Friends of Fulham

Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 337
Date: 25th April 2026
Opposition: Aston Villa
Score: 1-0
Goal scorer: Ryan Sessegnon
Weather: spectacular spring sunshine
Atmosphere: sudden spring fever
MOTM: As everyone knows, there are no famous Belgians. Perhaps that's why Timothy Castagne is so understated - he just can't risk becoming well known. But his performance on Saturday was impossible to ignore. Creating our goal, almost scoring another and all while doing his day job of defending absolutely flawlessly. This was probably Timmy's best performance in a Fulham shirt, and it had to be to snatch the award from some of his teammates - notably, ESR, Lukić and Sess
Moment of the Match: what a goal! The swooping cross from Castagne, the well-timed leap from Lukić and Sess's pinpoint finish through a tangle of legs and bodies. And what a time to score!
Brunch: Truth
Post match drinks: the Riverside was made for victory drinks on sun-drenched Saturdays

Finally! Fulham fans have waited weeks for a goal and months for a 90 minute performance. Both arrived on Saturday afternoon.

We have to admit, both were somewhat unexpected. Fulham's traditional spring slump has started, underlined by the deathly bore draw with Brentford. Off-pitch drama continues to distract as Marco dithers over his new contract. And Aston Villa are really good, are managed by an actual vampire, and usually beat us.

From the first whistle, though, it felt different. Fulham set the tone immediately, pressing high, fast, and with real intent, giving Villa no time to settle. The shape held, the triggers were sharp, and every loose touch was pounced on— for once it was Fulham dictating the game, not reacting to it.

There were suggestions before the game (from Marco and pundits, not from fans) that we might miss the injured Alex Iwobi but actually it felt like there wouldn't have been a place for him in this well-balanced side.

Emile Smith Rowe has a habit of drifting in and out of games. There one minute, gone for half an hour. But he was everywhere it mattered - hounding defenders, hunting down the ball, searching for openings, not giving Villa a minute's peace. Behind him the sometimes dubious combination of Berge and Lukić was back but the double pivot meant double trouble for Villa and allowed Harry, Samu and the hard-grafting Raúl to focus on pressing high, worrying the back line, and turning every turnover into a problem.

Despite our dominance, we wasted the first clearcut chances we had with Emile's miscue to Raúl then Raúl heading straight at the goalie. There was a scary 10 minutes when Villa asserted themselves, shooting just wide twice and needing strong marshalling in the box.

Every match, at around 40 minutes people who are desperate for a drink leave their seats. We learnt long ago not to do that and Saturday was a good example of why it's a mistake. Especially at the moment when Fulham goals are hard to come by. It was a move that started at the back and flowed forward. Villa could only watch Castagne's perfect cross in awe, their goalie could only bat Lukić' strong header away and the defenders could only fling themselves hopelessly to the floor as Sess dealt with the rebound.

For the first time in ages, Fulham scored just before half time. For the first time in ages, Fulham scored.

There have been too many matches this season where a good half has been followed, inexplicably, by a bad one. But on Saturday, this didn't happen. The press redoubled, the intensity held and Fulham kept control. Chances were hard to come by with Harry Wilson - possibly on trial for the opposition - missing a good one by forgetting to pass to Raúl.

Castagne should have crowned his MOTM display with a goal but the ref objected to Berge cuddling the Villa goalie and Timmy's header was disallowed. It was disappointing but it didn't disrupt what was turning into a rock solid defensive performance. Villa's impressive attack was limited to pot shots from range.

Watching the subs warm-up was disconcerting - Josh and Oscar look like ballboys and we were worried when Marco brought them on together. But Josh was full of fearless running and Oscar brimming with technical skill. Later, a speedy cameo from Antonee kept the tiring Villa players at bay. Considering the scoreline, we saw the game out with a surprising lack of drama.

In fact, the intelligence of the game management was as striking as the quality of the football. Our genius is back even if his intentions are unclear.

This was a resounding win against a side almost guaranteed a Champions League place. Fulham weren't lucky or plucky - we were simply better than them.

Random musings:-

What a great way for Sess to celebrate his contract extension!

It would be even better if a theme could develop here...

Unsurprisingly, a team managed by a vampire are very good at the dark arts

Did he make a quadruple sub?

Berge had a shot!

That's another clean sheet!

Muniz was Ivan's guest in the Riverside. He's so lovely but he was the one weak link in the side

We don't like the way there are now barriers between the fans and the player on the stage. Rodrigo didn't seem too impressed either as he leant over for selfies.

