Saturday Fulham Stuff (26/05/18)...

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 04:40:08 PM

Steve Bruce indicates certain Aston Villa area will be crucial against Fulham

Steve Bruce believes that the experience him and his side possess will aid them significantly.

The Play-Off Final will be a nervy affair, as it always is, so the team that deals with that in the best way will naturally have an advantage over their opponent.

Villa come into this game as underdogs due to the league standings as well as the quality of the two teams' styles.

Experience in terms of length of playing careers and the amount of games they have been involved in is one of the few areas which Villa have an advantage over their opponents.

Players such as John Terry, Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan have invaluable experience which will come in handy during tough moments in this game.

They also have a manager who has achieved four promotions to the Premier League, whereas, Slavisa Jokanovic hasn't achieved one, although he has won titles in Serbia and Thailand. Therefore, there is a recurring theme of being used to big occasions which Bruce has used as a platform to build his team from.

Here's what Bruce had to say about the match in an interview with Sky Sports: "I won't sit here and say that I'm not going to feel some butterflies on the day but, like everything in life, if you've already experienced something then you know how to handle it better."

"When you go over the white line on a big occasion the experience you've had before can stand you in good stead."

"Don't get me wrong I would have loved to have had all these players at 25, but I doubt that would have been possible! But we've been on TV more times this season than Coronation Street and we need players who can handle playing for Aston Villa."

The Verdict

This game is a real sense of experience veterans against an exciting style full of risks when boiled down to its pure roots. It will be a fascinating clash of contrasts between two Championship heavyweights.

Villa's ability to handle the occasion mentally as individuals and as a collective could very easily turn out to be the difference in a game decided by small margins.

However, neutrals will be hoping for a Fulham victory because the standard of their play is Premier League quality, so it would be interesting to see how they fare in the top division especially with another exciting side in Wolves also doing the same.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/steve-bruce-indicates-certain-aston-villa-area-will-be-crucial-against-fulham/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 04:44:16 PM

Preview: Fulham vs Aston Villa

The biggest game in Fulham's recent history is almost upon us, and we thought it would only be right to cover it fully – so we put George Singer and Jack J Collins together to tell you everything you need to know about the opposition before our big day out at Wembley.

Their Recent Results

D: Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough
W: Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa
L: Millwall 1-0 Aston Villa
D: Aston Villa 1-1 Derby County
W: Ipswich Town 0-4 Aston Villa

Our Recent Meetings

Feb 2018: Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
Oct 2017: Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Apr 2017: Fulham 3-1 Aston Villa
Oct 2016: Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham

Match Odds with Grosvenor Casino (In 90 Mins)

Aston Villa: 47/20
Draw: 2/1
Fulham: 13/10
Fulhamish Tip: Ryan Sessegnon to score and Fulham to win is 17/4 with Grosvenor Casinos

Before The Whistle with George Singer

It's almost here – the one we've all been waiting for! It's been 43 years of hurt, but the Whites of South-West London will finally grace the Wembley turf once again. The prize is, as Sky love to market, the most expensive one in football – all the riches that come with a place in the Premier League. The league's 3rd and 4th best teams face off against each other in what's sure to be a close affair. As we aim to get our 27th win of the season, against the Villains, what can the 38,000 Fulham fans travelling to Wembley expect to see?

Expected Villa lineup

In a position not too dissimilar to our own, these days the Villa lineup pretty much picks itself. After an early season wobble, Aston Villa moved to a balanced 4-1-4-1 setup and have barely looked back. Full of household names, with plenty of experience, the XI above fit together like a jigsaw puzzle: each player complements those around him nicely. It's therefore highly unlikely that Steve Bruce will make any alterations to his settled side for such a critical game.

The only member of the above lineup who is a doubt for the game is Ahmed El Mohamady. The veteran Egyptian missed the second leg of their semi final with a hamstring issue, but is likely to be back in time to take his place on the hallowed turf. If not, he has a more than capable understudy in James Bree.

One of the main area of Villa's attack that really concerns me is their set pieces. In Robert Snodgrass, they own perhaps the strongest left boot in the league, which he's used throughout the season to whip deadly free kicks and corners into the box. Villa are hardly short of players who can head the ball in the back of the net, and they may view this as a potential mismatch to take advantage of. After all, Tim Ream and Denny Odoi are hardly the tallest players in the league.

On the flip side, there are some areas in Villa's defence which Fulham may look at exploiting. Playing in their 4-1-4-1, Villa aren't afraid of putting men behind the ball, particularly in the centre of the pitch. However recently, especially in their match against Boro, they've been operating with a very gentle gentle press. Even a Middlesbrough side, hardly blessed with central playmakers, found they could bypass this with a couple of one-touch passes. We can do the same, with far more potency, but we really need to force the ball forward into these dangerous central areas.

Plenty of stronger teams have managed to earn healthy wins against the Villans away from Villa Park, exploiting these areas, so there's no reason we can't repeat this.

How They Played in the Semis

Villa ground out an aggregate 1-0 win over Tony Pulis' Middlesbrough in the Semi-Finals, over two games which were slightly turgid – but in which the Villans showed that they could get the job done. Mile Jedinak's early header in the first leg proved to be the decisive goal, and two rock-solid defensive displays laid the foundations for their route to Wembley.

In that regard, Boro didn't really have a shot that troubled Sam Johnstone in the Villa goal, although the keeper should have been banned for the final after a late handball outside the box that was somehow misread by the referee as merely a yellow card.

Grealish remained the most likely spark, although Boro's Darren Randolph had to be at his best to eliminate Villa's threat on the counter on a couple of occasions – namely pushing Robert Snodgrass' goalbound curler onto his post and deflecting Lewis Grabban's flick round the post.

Fulham will have been most interested in the defensive fortitude that the Villans showed against Adama Traore, a decent shout for the trickiest player in the Championship. The winger was shackled by veteran Alan Hutton, and although the job he did is testament to his defensive ability, Villa's tendency to double up on Traore was only possible because of the Spaniard's inability to find the right pass and unleash the overload.

Fulham should take note, in that regard, that the only way to breach Villa's staunch rearguard is to exploit the spaces. With numerous attacking threats across the park, the way to unlock the door will be to play through that defensive wall using the pitch.

Men to Watch

This Villa team are blessed with lots of talent. In previous articles I've written about the strengths of El Mohamady, keeper Sam Johnstone and the lovely left boot of Robert Snodgrass.

