whipped in a corner and a header from 5ft 10in Odoi left Carson with no chance.

Gary Rowett was left devastated and said: 'We gave it everything. Unfortunately three out of four teams in these play-offs are going to be disappointed.'


There was controversy late in the second half as Aboubakar Kamara dived when in on goal


Referee Chris Kavanagh deservedly showed the Fulham striker a yellow card for simulation

Fulham could have scored a third when Kamara only had Carson to beat.

Instead, he threw himself to the ground, claiming the goalkeeper caught him. A blatant dive and he was correctly booked.

Sessegnon barely had a kick in the first leg at Pride Park but was instrumental in sending Fulham to the final here. He turned up when needed most, just as the best players tend to do.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5728115/Fulham-2-0-Derby-Ryan-Sessegnon-Dennis-Odoi-fire-Cottagers-Wembley-play-final.html#ixzz5FYE2cCR5
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Ryan Sessegnon guides Fulham past Derby into Championship play-off final


Ryan Sessegnon celebrates the opening goal on a fantastic night for Fulham and a heartbreaking one for Derby in their Championship play-off semi-final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Only time will tell if this highly-charged encounter will help take Fulham back to the promised land of the Premier League. But judging by the electricity that crackled round the old stands of Craven Cottage, there is momentum behind the Cottagers. And they also have Ryan Sessegnon.

The teenager scored the first goal of this match and set up the second for Denis Odoi. Kept quiet for much of the game, when his moment arrived in the second minute of the second half, Sessegnon buried it.

Fulham had never won a play-off match before, failing on seven occasions against the likes of Grimsby Town and Bristol Rovers. They came into this game having missed automatic promotion at the last and with a 1-0 deficit to overturn. It requires a certain strength of character to flip that kind of record around, and Sessegnon has it. He turns 18 on Friday.

Slavisa Jokanovic has been forced to talk about Sessegnon many times already this season, such has been the teenager's form, with 15 league goals and a place on the PFA young player of the year shortlist already under his belt. The Fulham manager was made to do so again after this match and he put it like this: "He is 17 and he is special. I can't explain him. I remember what I was like when I was 17, and the level he is at at this age is fantastic. He knows very well what this profession is about; it's focus and concentration,and he made a great job for us."

Quick to shift the focus away from a player who will surely be linked with every club under the sun this summer and may yet have an outside chance of an England call-up, Jokanovic praised the defensive resolution of his side on the night, observing quite accurately that they stymied any Derby hopes on the counterattack. But this performance was more a vindication of his side's capabilities on the ball, which Jokanovic has been stressing throughout these past two weeks of relative stress.

Making one change from the team that lost on Friday night, with the muscular Aboubakar Kamara for Floyd Ayité, Fulham dominated the ball from start to finish, just as they had at Pride Park. Sessegnon might have opened the scoring within eight minutes, only to see his lofted effort turned over the bar by Scott Carson. The former England keeper was outstanding and made his best save of the game at the very end of the opening period, turning a point-blank Alexander Mitrovic header over the bar with his right hand as he dived to his left.


Denis Odoi rises above the Derby defenders to flick a brilliant header into the far corner and send Fulham to Wembley. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The match was scoreless at half-time but it didn't feel like Derby were going to leave with a clean sheet and, within two minutes of the restart, Sessegnon made sure they wouldn't. It came from a Matt Targett cross, the Southampton loanee finding Stefan Johansen in the box. The Norwegian got up and chested down to Sessegnon, who was mystifyingly unmarked. With one touch on his chest and the second with that dynamite left boot of his, the ball was soon lashing the roof of the net. Twenty minutes later, Sessegnon curled a corner to the front post and Odoi arced a wonderful header beyond Carson to give Fulham a leader they never looked like surrendering.

