Sunday Fulham Stuff (30/11/14)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Schwarzer Loan Bid Thwarted
   
The Football League loan window slammed shut on Thursday night and we understand that Fulham were thwarted in a bid to bring an old favourite back to Craven Cottage.

It appears that the plan was to bring Mark Schwarzer back to the Cottage from Stamford Bridge, on loan, for the remainder of the season.

The plan seemed to have good foundations with Schwarzer third choice behind Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech at the Premier League club.

However, Chelsea were reticent that a deal could not be done and the 42 year-old Australian will not be pulling on our green jersey again.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=378298#ixzz3KUBXVUoL

[WhiteJC]

 
Former Fulham And Swindon Defender Signs Up

Yeovil Town have completed the signing of former Fulham player Alex Smith on a short term deal. The 23 year old has penned a one month contract with the club to take him through as far as the January transfer window - however he will not be available to play in this afternoon's home match against Preston North End, due to registration deadline rules.

Born in Croydon on October 31st 1991, he is generally regarded as a left-sided defender, although can play further up the flank. He spent 11 seasons with Fulham, running through their academy system, and was given a professional contract with them in 2009. His one and only first team appearance for the club came during the 2012-13 season when he came on as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion.

Smith has had Football League experience with Leyton Orient, and Swindon Town, with a further loan spell with Stevenage sandwiched between that. His Leyton Orient spell came during the 2012-13 season, with four appearances to his name, whilst his time with Swindon came shortly after he was released at the end of that season, signing a one year contract with the Wiltshire side. There he made ten appearances for the club, scoring one goal.

He signs as a free agent, and therefore is not constrained by any loan rules. He should become available for next weekend's match against Accrington Stanley.


http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/news.asp?NewsItemId=22683

[WhiteJC]

 
Result: Fulham bounce back to sink Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham ended Brighton & Hove Albion's three match unbeaten streak with a dramatic comeback victory at the AMEX Community stadium this afternoon.

Darren Bent nearly opened the scoring for his new club when his diving header from Joe Bennett's cross was somehow flicked off the line by the foot of Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.

From the resulting corner, Lewis Dunk inexplicably sent the ball over the bar from just two yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Just after the restart Ross McCormack delivered a cross for Hugo Rodallega, but the Colombian striker could only bundle the ball wide.

However, the home side finally took the lead on 52 minutes when Adrian Colunga found Bent who calmly slipped the ball beyond Bettinelli from a tight angle to open his account for his new club.

Brighton's lead lasted just 10 minutes though as Lasse Vigen Christensen teed up Rodallega who made no mistake firing into the top corner from close range.

Fulham then completed their comeback on 77 minutes when Bryan Ruiz's shot deflected of Christensen and flew beyond David Stockdale in the Brighton goal.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/result/result-fulham-bounce-back-to-sink-brighton_190743.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham cure travel sickness with comeback win at Brighton

The Whites turn the tables on Albion after Darren Bent's debut goal


Goalscorers: Fulham's Lasse Vigen Christensen celebrates with Hugo Rodallega

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Fulham

Fulham came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium and end their recent travel sickness.

The Cottagers had only won of their seven fixtures on the road before today but they gave their 3,000 travelling fans something to cheer about with a 2-1 comeback win in East Sussex.

Darren Bent looked to have come back to haunt his old side before Hugo Rodallega and an instinctive Lasse Vigen Christensen finish turned the tables on the Seagulls.

Bent, relegated while on loan at Craven Cottage last season, was handed his Brighton debut after joining on a one-month deal from Aston Villa this week.

Two more former Whites, Aaron Hughes and goalkeeper David Stockdale, also turned out for Sami Hyypia's side against their old club.

Jack Grimmer was thrown straight into the Fulham line-up after being recalled from his stint at Shrewsbury Town but Dan Burn missed out as he served a one-match suspension.

On-loan Manchester City youngster Seko Fofana had to settle for a place on the bench for Kit Symons' side.

Brighton manager Hyypia was forced into an early substitution as Kazenga LuaLua limped off with an injury and had to be replaced by Rohan Ince.

Neither side could find a way through in the opening 45 minutes as Bent was twice denied by Marcus Bettinelli and Bryan Ruiz went close at the other end.