Jack Grealish – George Singer

However – this time I wanted to call out the 'other' wonderkid in the league: Jack Grealish. The youngster is certainly eye catching. He refuses to wear shin pads, and sports a pretty hideous haircut, but he's also incredibly graceful on the ball. Calm and confident, he's the kind of player who looks like he has a lot more time on the ball then he actually does. He's not unlike Cairney in many ways: he distributes plenty of passes, and dribbles a lot for central midfield player. Skills they both, no doubt, picked up from time spent operating on the wing.

He doesn't always get the goals and assists, but he's so critical to their play. Everything in open play will go through him – and the midfield battle between him and TC will surely be one to watch.

Conor Hourihane – Jack J Collins

Before I get slaughtered here, hear me out. It's no secret that I'm a long-term admirer of the Irishman at the heart of the Villans midfield, but there's more than just sentiment in this pick.

In a Villa midfield based in front of the aging legs of Mile Jedinak or Glenn Whelan, Hourihane provides the energy and dynamism which allows the play to be linked between a solid back five and a fluid front four. In many senses, he provides a similar role to that which Stefan Johansen does.

Another way that Hourihane's game echoes our own Norwegian engine room is in his goalscoring ability. Even in what has been a 'poor' season for Stef by some standards, he's still chipped in with eight goals. Hourihane has five of his own, including a soaring strike in the Second City Derby.

If Fulham are to win this game, they need to dominate the midfield, and to do that, they need to shut down Hourihane, and stop him linking the play.

Notes for Slav

It's likely that Villa will look to sit back on Saturday, and look to stifle our attack. We've had issues recently with our midfield 3 not pushing high enough up the pitch, and Villa won't offer much space in the final third. To me, this is a game where we really need Johansen to step up, and use his dynamism to find the pockets of space which will appear – and provide a route to get the ball through the centre of the pitch.

A lot has also been made about how a large Wembley pitch may benefit our passing play. However, to make the most of this, we really need to use our quick players to stretch the Villa defence across the pitch. I wouldn't be against Abou Kamara starting again, like he did on the wing against Derby. His pace caused havoc all game, and he dribbled inside with the ball multiple times. I'd like to see him repeat this, moving the opposition fullbacks out of position and provide grass for Freddo and Targett to run into.

COYW!!

https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-05-25-preview-fulham-vs-aston-villa/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 04:46:44 PM

The Real Advantages Aston Villa Hold Over Fulham at Wembley

50/50?

The truth be told, when you factor all the advantages and disadvantages that Aston Villa and Fulham are bringing to the table at Wembley stadium on Saturday afternoon, it has the makings of a true 50-50 encounter.

It's Villa's experience and defensive organisation vs Fulham's youthful attacking endeavour. While Villa's players are Wembley veterans, they have been inconsistent as a team at times this season, while the Wembley novices of Fulham have been the most consistent Championship team of 2018.

Villa can beat Wolves 4-1, then lose 3-1 at home to QPR a few days. Fulham can go 23 games unbeaten, then throw away automatic promotion by getting beat by a struggling Blues team. It all suggests anything could happen in the final.

While Fulham have been the slight favourites with the bookies, MOMS is confident for the play-off final and is actually looking forward to the game.

This confidence is in full flow in the new MOMS podcast episode 46, which hopefully will be out some point today (Friday). in the meantime, Villa's chances have already discussed in a more casual manner while recording on location in a park (with hilarious consequences) for episode 45.

Claret Advantage

While I wouldn't be surprised if Fulham win, Villa have perhaps the bigger potential spectrum of ability, if they do turn up and put on the style.

Many have pointed to Villa's best chance of winning is in keeping it tight, ala the semi-final against Middlesbrough. MOMS doesn't necessarily agree. If it turns into an open fire fight, given the proven names in their team, they could repeat at Wembley of Villa's 4-1 winning performance against Wolves.

Another advantage for Villa, will be the Villa support. If you need a second opinion, just ask Liverpool fans who were drowned out in the FA Cup semi-final in 2015. This time, they'll be over 6,000 more Villans than three years ago. It'll certainly be another level above what was on offer at this year's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United.

While Fulham fans have good intentions with their 'White Wall' plans, there is often a disparity between a hashtag campaign in the virtual world and what actually happens in stands in the real world.

The fact that Fulham fans who could each buy up to five tickets, meaning their end will no doubt include daytrippers, neutral friends and maybe even Villa fans, may undermine their plans somewhat. You can't build a vocal following within a week.

Ultimately though, it should be an exciting high stakes game for both sets of fans with two teams that genuinely should be in the current Premier League.

https://www.myoldmansaid.com/the-real-advantages-aston-villa-hold-over-fulham-at-wembley/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 04:54:13 PM

The honesty that saved Fulham's season and prepared them for Aston Villa in the play-off final

Tim Ream speaks to football.london about the Cottagers' mentality, young players and what sparked the unbeaten run

Wembley, the play-off final. It's a place Fulham might not have been.

The Cottagers headed to St Andrews as the Championship's darlings and with automatic promotion tantalisingly close.

Only Birmingham, a side that would end up finishing 19th, and needing to better Cardiff's result stood in the way.

The Bluebirds drew Reading. Fulham lost 3-1.

As Tim Ream declared - his team had 's*** the bed'.

That reaction tells you everything you need to know about the 30-year-old and Fulham FC.

The Craven Cottage cult hero was candid and critical - rather than showing a team whose season was about to crack it proved how prepared Slavisa Jokanovic's men are for the biggest match in Championship football.

It's place you'd have never expected the Whites to have been after a poor start. That ability to deliver complete honesty might have saved their season.

Dejection: Fulham players at the final whistle (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

In December all that existed was 22 matches, 12th place, 29 points and gifting Sunderland their first home win in 12 months.

Ream, who briefly tasted Premier League football with Bolton, said his side made a deliberate decision to change.

He said: "We've tightened up in a lot of areas and it was down to guys getting down to hard work.

"I don't think in the beginning of the season we were working hard enough as a team.

"Obviously we have individual talent all over the field and we know that but it was really a conscious effort to play as a team, play as a unit from front to back and work for each other and making sure we're helping the guy out next to us, and in front of us and behind us.

"I think that's been a real key in the second half of this season."

Despite all of the plaudits for the Cottagers' flowing football it's obvious this team is about more than being easy on the eye.

Defeat to Birmingham tested that notion and losing to Derby at Pride Park meant Fulham's winless play-off record reverberated the bones of all onlookers.

Jokanovic consistently talks of ignoring history, of being 'in this moment' but history was on his side.

23 matches unbeaten overstates the dominance but underestimates the other qualities the west Londoners showed that will help them this weekend.

Just as impressive as the play in a 6-0 win over Burton was the belief in a 2-2 draw with Hull. Ream and co were outclassed for 45 minutes away from home in just the third game of the unbeaten stretch. Substitutes before the half-time whistles, harsh truths and a response.