Gary Rowett was generous enough to admit his side had had it coming. "It's a difficult enough task to come here and get a clean sheet," he said, "Never mind to stop them scoring for a second game." The Derby manager criticised his team for what he saw as succumbing to the pressure of such a high-stakes tie. They struggled to create a chance of note in the match, though the absence of their top scorer Matej Vydra who was left out of the starting XI by Rowett, might have factored into that equation.
Wenger gone, goal frenzies and Tranmere Rovers' return – Football Weekly

For Derby that is now three play-off defeats in five years and Rowett has a tricky summer ahead working out how to take his experienced and expensive team that one extra step. For Fulham however, the dream is still alive. Craven Cottage was bouncing throughout the match, quite literally in the case of small crowds balanced precariously on balconies in the corners. The noise was not quite what you'd expect from one of the Football League's more scenic stadiums, but maybe they felt something special was happening.

"If I can find some kind of benefits the I start to be interested in statistics" said Jokanovic who had spent the past fortnight denying their significance. "I know that we haven't played for 43 years at Wembley.

"So we are really satisfied and proud. We know how important it is to get there, but it's more important to show our quality in the final. Now we must clear our minds, rest our bodies and prepare."



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/14/fulham-derby-county-championship-play-off-semi-final-second-leg-match-report

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Odoi's header takes Fulham to Wembley
Fulham 2 Derby 0
(Fulham win 2-1 on aggregate)

A stunning header from Denis Odoi took Fulham into the play-off final on a memorable night at Craven Cottage.

The defender, who nearly left the club last summer, flicked home the winner via the far post to add to Ryan Sessegnon's opener and overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit – giving Fulham their first-ever play-off win.

Sessegnon had blasted home from close range shortly after the interval after the Whites had wasted a string of first-half chances, mainly through Aleksandar Mitrovic.

But they will go to Wembley – the stadium their owner Shahid Khan is trying to buy – to face either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough on May 26 for a place in the Premier League.

They dominated in familiar fashion on their home ground and recaptured the form that yielded a remarkable 23-game unbeaten run which saw them go close to winning automatic promotion.

Stefan Johansen had arguably the best chance of the opening period when he sliced a shot wide of the near post, and keeper Scott Carson kept out a header from Mitrovic.

Fulham continued their onslaught immediately after the interval and the 17-year-old Sessegnon showed the composure of a veteran to control Johansen's knock-down and fire in on 48 minutes.

And Odoi rose above his marker to nod home Sessegnon's cross on 66 minutes, sending the Whites through.
Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett (Kalas 75); McDonald, Johansen, Cairney (Norwood 90); Kamara, Sessegnon, Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Button, Christie, Piazon, Ayite, Fonte.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/odois-header-takes-fulham-to-wembley

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Match report: Fulham 2-0 Derby County

It was play-off heartache for the Rams as they lost 2-0 on the night - and 2-1 on aggregate - at Craven Cottage

Derby County's promotion dream is over for another season after they were beaten by Fulham in their Championship play-off semi-final.

The Rams lost 2-0 at Craven Cottage in Monday night's second leg as Slavisa Jokanovic's men triumphed 2-1 on aggregate.

Second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi overturned the first leg deficit - and set up a Wembley showdown with either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough.

As for Derby, they face another season in the second tier of English football.

Gary Rowett made one change to the side that started Friday's first leg at Pride Park.

Ikechi Anya came into the side, while top scorer and player of the year Matej Vydra was dropped to the bench.

Anya lined up at left wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which allowed Andreas Weimann to revert to a more advanced role.

It was Anya's first start since the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest on March 11, having recently recovered from a calf injury, and only his fifth of the season.

Marcus Olsson and Sam Winnall were both ruled out by serious knee injuries, while George Thorne and Chris Baird were again left out of the squad.

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic also made one change, with Aboubakar Kamara coming in for Floyd Ayite.

Rui Fonte returned to the bench, alongside former Derby defender Cyrus Christie, while Neeskens Kebano dropped out of the 18.

