Sunday Fulham Stuff (23/09/12)...

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Fulham boss had good feeling about Rodallega's Wigan return

MARTIN Jol says he had a hunch Hugo Rodallega would come good against his former club - and the striker justified that faith in him by scoring the first goal in Saturday's 2-1 win at Wigan.

The Fulham boss, who was also delighted with his team for their approach to the game, said: "One of the reasons that I played him was because it was against his former team.

"He had extra motivation to score against his old club.

"It is nice to get three points on the board. They are a difficult team. It was pleasing to see us taking the initiative."

Jol, who singled out Dimitar Berbatov, Steve Sidwell and Chris Baird for special praise, added: "It's not easy to win away games in the Premier League, so this is very positive that we got our first away win.

"We needed that [second] goal as they scored in added time. You can't complain because they are a good football team, they deserved a goal too.



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2012/09/22/82029-31888586/?#ixzz27HFw8DOU

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Fulham boss delighted with way former Manchester United man has started

Fulham manager Martin Jol is delighted with the way Dimitar Berbatov has settled into life at Craven Cottage.

The Whites completed a deal for the Bulgaria international on transfer deadline day and the former Manchester United man has impressed in his first few games.

"I always thought that he was a fantastic player, the only thing I see now is that he can play in different positions as well," he said.

"If you go and play away at Wigan you take a gamble to play with two strikers because most of the time last year we changed our playing style with a 4-3-3.

"I made a gamble to play with Rodallega upfront and Dimitar, and he was probably the best No.10 you can imagine."



http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/fulham_boss_delighted_with_way_former_manchester_united_man_has_started_1_1526086?

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WIGAN 1 - FULHAM 2: HUGO RODALLEGA IS BACK WITH A BANG

HUGO RODALLEGA went back to his mates' home and wrecked the place – alongside new partner-in-crime Dimitar Berbatov.

Rodallega spent nearly four happy years at Wigan and was their ultimate hero two seasons ago when he scored the winner at Stoke to keep them in the Premier League.

But back at the DW Stadium, Fulham's free signing turned villain to head his new team into the lead thanks to brilliant Berbatov's stroke of genius with an inch-perfect cross.

Credit Rodallega for his reaction, too. He didn't gloat or celebrate. He just stood facing the fans who had earlier jeered him, and earned a rapturous round of applause for not milking the moment.

Damien Duff put the result beyond doubt, though Arouna Kone somehow found the bottom corner in the 90th minute to set up a final few moments of drama.

Berbatov looks a snip at £5million and delighted Fulham boss Martin Jol said: "I always knew he was a fantastic player.

"We saw him play a different position today as well. Dimitar gave us the quality and Rodallega gave us the pace.

"It was a different role for Dimitar but he's probably the best No.10 I have seen.

"Rodallega was very eager and very motivated.

"I thought he would probably score but he showed respect to the fans – and they showed him respect as well."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was quick to praise his old boy and applaud him for his reaction after scoring.

He said: "Hugo has had a tremendous past at Wigan Athletic and when he retires he will have a soft feeling for the club and the fans will feel the same for him.

"He's a tremendous striker. We know he's done that year after year and he showed real respect when he scored.

"It would have been easy for him to celebrate and rightly so. His was a nice gesture and the fans recognised that."

The battle was intense until one of those lighter moments as referee Lee Probert got in between midfield warriors Ben Watson and Steve Sidwell, who slid in powerfully for a loose ball.

In the flash of four boots, the Wiltshire whistler was brought thudding to earth, requiring immediate treatment.

But even in pain, Probert produced a comic moment which had both sets of fans in stitches when, from his prone position, he jokingly waved his red card.

It got serious again when Berbatov showed his touch of class to find Rodallega in a dress rehearsal of the first goal, but this time the Colombian's header was saved by Ali Al Habsi.

Jean Beausejour hooked away a header from Chris Baird as Fulham piled on the pressure and Berbatov let fly from 30 yards with a swerving shot.

Wigan, though, should have taken the lead in the 25th minute when Maynor Figueroa curled in a tempting far-post cross met by Emmerson Boyce, who could not direct his flying header into the net.

But six minutes later, Fulham deservedly went ahead.

Berbatov clipped expertly to the head of Rodallega who outjumped Latics skipper Gary Caldwell to score with ease.

You felt sympathy for Wigan, especially when another great chance was squandered in the 56th minute when Shaun Maloney found an opening.

His precise pass got Kone clean away but he took one stride too many and keeper Mark Schwarzer saved.

And in the 68th minute Fulham stretched their lead after pouncing on hesitancy in Wigan's defence.

They dithered and failed to clear their lines and Ruiz picked out Duff whose right-footed drive rocketed into the top corner.

Kone gave the Wigan faithful brief hope with his late strike.



http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/273559/Wigan-1-Fulham-2-Hugo-Rodallega-is-back-with-a-bang/?

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Duff on mark to lift Fulham

Hugo Rodallega earned the praise of both managers as he helped Fulham to their first away win of the season against his former club.

