Sunday Fulham Stuff (30/10/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Home Run

After firing Fulham to victory at the DW Stadium, Clint Dempsey had cause for double celebration after equaling Brian McBride's record of most goals scored by a US player in the Barclays Premier League.

Dempsey has now scored 36 League goals, but Fulham's away win in Wigan was clearly what pleased the American most on Saturday evening.

"I'm happy we got the points today and I'm sure people back home in the States like to see me doing well," said Dempsey.

"The good thing is that after losing at home against Everton we've bounced back with a win away today. Now hopefully we can push on.

"The funny thing is we've played some good football in the last few weeks and not got the results, whereas today we may not have played our best but we got the points. It's crazy how it works sometimes.

"Hopefully we can take some confidence from grinding out a result today and keeping a clean sheet. Now we've got to push. on."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/October/DempseyRecordBreaker.aspx?#ixzz1cFSbfaVq

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Wigan v Fulham reaction
Martin Jol revealed his empathy for Roberto Martinez and his struggling Wigan side after Fulham claimed a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium.


Jol: Sympathy for opposite number

It was an eighth successive defeat for the Latics, who sit bottom of the Premier League table having failed to collect a single point in September or October.

Fulham were also on a run of three straight losses and without an away win this season, but they put that right thanks to goals late in each half from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele.

Jol has bemoaned his side's failure to take their chances in recent games, particularly last week against Everton when Bobby Zamora missed an open goal in the 89th minute with the scores level only for the Toffees to snatch the win.

"It was totally different from the other games this season," said Jol.

"Everybody felt we were in the wrong position (in the table), and Wigan have probably learned the same lesson that we have learned, that if you don't score then you don't get the points.

"It was the same situation we had last week. They could have scored, then on the break we scored our goal. In the 89th minute we could have scored a winner twice, then Everton scored.

"That was an awful feeling and Wigan probably have the same feeling today."

After a slow start to the game, Wigan gradually began to take control, and they twice came close just before the half-hour mark, first when Ben Watson's shot was tipped over the bar by Mark Schwarzer before Gary Caldwell headed the resulting corner over when he really should have scored.

Wigan paid for that miss in the 41st minute when Dempsey put Fulham ahead, finishing off a quick break involving Danny Murphy and Zamora.

Victor Moses had another effort that just drifted past the post before the break, and nine minutes after it the midfielder really deserved better when he let fly with a stunning 25-yard volley that had Schwarzer beaten but came back off the angle of post and bar.

Zamora then hit the bar for Fulham but Wigan continued to press, and Maynor Figueroa's swerving shot bounced off a post before Dembele made sure of the points in the 85th minute with a low shot after the home defence had backed off.

It was a familiar story for Wigan boss Martinez, who knows he will need all his players to redouble their efforts if they are to put an end to their miserable run soon.

The Spaniard said: "I was delighted with the performance but it was a day when the result was very, very important because of the run of negative results that we've had.

"I felt we stopped Fulham from showing any sort of creativity, and they've got really creative players.

"You look at all the stats after the game and, from restricting Fulham to one corner, to maybe four shots, to lose 2-0 with the amount we created in the last third is disappointing.

"From a tactical and technical point of view, it will be difficult to explain the result, but I think it's quite clear emotionally and at the moment we're in, we don't have any momentum and we're getting heavily punished.

"It's not a moment to feel sorry for yourself or blame other people, it's a moment for everybody to improve individually an extra 5% and make sure we get the first win as soon as we can.

"With the effort they put in, the players don't deserve to be on this run of defeats."

Martinez, meanwhile, was upset with referee Mike Jones after Mohamed Diame suffered a potentially serious ankle injury when he was twice the victim of heavy early challenges from Zdenek Grygera, who was booked, and Steve Sidwell.

"He had a really tough 30 seconds with two shocking challenges," said Martinez.

"He was fortunate in the first one and it was unfortunate Mike Jones did not protect him after that shocking challenge.