As you might expect, Fulham came flying out of the blocks, Tom Cairney sending a shot straight at Scott Carson early on.

For their part, Derby tried to take the sting out of the game and stop the home side building any momentum.

They seemed to have done that, initially, but almost conceded in the eighth minute.

A Rams corner was cleared as far as Craig Forsyth but his pass was intercepted, and his follow-up tackle charged down.

Fulham broke with three players against only one Derby defender but when Kamara squared to Sessegnon in the box, the teenage star saw his shot palmed away by Carson.

The Rams tried to attack when they could, though Weimann was well off target from 20 yards after 15 minutes.

Aleksandar Mitrovic got himself a sight of goal five minutes later after playing a one-two with Sessegnon but his shot from the edge of the area lacked power and was easily held by Carson.

Derby delivered a couple of dangerous balls across goal - one from Weimann and one from Anya - but nobody could quite get on the end of them.

Fulham went close again in the 25th minute. Kevin McDonald and Mitrovic combined to tee up Stefan Johansen, who lashed a shot narrowly wide of the post.

Soon afterwards, the hosts appealed for a penalty after Cairney's deflected shot struck Curtis Davies - but referee Chris Kavanagh decided it was not a handball.

Then, Mitrovic glanced a header wide from a Ryan Fredericks cross.

Mitrovic was having more joy than in the first leg, and he sent two more shots whistling past the post as Derby rode their luck.

The second of those shots, in the 36th minute, went inches wide after a neat turn from the big Serbian, on loan from Newcastle United.

Carson then produced a hat-trick of saves to prevent Fulham getting back on level terms overall.

First, he parried Kamara's dipping 20-yard strike before Davies completed the clearance.

Next, he tipped Fredericks' fiercely-struck drive over the bar after the full-back has cut in from the right.

And in the 44th minute, Carson somehow kept out Mitrovic's towering six-yard header from Matt Targett's cross.

Derby, meanwhile, failed to trouble Marcus Bettinelli, with Andre Wisdom and Cameron Jerome both blazing efforts into the stand.

The Rams will have been delighted to get through to the interval unscathed - but they conceded within two minutes of the restart.

Targett's cross from the left was chested down by Johansen to Sessegnon, who had time to control the ball before blasting it past Carson from six yards out.

It was a 16th goal of the season for the highly-rated Sessegnon, who turns 18 this week.

Derby tried to hit straight back but Anya could not direct a difficult header on target from a tight angle after getting on the end of Tom Huddlestone's pass.

The Rams tested Bettinelli for the first time on the night in the 56th minute.

Bradley Johnson linked up well with Tom Lawrence before seeing an angled drive blocked by the keeper.

Derby were fortunate that Mitrovic had not quite found his range - the striker curling another shot just wide on the hour.

But Fulham scored their second goal in the 66th minute to move ahead on aggregate.

Sessegnon's corner from the right was met at the near post by Odoi, who glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.

Rowett responded by bringing on Vydra and Kasey Palmer for Anya and Lawrence.

Palmer picked out Weimann with a cross from the right bye-line but the Austrian headed over from eight yards.

As Derby threw caution to the wind, Fulham were able to break in the 74th minute.

With Carson having raced way out of his goal, Kamara lifted the ball over him before going to ground.

The Rams keeper would surely have seen red if a foul had been given - but Kamara was booked for what looked like a clear dive.

While Fulham looked to kill the tie off, Derby searched for a goal which would have forced extra-time.

Johnson set up the Rams' third substitute David Nugent with time running out - but the striker sliced a shot wide from 20 yards.

In added time, Palmer found Vydra in the area but his shot was also off target.

And in the dying moments, Keogh headed Wisdom's hanging cross wide of the post.

FULHAM: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett (Kalas, 76), Johansen, McDonald, Cairney (Norwood, 90+1), Kamara, Mitrovic, Sessegnon.