For a man who might be leaving his job in a month's time, Marco Silva looked remarkably passionate on the touchline. And his gestures to the crowd at the end of the match felt like belief, not farewell.

Whisper it, but the win has put us back in contention for Europe—and the performance has given us reason to believe again.

With Fulham, you must always expect the unexpected, but even by those standards, this feels different: a sliver of hope we hadn't quite dared to imagine.

And we all know what hope does...



https://werdsmith.com/p/uEzbv7aEGpNVCW

'Fulham or Everton' tipped to beat Coventry City to Middlesbrough ace
Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney could be a player in demand for Coventry City and other promoted sides if the Championship Player of the Season fails to gain promotion with Boro.

Hayden Hackney has been out of action for the last few weeks but the midfielder has been one of the division's standout players and follows in the footsteps of Gus Hamer and Crysencio Summerville in recent seasons by scooping the award.

Middlesbrough have been inside the top two for eight of the 44 gameweeks so far, but they are likely to miss out on automatic promotion despite spending longer in the first and second than Coventry City this season. Hackney has 38 league appearances with six goals and eight assists.

Cov need to start finalising their Premier League shortlist of players, with Hackney reportedly on Coventry's list of targets already. He is likely to be of interest to a number of top flight clubs this summer, given that he is in the final 12 months of his contract at The Riverside in June.

Coventry City verdict lands on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney
Football League World's Coventry fan pundit Chris has provided his thoughts on Hackney. We asked if this is a sign of Doug King's ambition, or if he would still prefer more experienced targets to be lined up. Also, what would a fair fee look like for Hackney?

He said: "I like Hayden Hackney a lot. Don't get me wrong, he is obviously a fantastic player and incredibly important for Middlesbrough.

"He's not really shown up in the past few months, which coincides with Middlesbrough slipping away and bottling their own chance at winning the league. I've seen £15-20 million being touted around for him, which I think is a fair price.

"This isn't his first great season for Boro. It's not like it's a flash in the pan, he's had a fair few good seasons now — showing how important he is and showing how good he is. Honestly, though? I don't think he's a player we should be focusing on signing.

"If we're spending £20 million on a centre mid, I'd rather — obviously, we've got [Frank] Onyeka because we've signed him on a permanent now — but I'd rather keep [Matt] Grimes and then use that £20 million on one or two more experienced centre mids.

"Maybe from abroad? Maybe from around Europe? Maybe a little bit older? A few years older than Hackney and they've got that bit of experience and grit about them.

"My worry is if we are signing the likes of Hackney or players like [Jaden] Philogene, who I've seen us linked with as well, to me that screams that we are trying to build a Championship super team for us to inevitably go back down and then try and come straight back up.

"I would much rather we follow Sunderland's model. I know Doug King spoke about it before and he annoyed Sunderland fans a bit but that doesn't take much to happen. I'd rather follow their model of spending. I think they spent about £120 million or something.

"They went out and bought a few new players but look how well it's turned out for them. They have had a fantastic season and they're nowhere near close to going down. I am pretty sure there are only two/three/four of those players they brought in who don't play regularly.

"They are still also using a fair few of their players from the Championship last season with the team that got them promoted."

Everton and Fulham tipped to beat Coventry City to Hayden Hackney
On who will beat Coventry to Hackney and what they will do instead, Chris added: "Doug King is obviously a very smart businessman. Very frugal, he's not going to want to go out and spend 100s and 100s of millions. Even if we had that kind of money to spend, I don't think he would.

"He's very tempered. He's very cautious. He's obviously going to have a list of players and he's going to have spoken to Frank [Lampard] about next season. He's going to have plans and all the numbers and finances, and what we are going to do in terms of raising the wage cap.

"I've heard £50,000? Which I think is probably fine and enough. I think we can attract some semi-decent players on that kind of money. To be fair, the other thing with Hackney is that other bigger clubs are going to come in for him.

"I've heard teams like Fulham and Everton linked with moves for him. I can't imagine he would want to come to Coventry over either of those and I can't imagine we would be able to match what those clubs are offering.

"So, a brilliant player. But probably not one that we need to be looking at. I think that he's probably above our level or not quite worth the money when we are going to have so little to spend."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-or-everton-expected-to-beat-coventry-city-to-middlesbrough-ace/

Notes from the April meeting with Fulham FC.
On Wednesday 15th April 2026 at 13.30, the Fulham Supporters' Trust (FST) met with Fulham FC via video conference.