The Whites may not have been quite as silky as in 16/17 but have provided plenty of other moments for the Cottage to get behind.

Ryan Fredericks railroading the width of the pitch to (fairly) clatter Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski, Kevin McDonald scoring with his backside and Denis Odoi disregarding his height to score against Derby.

This is a team that reacts when the chips are down.

"As professionals you know when you're not having the best game and you know you have an off first or second half and the manager will come in and say a few things but the mentality of the squad is such that we can dig each other out and know we're going to get a reaction out of everyone," said Ream

"Hull is probably the best example. It's definitely key for our squad to just be in it together have a strong mentality and know if we go a goal down we can claw our way back."

More often than not Fulham have found a way to victory and take ownership of their performance.

That responsibility is something that goes beyond senior members of the squad.

Academy graduates Ryan and Steven Sessegnon, 18, Luca de la Torre, 20, and Marlon Fossey, 19, all participated in first team training on Wednesday morning at Motspur Park and all display the same composure.

Ryan is the trailblazer undoing teams with ghost-like movement but equally impressive is his maturity.

You'll have no doubt heard the anecdote circulating from the Fulham Supporters' Trust AGM of the youngster returning to the changing rooms after drug testing protocol to find the kit man had already left.

Rather than casting his strip to the changing room floor he took it home to wash then iron and returned it the next day.

It's emblematic of Fulham's younger generation and Ream has been impressed with them on the training pitch..

He said: "It's hunger but it's a willingness to learn and a willingness to listen. I think that's what sets these young kids apart.

"They're willing to take on board the things that not just the players but the manger and everybody throughout the club are saying.

"They know they're good players but they're not getting carried away.

"It's been refreshing, all season to see them come in with a smile on their face but ready to work."

Good players, not getting carried away, willing to listen - it feels like the club's ethos.

As the play-off final approaches there's a sense Fulham are heading to a crossroads.

The loan system has undoubtedly helped the Cottagers reach their final fixture against Aston Villa.

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Matt Targett helped balance a team on the rise, key squad members were added in Oliver Norwood, Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon while Liverpool's Sheyi contributed in the early part of the season.

All will return to the stewardship of their parent clubs following heartbreak or jubilation.

They aren't the only ones whose futures remain the subject of speculation. Ryan Fredericks is out of contract at the end of the season, Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney are persistently linked to Premier League moves and even Jokanovic himself has been touted for Chelsea.

Whatever league the club finds itself in come August, there will be personnel changes, but perhaps victory at Wembley will improve Fulham's chances of keeping this team together.

That's what 30-year-old Ream is hoping for against Villa.

The USA international said: "I think we all want to stay together. Not many guys will say, not many guys will admit it but I think that's been part of the motivation.

"It's not been discussed one way or the other. If we win, the squad will be different. If we lose, the squad will be different.

"It's not been discussed but we all know things will change no matter what happens. We want to do it together.

"It's a tight knit group, it is, we do a lot of travelling together, a lot of nights in hotels of hanging out and talking nonsense but we've got to know each other so well over the last two seasons we want to do it for each other as well as the club."

That relationship gives an empowering feeling to a squad that has hit the headlines for the quality of their passing.

"If you can be friends and be a team it makes it easier on the pitch," the former Bolton defender continued.

"You know where the guys are going to be, you know how they are, their personalities, you know everything about them and it just makes it easier to play with everybody on the pitch.

"We can dig everybody out and we know it's not personal and we know that we're going to get a reaction when we do have to.

"At the end of the day we know we can get on the bus after a game and all just have a laugh about it and be friends."

So, three weeks removed from defeat to one half of Birmingham, lets hope at the final whistle Ream can once again utter the phrase 's*** the bed'.

But this time in realisation that a team that does more than play nice football has done good.

https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-aston-villa-play-final-14701480

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 04:56:53 PM

How Fulham can beat Aston Villa and seal return to the Premier League

Fulham have the chance to end a four-year absence from the Premier League when they take on Aston Villa in the Championship Play-Off Final on Saturday.

Here, Standard Sport looks at how the Cottagers can get the better of their promotion rivals at Wembley.

Target the old warhorse

Fulham will target John Terry, and manager Slavisa Jokanovic said he expects the 37-year-old defender to make mistakes if he is put under pressure. Terry and defensive partner James Chester are in for a tough battle against Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb has scored 12 goals during his loan spell at Craven Cottage since January and Fulham will look to use his strength and the energy of players around him to cause Terry problems.

Make sure Jack's not all right

Jack Grealish has matured into a key man for Villa, and Fulham must ensure the playmaker is not given too much room to dictate play in midfield. Grealish likes to carry the ball in to dangerous areas and it will be Kevin McDonald's responsibility to stop him creating.

Find a way past Jedinak

Fulham are expected to dominate possession and Mile Jedinak will have a key role in protecting the Villa defence. The former Crystal Palace captain will sit deep and look to break up play when Fulham get forward. Villa boss Steve Bruce will also ask his two wide players, Robert Snodgrass and Albert Adomah, to defend narrow to protect central areas and make the Midlanders difficult to break down.

Keep feeding Sessegnon

Villa's plans to stop left-winger Ryan Sessegnon have been disrupted by an injury to Ahmed Elmohamady. The right-back damaged his hamstring in the first leg of Villa's play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough and is a major doubt. James Bree, 20, will play if Elmohamady is not fit.

Take extra care at corners

A Denis Odoi header from a corner got Fulham to Wembley but they will be wary of the threat Villa pose from set pieces. Villa have a lot of height and Bruce feels his side can hurt Fulham from corners.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/how-fulham-can-beat-aston-villa-and-seal-return-to-the-premier-league-a3848171.html

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:00:45 PM

Fulham set for richest game in football against Aston Villa

Ryan Sessegnon has been a key component. Credit: PA

Fulham will play Aston Villa in the richest prize in football when they face each one another in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.

For the victor it will be a place in the Premier League and potential earnings of up to £280million, according to Deloitte. For the loser, it will mean another gruelling 46-game campaign in the second tier.

It would be a return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2014 when Felix Magath took them down.

The Londoners only missed out on promotion by two points, finishing third behind Cardiff City thanks to a fantastic run in the second half of the season, which saw them go 23 games unbeaten until the final defeat at Birmingham City.

The signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic was key to the success of Slavisa Jokanovic's side. The Serb has scored 12 goals in 17 appearances for the Cottagers since arriving on loan in January from Newcastle United.

Ryan Sessegnon has proved to be the finest teenager in the Championship, potentially the country. He scored in the second-leg semi-final victory over Derby which led Fulham to Wembley. The youngster has netted 16 goals and assisted another seven over the course of the season and his input against Aston Villa will be vital.