"It's a twisted ankle. We'll do the scan tomorrow and see if it's a ligament tear, but if it is it's going to be a really long period."



http://www.football365.com/premier-league/7276092/Wigan-v-Fulham-reaction?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham stage smash and grab raid at the D.W. Stadium

Fulham took all three points from this relegation battle six pointer, a result which all but the most one eyed Cottager will agree that they didn't deserve as Wigan peppered toe Fulham goal without success and Fulham scored two goals from three attempts, both due to Wigan mistakes.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez opted to keep faith with the side that performed so well against Newcastle last week with Di Santo being restored to the bench but McCarthy failing a late fitness test.

Wigan started the brighter, indeed Fulham's only effort of note in the first forty minutes was a powerful header which Al Habsi saved comfortably, from Wigan's own right back Emerson Boyce !

Wigan looked a far more balanced team than of late with Figueroa and Boyce pushing forward in support of the attacking wing play of Crusat and Moses respectively and Jones providing an attackingmidfield foil for the more defensive attributes of Watson.

Fulham set there stall out very early on when an over physical challenge by Grygera on Diame within the first two minutes earned the defender a yellow card. Within twelve minutes Diame was forced to limp off being replaced by Wigan's very own Scots terrier James McArthur. Any fears that this enforced substitution would disrupt Wigan's pattern of play were laid to rest as McArthur's neat simple and most of all quick passing facilitated some of Wigan's best moves.

Latics failure to score goals would once again come back to haunt them as Jones twice narrowly missed the goal. Boyce showed his worth and never say die commitment when he broke down the right, recovered the ball when all seemed lost and fired over a cross which Rodallega just failed to connectwith.

There has been speculation this week as to when Wigan last scored from a corner and today they came oh so close. Jones took a corner and Caldwell rose unmarked and headed past the goal when it seemed easier to score.

Watson had a shot which Schwarzer saved well and then a spectacular scissors kick from Rodallega went over the bar and it seemed only a matter of time beforeWigan scored.

Thankfully I didn't bet my mortgage on it. A long punt up field towards the left wing from Murphy following a Wigan attack saw Zamora beat the offside trap with Caldwell playing him onside. Zamora left the struggling Wigan defence for dead and passed inside for Dempsey and the United States forward was left with an easy tap in.

Half time arrived and the Wigan players trooped off the pitch wondering what they had to do to score.

The second half started much the same as the first with Wigan pouring forward in search of an equaliser and Fulham seemingly hell bent on time wasting as much as possible. They were helped in this by referee Mr Jones whose ignorance of the advantage rule was an embarrassment as on three occasions he pulled a Wigan move back to award the home side a free kick thereby costingWigan the momentum.

Even so Wigan had their chances Rodallega forcing a good save from Schwarzer and Moses and Figueroa hitting the woodwork from close and long range respectively.

Wigan opted to remove Crusat from the fray, introducing Di Santo up front and Rodallega moving onto the left wing. This seemed to loser Wigan the momentum and gave the ponderous
Fulham side time to break down the Wigan attacks, looking to catch the home side on the break which they almost did on two occasions beating the offside trap, exposing Caldwell
again.

Wigan still had the better of the chances, Moses broke down the right and a shot from near the dead ball line skimmed off the bar and a wonder shot from well outside the area left Schwarzer
for dead but hit the far post and came back out.

Wigan kept pushing forward in search of the equaliser and as so often happens the side desperately defending sealed the deal. Wigan tried one to intricate passes to many in
midfield, Figueroa was robbed in midfield by Sidwell. Wigan's defence stood off him allowing him to put the ball through to Dembele who made no mistake firing the ball home.

Latics huffed and puffed but couldn't find a goal and the final whistle saw several players sink to the floor dejected. No one could fault the commitment and effort of the Wigan team today but the statistics of failing to score in five of the ten league games this season ,scoring only six
goals in the process and conceding in nine of the ten games this season so far means
that  Wigan's chances of staying in the Premier League for an eight successive season seem slim indeed.



Team

Al Habsi....7 had little to do except pick the ball out of the net.