The Club was represented by:

    Jamie Nicholson, Head of Supporter Services (JN)
    Nicola Walworth, Supporter Relations Manager (NW)
    Nathan Blair, Disability Access Officer (NB)
    James Herman, Supporter Liaison Officer (JH)

The FST was represented by:

    Jerry Cope, Treasurer and Membership Secretary (JC)
    Hayley Davinson, Vice-Chair (HD)
    Tamara Dragadze (Board Member, TD)

HOW IT WORKS
This was the latest of the smaller meetings we have agreed to have with the Club to explore in more detail some of the areas of activity, which should be of interest to our members. It is expected these meetings will provide deeper insight into the way the Club operates and provide explanations for some of the more commonly asked questions.


JC opened the meeting asking each member of the supporter services team to explain their roles and what their work entails for the benefit of fans. JN, Head of Supporter Engagement, started by explaining about the overall structure of the team, which has expanded from two people to four over the last year. This now means there is a specific Disability Access Officer (NB) and that the club Supporter Relations Manager (NW) now has a two-person team with the appointment of JH. The increase in the size of the team directly reflected the growth of work in supporter relations, which was put down to two things – increased number of Fulham fans and the introduction of the FAB and other supporters' groups.

JN's role as head of the team was explained as two-fold. First, to liaise between the club and supporters on key issues, trying to ensure all views are considered. When fans have views, it is important that the club listen to them. It is not always possible to do as each fan wishes, but to try and ensure that views are heard.

Second is to understand what fans think and from those thoughts, create ideas that bring supporters closer to the club. JN is responsible for relationships with all of the fan groups, including FAB, Trust, DSA, Lillies and supporter fan groups. JN also has the responsibility to adhere to the Fan Engagement Standard and the Fan Engagement Plan that needs to be delivered to Premier League annually. He also works with the PL Fan Engagement Team and that means seeing the work of the PL in this area and work with equivalents in this role at other clubs and hear what issues are similar/ different approaches clubs apply in this field of work.

On matchdays, JN manages the 'Here to Help' team that are available to fans in and around the stadium. Externally the role needs JN to be as available as possible. Internally it is to keep the club as supporter listening as possible. The role is about navigating those two areas.

Next, NW explained her role as SLO, a role she has held in various guises for nearly 19 years at the club. She, alongside colleague JH, are the first point of call for enquiries sent into supporters. It covers everything from tickets falling in the wrong hands, to food, to away fans, to accessibility. No matter the query, the aim is always to treat the enquiry equally and fairly.

She explained that the role has changed over the years, the emails received have increased significantly due to popularity of the team. This was the reason for the appointment of JH and NB to spread the workload and ensure club could give better responses and more time to the enquiries received.

JC then asked if NW, or others, use data and other tools to judge between heated, topical issues, and one-off problems. NW explained that the issues brought up at Trust meetings are a good gauge of the size of an issue, and looking on social media can be a tool to understand the heat around a topic or conversation. The club do not usually reply or engage on topics on social media, but it can be a source of understanding the feeling around a topic.

TD then asked a question around disability enquiries and having a clear line of understanding for where to direct questions. NW explained that the topic of a query will have an impact on where best to send questions. The ticket office is specifically the place for ticketing questions, whereas NW and NB are both also involved with questions regarding disability matchday experience or similar topics. It was advised to contact NB first with any disability questions ([email protected]) and he will know where to direct any questions.

NB then introduced his work in his newish role as Disabled Access Officer, where he is responsible for all supporter issues specific to those with disabilities – from matchday to tours to hospitality when required. This covers toilets and other similar facilities and means working closely with the Inclusion team, too. Every six weeks NB meets with the DSA and they were referred to as a 'critical friend', someone they need for feedback and ideas alongside other supporters' groups, NB stressed that the age, and lack of space, of the stadium sometimes made solutions to issues difficult to find.

Finally, JH introduced self and role working with NW helping answer enquiries from supporters. JH advised that there were areas that he specifically assisted with. The first was liaising with the men's first team in getting items signed for supporters. JH advised this was an important connection between the players and the supporters. JH mentioned the club are looking at future opportunities to further connect the players and supporters but that there were limitations to this.

JH is also the designated away game Supporter Liaison Officer. This is a role that has come into full effect since the start of the 25/26 season and means JH is visible (usually in black uniform) and is the designated person for fans to seek out should they need support on an away matchday. JH also takes feedback from fans that is fed back to JN to ensure that they are constantly looking for ways to improve the away day match experience. It was noted that now JH is becoming more recognised amongst regular away fans he is enjoying the relationship that it builds between himself and those attending.

