Wednesday Fulham Stuff (16/05/18)...

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Aston Villa see off Middlesbrough to set up Fulham final

Championship play-off semi-final second leg, Villa Park - Aston Villa 0 Middlesbrough 0, Aston Villa, progress 1-0 on aggregate

Aston Villa will face Fulham in the Championship play-off final after Steve Bruce side's beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate.

A goalless draw at Villa Park on Tuesday ultimately sent Villa through to their first-ever play-off final, with Boro failing to record a shot on target on the night.

However, there was a contentious moment late on as Sam Johnstone saved Adama Traore's effort outside the box – Mike Dean opted to show the Villa 'keeper a yellow, with Stewart Downing going on to see his free-kick cannon off the bar.

Villa survived that late scare, meaning it's third-placed Fulham against fourth-placed Villa for the right to play Premier League football next year.

TALKING POINT

Fulham the favourites? It was a dogged defensive showing from the boys in claret and blue, and though Boro offered little going forward, Fulham will be wary of how difficult this Villa side are to break down, particularly with John Terry leading them at the back.

However, you'd fancy Fulham to be favourites going into the final on May 26. Not only did they finish above Villa, and edge their two league matches this season 3-2 on aggregate, but they also have that bit of flair going forward - their second-half display against Derby on Monday was the standout showing of the semis.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mile Jedinak – By no means a classic, with no standout performances, but Villa were solid as a unit. Jedinak proved an immovable force in front of their defence, reducing Boro to half-chances, until that late drama...

PLAYER RATINGS

Aston Villa: Johnstone 6, Bree 6, Chester 7, Terry 7, Hutton 6, Snodgrass 6, Hourihane 6, Jedinak 7, Adomah 6, Grealish 7, Grabban 6. Subs: Kodjia 6, Whelan NA, Bjarnason NA

Boro: Randolph 6, Shotton 6, Fry 7, Gibson 6, Friend 7, Clayton 6, Besic 6, Howson 5, Traore 6, Downing 6, Assombalonga 5. Subs: Bamford 6, Gestede NA, Fabio NA

KEY MOMENTS

39' - WIDE! And there's the first big chance of the game. Boro can't deal with a cross and the loose ball falls to Chester 10 yards out. However, he can't direct his effort on target when striking on the turn.

53' - JUST WIDE! Besic takes the ball in his stride 20 yards out and unleashes a low strike. It actually looks as though it flicks off Chester and wide, but a goal-kick is given.

61' - SAVE! Fine move from Villa ends with Adomah rolling the ball over for Grabban, but there is Randolh to make a point-blank save. Vital stop to keep the visitors in this one.

76' - SAVE! Patient build-up play from Villa, and Grealish dances past Clayton before whipping a fierce effort towards the far corner, but Randoplh does superbly to get over and palm it away.

88' - WOW! Should Johnstone see red here??? The Villa keeper comes out of his area and as Terry heads the ball into the air, Traore shoots - but there is Johnstone to palm it away - OUTSIDE THE AREA. Free-kick to Boro 20 yards out, but should Villa be down to 10 men???

89' - OFF THE BAR! Would you believe it, from the resulting free-kick, Downing's fierce effort cannons off the bar. A huge let-off for Villa.



https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/championship/2017-2018/_sto6756918/story.shtml

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough (1-0 agg): Goalless draw seals Villa's path to Wembley

Aston Villa are through to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final after holding off Middlesbrough at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Mile Jedinak's header had given Villa the advantage to take into the second leg, and a nervy goalless draw was enough for Steve Bruce's side to ensure their passage to Wembley.

Boro, in truth, rarely threatened on the night and struggled to get their key threat in Adama Traore into the game. Villa, meanwhile, will now face Fulham for a place in the Premier League.


Team news

Both sides made one enforced change from the first leg. James Bree came in for Ahmed Elmohamady at right-back for the home side while Dael Fry started in Middlesbrough's defence ahead of Daniel Ayala.

The only real opening in the first half fell Villa's way after 39 minutes as the ball ricocheted its way to James Chester in the box, but he could only pull his effort wide of the target.

Villa would have the next big chance of the game as well just before the hour mark. Albert Adomah, up against his old club, raced down the left and found Lewis Grabban in the middle, but Darren Randolph got off his line quickly to deny the striker from close range.