Boyce.......7 never say die attitude an inspiration

Caldwell...5 caught out playing Fulham players onside, too slow

Alcaraz.....6 Steady

Figueroa...6 Fantastic shot but caught out of position too often

Moses...7.5 Attacked well, sometimes chose the wrong pass

Diame......5 Wasn't on the pitch long enough to make an impression

Watson....6 Steady

Jones.......7 Played well.

Crusat......7 can consider himself unlucky to be substituted.

Rodallega..7 wastes too many good chances.

Subs used

McArthur...8 excellent performance in defence and attack

Stam.........6 put a fantastic cross over in second half but as so often no one there.

Di Santo.....5 did very little



Att...... 15,796



Man of the Match....James McArthur



http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/2011/10/29/fulham-stage-smash-and-grab-raid-at-the-d-w-stadium/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol praises Fulham defence

Fulham manager Martin Jol says a sound defensive display was the foundation to their 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Wigan.

Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele both scored to earn Fulham a win which moves them to 15th in the table and leaves Wigan rooted at the bottom.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15509082.stm?

[WhiteJC]

 
Dempsey delighted to bring home the points
by DAN on OCTOBER 29, 2011

Clint Dempsey was delighted to be able to help Fulham to a much-needed victory over Wigan Athletic this afternoon.

Fulham were on the back foot for much of the encounter, but Dempsey's opening goal just before the break gave them the cushion of a lead to cling to. The midfielder's close range strike drew him level with legendary former Fulham striker Brian McBride on 36 Premier League goals – the joint-highest for an American – although Dempsey felt the three points were far more important.

I'm happy we got the points today and I'm sure people back home in the States like to see me doing well.

The good thing is that after losing at home against Everton we've bounced back with a win away today. Now hopefully we can push on.

The funny thing is we've played some good football in the last few weeks and not got the results, whereas today we may not have played our best but we got the points. It's crazy how it works sometimes.

Hopefully we can take some confidence from grinding out a result today and keeping a clean sheet. Now we've got to push on.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/10/dempsey-delighted-to-bring-home-the-points/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham manager Martin Jol praises clinical finishing in his side's 2-0 win at Wigan
The Dutchman reiterated how important it is to take your chances, as his side displayed lethal finishing just a week after their lack of composure cost them against Everton



Fulham manager Martin Jol praised his side's clinical finishing against Wigan, claiming they had learnt from their defeat to Everton last weekend.

The Dutchman was speaking after watching his side pick up their first away win of the season, winning 2-0 at the DW Stadium.

The Cottagers went down at home to the Toffees last weekend thanks in part to some woeful form in front of goal, not least Bobby Zamora's open goal miss.

But Jol's side won in Lancashire thanks to goals from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele, and he highlighted the importance of goals, claiming Wigan may have the same problems as Fulham.

He told reporters: "Today we had a cushion with the goal in the first half and that's what you need, you have to score goals. That is probably the Wigan story as well."

Having seen Zamora blaze over from 12 yards in the 90th minute against Everton last week, then for Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell to nick all three points just seconds later, the Dutchman sympathised with his counterparts at the DW Stadium, claiming Fulham's win today was very similar.

He continued: "[Wigan] probably learnt the same lesson as we have learnt - that if you don't score you don't get the points.

"I can remember situations the same as last week, they could have scored, on the break we scored our goals. Last week it was the same, we could have scored the winner twice and Everton scored, it was an awful feeling and I feel that Wigan will have the same feeling today."

The Dutchman added: "It was a bit late [the first away win], everyone was waiting for a win because you know that if your home record is great of course you don't have to win all your away games but we played [well] against Wolves and Newcastle and I felt we were a bit unfortunate."



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/10/29/2733921/fulham-manager-martin-jol-praises-clinical-finishing-in-his?

[WhiteJC]

 
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Fulham

This is the most painful post that I have ever had to write in the history of Pie Eaters Footie. Performances don't make points, that is something every football fan the world over knows. You can play badly and still win games, that is what the best teams will always do. Yet this Wigan Athletic side can't play well and win. It really doesn't add up.

