Sunday Fulham Stuff (03/03/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Stephane Sessegnon secured a point for Sunderland against Fulham

Sunderland came from two goals behind to claim a 2-2 draw with Fulham at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats found themselves two down inside 35 minutes courtesy of a Dimitar Berbatov penalty and a first goal in English football for German international full-back Sascha Riether.

But the home side battled back and soon pulled one back via their own spot-kick with Craig Gardner slotting home, before finally levelling matters with 20 minutes left as Man of the Match Stephane Sessegnon drilled the ball home from the edge of the box.

The draw brings an end to Sunderland's terrible run of three successive defeats, whilst the point puts Fulham into the top half.

Sunderland had started the game well and threatened inside the opening minute as John O'Shea headed a corner wide, and it was the home side's wide-men Adam Johnson and Sessegnon who looked a threat.

But it was Fulham's counter-attacking which hit Sunderland hard and they were suddenly two up within the opening 35 minutes.

The opener came as Berbatov fed Ashkan Dejagah in the box - he looked to take on Gardner, who clipped the Iranian - it took referee Mark Halsey a little longer than normal but he did point to the spot. Berbatov stepped up to slot home in his archetypal cool manner.

Dejagah then spurned a great chance on the half-hour to make it 2-0 as he broke clear, but just minutes later he created the second.

A Sunderland corner was headed away by Berbatov, Dejagah broke at pace and exchanged passes with Ruiz before firing a cross into the six-yard box - Mignolet could only parry and an unmarked Riether was on hand to convert his first-ever goal for the club.

The Sunderland fans were furious, but they were buoyed just seconds later when they found themselves back in the game via their own penalty. Philippe Senderos pulled back Danny Graham in the box - he surprisingly avoided any card, but Gardner stepped up to fire home.

Graham then wasted a glorious chance just minutes after the re-start when he fired straight at Mark Schwarzer after the ball fell for him just ten yards from goal.

Johnson and Sessegnon continued to be the home side's main threat and they were both involved as Sunderland levelled with 20 minutes left.

Fulham almost produced a goal of the season contender as Damien Duff, John Arne Riise and Ruiz combined, who in turn lobbed a brilliant ball to Berbatov - whose shot was saved by Mignolet.

Sunderland countered through Sessegnon. He fed Johnson - whose cross deflected off Senderos and into the path of his team-mate, who drilled the ball home from the edge of the box.

Sunderland pushed hard late on for the winner, but Fulham held on for the point they deserved.



http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261837/report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Whites lose two-goal lead at Sunderland

Sunderland 2 Fulham 2

Fulham had to settle for a point despite making a brilliant start at the Stadium of Light.

Sascha Riether's first goal for the club put them 2-0 up after Dimitar Berbatov had tucked away an early penalty.

But Craig Gardner netted for Sunderland with a penalty eight minutes before the break and they equalised courtesy of Stephane Sessegnon with 20 minutes remaining.

Gardner conceded the spot-kick that led to the opener – although referee Mark Halsey initially appeared to wave away Fulham's appeals after Ashkan Dejagah went down under the midfielder's challenge.

Berbatov coolly converted and when Riether pounced to score after Dejagah's low shot was spilled by keeper Simon Miglonet, Fulham looked in complete control.

But Gardner slammed home from the spot following Philippe Senderos' foul on Danny Graham and Sessegnon levelled with a left-footed effort after Fulham failed to deal with Adam Johnson's cross.

And worse could have followed for Fulham had Halsey not given Emmanuel Frimpong the benefit of the doubt after the substitute raised his hands to blocked a shot from Johnson.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise, Duff (Emanuelson 83), Sidwell, Karagounis (Frimpong 64), Dejagah (Rodallega 85), Ruiz, Berbatov.
Subs: Etheridge, Petric, Richardson, Hughes.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/whites-lose-two-goal-lead-at-sunderland?

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland 2 Fulham 2: Cheeky Berbatov put in the shade by Sessegnon

In the end a game which could have eased the relegation worries of either side ended with both still looking over their shoulders.

Not that Sunderland could complain too much after coming from two goals behind to snatch what could turn out to be a valuable point.

Fulham boss Martin Jol did not seem too unhappy either, saying: 'If they had beaten us they would have been on 32 points - and everyone can be dragged into a difficult situation. On one hand it is good but, on the other, three points would have meant we had done the business. But we didn't.'


Dimitar Berbatov scores Fulham's opening goal

As it turned out, the game was over as far as Sunderland and the three points were concerned after just 16 minutes.