JC suggested profiling JH for the Trust newsletter to raise his profile, which was agreed.

HD asked if the Supporter Services team are able to watch much of the game when they are working, as it is a significant commitment, particularly for JH to travel, with the primary reason being to offer support rather than just attend the game. The majority of the team's responsibility takes place pre-match and in dealing with the enquiries post match. During matches, both home and away, the team are reactive to incidents while observing surroundings and provide assistance when required.

JC wanted at this point to say on behalf of the Trust that they have huge appreciation for the whole team and their work to help fans. It was agreed it was tough work as it is not possible to please all fans all the time, and there are other pressures on the Club, however NW noted it is because they have a good team that they do enjoy it!

Conversation moved on and JC asked about the communication between club and fans as this has often been an area where fans have felt the club could do more. It is often felt by the Trust and supporters that the club are reactive rather than proactive and sometimes there are opportunities to improve relations, or lessen the damage of difficult or unpopular news, but the club rarely seem to wish to say more on topics than strictly necessary. JN said that overall, the Supporter team will defer comms to the Comms team (who the Trust met with in a similar session to this one, you can read the notes from that meeting here). An example was suggested by JC on the announcement of the club's accounts. Rather than just announcing the £44m loss this week, the club could aim to explain how the need to reduce this loss links to the strategy on the Pier and other approaches to make the Club financially sustainable.

JN said it was always possible to review comms individually and see where improvements can be made, so he would take this feedback to the comms team.

HD then asked about the set-up of supporter groups at Fulham and if the team could explain how they see this working now, and how they would like it to work in future.

JN said they would ideally like to see even more supporter groups and work is in progress to create a toolkit to make it easier for supporter groups to form should more fans wish to come forward and start their own. He realises that supporter groups may not be the only way to encourage more supporters to engage with the club, for example younger fans may wish to come up with their own less formal ideas, for which he is open to hear and help where possible. Also he has plans to enable these groups to work closer together where this will be possible and where the groups will want to collaborate.

Conversation then moved on to recent comments about away fans in home areas. TD explained that there had been a lot of frustration amongst fans who felt that the club did not take seriously enough the level of anger when away fans are close by to their seats. NW said the focus of club work on this problem is focussed on preventing people from buying the tickets and significant work has been done to prevent the purchase of tickets and the prevention of entry to the stadium on any possible risky sale of tickets. Those who provided tickets to away-fans were tracked down on the basis of information provided by stewards and supporters and often had their season tickets or membership revoked. TD pointed out that it is important also to be aware that all fans should be screened upon entry to the stadium, so obvious signs of away fans (shirts/scarfs etc) are picked up before ticket holders take their seats. With more searches likely next year under Martyn's Law this might prove more possible although entry to the stadium was already not as fast as some fans would like, and a balance had to be struck.

It was noted that emails to the club regarding this issue have decreased this season and further training has been provided to stewards to enable them to act appropriately when there are problems. It was also agreed by JN that there is still further work to do on the issue and around the comms of what the club does to stop people entering the stadium in the wrong areas of the ground. He stressed the importance of intelligence on which seats were involved so purchase could be tracked back.

HD asked about the comms regarding ongoing supporter issues such as catering and facilities, both of which JN explained there is work being done in these areas, including a catering survey in process to get feedback and ideas on where to improve on these issues and a working group to look again at the toilets and water supply in the Hammersmith End, which had been a difficult and ongoing problem. The Trust had a representative on this new Working Group, and outcomes will be fed back when possible and support will be sought to get any news on these topics out to supporters.

TD asked about the disabled toilet in the Hammersmith End and access for it only for eligible supporters. NB explained a Radar key will open the door, which people in need will either already

have, or they will be able to get one from a nearby steward. All access point information is available in the Accessibility part of the website. TD said the system does not seem to have worked properly recently and the Trust will forward separate correspondence on the subject to NB

HD asked about supporter liaison work on matchdays at Craven Cottage for women and academy games. It had been noted by the team that with recent progress and improved attendances there will be further discussion and planning will be required soon.

JC asked about the coverage of games on FFCTV, as it is only ever around 24 hours before a game is played that it is confirmed on television. NW explained this is to encourage live attendance. JN agreed to feedback this lack of notice for further internal discussion.

TD asked about sharing transport news (such as no District line) earlier with supporters so they could plan their trips accordingly, and this was noted by the team.