Going into the game I was optimistic about our chances. I think many of the fans were, a great game against Newcastle where we could have taken something from the game. Going into play a Fulham side who were also struggling. It should have been set up for a Wigan win.



Straight from the off, we looked the better side, as our style of play was something Fulham were unable to cope. David Jones playing a starring role in the centre of our midfield, the former United man looks like he has been part of the side for years. He nearly even bagged a goal early on, his shot clenched to by Schwarzer in the Fulham goal.

It set the tone for the majority of the first half. Fulham only getting two chances inside the first 40 minutes both dealt well with by Ali Al Habsi. Wigan however came close through Ben Waston who saw a great strike, tipped over the bar by the keeper.

The resulting corner saw Gary Caldwell with a free header in the middle. All the scot could do was put it over the bar.

Pressure building and Victor Moses was flying down the right hand side, twice coming close. Firstly nearly beating the keeper at the front post, and then nearly tapping in a long range effort from Waston.

It all looked like it was going to be Wigan's day.

Yet after a flurry of Wigan pressure, with only four minutes to go till half, Fulham broke. Danny Murphy's sweeping pass found Bobby Zamora in space on the right hand side. Cries of off-side went out around the stadium, at the time I agreed, but Zamora squared the ball to Dempsey. The American was lucky as Ali so nearly pushed the shot over the bar, instead it hit the roof of the Wigan goal.

It felt like it was all going to happen again. Yet a second half rally, could we pull it back.

Moses got into the game more, opening Fulham up again and again, like he has done for much of our season, yet his finishing is till not there. Hugo Rodallega nearly flicked a Crusat cross into the back of the goal, and seconds later, saw Moses smash a ball against the inside of the post. Only to see it spin back out again.

Heads were dropping and our game went flat, Fulham started to see more of the ball and the game looked to be slipping away from us. Eventually it did, with only four minutes to go of normal time, Dembele peeled past Gary Caldwell and slipped the ball past Ali Al Habis. 2-0 and game over for Latics, seven straight defeats in the league now.

Its getting painful to watch now. When you dominate matches like we have done for the past three games, create chances look to be able to win the game. And then the team falls flat on its face. I really don't know who to blame.

You can't say its the keepers fault, Ali has really kept us in matches at times, so far this seasons. The defence is particular our weak point, especially last two games as errors haven't come from the defence. The midfield was strong, hopefully that James McArthur will start next weak after a great performances when he came on. David Jones controlled all our forwards play and had a good game, blending in well with Watson and McArthur.

That leaves our forwards. I felt that they all played well, there wasn't a weak member. Crusat looked good when he got on the ball, although that was rarely. Victor Moses yet again stared as he ripped the opposition defence apart, although his finish is still missing. And Rodallega really did well holding the ball up, making runs and getting his shots away. It is really scratch your head time.

What can the coaching staff do? I don't know, but that is why I'm not a manger of a football club. All I know is, that we the fans have to get behind the lads and push them on. The signs are there, that we can compete, and win matches. Its just when will we.



http://www.pieeatersfootie.com/2011/10/29/2523133/wigan-athletic-0-2-fulham?

[WhiteJC]

 
Pure Talent

Martin Jol was delighted for Mousa Dembele on Saturday evening after the Belgium international repaid his faith by scoring Fulham's crucial second goal against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Jol handed Dembele the freedom of the DW Stadium on Saturday with an advanced midfield position and Fulham's manager was richly rewarded as his team secured a valuable away win.

"We deserved to win because over the season we should have picked up four or five more points," said Jol after the game.

"Everybody felt we were in the wrong position (in the table), and Wigan have probably learned the same lesson that we have learned, that if you don't score then you don't get the points.

"It was the same situation we had last week. They could have scored, then on the break we scored our goal. In the 89th minute last week we could have scored a winner twice, then Everton scored. That was an awful feeling and Wigan probably have the same feeling today.