Other subs: Button (gk), Christie, Ayite, Piazon, Fonte.

DERBY COUNTY: Carson, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth, Wisdom, Huddlestone, Johnson, Anya (Vydra, 67), Weimann, Lawrence (Palmer, 67), Jerome (Nugent, 75).

Other subs: Roos (gk), Pearce, Hanson, Ledley.

REFEREE: C Kavanagh (Lancashire).



https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/match-report-fulham-2-0-1567578

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Wembley-bound Fulham end their play-off jinx

Fulham 2 Derby County 0 (agg 2-1)

Ryan Sessegnon delivered another delicious moment in his sensational season as Fulham finally ended the play-off hoodoo which has haunted them for so long.

This was their first win in any leg down the years and it gives their fans a day out at Wembley for the first time since the 1975 FA Cup Final. The awful memory of last year's dismal defeat to Reading over two legs was finally eased.

A date with Aston Villa or Middlesbrough on May 26 will decide who goes up to the Premier League.

The teenager, voted the Championship player of the season, has taken all the adulation and growing expectation in his stride and once again managed to produce a special goal when it mattered.

Two minutes into the second half of a match the Whites were dominating, but not yet edging, he was in just the right place to pounce on Stefan Johansen's chest-down to fire into the roof of the net at the joyous Hammersmith End.

At last the Whites had the upper hand. Unlucky to be 1-0 down after Friday's first leg, dominance of the ball and an on-target shot count of 6-0 after the first half had so far yielded nothing.

But the goal swept away the doubts.

And when Denis Odoi's glancing near-post header from a Sessegnon corner sailed into the far corner on 65 minutes, the Wembley plans were already forming. Odoi. Of all players. Talk about unlikely heroes.

Of course it remained heart-stopping for Whites fans, but in truth their team managed the final half an hour with consummate ease and Derby rarely threatened.

The Whites were so close to taking a ninth minute lead, which would have eased the mounting tension much sooner. A breakaway by Aboubakar Kamara down the right flank opened up the Derby defence, but Sessegnon was denied by Scott Carson, despite the youngster having a clear target.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, who tormented the Rams' defence from start to finish, went so close to scoring before the break – and to providing an assist.

The striker's lay-off gave Stefan Johansen a sighter which skewed just wide and the big Serb glanced a Ryan Fredericks cross just off target before sending a low drive flashing past the right hand post. And he was even closer with a neat turn and left footer past the opposite post soon after.

Kamara – great on the night for Slavisa Jokanovic's men down th right got the better of Richard Keogh in another Fulham attack, before cutting inside to fire a dipping shot which troubled Carson. Fredericks also forced the overworked keeper to tip over.

But the ex-England stopper  had to be at his very best to keep out a close-range Mitrovic header as the half came to an end – an instinctive arm preventing what looked a certain goal.

It was not quite all one-way traffic. Tom Huddlestone gave Ikachi Anya space to run into down the left flank and a low cross was not far from being turned in by first leg goalscorer Cameron Jerome.

But the moments of real danger were few and far between, such was Fulham's mastery of the occasion.

Fulham: Bettinelli – Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett (Kalas 76)– McDonald – Kamara, Johansen, Cairney (Norwood 90), Sessegnon – Mitrovic. Subs not used: Button, Fonte, Ayite, Piazon, Christie



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/2018/05/14/Wembley-bound-Fulham-end-their-play-off-jinx

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Ryan Sessegnon blows Derby County away to fire Fulham into play-off final

Fulham 2 Derby County 0 (2-1 on aggregate)

At the end, the Fulham supporters kissed the turf, slid on their knees and raised the players onto their shoulders. Denis Odoi, the scorer of the goal that takes his side to the play-off final, was whisked off the field screaming 'Wembley' at the top of his lungs. Marcus Bettinelli, the Fulham goalkeeper, was a few yards behind him, surfing the crowd as he waved an enormous flag over and over again.

