Saturday Fulham Stuff (05.03.2011)

[White Noise]

http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/news/Fulham-welcome-Blackburn-~-Match-Preview.aspx


Fulham welcome Blackburn ~ Match Preview

last updated Friday 04th March 2011, 1:30 PM


Fulham boss Mark Hughes made a point on his return to Manchester City last weekend, but the aborted handshake with successor Roberto Mancini shows the manner of his departure still rankles with the Welshman.

Relations with Blackburn, another of his former clubs, should be more cordial, although Hughes did criticise Rovers' surprise decision to axe manager Sam Allardyce earlier this season. The way in which Steve Kean was quickly installed at Ewood Park by the club's ruthless new owners certainly had some parallels with Hughes' sacking at Eastlands.

Kean said in December that a top-five finish was a possibility for Blackburn if they avoided injuries, but with the club's Indian backers providing little support in the transfer window, survival is now the focus for Rovers, who have lost three of their last four. Kean, who spent four years as Chris Coleman's assistant at Fulham, believes his side are 10 points shy of the 42 needed to guarantee safety.

Like Rovers, Fulham begin the weekend four points above the relegation zone, but the Londoners' recent form has seen them pull away from trouble - they have lost only once since New Year's Day.

Mark Clattenburg will take charge of the game at Craven Cottage after escaping censure for his display at Wigan last weekend, when many observers felt he should have shown Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney a red card.


•Blackburn's 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage last season is their only loss in their last nine games against Fulham (W4, D4).



•Fulham have lost only one of their last eight league games, although they have drawn the last three.



•Clint Dempsey has scored four goals in his last four games against Blackburn.



•Since leaving Ewood Park, Mark Hughes has taken charge of four games against Rovers, winning two and drawing two.



•Opta stats show Fulham have converted just 10% of shots into goals this season - the lowest figure in the Premier League.



•Rovers have won three of 11 league games under Steve Kean (W3, D2, L6).



•They have lost their last four away games, leaking 13 goals in the process.



•Rovers have conceded 35 goals away from home this season, the highest figure in the top flight.



•They have not kept a clean sheet in an away league game since beating Aston Villa 1-0 on the final day of last season, a run of 14 matches.



•Fulham - Leading goalscorers
Dempsey: 10 goals (9 league); Kamara: 5 goals (2 league)



•Blackburn - Leading goalscorers
Kalinic: 6 goals (5 league); Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league)



•Referee:Mark Clattenburg

[White Noise]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04032011/58/premier-league-matchpack-fulham-v-blackburn.html

Premier League - Matchpack: Fulham v Blackburn

Fri, 04 Mar 14:34:00 2011


Fulham to follow...

Former Barcelona B striker Ruben Rochina is named in the Blackburn squad for the first time.

Rochina's arrival in the group is a timely boost for manager Steve Kean as Roque Santa Cruz is doubtful because of a back problem.

Christopher Samba returns after a virus while Junior Hoilett is expected to recover from a hamstring strain. But Ryan Nelsen (suspension) and David Dunn (hip injury) are both ruled out.

MATCH FACTS

Clint Dempsey has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Blackburn.

Chris Samba has scored in the last two matches for Rovers against Fulham.

Fulham have won just one of the last nine Premier League games against Blackburn.

The Whites have kept just one shut out in their last 14 Premier League matches against Rovers.

Mark Hughes is unbeaten against his former club as a manager (two wins, two draws).

Fulham have kept four clean sheets in a row on home soil in the Premier League.

Blackburn have gone 14 Premier League away matches without keeping a clean sheet.

Rovers have lost six of their last seven Premier League away games.

Fulham have scored with just 10% of their shots this season, a lower conversion rate than any other team in the top flight.

Fulham are the only team in the top flight who have not picked up a red card this season.

ODDS

Fulham 4/6, Draw 13/5, Blackburn 9/2

PA Sport / Opta .