"We changed it around today and put Moussa Dembele in midfield. I thought Moussa deserved to score, he was terrific. He is so gifted. The next step is for him to score goals. He has all the talent in the world."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/October/JolWiganReaction.aspx?#ixzz1cFUaKyl0

[WhiteJC]

 
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Fulham – Match Review

Wigan dropped to the foot of the Premier League table after losing their eighth successive game going down 2-0 to Fulham side who put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three with victory at the DW Stadium.

Goals at the end of each half from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele eased the pressure starting to build on Martin Jol also cranking up the heat on Latics boss Roberto Martinez. His side are rooted to the bottom of the table and looking at yet another long and arduous relegation battle. Fulham on the other hand bounced back from a disappointing late defeat at home to Everton last week with an determined display that lifted them away from the drop zone. Wigan produced a similar performance at Newcastle last week frustrating the Magpies for 80 minutes before conceding late on with poor finishing costing them dear. It proved to be a similar story this week as they wasted numerous chances allowing the Cottagers to snatch all three points.

A nervy first half was littered with sloppy passing and a few mistimed tackles and it was the home side who slowly but surely got on top with David Jones looking the most likely to break the deadlock. The summer signing from Wolves tested Mark Schwarzer with a stinging 20-yard strike before firing Emmerson Boyce's cross wide from close range. Hugo Rodallega has yet to score in seven appearances this season was also guilty of wastefulness and should have at least made contact to a number of balls into the visitors penalty area. He did meet one with a wild scissor kick that sailed well over the bar before Ben Watson dipped a dangerous volley over the bar. They were made to pay as Fulham took the lead five minutes before half time against the run of play with a superb move starting at the back. Schwarzer rolled the ball out to John Arne Riise who in turn found Danny Murphy in the centre. The skipper pinged a super ball out to Bobby Zamora on the left who crossed the Dempsey to score via the body of Ali Al Habsi – drawing level with Brian McBride to become the highest scoring American in the league on 36 goals.

Wigan continued to probe and Victor Moses was unlucky to see his vicious strike hit the post after he outmuscled Riise as the frustration levels began to rise inside the DW. Maynor Figueroa also struck the woodwork from 30-yards after being saved just minutes earlier by the crossbar with Zamora's volley smashing cannoning back off the frame of the goal after Murphy picked him out from 50-yards. For all their efforts the Latics just couldn't breakdown the Cottagers rearguard and a defensive mistake of their own cost them dearly with four minutes to go. Figueroa gifted possession to Steven Sidwell on halfway with the midfielder picking out Dembele to finish and secure all three points.



http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/10/football-news/wigan-athletic-0-2-fulham-match-review?

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin jolly as Fulham find range

Fulham manager Martin Jol praised his side's clinical finishing against Wigan, claiming they had learnt from their defeat to Everton last Sunday.

The Dutchman's side picked up their first away win of the English Premier League season against Wigan on Saturday, winning 2-0 at the DW Stadium.

The Cottagers went down at home to the Toffees thanks in part to some woeful form in front of goal, not least Bobby Zamora's open-goal miss.

Fulham won in Lancashire thanks to goals from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele, and Jol highlighted the importance of quality finishing, claiming Wigan may have the same problems as Fulham against Everton.

"Today we had a cushion with the goal in the first half and that's what you need, you have to score goals. That is probably the Wigan story as well," he said.

Having seen Zamora blaze over from 12 yards in the 90th minute against Everton - then for Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell to nick all three points just seconds later - the Dutchman sympathised with his opponents at the DW Stadium, claiming Fulham's win today was very similar.

"(Wigan) probably learnt the same lesson as we have learnt - that if you don't score you don't get the points," he said.

"I can remember situations the same as last week, they could have scored, on the break we scored our goals. Last week it was the same, we could have scored the winner twice and Everton scored, it was an awful feeling and I feel that Wigan will have the same feeling today."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is confident his side can turn their form around, despite suffering a seventh-straight defeat and dropping to the foot of the Premier League table.

"I felt we stopped Fulham having any sort of creativity," he said.

"I thought we restricted Fulham to very little and then you look at the stats after the game and holding Fulham to one corner and maybe four shots, two on target, and to lose 2-0 is disappointing."



http://www.soccerway.com/news/2011/October/29/martin-jolly-as-fulham-find-range/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Wigan Athletic 0-2 Fulham

Fulham recorded their first away win of the season to send Wigan to the bottom of the Premier League table.