"This is the kind of happiness we need," said Slavisa Jokanovic, the Fulham manager. "These people deserve one of these nights."

His players deserved this night, too. On a picturesque evening at English football's prettiest stadium, Fulham ripped into Derby County with their own unique brand of midfield style and forward muscle. They passed and growled, moved and battled, scored and scored again.

At the heart of both goals, as ever, was the irrepressible Ryan Sessegnon, the teenager who has scored more goals for Fulham than anyone else this season. He blasted home the first, a bullet into the top corner, then created the second. "He is a special man," said Jokanovic, forgetting that Sessegnon, who turns 18 on Friday, remains a boy for a few more days.

"That has to be the best birthday present for me," Sessegnon said. "I just try to play my normal game and I don't let other people bother me. I just keep my head down and try to play."

His intervention, not for the first time this season, came despite the left-winger seemingly struggling to find his feet in a furious, frantic game. He can be quiet, certainly, and he can clearly be nullified for large spells, but he simply cannot be kept away from the game's defining moments.

There are more skilful teenagers in the English game, and more technically gifted players in his generation. Yet there can be few players of his ago who, so early in their careers, can so regularly have had this type of impact on this type of match.

His goal, a rifled finish after Stefan Johansen's chested pass, brought Fulham level in the tie, after their 1-0 defeat in the Midlands last week, before his corner allowed Odoi to head a winner which would have sent ripples coursing through the nearby Thames, such was the noise inside Craven Cottage.

Fulham will return to Wembley for the first time in 43 years, and they will do so just weeks after Shahid Khan, their owner who was here to watch his side, revealed his intention to buy the place.

The trip to the national stadium, and the prospect of a return to the Premier League, is the least Fulham deserved from an evening played to an atmosphere so vibrant that the old wooden seats in the Johnny Haynes Stand were trembling before the first ball had even been struck. "My team played fantastic football," Jokanovic said. "We controlled everything, we created many chances."

Most of those chances fell to Aleksandar Mitrovic, at his bullish best at centre forward. The Serbian went close with a series of efforts and was then denied by the wonderful reflexes of Derby's Scott Carson.

"We just could not seem to show any composure tonight," bemoaned Gary Rowett, the Derby manager, whose side were soon punished, as the second half opened up, by Sessegnon's boyish brilliance.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/05/14/ryan-sessegnon-fires-fulham-play-off-final-derby-county-blown/

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Ryan Sessegnon: 'Fulham showed bottle'

Ryan Sessegnon has said that Fulham "showed a lot of bottle" to overcome Derby County in the second leg of their Championship playoff semi-final on Monday night.

Fulham entered the match at Craven Cottage off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Derby in the first leg of their last-four tie.

Sessegnon levelled the encounter in the 47th minute of the second leg, however, before Denis Odoi netted a second to send the Cottagers into the Championship playoff final with a 2-0 home win.

"We showed a lot of bottle today. Credit to the lads, we pushed and pushed and should have scored in the first half. Thankfully I got the goal and it changed the game. The second put pressure on them. We believe in our style of play," Sessegnon told Sky Sports News.

Fulham will face either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final on May 26.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/ryan-sessegnon-fulham-showed-bottle_325932.html

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Fulham beat Derby to reach playoff final

(Reuters) - Fulham beat Derby County 2-0 (2-1 aggregate) at Craven Cottage on Monday to move into the final of the Championship playoffs where they will play Aston Villa or Middlesbrough.

Second half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi earned Fulham the victory as they seek a return to the Premier League which they were relegated from in 2014.

Derby have now missed out in the playoffs three times in the past five seasons.

The playoff final will be held at Wembley Stadium on May 26. Villa host Middlesbrough on Tuesday and lead 1-0 from the first leg.

Fulham attacked from the outset but Derby keeper Scott Carson frustrated them throughout the first half with a series of fine saves.

