Sunday Fulham Stuff (14/09/14)...

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Former Leeds United striker Matt Smith sent off on Fulham debut

The former Leeds man was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge.

It seems nothing can go right for Fulham at the moment.

But the latest developments at the west London side may at least have Leeds United fans smiling - even though their side fell just short of a win at Birmingham City earlier today.

Leeds drew 1-1 in the early kick-off and news coming to Yorkshire from Reading just an hour or so later may leave supporters grinning cheekily.

Indeed, Matt Smith, who traded Elland Road for Craven Cottage on Deadline Day for a reported fee of £500,000, has been sent off on his Fulham debut.

The 25-year-old was shown a straight red card at Reading for a reckless challenge on Hope Akpan.


Smith's move to the capital meant he was the second Leeds striker to join Fulham this summer.

Ross McCormack initially made a big-money move to the Cottagers but Felix Magath's side are yet to win a Championship game.

At the time of writing, they have won just one point so far this season and are trailing at the Madejski stadium.

Fans and pundits alike had hoped that Smith's signing would bring the best out of McCormack. So far, however, the 25-year-old's start to life in London is one to forget.


http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/09/13/former-leeds-united-striker-matt-smith-sent-off-on-fulham-debut/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Aston Villa U18s 0-0 Fulham U18s

Fulham Under-18s posted an impressive performance against Aston Villa but the sides finished locked at 0-0.

The Whites had the better of the early exchanges and a training-ground free-kick routine resulted in Foday Nabay almost opening the scoring.

Lucas De La Torre came closest to giving Kevin Keen's side the lead after the interval, his powerful header was scrambled off the goalline following some last-ditch defending.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Elijah Adebayo was shown a red card but, despite playing out the final stages with ten men, the deadlock remaining and the points were shared.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/september/13/u18s-villa-report?

[WhiteJC]

 
More woe for Magath as Fulham lose

Reading 3 Fulham 0

Matt Smith was sent off on his Fulham debut as a fifth defeat in six Championship games heaped the pressure on manager Felix Magath.

The striker, signed from Leeds on deadline day, was shown a straight red card just 18 minutes into the game for a dangerously high challenge on Jordan Obita.

The Royals were already 1-0 up after Glenn Murray bagged the first of two headed goals before substitute Nick Blackman added a third just before the end.

Many of the 2,700 travelling Fulham fans chanted for Magath to be sacked, and booed the team off at the end with their side bottom of the table with just a single point.

And it was hardly surprising after defending as familiar as it was dreadful allowed on-loan Crystal Palace striker Murray to score for the Royals on 15 minutes.

Magath reunited Smith with former Leeds team-mate Ross McCormack up front as one of three changes, with 38-year-old goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly also making his debut.

But a reckless and forceful challenge that met Obita's leg just below the knee saw that partnership come to a swift end, and Fuham lacked fight from then on.

Only Chris David threatened, with a vicious shot that was saved just before half-time, before Kiraly made a string of saves in an attempt to keep his team in the game.

Yet Kiraly was far from his line when Murray headed in the second from a corner midway through the second half, and he was then rounded easily by Blackman for Reading's third late on.

Fulham (4-4-2): Kiraly; Voser (Zverotic 55), Burn, Bodorov, Kavanagh; Hoogland, Parker, David (Roberts 78), Hyndman (Christensen 46); McCormack, Smith
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Satfylidis, Hutchinson, Rodallega.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/more-woe-for-magath-as-fulham-lose?

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Blackburn Tickets

The Whites return to Craven Cottage next Saturday for the visit of Blackburn Rovers (20th September, 3pm) and tickets are available on General Sale to buy now. The match also sees the return of our popular Family Fun Day!

From 11am in Bishop's Park there will be a number of inflatable activities on offer, giveaways to enjoy, plus a chance to meet Billy the Badger. You'll also have the chance to get your face painted, and take part in competitions led by the Fulham FC Foundation, as well as much more!

Tickets for the match are on sale now, priced from just £10 for juniors and £25 adults. Buy your tickets online today, by phone on 0843 208 1234 (opt. 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

Make sure you bring your family and friends down to the Cottage for what promises to be a fun-filled day!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/september/13/blackburn-tickets?