The meeting closed at 14.25.




https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2026/04/notes-from-the-april-meeting-with-fulham-fc/

Marco Silva picks his preferred destination with Chelsea eyeing Fulham boss
It has been four days since Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior as manager after five Premier League defeats in a row, and plenty have been linked with replacing him – including Marco Silva.

Rosenior received his marching orders after a dismal run of form that saw Chelsea lose five league games in a row for the first time since 1933, and the first time without scoring in a massive 114 years, since 1912.

Since then, it feels like every high-profile manager has been linked with a move to Chelsea. Andoni Iraola, Cesc Fabregas, Eddie Howe and even Antonio Conte have been linked with replacing Rosenior at Chelsea.

Another name supposedly on Chelsea's radar is Fulham boss Marco Silva. Certainly, a move to Stamford Bridge for Silva would save the need to relocate. But the Portuguese gaffer is eyeing another job.

Marco Silva's preferred destination emerges amid Chelsea links
Silva has starred as Fulham manager over the years, and is now widely regarded as one of the Premier League's best managers. But the former Everton and Watford gaffer is expected to leave Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers boss has not signed a new contract and, as it stands, will leave Fulham this summer. It has been claimed that Chelsea want to hire a manager with Premier League experience, and Silva has that.

However, amid the links with Chelsea, transfer expert Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon channel that Silva has his eyes on a different job. The Fulham boss wants to become Real Madrid manager in the summer.

Indeed, Madrid, like Chelsea, currently have an interim manager in place until the summer, in the form of Alvaro Arbeloa, having sacked Xabi Alonso. Talks are underway between Madrid and Silva's agents.

What are the chances of Silva getting the Madrid job?
On the face of it, it feels unlikely that Madrid would plunge to the depths of hiring a mid-table Premier League manager. But beyond that, Silva has done a stunning job at Fulham and deserves a big, new role.

If Silva is befitting of a club like Madrid is another question. But there is no doubt that Silva deserves to join a side in the Champions League. Silva, though, is not Madrid's only option ahead of the summer.

Nixon reports that Madrid are hoping to entice Jurgen Klopp back into management, with the German yet to manage a club since leaving Liverpool. Klopp is currently RedBull's Head of Global Football.

Madrid could also re-appoint Jose Mourinho, with the Chelsea legend going close to an unbeaten season at Benfica. So, Chelsea's chances of Silva could completely hinge on who Madrid appoints this summer.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/marco-silva-picks-his-preferred-destination-with-chelsea-eyeing-fulham-boss/

Player Ratings: Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
Ratings from a home win in the spring sunshine!

A goal! A win! What a lovely day in the sun down by the river.

Based on how results have gone elsewhere, this was a potentially massive three points for Fulham, but it was just so nice to actually enjoy a game of football again. For ages now we've been trying to answer the question - when was the last time we played well? It's great that we now have a new reference point for a good performance.

I thought the points were thoroughly deserved and if it wasn't for a pathetic refereeing decision as well as some continued profligacy in front of goal, it could have been a lot more comfortable.

It's amazing that you could tell from about 90 seconds into this game that a different Fulham had turned up. There was an intensity and drive that we've been severely lacking for weeks and it certainly caught Villa off guard.

It wasn't a perfect by any means, but it was a much needed improvement, and I for one shall be basking in the glory of the points and the sun for the rest of the weekend.

Once again, for these Player Ratings, we're also giving you the scores voted by Fulham Fanalyists on the excellent Fanalysis app.

Download the Fanalysis app for free here: https://onelink.to/hjvnj8

Bernd Leno

He had to deal with just the one shot on target, after 11 minutes, so a fairly uneventful game for Bernd. Where he impressed me, once again, was from crosses and corners. It's the weakest part of his game, but for two weeks running I've seen a marked improvement in his confidence and authority when punching or catching balls into the box.

It helps alleviate pressure and makes such a difference when defending the box, which we had to do for extended periods of time.

Fulhamish Rating: 7/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 79/100

Timothy Castagne

Off the top of my head, that's his best performance of the season. I thought he was solid and did his job against Bees, but he was actively good today. Contributed well going forward, with his driving run and excellent cross leading to the goal.

Defensively he was supported by Wilson and it felt like they kept both Buendia and Rogers quiet down that channel.

Should have topped off the performance with a goal, which probably would have earned him man of the match, but Michael Oliver decided he'd seen a violent assault on Emi Martinez, so robbed Timo of a lovely moment.

Fulhamish Rating: 8/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 78/100

Joachim Andersen

For the second week in a row, the praise Joachim Andersen has got from reporters and commentators hasn't quite matched up with what I saw on the pitch.