Aleksandar Mitrovic arrived in January. Credit: PA

Sessegnon's team-mate, Kevin McDonald, praised the winger, he said: "Since I've been at the club, he's had a good two years. There's no denying it.

"He's been fantastic this season. He was incredible last season. You can't speak highly enough of him.

"As a player, as a kid, everything. He's got it all. He's a grounded kid, the same as his brother. They must come from a good family.

"He is willing to learn and is continuing to learn every day. He is always asking questions.

"He's got the world at his feet. I've got full confidence he will do it on the big stage on Saturday and I would love it if Sess was to score the winner for us.

"It would top off a fantastic two seasons for the guy, and after that we will see what happens."

Slavisa Jokanovic will take his team to Wembley. Credit: PA

Along with the star turns the consistency of defence, particularly Tim Ream and Ryan Fredericks has helped lay the foundations for the run to the play-off final.

Now everything is reliant on 90 minutes of action at Wembley, with the potential of extra-time and penalties.

During the two games this season between the two clubs, both side's have a home victory each to their name. Aston Villa won 2-1 in October thanks to goals from Albert Adomah and John Terry, while Fulham earn the points at Craven Cottage in February as Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite got the better of Steve Bruce's team.

The two results prove how close the two teams are, not to mention them finishing third and fourth, respectively, with Fulham being seen as a young, talented team, set to face a more experienced side who can boast the former England captain Terry.

It should be an enthralling contest at Wembley with a little bit of Sessegnon magic or Mitrovic dynamism in front of goal what could just swing it Fulham's way and return them to the promised land.

Last updated Fri 25 May 2018

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2018-05-25/fulham-set-for-richest-game-in-football-against-aston-villa/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:03:25 PM

Most neutrals will root for Fulham because of way they've played all season, says Danny Murphy

Style guide: Fulham went 23 games unbeaten during the regular season (Getty Images)

I would be chuffed to see Fulham back in the Premier League because the club mean a lot to me.

They have played the best football in the Championship this season and I think Wembley will suit their style of football under Slavisa Jokanovic.

It is a big pitch and the way Jokanovic likes his team to play out from the back — and that belief in what they do — will help them tomorrow.

They face an Aston Villa side with a lot of experience and knowhow, but Fulham play with a great energy, so it is a nice contrast in styles.

Villa are a bit more pragmatic in how they go about it.

It would mean a lot for both clubs. They have been in the Premier League for a long time in recent years. Villa have a good manager in Steve Bruce and will be desperate to get back there, but I think most neutrals will be rooting for Fulham because of the way they have played and their performances this season.

There will be a lot of watching eyes on Ryan Sessegnon and it would be fantastic for him if Fulham go up. The chances are he will then stay and playing every week in the Premier League for Fulham will benefit him more than moving on and not playing every week somewhere else.

His future is really bright. He plays with a freedom and a maturity that usually comes a lot later in the development of a player.

He has got a lot of flexibility in his play in terms of running off that wide area and coming inside and scoring goals.

Bright future: Ryan Sessegnon (PA)

It was the right decision not to take him to the World Cup. It was too early for him, but he is so young and has got so much time.

England are all right on the left side when you think even someone like Ryan Bertrand did not get selected. Sessegnon has got so much time to learn and he will be part of that for sure, so there is no rush.

John Terry will have a tough battle with Aleksandar Mitrovic but will not worry about the Serb. John has had a lot of tough battles and knows how to play people.

It is more the midfield area that will be key. Tom Cairney is very influential for Fulham but Mile Jedinak will try to stop him and he is a tough cookie who takes no prisoners.

It is always hard when you finish third like Fulham did because you feel like you have missed out and you have got to start again. But they got over that hurdle against Derby in the semi-final and it was a big result to come back from 1-0 down in the first game, so Fulham will be well up for it. I think they will do it.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/most-neutrals-will-root-for-fulham-because-of-way-they-ve-played-all-season-says-danny-murphy-a3848221.html

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:07:12 PM

Targett: Fighting Together

Matt Targett says Fulham's fans and players will be fighting as one at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites sold out our allocation five days prior to the Championship Play-Off Final, and Targett is not underestimating the impact the supporters can have.

"It's a lovely stadium," he told the official website. "I played there earlier on in the season with Southampton, but it will be great to play in front of 38,000 Fulham fans.

"It will be a good day out for them and I'm sure they'll be cheering us on all the way. It will be a great atmosphere. If the fans can make it as loud as the Cottage has been then that would be a great help to us.

"If you have difficult moments during the game, to have that backing from the crowd really helps pull you through. We'll be giving 100 per cent on the pitch, and I'm sure the fans will be doing the same in the stands.

"Derby was fantastic, I think it was the best atmosphere I've played in. From start to finish they were fully behind us, it was so loud, and if they can carry that on into Wembley then that will be a massive help to us."

On the four occasions Fulham and Aston Villa have met in the Championship, the home side has always prevailed, setting things up for an intriguing tie at the national stadium.

"It's going to be a very tough battle," Targett said. "They're a team full of very good players with a lot of experience in there.

"We're looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we'll get a positive result.

"The mood is very good. We're confident and looking forward to it. Not many people have played at Wembley so it will be a new experience and one we're going to embrace."

Targett has been a revelation since joining on loan from Southampton in January, slotting in seamlessly at left-back.

Only two games were lost during his time at the Club, and now we're just one win from the Premier League – would he have settled for that when he signed?

"For sure. It's been incredible since I got here, I've loved every single minute of it. The team went on a great run and it's been a pleasure to play here week in, week out.

"It's been a good loan move, and hopefully we can finish on a high and get Fulham back in the Premier League."

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/may/25/matt-targett-wembley-play-off-final-preview

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:12:05 PM

'Fulham will edge it', 'Aston Villa will do it' – FLW writers issue verdicts on Championship Play-Off Final

It's the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final tomorrow, as Aston Villa take on Fulham in the most lucrative football match in the world.

But who will win?

We issue our verdicts....

Alfie Burns

I'm hoping to see Fulham make it to the Premier League, as their performances over the last 18 months have totally deserved it.

However, Aston Villa will do it.

Bruce's side have all the experience, where Fulham might freeze on the biggest stage.

Players like John Terry and Mile Jedinak know how to handle the big stage, whilst in Jack Grealish they have a player who can turn a game with one moment.

Of course, Fulham have plenty of quality, but I've a feeling Villa will nullify their big threats.

Christian Fuller

Fulham are undoubtedly going to go in to tomorrow's Championship play-off final as favourites, and rightly so.