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Smith sending off piles the pressure on Fulham boss

Whites fans chant for manager's head as striker gets red card on debut

Reading 3-0 Fulham

Fulham lost a goal, a man, and the game in the space of four first-half minutes.

Matt Smith made a poor lunge at Hope Akpan and lasted 18 minutes on his debut.

A couple of minutes later, ace predator Glenn Murray stooped to head home, and that was all she wrote, as they say, when it came to any chance of a point.

Early on, Smith made his aerial presence count with a twice won header in the box, but former Leeds team-mate McCormack swivelled only to fire way over the bar.

There was no denying Murray, however.

Like the predator he is, the striker signed on deadline day, latched on to a Jordan Obita cross and threw himself at a dead centre header from seven yards that left Kiraly helpless.

It got worse from a Fulham point of view.

Smith lunged into a centre-circle challenge with Hope Apkan studs showing, and had the referee was reaching for a red card even before the Royals midfielder stopped writhing.

Emerson Hyndman was next into the book, but Reading were mightily indebted to Chris Gunter for a challenge on Tim Hoogland just as the Fulham man was about to pull the trigger from six yards.

Straight down the other end, Simon Cox was a toe poke from converting Murray's curling cross.

Cox then looked as if he must score from 15 yards, but elected to try and jink past a defender and squandered the chance.

Chris David hit a thumping left-foot drive from fully 30 yards, but the otherwise idle Adam Federici was alert to divert he shot last time in the  round his far post.

In an end-to-end half Murray turned and fired just past the upright.

Fulham's man of the match Gabor Kiraly was alert to palm a deep cross off Murray's head, and the Hungarian keeper, still a fan of the baggy sweat pants he wore last time in England he did well to get a hand on a Cox shot with the Reading man left in space.

He did even better when Jake Taylor took aim from the edge of the box, and still went full length to bring off a brilliant save.

However, there was again nothing he could do when Murray rose high and handsome to convert a second header, again from an Obita cross on 54 minutes despite a Fulham defender on the line.

The scorer went off to a rousing reception after 67 minutes, replaced by one of the few still around from the time Fulham were last visitors to the Madejski two years back.

Pavel Pogrebynyak wasted no time reminding Fulham fans what they're missing when his downward header leapt up to hit the bar and plop back into Kiraly's grateful arms.

It was a tired 20 men that allowed sub Nick Blackman to waltz through, and although forced well wide did well to pick his spot to bypass a defender on the line and herald a mass exodus in the away end.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/smith-sending-piles-pressure-fulham-7767623?

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Fulham fans call for Magath's head as former Leeds man adds to early season woes

Fulham supporters called for manager Felix Magath to be sacked as the Cottagers slumped to a fifth defeat in six Sky Bet Championship games.

The visitors finished with 10 men as they slumped 3-0 at Reading, adding to the pressure on manager Magath who only joined in February.

Reading won at a canter with a pair of headers from on-loan striker Glenn Murray, on his debut, and a late effort from Nick Blackman.

Fulham's cause was rendered almost lost as early as the 18th minute, when former Leeds striker Matt Smith, also on debut, was sent off for a lunge on Hope Akpan.

The west London club endured a miserable end to last season, winning only three matches out of 12 under Magath as they were relegated from the Barclays Premier League.

Fulham have started the Championship similarly poorly, losing their opening four matches before earning their first point in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff.

It hardly got any better for them at the Madejski Stadium, where they were a goal down and a man down before having the chance to settle into the game.

Fulham had begun brightly, with Ross McCormack volleying over from close range after a Smith header.

But they went behind in the 15th minute from Reading's first meaningful attack, led by Jordan Obita along the left flank.

Obita crossed early and Murray, on loan from Crystal Palace until January, dived forward to head in from close range for his first goal for the club.

Three minutes later, it got worse for Fulham. Smith went in late and high on Akpan and referee Mike Jones issued the red card immediately.

Fulham responded well, with Tim Hoogland denied only by a last-ditch tackle from Chris Gunter and Chris David forcing a fine save from home goalkeeper Adam Federici.

But Reading swiftly assumed control, with Murray and Gunter going close from well-struck efforts.