The positives are that he led us to a win, bagging back-to-back clean sheets in the process. His distribution was strong and the numbers suggest that did a brilliant job of stopping Aston Villa's attack, with heaps of tackles, clearances, and interceptions.

However, I thought Ollie Watkins gave him the run around at times, not for the first time, and Joa really struggled to deal with his pace and strength, perfectly displayed when the England striker flashed one wide after a tussle with our skipper.

A really poor piece of defending on the edge of our box also saw him get skinned by Tammy Abrahams and his blushes were spared only because of a dreadful finish from the forward.

It wasn't terrible, there was plenty of good, but there was a point in the first half where Issa Diop chants were started after Watkins wriggled free once more, which I think is telling

Fulhamish Rating: 6.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 81/100

Calvin Bassey

A solid performance from Calvin who has recaptured some form and cemented his place in this side ahead of Cuenca.

There were a couple of moments where he dallied on the ball and played us into danger. Outside of that, his pace and strength were a real asset and Villa seemed to have very little joy down his flank

Fulhamish Rating: 7/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 75/100

Ryan Sessegnon

Here's to you Ryan Sessegnon, Fulham loves you more than you will know.

A delightful performance in the week where his contract was extended and a nice reminder of how far he's come. To think how much time we spent telling anyone who'd listen that he's not a left-back, to suddenly being our best player in that position is a wonderful development.

I love the underlapping runs he makes, it adds a potency to our attack, with the opposition seemingly never sure who should be picking him up. The goal itself is vintage Sess, sniffing out where the ball might land, arriving at the perfect time, and a classic sweeping finish to ultimately win us the game

It was also a relief to finally see John McGinn not have an impact against us, for which Ryan deserves a lot of praise.

Fulhamish Rating: 8.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 86/100

Sasa Lukic

I don't think any of us really appreciated just how much we missed Sasa, I certainly didn't anyway. This was an awesome performance that felt like it was the key difference between the two teams.

He was given the freedom to try and impact the game across the full length of the pitch and he did it brilliantly. He was tenacious in midfield, as he always is, but that tenacity included pressing right up high, not just in front of the back four.

With the ball he drove us forward, picked up dangerous pockets around the box, including a decent chance early on, where he burst through the middle but was only able to produce a tame shot.

His run for the goal is a great example of his impact all over the game; being that extra man in the box meant he arrived unmarked, forcing a decent save from Martinez before Ryan buried the follow-up.

A stellar performance from the Serb.

Fulhamish Rating: 8.5/10 - Man of the Match
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 76/100

Sander Berge

It's funny. We, myself definitely included, spent months complaining about how vanilla a midfield pairing of Berge and Lukic was and that it was holding us back. I'm trying hard not to be revisionist, but maybe we took for granted the balance they provide to this team.

I thought Sander did a great job alongside his teammate. He's got to a point now at Fulham where it's going to be really hard to change the opinions of a lot of the fans, but he showed today the value he can bring. Part of the problem is that he isn't all action, he's not big challenges, cross field passes and long range rockets.

He's more reserved, a controller, who at his best is smooth. That's what I thought he was today. Nothing spectacular but he kept things ticking and provided good defensive protection, exactly what we needed.

Fulhamish Rating: 7/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 71/100

Harry Wilson

A quiet game, with my biggest Wilson memory being the Villa fans chanting about how he'd be playing for them next season. However, his diligence to help Castagne keep control of the marauding Digne deserves commendation.

There was one glaring error from H when he selfishly shot, feebly, instead of sliding Raul through on goal, but I guess when you're having the season he's having, those shots have tended to go in.

His best contribution was probably the foul he won in the last minute of added time which lifted all of the pressure and helped us see out the final few seconds.

Fulhamish Rating: 6/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 69/100

Samu Chukwueze

Flashes of the Samu of a few months ago but also moments where he just looks like he doesn't have the confidence to take defenders on anymore. One moment really stood out, where he was isolated one-on-one with Matty Cash and with the crowd urging him forward he got his feet muddled and accidentally gave the ball straight to the Villa right-back.

The benefit of having a left footer out there was that he was able to create space for Sess to drift inside and I thought they did link up nicely.

Fulhamish Rating: 6.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 71/100

Emile Smith Rowe

The most energetic I've ever seen Emile. Right from the off he was hassling the Villa centre-backs, hunting them down and helping turn possession over. It was great to see.

He felt more adventurous in possession as a result and will be really disappointed with his dreadful cutback to Raul early on, which should have seen us take the lead, although it was a tight offside call anyway.