A one-handed effort kept out a strong header from Fulham's Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and Carson was at his best again to keep out a powerful drive from Aboubakar Kamara.

But Slavisa Jokanovic's side finally got reward for the efforts two minutes after the interval when 17-year-old Sessegnon showed great composure to drive home a left-foot shot from inside the area.

The decisive goal came in the 66th minute when Belgian Odoi beat Carson with a brilliantly angled header from a corner.

Fulham head to Wembley for the first time since they lost the FA Cup final to West Ham in 1975.

"This club needs this kind of happiness," said Jokanovic, "After 43 years we will play at Wembley and it is an important achievement for us.

"We deserve this victory and a chance to reach the Premier League. The players showed great belief and confidence and it is credit to my players," he said.

Derby boss Gary Rowett felt his team had been too nervous.

"I think our composure let us down tonight, we made far too many mistakes on the ball, we looked a bit edgy to be honest," he said.

"They outplayed us in the second-leg and they more than deserve to go through."



https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-ful-drb/fulham-beat-derby-to-reach-playoff-final-idUKKCN1IF2WD?rpc=401&;

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Fulham 2-0 Derby County Six Things: Whites make history

Fulham have reached their first ever play-off final after a 2-1 aggregate semi-final victory over Derby County was completed by a 2-0 win on Monday night, thanks to goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi. Here's six things from the game.

Fulham's freedom

Fulham played with fewer inhibitions than we saw in the first leg and thus their attacks were far more incisive. Aboubakar Kamara, who replaced wide forward Floyd Ayite in Slavisa Jokanovic's only change, injected pace and drive; after an early counter-attacking move, he set up a one-on-one chance for Ryan Sessegnon to fire off-target, but the chances kept coming.

Derby's deep double-pivot

Bradley Johnson and Tom Huddlestone had squeezed high up the pitch effectively at the iPro, especially in the first half, but here they were far too deep. Their positioning suited Fulham's technical midfielders, namely Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald, who had time to pick out passes into Aleksandar Mitrovic. The strong Serb had far more joy against Curtis Davies than in the first leg and fashioned a series of openings for himself, most notably a close-range header that forced a fine save from Scott Carson.

Sessegnon: poacher not producer

Wide forward Ryan Sessegnon had been a peripheral figure in the first half, but that is not uncommon: he almost purposefully avoids the build-up play so that he can ghost in unchartered at key moments, as we saw for the goal moments after the interval. Matt Targett's deep-floated cross found Stefan Johansen, who chested on for Sessegnon to elude Richard Keogh, then to take a cool touch and fire home from close-range. The 17-year-old creates relatively little for his side, but few teenagers in the world can match his composure in front of goal.

Oh boy, Odoi

Denis Odoi has had his critics this season and at times rightly so, but the contributions he and centre-back partner Tim Ream make to Fulham in possession can go externally under-recogonized. Odoi started attacks superbly all evening, so it was fitting that he got the winner, beating Craig Forsyth to head Tom Cairney's near-post delivery into the far corner.

Derby staying put

Gary Rowett introduced Kasey Palmer and David Nugent for fresh energy and while they threatened in flashes, Fulham's control stopped the visitors getting high enough up the pitch to bring forwards into play. The result means Derby remain in the Championship next season; it has been a positive campaign for the East Midlanders, but they appear to have fallen short against quality, possession-based sides. Those struggles might tempt Rowett to make tweaks to the setup over the summer to help his side stay competitive in a technically evolving league.

Whites walk down Wembley way

Fulham meanwhile have made history; they have reached their first ever play-off final and made Wembley for the first time since 1975. The Cottagers are now odds-on to win the play-offs for those who Bet on Sports and if they do, it will be richly-deserved. Recent performances had sparked talk of Jokanovic's side needing to be more pragmatic, but this was a reminder that strong belief in one's identity can reap rewards.



http://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2018/fulham-2-0-derby-county-six-things-whites-make-history/