When you compare the match ups, you do start to worry for Villa. Mitrovic versus Terry will show the veteran defender is not ready for the new breed of Premier League strikers, Ryan Sessegnon will run rings around whoever Steve Bruce puts at full back, while Jack Grealish up against Tom Cairney in the middle will be no battle.

Villa have impressed this season, but the game is going only one way, and that's to Fulham.

George Dagless

This is so tough to call.

Both sides are good enough to go up but I think Fulham will just about edge it.

Villa have plenty of big-game players but I can't look past the way Fulham play as in 2018 they've been the best in the league – including Wolves.

That will just see them over the line I think. For sure, though, it's going to be a cracker!

Sam Rourke

This is going to be one hell of a Championship Play-Off final, probably the best one we're going to see in years.

It sees two very closely matched teams come up against each-other in the biggest match in English football.

My gut feeling is Fulham will edge it.

On paper they are so evenly matched, but I just think if Fulham can play to their full potential, they'll have too much attacking threat for Villa to handle.

Chris Gallagher

Villa, just.

I expect a tight, high-quality game but I think Villa will edge it.

Steve Bruce's experienced side will stifle the Cottagers and have enough about them to nick a goal, whether it's through magic from Jack Grealish or a set-piece.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-will-edge-it-aston-villa-will-do-it-flw-writers-issue-verdicts-on-championship-play-off-final/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:13:43 PM

Clubs eye free agent Marsh-Brown

HITC Sport understands a number of clubs are eyeing free agent Keanu Marsh-Brown.

Former Forest Green star Keanu Marsh-Brown is a target for a number of Football League clubs on a free transfer, HITC Sport understands.

Skilful winger Marsh-Brown is a free agent after seeing out his contract at League Two Forest Green Rovers.

Marsh-Brown found himself largely out of favour at Forest Green this season, despite playing an instrumental role in the club's promotion to the Football League in the 2016/17 season for the first time.

The attacker made only nine starts in League Two this season, but still managed to score two goals for Forest Green.

Marsh-Brown spent the last two months of the season on loan at National League side Dover Athletic and he impressed there with four goals in six outings.

News of Marsh-Brown's availability on a free transfer has alerted a number of League One and League Two clubs with the winger capable of scoring spectacular goals.

Marsh-Brown began his career at Fulham and played for Oldham, Yeovil and Barnet before joining Forest Green in the summer of 2015.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/25/por-clubs-eye-free-agent-marsh-brown/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:14:35 PM

Fulham and Hull City battling it out for Greek defender

Fulham and Hull City are interested in signing PAOK defender Dimitros Chatziisaias, according to The Sun.

The 25-year-old has impressed this season on loan at Greek side Atromitos from PAOK and is being targeted by Fulham and Hull City.

The Cottagers play Aston Villa tomorrow at Wembley at Wembley Stadium for a place in the Premier League. Their manager, Slavisa Jokanovic, sees Chatziisaias as someone who could bolster his defence for next season. PAOK could be willing to sell him as he only has a year left on his contract there.

Fulham will have to face competition for his signature from Hull City. The Championship side are looking for transfer targets for the summer as they look to move up the table in the next campaign. The Tigers have key players like Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo, Seb Larsson and Abel Hernandez out of contract next month and could lose them on free transfers.

Therefore, they are in the hunt for potential replacements. As well as Chatziisaias, Hull have also recently been linked with Nottingham Forest defender Eric Lichaj and Scunthorpe United winger Hakeeb Adelakun.

Chatziisaias had spells in Greece with Vataniakos, Glyfada, Chania and Panionios before he was snapped up by PAOK in 2016 for €1 million. However, he fell down the pecking order there and was loaned out to Atromitos for this season.

The 6ft 4inc defender could be handed an escape route out of PAOK this summer by Hull City or Fulham.

http://the72.co.uk/103402/fulham-hull-city-battling-greek-defender/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:17:37 PM

Ahmed Elmohamady winning race to be fit for Championship play-off final

Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady is making good progress in his recovery from injury and stands a good chance of playing in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Fulham at Wembley.
The 30-year-old defender was absent for the second leg of the semi-final at home to Middlesbrough last week after suffering a hamstring injury in the first game at the Riverside and there were fears he could also miss the showpiece at the national stadium.
However, things are looking much more positive after the Egyptian resumed training this week and he will be put through his paces again on Friday.
If Elmohamady does not make it then James Bree is likely to fill in, as he did against Boro for the goalless second leg at Villa Park which clinched Villa's passage to the final.
Fulham are at full strength as they aim to end a four-year absence from the Premier League.
The Cottagers have reported no problems after they beat Derby over two legs in the early part of last week.
Sheyi Ojo could be involved in the squad after missing the last seven games due to injury, though he is unlikely to start.
Slavisa Jokanovic replaced Floyd Ayite with Aboubakar Kamara for the second leg against the Rams and he must again choose between the two at Wembley.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/preview?gameId=510816

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:19:03 PM

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has allowed youth to thrive, says Matt Taylor

Former Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor praised Slavisa Jokanovic's work in combining youth with success ahead of Fulham's Championship play-off final against Aston Villa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

Ryan Sessegnon, 18, has made more appearances than anyone else at the club this season, while 22-year-old defender Matt Targett and 20-year-old midfielder Sheyi Ojo have both played more than 20 times.

Jokanovic's Fulham ended the league season with a 3-1 defeat to Birmingham, after a 23-game unbeaten run that almost propelled them into the automatic promotion spots.

Taylor told Sky Sports News: "Jokanovic has done a very good job with a young group of players.

"He has allowed youth to thrive, whilst being successful and finishing third in the league.

"They've been exceptional at times, easy on the eye, and they play expansive football."

Taylor feels promotion for Fulham is crucial if they are to retain some of their best players, especially Sessegnon, who has scored 16 goals from the left flank this season.

He said: "I love the fact that Sessegnon plays with no fear.

"At the moment he has only had success in his career, he knows nothing else.

"It would be tough to hold onto him if Fulham lose on Saturday.

"Will the owner continue to put the same sums of money into the club if they don't make it into the Premier League?"

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie agreed that Fulham's style of play has been up there with the best in the league this season.

He said: "Fulham and Wolves are streets ahead of the rest in terms of the way they play.

"They're very good going forward and in Sessegnon they have a young talent who gets in great areas.

"His energy and where he arrives in the box is excellent."

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11384930/fulham-boss-slavisa-jokanovic-has-allowed-youth-to-thrive-says-matt-taylor

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:22:13 PM

From PE teacher to Wembley: How Denis Odoi was told he'd never be a professional footballer

The 29-year-old's header steered Fulham to Wembley, but he reveals how a life in teaching PE once seemed like the route he would take in life

On the eve of one of the biggest games in Fulham's history, the man that got the side there takes a moment to reflect on what promotion to the Premier League would mean.