The Colombian left the Latics in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract and scored his first goal for his new club at the DW Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Rodallega is Wigan's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League with 24 and, after a few boos early in the game, he was applauded by the home fans when he chose not to celebrate his bullet header. The striker was then applauded by all sides of the ground when he was substituted late in the game.

"I knew Rodallega would be very eager and motivated to do something nice, to score his goal and that was exactly what he did, so that was ever so pleasing for us," said Fulham boss Martin Jol. "He showed respect to the people and they showed him respect as well."

Rodallega's goal came in the 31st minute and Damien Duff added a second for the visitors in the 68th minute, before Arouna Kone pulled one back in injury-time.

"Hugo showed real respect to the fans. It could have been easy for him to celebrate the goal. It was a nice gesture from him and the fans recognised that," said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez of his former player."

Although Rodallega was the headline maker, his goal owed much to the talents of Dimitar Berbatov, who again showed what a great signing he looks set to be.

The former Manchester United man was a class above all afternoon and picked out the head of Rodallega with a peach of a cross, while he was denied three times by Ali Al Habsi as he came close to adding to his two goals against West Brom last weekend. "I always thought he was a fantastic player," said Jol. "The only thing I see now is he can play in a different position as well.

"I made the gamble to play with Hugo up top and Dimitar, and he was probably the best No 10 you can imagine."

- Eleanor Crooks


http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/duff-on-mark-to-lift-fulham-3237013.html?

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WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 - FULHAM 2: DAMIEN DUFF SEALS WIN BUT RESPECT GOES TO HUGO RODALLEGA

DESPITE all the evidence to the contrary, sportsmanship isn't dead. It lives on in Wigan and in a corner of West London.

Because while it is rare to see the home fans applaud when the away side scores, this was a moment to treasure. For football in general and Fulham's Hugo Rodallega in particular.

Normally when a player opens his account for a new club, celebrations are unconfined. Not this time. No sooner had Rodallega headed in Dimitar Berbatov's cross than he shook his head, trotted away from his joyous team-mates and towards the fans who used to cheer him on.

And the Wigan public responded, clapping the Colombian. "Hugo showed real respect to the fans," said Wigan boss Roberto Martinez.

"It would have been easy for him to celebrate the goal. It was a nice gesture by him and the fans appreciated that."

Far too many footballers are booed when they go back to their former clubs. Not Rodallega. The Athletic followers have not forgotten his contribution during three-and-a-half years in Lancashire.

Without Rodallega, Wigan would probably be a Championship club now. He scored one of the most famous goals in their history, sealing their great escape from relegation in the 2010-11 season with a late headed winner on the final day. He is their record Premier League goalscorer and one of their finest ever forwards.

"He so respects the people and they showed him respect too," said Fulham manager Martin Jol.

"I knew Rodallega would be very eager and motivated to do something nice and score a goal, and that is exactly what he did."

And together with Damien Duff's goal, he sent Fulham up to the dizzy heights of fourth. It is a terrific response to the loss of their two best players. Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele departed, Tottenham bound, but Jol's new-look forward duo of Berbatov and Rodallega combined well. "If you play against Wigan in an away game, you take a big gamble to play with two strikers," Jol said.

His attackers justified his bold decision. Strolling around with typical nonchalance, Berbatov was a constant threat. He tested Ali Al-Habsi from long range with a swerving shot, a prodded effort and a close-range drive. From one of his crosses, Al-Habsi kept out Rodallega's header. From another, the visitors scored.

But the game was won at both ends. Mark Schwarzer was in defiant form in the Fulham goal. By the time he was finally beaten, by Arouna Kone in injury time, it was too late for Wigan to rescue a point.

They could have had several. Jordi Gomez almost scored in thunderous fashion, rattling the underside of the bar. Emmerson Boyce headed into the side netting from Maynor Figueroa's cross before Schwarzer stood firm in an inspired second-half showing. The Australian thwarted Kone, who was sent sprinting clear by Shaun Maloney, blocking with his legs, as well as palming James McCarthy's shot away and tipping Ivan Ramis' header over the bar.

And just when Wigan were threatening an equaliser, Fulham scored a second. Substitute Bryan Ruiz set up Duff (above) to drive in from 18 yards. And though Kone eventually struck, spinning to shoot past Schwarzer, the game was up.

Wigan's pride was bruised but it looked as though the game's worst injury was sustained by the referee. Ben Watson caught Lee Probert with a studs-up challenge, prompting the man in black to writhe in mock agony and jokingly wave a red card at the Wigan midfielder. Probert took it all in the right spirit. And so did the Wigan fans when they saw Rodallega score against them.WIGAN: Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell (Miyaichi, 77), Figueroa; Boyce (McManaman, 77), Watson, McCarthy, Beausejour; Gomez (Boselli, 62), Maloney; Kone.

FULHAM: Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Baird, Sidwell, Kacaniklic (Ruiz, 59); Berbatov, Rodallega (Briggs, 88).MAN of the MATCH: Mark Schwarzer – he turns 40 next month but showed there is no substitute for experience with a series of vital saves to preserve Fulham's lead.



http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/347736?