The Reading pressure continued after the interval, with Simon Cox volleying straight at Fulham goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.

Kiraly, on his debut, was in action soon after, making a stunning save to keep out a powerful strike from Jake Taylor.

But the pressure inevitably told, with a second goal arriving in the 54th minute when Murray nodded in a precise corner from Obita from close range.

It was too much for the 2,745 Fulham fans, who voiced their displeasure at manager Magath.

"You're getting sacked in the morning" was followed by further choruses of "Felix out".

The visitors could have been swamped. Kiraly tipped a header from home substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak - a former Fulham player - against the crossbar and Taylor drove narrowly wide from distance.

But they could not hold out at 2-0 until the end. In the 85th minute, substitute Blackman ran through, went by Kiraly and slotted the ball home. Fulham's misery was complete.


http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/fulham_fans_call_for_magath_s_head_as_former_leeds_man_adds_to_early_season_woes_1_3769189

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Norwich fight back, Fulham flop
Norwich produced a sensational second-half comeback to win 4-2 at Cardiff, while Fulham lost at Reading, and Leeds drew at Birmingham.

The Bluebirds looked in control at the break at the Cardiff City Stadium thanks to goals from Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson, but the Canaries turned things around in emphatic fashion as Martin Olsson, Wes Hoolahan, Michael Turner and Cameron Jerome all hit the back of the net.

With leaders Nottingham Forest not in action until Sunday, Watford and Wolves both missed the chance to go top of the table.

The Hornets stayed a point off the summit when an early Yoni Buyens penalty proved enough to earn Charlton a 1-0 win at the Valley.

Wolves fared slightly better when sharing the spoils in a goalless draw at Blackpool, but that was only good enough to keep them in third place, below Forest and Norwich on goal difference.

For the Seasiders, it was a first point of the season and nudged them off the bottom as Fulham's woes worsened with a 3-0 defeat at Reading, where Glenn Murray bagged a brace for the Royals and the Cottagers had Matt Smith sent off.

Birmingham appeared to be heading for their second win of the season following a 37th-minute goal from Wes Thomas but Leeds staged a late revival to salvage a 1-1 draw through teenager Alex Mowatt.

Blackburn made Wigan pay for missing a penalty when coming from behind to prevail 3-1 in this Lancashire derby, with Ben Marshall netting a double and Jordan Rhodes also striking at Ewood Park.

Bolton picked up their second point of the campaign with a goalless home stalemate against Sheffield Wednesday, while Bournemouth and Rotherham shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Goldsands Stadium following Jordan Bowery's 93rd-minute equaliser for the visitors.

New Huddersfield manager Chris Powell suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough, with Grant Leadbitter completing his brace with a 92nd-minute penalty after Jonathan Stead had levelled for the Terriers late on.

Moses Odubajo, Jonathan Douglas and Andre Gray were on target as Brentford beat Brighton 3-2, while Ipswich saw off Millwall with a 2-0 victory at Portman Road thanks to goals from David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy.


http://www.football365.com/news/21554/9468896/-?

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Reading outclass Fulham to increase pressure on Felix Magath

Fulham supporters called for their manager, Felix Magath, to be sacked as their side slumped to a fifth defeat in six Championship games. The visitors finished with 10 men as they capitulated at Reading, adding to the pressure on Magath, who joined only in February.

Reading won at a canter with a pair of headers from the on-loan striker Glenn Murray, on his debut, and a late effort from Nick Blackman.

Fulham's cause was rendered almost lost as early as the 18th minute, when the former Leeds striker Matt Smith, also on debut, was sent off for a lunge on Hope Akpan.

The west London club endured a miserable end to last season, winning only three matches out of 12 under Magath as they were relegated from the Premier League.

Fulham have started the Championship similarly poorly, losing their opening four matches before earning their first point against Cardiff.

It hardly got any better for them at the Madejski Stadium, where they were a goal and a man down before having the chance to settle into the game.

Fulham had begun brightly, with Ross McCormack volleying over from close range after a Smith header. But they went behind in the 15th minute from Reading's first purposeful attack, led by Jordan Obita along the left flank. Obita crossed early and Murray, on loan from Crystal Palace until January, dived to head home from close range.