Unsurprisingly, given his intensity, he tired as the game went on, but he didn't stop pressing even when you could tell he was running out of juice.

Fulhamish Rating: 7/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 71/100

Raul Jimenez

We play better with Raul up top. The sample size feels too big for this to be a coincidence now. The experience that he has makes such a difference in how he holds the ball up, the runs he makes and how he helps link everything up.

I'd have backed him to bury the chance had Wilson passed him the ball and I think he was dragged off far too early by Marco as he definitely had more to contribute in this game.

Fulhamish Rating: 7/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 75/100

Subs and manager
Rodrigo Muniz

A cameo, that when paired with his recent performances from the start of games, has concerned me slightly.

Usually when Roddy comes off the bench, it's like he's a toy car who has been wound up and released onto the pitch. He's so often this big ball of energy that charges around and unsettles the opposition. It didn't feel like that today. He looked far more reserved and whilst he won a few headers, he's regressed a bit as a result of that injury.

Fulhamish Rating: 5.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 65/100

Josh King

Another substitute appearance for Josh where Fulham had very little possession while he was on the pitch, so there wasn't much he could do to impact the game. Provided fresh legs and helped retain our press though, so did the best he could.

Fulhamish Rating: 6/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 68/100

Oscar Bobb

He gets 10/10 for nutmegging Matty Cash, I loved it.

He's clearly such a technically gifted footballer and he's just struggling a tad with his decision making and execution. A tame shot when he should have cut it back to Lukic and a poor cut back when he should have just shot were good examples of this.

Despite that, I thought it was a lively little cameo that was a nice reminder to people that this guy can play and he will eventually prove to be a very good signing.

Fulhamish Rating: 6.5/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 68/100

Antonee Robinson came on too late to fairly judge. Although, there was some good defending in there, showing promising signs, and definitely helped us see out the result.

Marco Silva

He finally managed to generate a reaction from this squad and get us all a little bit excited again. The most telling thing for me was his reaction after the game.

Firstly, the passion he showed in front of the Hammersmith End. The standard applause followed by a couple of big fist bumps and a rallying cry to the faithful; it felt like a release of some pent up emotions.

Secondly, his comments to the press where he totally refuted that this team were on the beach and that we are going to be fighting right to the very end.

Regardless of whether he's staying or going, he's such a competitive perfectionist, who also cares deeply about the club, that he is desperate to win every game and end this season on a high.

He picked the right side, got us playing with the requisite intensity, and other than the Muniz sub, made the right changes to help us get over the line. Overall, a good day out for our gaffer.

Fulhamish Rating: 8/10
Fulham fans on Fanalysis: 84/100



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/player-ratings-fulham-1-0-aston-villa

Legend of the Match Result: Aston Villa
Ryan Sessegnon has claimed the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Match accolade after his decisive display against Aston Villa.

The use of our full-backs in attacking areas was a key tactic in our 1-0 victory over Champions League-chasing Villa, with the winning goal a prime example.

After a beautiful Timothy Castagne delivery picked out the head of Saša Lukić and his effort was parried by Emi Martinez, Sessegnon was on hand nice and high up the pitch to slam home the rebound with the composure we've seen time and again from our Academy graduate over the years.


He also played his part in a resolute defensive performance that limited our opponents to just one shot on target during the 90.

"What another great game from him," Marco Silva said afterwards. "As a player, he can give me many different things – he's so versatile, he's a good football player.

"Improved a lot in his defensive process – that was important for him. And I'm very pleased. Of course, nice to see him to score the winner after we renewed the contract."

Sess was the overwhelming winner of Legend of the Match with 45.2 per cent of the vote, putting him ahead of Lukić (18.9%), Castagne (10.7%) and Joachim Andersen (10.5%).



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/26/legend-of-the-match-result-aston-villa/

"A good investment" – Fulham star reveals behind the scenes change to aid career
Fulham defender Issa Diop has lifted the lid on the off-pitch decision he believes his extending his Premier League career, hiring a private chef.

The 29-year-old, who first arrive in England with West Ham in 2018, has been speaking to L'Equipe about his hire behind the scenes that's become essential to his fitness, recovery and longevity at the top level.

Since his early days in London, Diop has relied on a French chef to manage his nutrition, shopping and meal preparation. Now he considers it non-negotiable.

"I made this decision when I arrived at West Ham from Toulouse in 2018. I've already had three chefs, including Ibrahim Mbaye, who has been with me since I signed for Fulham (August 2022)," he explained.