Bruce's side were working hard to put the tie to bed, and went close again with 15 minutes to go as Jack Grealish worked himself some space to shoot from the edge of the area, but Randolph was there again to deny Villa with a flying save.
Player ratings

Aston Villa: Johnstone (6), Bree (7), Chester (7), Terry (8), Hutton (7), Snodgrass (6), Hourihane (7), Jedinak (8), Adomah (7), Grealish (8), Grabban (5)

Subs: Whelan (n/a), Bjarnason (n/a), Kodjia (n/a)

Middlesbrough: Randolph (7), Shotton (6), Fry (7), Gibson (7), Friend (6), Clayton (6), Besic (6), Howson (6), Traore (5), Downing (5), Assombalonga (6)

Subs: Fabio (n/a), Bamford (n/a), Gestede (n/a)

Man of the match: Mile Jedinak

And there was controversy late on as Boro pushed desperately forward for a goal. Traore found his way through and tried to lift the ball over Sam Johnstone, who handballed outside the area to give away a free-kick, but referee Mike Dean saw fit to only book the goalkeeper, while Stewart Downing would rattle the crossbar with the resulting set-piece that would turn out to be their final chance.
Man of the match - Mile Jedinak

Jedinak produced a massive performance in the centre of Villa's midfield. He covered every blade of grass of the Villa Park pitch to his back four, winning headers, tackles and second balls to help his side get over the line.

Let's also not forget he scored the crucial goal in the first leg that proved to be the difference between the two sides in the end.

The managers...

Steve Bruce: "We've just shaded it over the two games. We've got a goal from a set-piece which has won two games, basically. There's not much in the teams but I don't think they've had a shot on target in the two games. That stood us in good stead, obviously."

Tony Pulis: "We've had good spells in both games, but we had to create a little bit more and score goals. That's been the difference really, a set play has cost us over the two games."
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/a-villa-vs-mboro/389235

[WhiteJC]

 
Opponents Confirmed

Fulham will take on Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final on Saturday 26th May, kick-off 5pm.

Following Villa's 1-0 aggregate win over Middlesbrough, the Final will see the two sides who finished the Sky Bet Championship regular season in third and fourth place go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium later this month.

Tickets for the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final will go on sale with exclusive priority windows, subject to availability, as follows:

    10am, Wednesday 16th May - 2017/18 Season Ticket Holders – maximum 5 tickets per person
    10am, Thursday 17th May - 2018/19 Season Ticket Holders – maximum 5 tickets per person
    10am, Saturday 19th May – 2017/18 Members – maximum 5 tickets per person
    10am, Sunday 20th May - supporters with a previous Booking History – maximum 5 tickets per person

Tickets will be sold via Ticketmaster, and fans will need to purchase either by phone on 0844 453 9063 (Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm and Saturday-Sunday 8am-6pm*) or online (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Supporters are advised to check the selling schedule before attempting to purchase, and note that tickets will not be available to purchase over the counter from the Fulham Ticket Office.

For further information around tickets for Fulham's Play-Off Final, including details of all price categories and Hospitality options, click here.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/15/opponents-confirmed

[WhiteJC]

 
Championship playoffs: Fulham deny Ryan Sessegnon birthday present
FULHAM'S players will not be buying Ryan Sessegnon an 18th birthday present – unless he scores the winner in the Championship play off final at Wembley.

Fulham's brilliant youngster only turns 18 on Friday, but the teenager rated as possibly the best prospect outside the Premier League proved his worth yet again on Monday night when he scored one and made another as Fulham beat Derby 2-0 to clinch a place at Wembley on Saturday week.

Sessegnon is being hunted by both Tottenham and Liverpool among other top flight clubs, but his teammate Tim Ream, the USA defender, believes none of that, or the prospect of playing at Wembley, will faze a player who is taking everything in his stride right now at a remarkably young age.

Ream said: "What are we getting him for his birthday – the team? Nothing at all. If he scores at Wembley I'm sure we will get him something."

But the former Bolton defender added: "Ryan has done some incredible things this season. There is no doubting his talent, his ability, his work-rate and his attitude.

"It's something that you don't often see with young players these days. He's completely different to any of the young players who are up and coming, in every aspect of his game.


Ryan Sessegnon fired Fulham into the Championship playoff final

"You can't argue with his approach this year – 16 goals now? It's just amazing what he's done and what he continues to do.

"I don't see why playing at Wembley is going to be any different for him. I've never seen a kid so calm in the face of everything. He doesn't yearn for the limelight. He doesn't want it. Or rather he does not ask for it.

"He just goes about his business and does his own thing. Nobody needs to change his approach, nobody needs to change him. He's taken everything as it has come this year and done it like a 35 year old veteran. It's amazing."

Ream, though, warned his team and their fans: "The job is not finished. We have to go to Wembley with the same mindset that we went in with on Monday."



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/960235/Championship-playoffs-Fulham-Ryan-Sessegnon-birthday