[White Noise]

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Tickets/Documents/Blackburn11/catering-voucher-A4.pdf

[White Noise]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburnrovers/news/8891238.Fulham_v_Blackburn_Rovers_preview__Kean_won_t_be_handing_out_gifts/?ref=rss

Fulham v Blackburn Rovers preview: Kean won't be handing out gifts

8:20am Saturday 5th March 2011

Comments(6)  By Andy Cryer »


STEVE Kean knows all about Mohamed Al-Fayed's generosity but will be hoping the Fulham owner is left showing opposite number Mark Hughes and co his more intimidating side at the weekend.

Blackburn Rovers travel to Craven Cottage today desperate for a win to end a five-match winless run that has plunged them into a possible relegation fight, with Kean knowing there is no room for sentiment at one of his old stomping grounds.

It was at Fulham earlier this century that he was given his big coaching break, being appointed Chris Coleman's assistant manager in 2003 after working for the club's academy, and staying in that role for four years.

The Scot went on to be Coleman's assistant at Real Sociedad and Coventry before working his way to becoming Rovers' man man, via the first team coach role at Ewood, as he faces up to his biggest career challenge to date.

The 43-year-old insists he will always be grateful for his Fulham opportunity, and to the former Harrods store owner especially, and believes that experience will always stand him in good stead.

"I had a great time at Fulham," said Kean. "He was a fantastic man to work for. Mr Al-Fayed was a very colourful character and I always got on well with the fans and the directors.

"We got sent a hamper from Mr Al-Fayed regularly. If we got a good result there was always a hamper and the better the result the bigger the hamper.

"He was a very generous man. He didn't come down to the training ground too much, we would get called up to Harrods for a board meeting. If there had been a couple of good results you would be in the big board room if not you would be in the cupboards.

"Then he would be sitting in the big chair, you in the small chair and he was looking down on you.

"When you have got someone who is so involved and so animated it can only be good. He would always say 'when I phone you answer, but you never phone me'.

"It helps me now. Our owners also want to be involved. They want information all the time and I always had that with Fulham. Myself and Chris Coleman would have good chats with the chairman."

Kean's Fulham experience saw him help the likes of Sean Davis and Zat Knight through the youth ranks to become established Premier League players.

He also believes the Cottagers played their part in helping players like Huddersfield boss Lee Clark into a future coaching role and now sees a similar pattern emerging at Ewood Park.

Kean said: "They did give me my big chance, the way Jean Tigana wanted to work taught me things for the future. He was in charge of the first team and everything under that he wanted to be the academy, from the reserve team to the under nines.

"He gave us good scope to develop the academy and there were a lot of players who came through the academy, Sean Davis, Zat Knight. There were also ones who didn't play so much for the first team but were sold on like Mark Hudson.

"It showed me the importance of developing young players but it also showed you can develop senior players. I had a good understanding with guys like Lee Clark, Chris Coleman, Edwin van der Sar, Louis Saha, Steed Malbranque, Karl-Heinz Reidle, Bjarne Goldbaek.

"We had a lot of good players and we tried get them involved in coaching, to put them through their paces, to give them their first grade of coaching and a lot have gone on to progress to be involved in the game.

"We are doing the same at Blackburn with the likes of David Dunn, Vince Grella, Paul Robinson, Keith Andrews. They are all starting to take a note of the sessions and putting them in their book and hopefully they can go on to get their coaching certificate."

While Kean is more than happy with the club's plans for the future, he knows the immediate focus has to be on the now and lifting Rovers out of their current slump.

Rovers have conceded 11 goals in their last three away games and, with four more goals let in on in their travels than any other Premier League rival, Kean knows the rot has to stop.

"We have had a really good week," said Kean. "We brought them off on their day off to address what happened against Aston Villa. The main thing we addressed was when the ball changes hands. We have to make sure we are anticipating rather than reacting.

"What happens with us is after we concede a goal we go and try and get a goal back within a couple of minutes. We become too expansive. We have to stay in the game.

"If anyone saw the West Brom and Stoke game, they conceded but they stayed in the game.

"If we go a goal down don't go and push both full backs on in response and put two midfielders in the box at the same time and leaving the centre backs exposed."

Kean will just be hoping he is the one receiving a hamper from his bosses on Monday.