"It would be great accomplishment for me," Denis Odoi says, "if we go up not a lot of people would have expected me to play at that level or expect my career as it is going right now."

The 29-year-old started his career at Oud-Heverlee Leuven in Belgium having grown up alongside players like Dries Mertens, who will most likely be representing the pair's country at the 2018 World Cup in Russia this summer.

Since then he's played for Sint-Truiden before moving to Anderlecht, where he wont two Belgian titles before making the move over to Lokeren and eventually Fulham.

But it could've turned out differently for Odoi, who was told when he was young that playing professional football wasn't going to be an option for him like it was for Mertens, but despite that it was his goal that sent Fulham to Wembley.

"Since I was young I was watching Match of the Day and then coming to England to play and now the possibility to go to the Premier League, that would be a huge accomplishment," he said.

"I was just a normal football player. I was never the best in my team.

"A lot of those guys who were playing in the Premier League were playing in Serie A, I grew up with them. They were always better than me. I grew up with Dries Mertens - I have known him since I was five.

(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

"I was always playing with him and he was such a great player. Then I went to school and they asked me 'what do I think I was going to be later because we all know you are not going to be a professional football player!'

"I did not take any offence to it. I was not obsessed by becoming a professional football player, I was studying and going to school, playing football and just enjoying myself, then one thing led to another.

"[I would] Probably a teacher in PE, because I was studying that in college when I was a professional footballer."

But the side are well aware of what lies before them before they can even think about the Premier League.

Aston Villa are the opponents on Saturday in the play-off final at Wembley, a team full of experience and the know-how of how to handle the big occassion.

Odoi was part of the season that went out at the semi final stage last season after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Reading in his debut season at Craven Cottage.

And ahead of Saturday's game, the centre back believes everyone has learnt from what happened last year and aren't thinking about what comes next - just the game itself.

He said: "Everybody is focused about the game and making sure we're ready because in the past, like last year, we though about if we get to Wembley and thinking about things.

"After Reading we're all sitting there like 'oh f***, we aren't going to Wembley' and it was the same with Birmingham 'what if we might get promoted directly, great we can go on holiday' so I think everyone has learnt from those two experiences that we're not going to think about what comes afterwards, we're going to think about Saturday and working hard and achieve."

Slavisa Jokanovic's role in getting Fulham to the play-off final cannot be understated - since he joined, the side went from relegation candidates to two successive play-off appearances.

The message from the head coach is a simple one ahead of the play-off final: keep playing the way Fulham have played all season.

"He [Jokanovic] is important because even when things weren't going well he said 'stick to the way we are playing, thats the way we are more dangerous'.

"Sometimes he adapted, but sometimes after we lost a game he said we just had a bad game and we need to forgot about it, and keep playing.

"I think that is going to be the message for Saturday - keep playing the way we have always played, because if we start playing totally different we are going to regret it after."

https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/fulham-play-offs-denis-odoi-14705209

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:26:54 PM

Aston Villa v Fulham: Big-match preview for Championship play-off final live on Sky Sports Football

Fulham face Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley with a place in the Premier League as the prize for the winner.

Ahead of the massive encounter, which is live on Sky Sports Football from 4pm on Saturday, we provide you with all the team news, stats, key questions, manager interviews and predictions here...

Team news

Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady is making good progress in his recovery from injury and stands a good chance of playing. The 30-year-old defender was absent for the second leg of the semi-final at home to Middlesbrough last week after suffering a hamstring injury in the first game at the Riverside and there were fears he could also miss the showpiece at the national stadium.

However, things are looking much more positive after the Egyptian resumed training this week and he will be put through his paces again on Friday. If Elmohamady does not make it then James Bree is likely to fill in, as he did against Boro for the goalless second leg at Villa Park which clinched Villa's passage to the final.

Fulham are at full strength as they aim to end a four-year absence from the Premier League. The Cottagers have reported no problems after they beat Derby over two legs in the early part of last week.

Sheyi Ojo could be involved in the squad after missing the last seven games due to injury, though he is unlikely to start. Jokanovic replaced Floyd Ayite with Aboubakar Kamara for the second leg against the Rams and he must again choose between the two at Wembley.

Opta stats

Fulham are featuring in their first play-off final, having previously lost in the semi-finals in 1988/89 (third-tier), 1997/98 (third-tier) and 2016/17 (second-tier), while Aston Villa have reached the final in their first play-off campaign.

Steve Bruce is set to manage in his third play-off final - he has been promoted in both of his previous two, progressing on penalties in 2001-02 as Birmingham manager against Norwich and beating Sheffield Wednesday with Hull in 2015-16.

Indeed, he's the third manager to manage in three play-off finals in the second tier, after Brian Little (three finals between 1991-92 and 1993-94) and Ian Holloway (2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13).

Bruce has won four promotions to the top-flight (2001-02, 2006-07, 2012-13 and 2015-16), a joint-record with Neil Warnock, who achieved his fourth this season with Cardiff.

Hinchcliffe's key question - Who needs promotion more?

"It seems easy to say but the price of failure is huge for both teams," said Andy Hinchcliffe. "You can only imagine what will happen to each squad if they don't get up this season as both could lose a lot of key talent.

"For Fulham, the likes of Tom Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon and Ryan Fredericks could all go while Aleksandar Mitrovic and Matt Targett have only been on loan, and that's half a team right there. The same is true for Aston Villa with their loan players. Their squad is also getting older and you have to wonder if John Terry will stay for another season in the Championship."

The Key Battle

The 2018 Sky Bet Championship play-off final is set to produce an intriguing encounter between serial Wembley winner John Terry and Fulham's in-form Serb Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The decorated 37-year-old defender has made 836 appearances for club and country and won 15 major trophies, lifting five major Cups at Wembley as Chelsea captain. Terry will need to call upon all his experience to shut out Mitrovic who was named Sky Bet Championship Player of the month for March and April.

Combined XI

It all boils down to 90 minutes under the Wembley arch as the Championship season comes to an end on Saturday. Fulham face Aston Villa in the play-off final to determine who joins Wolves and Cardiff in the Premier League next season.

WhoScored.com determine a combined Fulham and Aston Villa XI using their unique rating system to whet the appetite ahead of Saturday's showpiece...

The managers

Steve Bruce: "I won't sit here and say that I'm not going to feel some butterflies on the day but, like everything in life, if you've already experienced something then you know how to handle it better.