"He works Monday to Friday, mainly preparing dinners. He does my grocery shopping. We agree on the schedule at the beginning of the week.

"Initially, it was mainly so he could learn my preferences. He cooks dinner for me at a set time, around 8 p.m. He also prepares meals for my wife and sometimes my children."

Fresh food, tailored nutrition and Fulham collaboration
The Fulham defender only has one real demand for his personal chef. He wants quality at all times. That means working with Fulham's nutritionist behind the scenes.

"I want fresh produce. Having a personal chef avoids junk food. Organic doesn't always mean much either," he added.

"He knows. He seeks out quality with a wide variety of organic products. When you're in London, you can find everything. He also collaborates with the club's nutritionist. They discuss training sessions, sometimes including intense workouts to increase carbohydrate intake.

"He also adapts my diet based on my blood tests, providing iron, such as lentil-based diets, or vitamins C and D."

Eight years of consistency and no regrets
While he won't make any extravagant claims about it improving him, Issa Diop is certain that the decision has not hindered him. And that means he considers the expense as a good investment.

"I don't know if I feel better, but certainly not worse! I've had a personal chef for almost eight years now," he admitted.

"I started when I was young to protect myself from injuries, have comfort, regular mealtimes, and no worries about shopping or preparation. It saves me time, allowing me to prioritize my recovery. I've always maintained my ideal weight and body fat percentage while still enjoying myself.

"It's an expense. I pay for it myself. But it's a good investment in myself. I prefer a good diet, beneficial to my health, to buying a bigger car! I'm 29. If it allows me to win three or four good seasons, it will be money to earn in the end. My body is my tool. My chef is like a personal trainer or buying recovery equipment for home."

A growing Premier League trend
The Fulham defender is also willing to admit that, as we all might suspect, personal chefs are common in the Premier League. In fact, 60% of the Fulham squad have gone down the same path.

"I think at Fulham, 60% of the players have a private chef. It's very common among single and young players. This practice is becoming more widespread," he concluded.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/a-good-investment-fulham-star-reveals-behind-the-scenes-change-to-aid-career/

Aston Villa initiate move to sign Harry Wilson
Aston Villa have reportedly initiated their move to sign Harry Wilson in a Bosman move as his Fulham contract winds down.

Harry Wilson is set to attract significant interest in the summer transfer market as his Fulham contract approaches expiration. The Welsh winger, 29, has demonstrated exceptional form this season, prompting Aston Villa to open preliminary discussions. According to Football Insider, Villa have begun exploratory talks to position themselves ahead of rival clubs in the race for the available attacker.

Fulham are pushing towards European qualification following their stellar 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend. While the West London outfit maintain strong form and European ambitions, there is an increasing likelihood that key attacker Harry Wilson will depart. Wilson's four-year contract, signed when he joined from Liverpool in a £12 million deal in 2021, expires at the end of the 2025/26 season.

This season has been Wilson's strongest at Fulham. The attacker has recorded 10 goals and 6 assists across 32 Premier League appearances, averaging a goal contribution every 2.1 games. Fulham have made considerable efforts to retain the Welshman, including multiple contract renewal offers tabled recently. However, Wilson appears increasingly inclined to explore fresh opportunities elsewhere.

Multiple Premier League clubs have already registered interest. Leeds United are expected to mount an active pursuit, while Tottenham have also expressed keen interest, though their recruitment plans remain contingent on maintaining top-flight status. Everton are similarly positioned as contenders.

Aston Villa represent a compelling alternative for Wilson. Under Unai Emery, Villa are competing for Champions League qualification and can offer European football immediately. A Bosman signing would provide significant financial flexibility, allowing Emery to strengthen other positions while navigating Profit & Sustainability Rules. Wilson could function as a direct replacement for Leon Bailey, addressing Villa's attacking depth.

Can Aston Villa win the Harry Wilson race?
Aston Villa's Champions League prospects provide substantial appeal to Wilson. The club's trajectory under Emery, combined with resources allocated to squad building, positions them competitively against other suitors. A free transfer of this quality represents exceptional value for a club managing PSR constraints.

However, Wilson's final decision may hinge on factors beyond club ambition. His commitment to Fulham has been partially influenced by uncertainty surrounding manager Marco Silva's future. The Cottagers express optimism regarding a managerial renewal. Should Silva commit to fresh terms and Fulham secure European qualification, Wilson could reconsider his exit, potentially valuing stability and European competition at existing club over the prospect of a new challenge.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/04/26/aston-villa-initiate-move-to-sign-harry-wilson/