That was when Dimitar Berbatov, pouring scorn on fellow professionals who either fear or miss penalties, demonstrated ice-cool arrogance in putting Fulham ahead from the spot after Craig Gardner tripped Ashkan Dejagah.

Such was the smiling Berbatov's antics - a pause, a jink, a feint - in his casual amble towards the ball, you almost wanted him to make a mess of it.

But Simon Mignolet was groping in the opposite corner as the ball bounced over the line.

But that was only the dawn of Sunderland's misdemeanours. Twice they contrived to convert attack into defence while at the same time demonstrating an inability to do both very well.

The first time they were lucky to escape, the second it cost them a goal. Fulham were able to break at pace from corners, with Dejagah firing just wide in the 25th minute.

But 10 minutes later, Dejagah raced clear before working a one-two with Bryan Ruiz, whose shot was fumbled by Mignolet and Sascha Riether scored from the rebound.


Calm head: Berbatov passes the ball into the net




Spot on: Berbatov celebrates his strike with team mate Steve Sidwell (right)

Sunderland needed hope and it came two minutes later, when Gardner pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Philippe Senderos fouled Danny Graham.

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill doubted that decision but was even more critical of referee Mike Halsey's refusal to give another penalty for a Senderos hand-ball in the closing stages.

'It was clear-cut and he has chosen not to give it,' he said.


Close range: Sasha Riether scores Fulham's second


Back in it: Sunderland's Craig Gardner, left, scores a penalty kick past Fulham's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer

Mark Schwarzer made a superb save from Graham as Sunderland forced the issue from the restart but it took an even better stop from Mignolet to deny Berbatov in the 69th minute and provide the launchpad for Sunderland's equaliser.

The Belgium international made a point-blank save and it was the home team's turn to punish the opposition on the break.

Adam Johnson led the attack and when his low cross was only half-cleared by Senderos, Stephane Sessegnon fired in a low first-time left-footer.

'We came back well and I felt we could and should have won the game,' said O'Neill.


No way: Stephane Sessegnon of Sunderland finds his route towards goal blocked


Not this time: Sundreland keeper Simon Mignolet saves a shot from Berbatov



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2286982/Sunderland-2-Fulham-2-Dimitar-Berbatov-steals-cheeky-penalty.html#ixzz2MSHUUtDm
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[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland 2 Fulham 2 match report: Simon Mignolet makes Dimitar Berbatov pay penalty



Twenty minutes of this game remained when Dimitar Berbatov steadied himself for victory. Fulham led 2-1, Berbatov was 10 yards from the Sunderland goal as a return pass from Bryan Ruiz came into his path.

Everything that had happened previously screamed decisive goal. But perhaps, in the scoring of the opening penalty, one which humiliated Simon Mignolet with its craft, came the motivation for such a vital save.

For the penalty in the 16th minute Berbatov varied his run-up, controlling the situation without the ball and leaving Mignolet unable to move as he stumbled backwards, before calmly stroking the ball into the bottom corner.

Perhaps that thought was still alive as Berbatov, with memories of his strike against Stoke and the control he showed then still fresh in the memory, readied to well-nigh end any relegation worries for Fulham. His shot was goalbound but Mignolet's save, with his leg, was excellent, and in the move that followed came its true value.

From the stop Stéphane Sessègnon broke and passed to Adam Johnson on his left. Johnson's cross was half cut-out by Philippe Senderos, but only into the path of Sessègnon, who cracked a shot into the bottom corner, the same one in which Berbatov had scored.

"It's a very important save in the course of the game," said Sunderland's manager, Martin O'Neill. "Fulham could go 3-1 up and it's a long way back. Within 20 seconds we've scored to make it 2-2. It was a big moment. [Sessègnon] has come up with big moments for us this season. It was terrific."

It capped a decent fightback. Berbatov's penalty, for a foul by Craig Gardner on the outstanding Ashkan Dejagah, was followed in the 34th minute by a goal for the right-back Sascha Riether. That it came from a Sunderland corner, headed clear by Berbatov, did little to help O'Neill's mood. But a penalty they themselves earned two minutes later, when Senderos fouled Danny Graham, that was smashed past Mark Schwarzer by Gardner, changed the feel of the game. Sunderland had a foothold, until Berbatov's chance.

"He was clear through, you expect something to happen," said Martin Jol. "It was disappointing. We should have punished them."

There were two further penalty shouts for the home side after their equaliser. They weren't given.

"It was a clear-cut penalty from Senderos handling the ball and the referee decided not to give it," added O'Neill. "You can't just give it and choose to ignore it when you want. I thought we could and should have won the game."