"Make no mistake about it, though, however many times you've done it it's still a wonderful occasion and the reason you're in football is for days like this. I've said many times in big games like this you can smell the hot dogs a little bit, that's what Archie Knox used to say all those years ago and nothing has changed.

"Hopefully we can put a smile back on the faces of Aston Villa fans for a change because for five or six years it's been pretty desperate at times. Let's hope it's our turn again."

Slavisa Jokanovic: "It's a special game, but on the other hand we must understand it is only one game," he told Sky Sports. "We must try to play, perform and show our quality, to show we are focused and concentrated to show we are a good team. We must play the game, we must not be scared. In football there are different results but we are thinking about only one.

"We are more experienced, we played in the play-offs last season and knew more or less what we were going to find. We are going to have an opportunity to play the most important game in the last few years for us, we know how we are going to find it and at the end, what we want is to win."

Prutton's prediction

This should be a fascinating encounter at Wembley. Fulham play the better football but they are coming against a side in Aston Villa who will be set up well to contain them.

These games are so often separated by the odd goal. You would not back against John Terry, with all his Wembley experience, to pop up with a header from a corner or a free-kick to win it.

David Prutton predicts: Aston Villa to win 1-0 and John Terry to score (195/1 with Sky Bet)

http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-fulham/preview/389284

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:32:29 PM

Aston Villa v Fulham – talking points

Steve Bruce and Slavisa Jokanovic's sides meet at Wembley with a place in next season's Premier League awaiting the winner.

Aston Villa and Fulham play at Wembley in Saturday's Championship play-off final.

A place in the Premier League is the reward for the winners.

Here Press Association Sport looks at some of the talking points ahead of the game.

Cash prize

Money will not be in the players' minds in the Championship play-off final (Nigel French/EMPICS)

The financial rewards on offer for victory in the play-off final are huge, dwarfing those in Saturday's other big game, the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. The victorious team at Wembley stands to receive at least £160million in revenue, Deloitte estimates. Survival for more than one season in the top flight would see that rise to £280m. But let's not forget this is also an occasion for the romantics, with two historic clubs battling for a top-flight return.

Brucie bonus

Steve Bruce led Hull to play-off final victory at Wembley and hopes to repeat the feat with Aston Villa (Adam Davy/EMPICS)

Steve Bruce knows what it takes to win at Wembley. The former Manchester United captain is set to manage in his third play-off final and he has won the previous two (with Birmingham in 2002 and Hull in 2016). The third manager to manage in three play-off finals, Bruce has won four promotions to the top flight, a joint-record with Cardiff boss Neil Warnock. Surely that experience will come in handy on the big day.

Cottagers Wembley wait over

Fulham are making just a second Wembley appearance, with boss Slavisa Jokanovic seeking a first win at the national stadium (Nigel French/EMPICS)

Fulham have played at Wembley once before, losing the 1975 FA Cup final to West Ham. No wonder Shahid Khan, their owner, wants to buy the national stadium – although it will not become Fulham's home. The Cottagers have been unsuccessful in three previous play-off campaigns, but will hope to carry the momentum from their third-placed finish, above Villa, and the semi-final victory over Derby.

Feeling the Blues?

Chelsea supporters and officials may be among those keenly watching the action at Wembley, in particular two former Blues players. Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has been linked with Chelsea in the last week, but there is currently no vacancy at Stamford Bridge as Antonio Conte remains in charge. If Villa are promoted, there is the prospect of John Terry facing Chelsea, the side with whom he is synonymous. The 37-year-old last summer left for Villa Park after 22 years at Stamford Bridge.

Young talents

One is portrayed as a hell-raising party animal, the other as a clean-cut professional who washes and irons his own kit. Villa's Jack Grealish showed glimpses of his potential in the Premier League previously, but made more headlines for his off-field party lifestyle. He is now maturing into a playmaker who can cut open defences. Ryan Sessegnon is much admired and coveted, despite only just turning 18. The left-sided player is renowned for his pace and power and surely will grace the Premier League next season. Whether it is with Fulham depends on Saturday.

http://sport.bt.com/football/aston-villa-v-fulham-talking-points-S11364274179318

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:34:13 PM

One Sleep from Wembley
by Lydia on May 25, 2018

One sleep from Wembley. Or rather, one night of attempted sleep! I feel like a kid at Christmas, knowing that tomorrow is the day that football fans dream about. Some fans get a chance to see their team at Wembley every few seasons, for others it's maybe once every ten years or so, but for Fulham it has been 43 years. We have had the longest wait of any other professional club, and was just one of the reasons for our mass celebrations last Monday evening by the Thames.

There have been mind games from both camps and banter between the two fan bases but tomorrow all of that will be left behind and Slavisa Jokanovic and his team must do the talking on the pitch. 90minutes from the Promised Land of the Premier League and a cash wind fall that most clubs can only dream of.

Tomorrow's game is incredibly difficult to call. Some say that we are favourites while some say that Villa have that burden, but truth be told, it really doesn't matter. We have played each other twice already this season with both sides winning at home. Villa fans have been quick to remind me that they were without Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah for the game at Craven Cottage, but we didn't have Tom Cairney to start, played Rui Fonte and Aboubakar Kamara up front for the first time together and had Ryan Sessegnon as a left back at Villa Park. Tomorrow both sides look to have a fully fit squad so this will be noticeably different from the previous two games this season. The midfield battle will be fierce with the undoubtedly talented Grealish alongside Snodgrass and Hourihane up against Cairney, Johansen and McDonald and you'd imagine that whoever wins that battle will win the match.

I decided to call on Aston Villa fan and podcaster at 7500 to Holte, Daniel Raza for a Villa take on the game tomorrow.

Who do you see has Villa's main danger man for Fulham on Saturday?

Jack Grealish. Going into a final, we're going to need a certain amount of energy to stay dangerous for the full 90/120 minutes and I believe he can drive Villa forward especially on the counter. I'm expecting Villa to be solid defensively from watching the semi-finals and being quick on the break is going to be important. Other than that, we were without him during the defeat and Craven Cottage and he could be the changing factor.

Who is your unsung hero from this season and why?

James Chester deserves a lot of plaudits for solid defensive performances and turning up to every minute of Championship football this season. It's easy to get ignored when your defensive partner is John Terry, but James is one of the biggest leader figures in the team and will be important for us in the final.

When was the last time you got to Wembley? What happened?

It was at the end of an awful season in 2015, where Tim Sherwood had been brought in as the replacement to Paul Lambert. He had a positive effect on the team and gave Villa the final push into to FA Cup Final. Unfortunately, the team choked as they had done for most of the season and lost 4-0 to Arsenal. This was the season before we got relegated.