The Latics suffered an early blow when Mohamed Diame was forced off the field after just 13 minutes, unable to continue after a couple of strong challenges.

Fulham looked the stronger side in the early exchanges, but Wigan forced their way back into the game. David Jones saw a left-foot volley fly just wide of the post while Hugo Rodallega attempted a bicycle kick which was just off target.

Ben Watson thought he'd scored with a venomous strike which was tipped over the bar by Mark Schwarzer and Gary Caldwell had a free header from the resultant corner but couldn't find the target.

Fulham took the lead three minutes before half-time against the run of play. Danny Murphy found Bobby Zamora who took Ali Al-Habsi out of the game before squaring the ball to Clint Dempsey for a simple tap-in.

Wigan had a great chance to level just before the break as Watson's 20-yard effort deflected off Victor Moses and just wide of the post.

The Latics carried on in the second half where they had left off in the first, Moses seeing a fantastic volley from 22 yards crash off the underside of the bar. Fulham then hit the woodwork through Zamora but Wigan were pressing for the equaliser.

Maynor Figueroa almost got the leveller in spectacular style, his 28-yard effort swerving onto the post and going behind for a goal-kick.

However, the home side were left to rue their missed chances when Moussa Dembele got the second for Fulham with three minutes to go, weaving his way through the defence before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

Fulham rise to 15th in the table while Wigan have now lost seven games in a row.



http://www.clubcall.com/match-reports/wigan-athletic-0-2-fulham-1323833.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Wigan 0-2 Fulham

Wigan suffered its eighth successive defeat to slump to the bottom of the Premier League table as goals from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele earned Fulham a precious three points at the DW Stadium.

The Latics had more than enough chances to win the game but just could not find the net, with Gary Caldwell heading over in the first half and Victor Moses and Maynor Figueroa both hitting the woodwork in the second.

Fulham was much more clinical, Dempsey finishing off a break in the 41st minute to put it ahead before Dembele clinched a first away victory of the season four minutes from time.

It was the visitor who started the brighter, with Andrew Johnson and Dembele looking dangerous, while the visitor was forced into an early change, bringing on James McArthur after Mohamed Diame came off worst in a challenge with Steve Sidwell.

Having repelled the Fulham attacks, Wigan slowly began to exert some pressure of its own, with David Jones seeing a shot saved by Mark Schwarzer before guiding another effort past the post.

Approaching the half-hour mark, the home side really should have gone ahead.

First, full-back Figueroa rampaged through the Fulham defence before setting up Albert Crusat for a cross that was only cleared as far as Ben Watson, whose volley was expertly tipped over the bar by Schwarzer.

From the resulting corner, captain Caldwell was left unmarked eight yards out but could only head over.

After an uninspiring beginning, the game had opened up, and Johnson might have done better than shoot weakly at Ali Al Habsi when he found himself in space on the right of the area.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Schwarzer when he fumbled Moses' low cross-shot but, with Rodallega waiting, the ball bounced just past the post.

Wigan had paid for a failure to turn its dominance into goals at Newcastle last week, and so it proved again in the 41st minute when Dempsey put Fulham ahead.

Danny Murphy launched a quick break by finding Bobby Zamora out on the left and his low cross was perfect for Dempsey, whose shot bounced into the net despite the best efforts of Al Habsi.

Still Wigan could have been level at half-time as Moses got a foot to Watson's shot but, with Schwarzer struggling, the ball flew just the wrong side of the post.

Wigan began the second half fuelled by a sense that it deserved better. But still the clear-cut chance would not come and at the other end Figueroa had to be alert to deny Johnson after Zamora broke away down the left.

The Latics' luck was certainly out in the 54th minute when Moses let fly from 25 yards with a stunning volley that had Schwarzer well beaten but bounced off the angle of post and bar. Rodallega was first to the rebound but was flagged offside.