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sunderland-2-fulham-2-match-report-simon-mignolet-makes-dimitar-berbatov-pay-penalty-8517864.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Stéphane Sessègnon's goal helps Sunderland stop the rot against Fulham


Fulham's Sasha Riether scores against Sunderland in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light.
Photograph: Ian Macnicol/Getty Images

Martin O'Neill pleaded with referees to be consistent over handball decisions after his side fought back to deny Fulham victory. Mark Halsey awarded two spot-kicks in the 2-2 draw, but waved away appeals for two more after incidents involving Fulham's Emmanuel Frimpong and Philippe Senderos.

A frustrated O'Neill said: "It looked a pretty clear-cut penalty from Senderos handling the ball. I suppose it sounds like a bit of a moan and a bit of a rant, but last week [in the 2-1 defeat by West Brom] there were two penalty incidents and, to me, both were penalties given the directives we have been given by the referees this season. One was given against us and the other one wasn't. The referee chose to miss it, and today again.

"While 20 years ago, maybe, the game would have not had a penalty at all, the fact is this is not 20 years ago, it's now, and these are the directives we have been given. I keep mentioning that point because it was the referees who mentioned it, so you can't just turn around and give it and then choose to ignore it when you want."

The game revolved on a series of debatable penalty decisions, with Halsey enduring a testing afternoon on Wearside. He pointed to the spot for the first time after 16 minutes, when Ashkan Dejagah went down under Craig Gardner's challenge, and Dimitar Berbatov converted in imperious fashion.

Fulham extended their lead 10 minutes before the break, when full-back Sascha Riether tapped home after the Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet parried Dejagah's shot, but the home side grabbed a lifeline within two minutes.

The referee ruled that Senderos had tugged Danny Graham's shirt and Gardner smashed home the resulting penalty, setting the stage for Stéphane Sessègnon to claim a point, 20 minutes from time, with the Black Cats turning in a vastly improved second-half display.

Adam Johnson was convinced his side should have been awarded a second spot-kick when Frimpong appeared to block his shot with an arm, and O'Neill was adamant Halsey should have pointed to the spot when the ball bounced up against Senderos's hand seven minutes from time.

O'Neill said: "It was certainly an incident-packed game. We conceded a penalty and then the second goal was, from our own viewpoint, very poor. It was our corner kick and they scored from it.

"But we fought back and I thought we could and should have won the game."

Martin Jol was disappointed his side could not hang on to their lead. The Fulham manager said: "On the one hand, it's a good point and, on the other hand, three points would have meant we had done the business, but we didn't."



http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/02/sunderland-fulham-premier-league?

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol felt Fulham should have taken all three points at Sunderland

Fulham manager Martin Jol felt his side should have taken all three points against Sunderland.

The Cottagers were two up within the opening 35 minutes through a Dimitar Berbatov penalty and a Sascha Riether goal.

But Sunderland hit back through a Craig Gardner penalty and a Stephane Sessegnon effort with 20 minutes left to make the final score 2-2 in Saturday's Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light.

But Jol felt his side should have hung on for the win.

"I thought if you see the second half, you always expect something to happen but if you see the first half we dominated," said Jol - who felt Sunderland's penalty was harsh.

"The penalty situation was soft - there was a little bit of contact but not a lot and it gave them confidence and after it was not an easy second half, we should have scored and in hindsight we deserved a bit more."

Berbatov missed a great chance to win the match at 2-1 but Simon Mignolet saved and Sunderland broke and scored their equaliser.

"He also had a one-on-one with the keeper and that was disappointing," said Jol.

"They are a good side but they have not had a lot of wins at home so we know they play very adventurous and we dominated the midfield and I still feel we should have punished them."

Jol feels that nobody is yet safe towards the bottom of the table.

"Before today, if they had beat us they would have been on 32 - and everyone can be dragged into a difficult situation - on one hand a point is good but on the other three points would have meant we had done the business today but we didn't," he said.

Jol also paid tribute to Iranian Ashkan Dejagah, who was Fulham's best player.

"Dejagah is a marvellous player, but I want more goals and more assists and for him to be more productive and we saw that today," he added.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8534262?

[WhiteJC]

 
The View from South Texas — AFC Sunderland v. Fulham FC

by HatterDon

Lost in the Sunshine

If J.M. Barrie were reincarnated as a sports journalist, he might be tempted to refer to AFC Sunderland players in today's match as "The Lost Boys." Time after time throughout this very entertaining match, the players in red and white demonstrated their basic inability to accomplish routine football tasks. Thankfully, for them, the very organized and smoothly efficient team they were facing were Fulham FC, and so they paid very little for their sins. As usual, Fulham were calm, passed well, played passable defense, and only dropped by The Black Cats penalty area every now and again to make sure it was still there.