Is there anyone from Fulham's team that really worries you?

I do think Sessegnon is going to be a wildcard here. He'll likely be the youngest player on the pitch on Saturday and whilst nerves are racking up around both dressing rooms – this could be the big opportunity he needs to shine. He has nothing to lose on Saturday and that could really drive him to cause havoc against us. With Elmohamady injured, it's a big ask for Alan Hutton to keep both Sessegnon and Kamara at bay.

SCORE PREDICTION- I'm going to say 1-1 at 90 minutes, and 2-1 Villa after extra time!

So there we go. They have very recent Wembley experience plus A LOT of leaders on the pitch. For the neutral, this is the best game you could have hoped for in a Play-off Final, but for fans of both clubs we are in for 90minutes at least of stress.

I can't ask Daniel to do a score prediction and not do one myself, so here goes. I'm going to be brave and say 2-0 Fulham at the end of the 90 with Mitrovic and Cairney with the goals.

#COYW

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/05/19690/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:35:51 PM

6 assists v 14 goals: The frightening Aston Villa duo that Fulham need to be wary of

The play-off final will take centre stage in the Sky Bet Championship tomorrow afternoon, with Aston Villa taking on Fulham for a place in the Premier League.

Fulham finished third in the Championship table after 46 fixtures, one place ahead of Villa in fourth.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side are favourites ahead of the final, but Villa pose a major threat going forward, with Jack Grealish and Albert Adomah amongst their most dangerous players.

We take a look at that duo in our latest FLW Duel, which highlights which of Villa's key men Fulham need to be wary of.

In Grealish's 29 appearances this season, he has shone, with his numbers far better than his teammate on the wing.

The 22-year-old has six assists to his name over the course of the season, which is one more than Adomah.

In addition to that, Grealish has produced more average shots and key passes per game (1.9 v 1.5 and 1.9 v 1.2).

The midfielder's positive play is further highlighted in his 2.9 dribbles per game, with Adomah averaging just 1.4.

Grealish's average pass success rate stands at 85.8%, with Adomah's figure at 77.1%.

The one area that the 30-year-old winger has bettered Grealish this season is in the goalscoring department. Adomah has 14 goals to his name, whilst Grealish has just three.

The Verdict

It's been an outstanding year for Grealish, who is going to be the player Fulham are most worried about tomorrow afternoon.

However, Jokanovic's side would be foolish to not keep an eye on Adomah, who is a huge goal threat.

The winger has produced moments in big games this season and will be looking to do the same tomorrow.

Together, along with Robert Snodgrass, Adomah and Grealish form a really frightening attacking midfield trio.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/6-assists-v-14-goals-the-frightening-aston-villa-duo-that-fulham-need-to-be-wary-of/

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:47:10 PM

Kevin McDonald: 'Fulham have got a nasty streak'

Midfielder Kevin McDonald has hinted that Fulham will show their "nasty streak" in order to secure victory over Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final.

On Saturday evening, Wembley Stadium will play host to the lucrative showdown between the two clubs, who are both looking to earn a place in next season's Premier League.

Fulham have impressed with their attacking football throughout the campaign, but McDonald has suggested that the Cottagers are prepare to win ugly against their West Midlands opponents.

The 29-year-old is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: "We've got to have a nasty streak about us. I'm sure Aston Villa will have that. They will be up for the fight.

"I think on the ball we play nice football, but we have to work hard to win the ball back and be the first to the ball. It goes a bit unnoticed but we press really well. No-one sees that because we are on the ball a lot of the time, but we can't turn up and expect to be on the ball. If we do, we'll get beat.

"We have to earn the right to play. We have to have that fight and determination and do whatever it takes. We will try to win it, keep it and make them run. Tire them out."

Fulham finished one place and five points ahead of Villa in the second-tier standings.

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/mcdonald-fulham-have-got-a-nasty-streak_326779.html

WhiteJC · May 25, 2018, 05:49:22 PM

Championship play-off final: Fulham are better than Aston Villa but in Wembley pressure cooker it might not matter

Scott Minto's EFL column: No one can argue they don't deserve to be there but only one can now win the £170 million game

It is the Championship play-off final most neutrals wanted. The might of Aston Villa against Fulham, the team that is most beautiful to watch. Not many can argue they don't deserve to be there. They were the two best teams in the semi-finals and of course they finished third and fourth in the table.

I wondered whether Fulham had the mentality to get past Derby. They certainly scoffed at the idea of Plan B after the first leg, just do Plan A better was the motto. No doubt the timing of the Ryan Sessegnon goal early in the second half of the second leg changed everything. But they were the better side and more importantly showed they were mentally strong enough to get through.

Aston Villa have had to deal with that type of pressure all season and after a very tough start, have dealt with it so well. All that is down to Steve Bruce. Not many managers could have kept his team together while facing the backlash of their supporters in the way he has. Top players were brought in from other Championship clubs but struggled to handle the expectation that comes with wearing the Villa shirt. Many are still struggling but Steve has guided the club, one with the stature of being a top eight Premier League side, to within one game of re-joining English football's elite.

The theme so far in this piece has all been about pressure and that is the key to winning this game and achieving promotion. The team that deals with it the best, wins. The team that is able to treat this like any other game and to play their way, wins.

I didn't play in a play-off final game but I did play in an FA Cup final. It was over 20 years ago when the Cup meant more than what it does now and I worked very hard on my mind, sometimes with a sports psychologist but also daily with myself to make sure I was in the right frame of mind. It worked. No negativity, just positive thoughts and not only did we win the cup but I was very happy with my performance.

Straight after this season's play-off semi finals I thought Fulham were the best side of the four, that their swagger was back and I fancied them for promotion. But the more I think about it, as we edge ever closer to the big day, the more I'm thinking it will be harder for Fulham to play their exciting, expansive, risk-taking game on the biggest stage of all, a game worth £170 million, than it will for Villa.

From the starting 11's of both sides from their second legs, 10 of Villa's players have played at Wembley, two from Fulham. Six of Villa's starters have play-off final experience, none from Fulham. This is no ordinary game, this is the richest game in football blowing any comparison in terms of finance with the Champions League final out of the water. On top of all that, Bruce has been promoted twice through the play-offs. He has that knack of winning games when he has to.

Look, if Fulham come with their 'A' game, if Tom Cairney can dominate the ball, if Ryan Sessegnon can pop up in positions that bely his tender age, if Aleksandar Mitrovic continues to terrorise upfront, if Fulham play to their potential then they will win because they are the better side. But I think the experience and know-how of Villa will just about see them through.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/championship-playoff-preview-prediction-fulham-aston-villa-scott-minto-column-a8369156.html