Fulham was struggling to get out of its own half but it remained a threat on the break and in the 62nd minute Zamora got on the end of a long ball and smashed a volley off the top of the bar.

More and more there was a sense that, again, this was just not going to be Wigan's day. Fulham appeared to have ridden out the storm and threatened itself when Zdenek Grygera played in Johnson down the right, but the angle was tight and he shot wide.

At the other end, Rodallega was given a chance from 25 yards out after Dickson Etuhu fouled substitute Di Santo but his effort was straight at Schwarzer.

The goalkeeper needed the help of his woodwork again in the 84th minute when Figueroa drove forward and struck a swerving shot that Schwarzer thought was going well wide but in fact bounced off the post.

And Wigan's fate was sealed two minutes later as the defence backed off and allowed Dembele the freedom to run to the edge of the area and place his shot wide of Al Habsi.



http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1078995/Report-Wigan-0-2-Fulham?

[WhiteJC]

 
American Clint Dempsey scores, leads Fulham to EPL win

Clint Dempsey scored his third goal of the English Premier League campaign, and fifth overall this season, as Fulham defeated Wigan Athletic, 2-0, on Saturday. The victory was the Cottagers' first in four weeks.

Dempsey, a midfielder on the U.S. national team, put Fulham on the board in the 42nd minute, despite Wigan's advantage in the run of play. A long ball from the back set forward Bobby Zamora free on the left, and the English veteran slid a perfect pass across the face of the goal to Dempsey for an easy finish from 6 yards.

Wigan pushed for the equalizer in the second half but was undone in the 84th minute, when Fulham's Moussa Dembélé doubled the lead on a 12-yard shot. The victory was Fulham's first on the road in the 2011-12 EPL season and boosted the club to 15th in the standings at 2-4-4.

Dempsey and Fulham will play host to Poland's Wisla Kraków in UEFA Europa League action Thursday (Dempsey's other two goals came in that competition) before returning to EPL play Sunday when London rival Tottenham Hotspur visits Craven Cottage.



Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-10-29/american-clint-dempsey-scores-leads-fulham-to-epl-win?#ixzz1cFWE9jXg

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham leave Wigan deep in doldrums after 2-0 win

WIGAN, United Kingdom (AFP) - Fulham left Wigan deep in the doldrums at the foot of the Premier League on Saturday with a 2-0 win that propelled the Londoners out of the bottom five.

Fulham leapfrogged Everton and Wolves as goals in either half from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele handed Wigan their eighth consecutive defeat in a keenly fought affair at the DW Stadium.

The Latics had their chances but missed them as Gary Caldwell headed over before the break and then Victor Moses and Maynor Figueroa both struck the woodwork afterwards.

Dempsey made them pay as he scored on a 41st-minute breakaway and then Dembele bagged the second on 86 minutes to earn the visitors their first away victory of the season and only their second win of the campaign to date.



http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_728682.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Latics fail to turn chances into goals

WIGAN suffered their eighth successive defeat to slump to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table as goals from Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele earned Fulham a precious three points at the DW Stadium.

The Latics had more than enough chances to win the game but just could not find the net, with Gary Caldwell heading over in the first-half and Victor Moses and Maynor Figueroa both hitting the woodwork in the second.

Wigan had paid for a failure to turn their dominance into goals at Newcastle last week, and so it proved again in the 41st minute when Dempsey put Fulham ahead.

Danny Murphy launched a quick break by finding Bobby Zamora out on the left and his low cross was perfect for Dempsey, whose shot bounced into the net despite the best efforts of Al Habsi.

Wigan began the second half fuelled by a sense that they deserved better.

Fulham struggled to get out of their own half but they remained a threat on the break.

Wigan's fate was sealed in the 86th minute as the defence backed off and allowed Dembele the freedom to run to the edge of the area and place his shot wide of Al Habsi.



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Wigan   0 - 2   Fulham

By Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport


Clint Dempsey has now scored six goals against Wigan

Fulham secured an important but fortunate win over fellow Premier League strugglers Wigan Athletic.