There were goals, though, by gum. Each team received and converted a penalty, courtesy of Mark Halsey. In my judgment, each incident was a foul in the penalty area. In my experience, on most days, with pretty much all other referees, neither of them is called. Fulham scored first. Set free by the endlessly creative Bryan Ruiz, Ashkan Dejagah was busily tying Craig Gardner into a knot, when the frustrated number 8 kicked him in both shins. Dejagah's over-elaborate fall made it look as if he were diving, but he actually was fouled. Berbatov executed a passable military two step before rolling the ball into the net as Simon Mignolet looked as if he didn't know whether to go blind or do the alternative. Fulham had scored in the 16th minute and they were still quite a while away from their first actual shot on goal.

That first shot on goal came in the 34th minute courtesy of Dejagah who was set free on a quick break away by a long accurate clearance from Mark Schwarzer [yes, Don, you really just typed that]. Fulham broke upfield rapidly while Sunderland did not. As a matter of fact, the only defender who raced to the Sunderland penalty area was Sascha Riether. As Dejagah pulled the trigger, Mignolet made an excellent save but could only parry the ball to the German RB, now playing left winger! Our very best player all season scored his first goal and either waved to God or to the Fulham supporters who were seated just a few yards below Him.

0-2 on the road ... against a team that had lost three in a row ... who didn't look like they could attack an unmanned taco stand. What could possibly go wrong enough to erode that lead? Well, two Sunderland goals for a start. First came the penalty decision – which was NOT in my old but lovely blue eyes payback. Phil Senderos was examining the stitching on Danny Graham's jersey just a little too closely for the referee's liking and that was that. Gardner hammered the ball home and it was 1-2, and if there was a Fulham fan anywhere who wasn't immediately filled with impending gloom, then I guarantee he was nowhere near South Texas nor was he or she in the FulhamUSA.com chatroom.

The final goal was an interesting mirror of the second. Bryan Ruiz lofted a beautiful ball into Berbatov's stride, the Bulgarian's quick shot was deflected by Mignolet, and off went Sessegnon haring towards Fulham's goal. Where just a few minutes earlier a Senderos deflection caused Graham to miss a chance on goal, this time a Senderos deflection enabled Sessegnon to eualize.

The rest of the match was fun to watch – especially for me since I had heard the result on the radio many hours before. Since there was no tension, I could enjoy the end-to-end action – regardless of the ineptitude of the play at times. There was also some enjoyment from the international broadcast feed of the match. The first was the graphic when Fulham's number 5, Brede Hangeland, received his yellow. The card, we were told, went to #2, Stephen Kelly. I immediately remembered the time that the Europa League "ref behind the goal" couldn't tell Hangeland from Bjorn Helge Riise, but at least Riise Minor was (a) on the pitch at the time and (b) playing for Fulham.

Another fun moment was when Berbatov dramatically pouted at a misplaced pass from Hangeland [is "Berbatov" Bulgarian for "flounce" I wonder]. Anyhow, the color announcer said, "He's complaining that Hangeland's 40 yard pass landed a few inches from where he wanted it. What does he expect, the man's a center half."

So we got a point on the road and, somehow, that was enough to get us into 10th. I see no way we'll make up the seven points necessary to get into 9th, but it could have been worse. And speaking of worse, I wonder what is in store for Sunderland. Their defending was a shambles at times and, despite having two hard working and talented strikers in Fletcher and Graham, and two talented wide attackers in Sessegnon and Johnson, the four can't seem to support each other. The look a dispirited lot, all in all, and this is not a great time of the season to go into a funk.

Sunderland's fans are no help either. Despite the fact that the best bet you could get would be that the 5th goal – if it came – would be scored by the team in red and white, their "supporters" started pouring out of the stadium with what turned out to be 10 minutes of football left. In the very apt words of one of the denizens of that chatroom I mentioned earlier, The Stadium of Light looked like Dodger Stadium in the seventh inning.

I'm typing this about 20 minutes after watching the match, but a good 6.5 hours after listening to it, so most of my outrage at – once again – giving up points from a winning position [something we're top of the league at this season] has abated. I am more positive of what I saw.

I like Dejagah's growth from game to game. I was impressed with Frimpong and even more so with Emanuelson. I was pleased to see that Demitar Flounce spent more time at the front of our attack than behind it. Although both Hangeland's and Senderos's performances weren't up to the standard of their last two, things were passable, and I am really beginning to warm to Karagounis. Riether continues to be an ongoing joy, but HatterDon's Man of the Match is, by a huge margin, Bryan Ruiz. Of all the boys playing in the Northeastern sunshine, he was the least lost.



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=258