Three minutes later it got worse for Fulham. Smith went in late and high on Akpan and the referee, Mike Jones, issued a red card immediately.

Fulham responded well, with Tim Hoogland denied only by a last-ditch tackle from Chris Gunter and Chris David forcing a fine save from the home goalkeeper Adam Federici. However, Reading swiftly assumed control, with Murray and Gunter going close from well-struck efforts.

The Reading pressure continued after the interval, with Simon Cox volleying straight at Fulham goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.

Kiraly, on his debut, was in action soon after, making a stunning save to deny Jake Taylor.

But the pressure inevitably told, with a second goal arriving in the 54th minute when Murray nodded in a precise corner from Obita from close range. It was too much for many of the 2,745 Fulham fans, who rounded on Magath. "You're getting sacked in the morning" was followed by further choruses of "Felix out".

The visitors could have been swamped. Kiraly tipped a header from the home substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak - a former Fulham player - against the crossbar and Taylor drove narrowly wide from distance.

But they could not hold out at 2-0 until the end. In the 85th minute, the substitute Blackman ran through, rounded Kiraly and slotted the ball home. Fulham's misery was complete.


http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/13/reading-fulham-championship-match-report

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Magath blames officials after Fulham loss

Fulham manager Felix Magath blamed the officials for his side's 3-0 defeat at Reading, stating it was "impossible" to change the game after debutant Matt Smith was sent off early on.

Magath admitted Smith's reckless challenge, for which he saw a straight red card on 18 minutes, deserved to be punished.

But he also felt the referee missed an earlier foul on Smith that riled the new signing from Leeds and was also worthy of a dismissal.

Magath also suggested that Whites keeper Gabor Kiraly was fouled in the build-up to Reading's second goal.

"It was impossible after the sending-off because our hope was Matt Smith. We've had very good training sessions with him and he has shown us that he is a winner for our team," Magath said.

"He was a very important player for us today and after 20 minutes he wasn't here, so we weren't able to change the game.

"Sure, he made a mistake, but I understand it because in the first second of the match he was wrestled down without the ball and that was frustrating for him – and I thought that was a sending-off.

"I don't know, I'm new in England. If it is allowed to wrestle here then that is okay, but if it's not allowed then I don't know why he was not sent off."

Many of the 2,700 travelling Fulham fans chanted for Magath to be sacked after a fifth league defeat from their opening five matches left them bottom of the Championship.

And Magath said: "What should I say to them? Should I tell them the referee didn't protect Matt Smith? The referee didn't protect my goalkeeper? They won't hear that, I know.

"I can understand the fans are frustrated and shouting. I know I work for the fans and they have supported us very well.

"But it was wrestling, not football, and the keeper told me he was held so he cannot push the ball. If it is so, then what should I say about the goals?"


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/magath-blames-officials-after-fulham-loss?

[WhiteJC]

 
Magath defends Smith dismissal

Fulham manager Felix Magath defended Matt Smith after the striker was sent off in the 18th minute of his side's 3-0 defeat at Reading, whose boss Nigel Adkins was delighted.

Magath claimed that debutant Smith, who joined from Leeds on deadline day, was provoked by an earlier challenge from an unidentified Reading player before he received a red card for a wild lunge on midfielder Hope Akpan.

"I have spoken with him," Magath said.

"Sure, he made a mistake. But in the first seconds of the match he was wrestled down. There was no ball there but someone, I don't know who, wrestled him.

"That was frustrating for an ambitious young man. But if a player is not protected by the referee, he has to try to protect himself.

"It was wrong what he did but he has apologised to everyone. He is a good guy and we will miss him for three games."

After Fulham had gone 2-0 down in the second half, their fans aimed choruses of "You're getting sacked in the morning" and "Felix out" at the German, whose side now lie bottom of the Championship after five defeats in six games.

"I didn't hear that," Magath said. "I was involved in the game. But it was terrible that we started so badly today. I can understand the fans' frustration. We are frustrated also."

After 18 minutes, Fulham were 1-0 behind and a man down after the sending off of Smith.

Glenn Murray had given Reading the lead in the 15th minute. The striker, on loan from Crystal Palace until January, marked his debut with a close-range header from a Jordan Obita cross.