The opener came from Clint Dempsey, who fired home from close range after being picked out by Bobby Zamora's ball across the box.

Wigan had the better chances and hit the woodwork through Victor Moses and Maynor Figueroa although Zamora also hit the crossbar.

And Moussa Dembele sealed the win late on from the edge of the box.

Wigan's eighth successive defeat leaves them bottom of the table and lifts Fulham, who ended a three-game losing streak, up to 15th.

Both sides looked nervous in the first 20 minutes, with the only moment of note coming when the hosts' Mohamed Diame had to be replaced with an ankle injury following a clumsy tackle by Steve Sidwell.

The two sides continued to misplace passes on a regular basis but it was Wigan who started to get on top and created the game's first chances.

Midfielder David Jones has not scored for the club since his summer switch from Wolves but he looked the most likely to break the deadlock, first having a shot from 20 yards held by Mark Schwarzer and then arriving late to fire wide from 12 yards out after meeting Emmerson Boyce's cross from the right wing.

Wigan's top scorer last season was Hugo Rodallega but the Honduras international had failed to score in seven games this season and never looked confident that he would end his goal drought, the 26-year-old failing to get on the end of crosses on more than one occasion when he should have made contact.

He did meet one Boyce centre but his spectacular scissor kick flew well over the bar.

It looked a matter of time before Wigan would score as Ben Watson's dipping volley from just outside area was saved well by Schwarzer and, from the resulting Jones corner, Gary Caldwell headed over unmarked from six yards out.

But, entirely against the run of play, it was Fulham who took the lead.

After yet another Wigan attack, Cottagers keeper Schwarzer rolled the ball out to John Arne Riise, who picked out Danny Murphy. The veteran midfielder's long ball over the top found Zamora in acres of space down the left wing, and he picked out Dempsey, whose shot hit keeper Ali Al-Habsi but still went in.

Wigan kept pushing, Moses deflecting Watson's shot wide, then the striker turning provider for the midfielder, whose header missed the target.

FAST FACT
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Clint Dempsey's strike means he has equalled Brian McBride's record of 36 Premier League goals by an American

The Latics' big chance came when Moses hit the angle of post and crossbar from outside the box after outmuscling Riise. Fulham also hit the woodwork through Zamora, who was again picked out by a 50-yard Murphy ball and his volley clipped the crossbar.

Wigan continued to press and Figueroa hit the post with a curling effort from 30 yards out but minutes later the defender gifted Sidwell the ball on the halfway line and he found Dembele, who charged forward and slotted home.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez:

"The stats tell the story. I'm not disappointed with the performance but with our run, the result becomes even more important.

"It is not time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's time to try to improve ourselves, try to change the negative dynamic that's affecting us at the moment.

"I felt we were going to be the next team to score but we were punished while chasing the game.

"Once we get our first positive result, everything will change."

Fulham boss Martin Jol:

"If you don't score you don't get the points. We deserved to win because over the season we should have picked up four or five more points.

"We changed it around and put Moussa Dembele in midfield. I thought Moussa deserved to score, he was terrific.

"He is so gifted. The next step is for him to score goals. He has all the talent in the world."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15413397.stm

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http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2011/10/30/prem-clubs-in-battle-for-bluebirds-full-back-mcnaughton-102039-23524687/



Prem clubs in battle for Bluebirds full-back McNaughton


Oct 30 2011 by Dave Kidd - Exclusive, The People


NORWICH are facing stiff competition from FULHAM and SUNDERLAND as they bid to tie up a permanent move for Tottenham full-back Kyle Naughton.

Naughton, 22, has proved a hit during his current loan deal at Carrow Road, which expires in January, and boss Paul Lambert wants to sign the player on a full-time basis.

Fulham boss Martin Jol, who has not settled on a first-choice right-back at Craven Cottage, is keen to sign Naughton and Sunderland chief Steve Bruce is also renewing his interest.

Naughton's contract expires next summer so he would be available on a ­­cut-price deal.

Another Spurs youngster, 21-year-old left-sided player Danny Rose, is likely to be loaned out in January – following a successful spell at Bristol City last term.