Three minutes later Smith was given a straight red card for fouling Akpan in midfield.

Fulham responded well, with home goalkeeper Adam Federici making a fine save to keep out a fiercely struck effort from Chris David.

But Reading swiftly regained control and never relinquished it, with Murray and Chris Gunter going close to stretching their lead before the interval.

In the 54th minute, they went further ahead. Obita swung over a corner from the right and Murray rose high to nod in his second goal. Reading completed an easy win in the 85th minute, when substitute Nick Blackman rounded Fulham goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly and prodded the ball into an empty net.

"We started the game really well and it was a fantastic first goal from Glenn," Reading manager Nigel Adkins said.

"The sending off was the turning point but we still had to break them down.

"We played some good passing football and created some great chances. There's a great camaraderie in this squad. It's not just an 11-man game any more."

Adkins defended his decision to take off Murray, who has not played much football of late due to injury.

"Strikers always want a third goal but I've got to look at the bigger picture," Adkins said. "He could have stayed on but what if he had broken down?"


http://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/9469002/-?

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Fulham in crisis after 3-0 loss to Reading


Fulham in crisis after 3-0 loss to Reading
Photo Source: PAA

Fulham manager Felix Magath was subjected to calls for his sacking after his side's miserable start to the Championship campaign hit a new low with a 3-0 defeat at Reading on Saturday.

Magath oversaw Fulham's relegation from the Premier League after taking charge of the west London club in February and the German has been unable to stop the slide in the Cottagers' first season in the second tier for 13 years.

Fulham had already lost four of their opening five matches and they slumped to the bottom of the table following another lacklustre display at the Madejski Stadium.

The dispiriting defeat left Fulham still looking for their first league win of the season and increased the pressure on former Bayern Munich boss Magath, who suffered the indignity of hearing his own club's supporters chanting for his dismissal.

Glenn Murray, making his debut after signing on loan from Crystal Palace, quickly took advantage of a nervy Fulham side when the Reading striker headed home in the 15th minute.

Magath must have known it was going to be another bad day when Matt Smith, the Fulham striker recently signed from Leeds, was sent off on his debut for a foul on Hope Akpan.

Murray struck again in the 54th minute and Nick Blackman's 85th minute goal added insult to injury for Magath.

"I didn't hear that," Magath said of the sacking chants. "I was involved in the game. But it was terrible that we started so badly today.

"I can understand the fans' frustration. We are frustrated also."

Meanwhile, Yoni Buyens' third minute penalty for Charlton ensured new Watford manager Oscar Garcia suffered a 1-0 defeat in his debut at the Valley.

It was tough luck on former Brighton boss Garcia, who has just replaced Giuseppe Sannino in the Hornets hot seat, as Charlton had to dig deep to hold onto their unbeaten start under Belgian boss Bob Peeters.

Buyens' winner came when Jordan Cousins' pass freed Igor Vetokele, who nipped between two defenders before he was hauled down by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

"It just wasn't our day in front of goal. I'm not worried by this," Garcia said.

"A lot of people told me this was our best performance this season which makes me proud."

Norwich produced a superb second-half fightback to claim a 4-2 victory at Cardiff.

The Canaries, unbeaten since their opening day defeat at Wolves, were awful during the first half and trailed to goals from Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson.

But quickfire strikes from Martin Olsson and Wes Hoolahan levelled matters early in the second half, before Michael Turner and substitute Cameron Jerome finished the job.

"They had to have the rocket at half-time as the first-half performance was nowhere near good enough, and it was justified by the second half performance," Norwich manager Neil Adams said.

Teenager Alex Mowatt's 76th minute goal rescued a point for Leeds at Birmingham as the home side had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Ben Marshall's double helped Blackburn come from behind to defeat Wigan 3-1 at Ewood Park.

Ipswich secured their first victory since the opening day of the season as Millwall were beaten 2-0 at Portman Road.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough won 2-1 at Huddersfield and Brentford beat Brighton 3-2.

Blackpool got their first point of the season after a 0-0 draw with Wolves, Bolton shared a goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday and Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Rotherham.


http://www.sportsfan.com.au/fulham-in-crisis-after-3-0-loss-to-reading/tabid/91/newsid/143312/default.aspx?