Rodallega really should have changed that straight after the restart following good work from Ross McCormack but the Colombian could only find the side netting.

Fulham were made to pay for that miss moments later when, predictably, Bent latched onto an Adrian Colunga pass and fired home before celebrating in front of the away fans.

The lead lasted just 10 minutes.

Rodallega, guilty of wasting that earlier chance, redeemed himself by blasting past Stockdale after being put through by Christensen.

Bent almost restored Brighton's advantage when he rounded Bettinelli but he fluffed his finish, much to the amusement of the 3,000 travelling Whites at the Amex.

And they were sent home happy when Christensen, architect of Fulham's first goal, diverted home Ruiz's wayward effort to secure victory for the visitors.

Colunga's red card for a second bookable offence in stoppage time added insult to injury.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Grimmer (Zverotic, 85), Hutchinson, Bodurov, Stafylidis, Ruiz (Woodrow, 80), Christensen, Parker, Hyndman (Fofana, 63), McCormack, Rodallega.

Subs (not used): Kiraly, Roberts, Dembele, Williams.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/fulham-cure-travel-sickness-comeback-8199013?

[WhiteJC]

 
Brighton 1 Fulham 2: Darren Bent scores against former club but Kit Symons men fight back to claim victory

Darren Bent scored on his Brighton debut but it was not enough to prevent the Seagulls slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to fellow-strugglers Fulham.

The former England striker was signed on loan from Aston Villa this week and made an immediate impact at the Amex Stadium with the opening goal early in the second half.

However, Brighton's lead lasted just 10 minutes before Hugo Rodallega struck an equaliser and Lasse Vigan Christensen's goal then turned the match in Fulham's favour.

Defeat for the home side was compounded by the last-minute dismissal of Adrian Colunga as Sami Hyypia's Brighton slipped into the bottom three in the Sky Bet Championship.

Brighton made a fast start by forcing four corners inside the first two minutes and Bent quickly made his presence felt, with Fulham defender Konstantinos Stafylidis making a decisive intervention.

Veteran Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes, retaining his place in Brighton's starting line-up with Gordon Greer out injured, then put a deflected shot wide before coming to his side's rescue at the other end.

Hughes kept his cool to make an important clearing header following Shaun Hutchinson's knock down at the far post.

Brighton stand-in captain Lewis Dunk headed over from an Elliott Bennett corner after Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli superbly kept out a Bent header with his leg.

The Seagulls were forced into making a change midway through the first half when Kazenga LuaLua was unable to run off an injury to his left leg and was replaced by Rohan Ince.

Bent went close again for Brighton just before the break, forcing Bettinelli to save with his feet after a neat pass from Colunga.

The Seagulls had a let-off shortly after the interval when Ross McCormack got the better of Dunk but Rodallega wastefully put the ball wide from a good position.

Bent, making his first league start for seven months, then struck to break the deadlock on 52 minutes.

Spaniard Colunga supplied the perfect pass and 30-year-old Bent beat Bettinelli with a first-time shot which went through the keeper's legs.

Brighton keeper David Stockdale, who spent six years at Craven Cottage, was called into action when he leapt to confidently hold a deep cross by Jack Grimmer.

The Seagulls could only hold on to their lead for 10 minutes though as Rodallega levelled with a clinical finish, firing home first time into the top of the net after a pass by Christensen.

Brighton were fortunate not to have gone behind shortly after when Bryan Ruiz headed a great chance wide at the far post.

And Fulham, who were increasingly confident, threatened again through a free-kick from McCormack which was flicked over the bar by Dunk.

However, it was Christensen who struck to give Fulham victory with a deflected shot 13 minutes from time after a pass from Ruiz.

Colunga was sent off in added time, collecting his second booking for a needless foul on Fulham captain Scott Parker.

Keeper Bettinelli then swooped to get in ahead of Bent by confidently claiming a low cross from Gary Gardner.


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-1-fulham-2-darren-bent-scores-against-former-club-but-kit-symons-men-fight-back-to-claim-victory-9892954.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Manager Reaction

Fulham boss Kit Symons once again praised the character of his side as the Whites came from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Trailing to Darren Bent's early second-half strike, the Whites hit back through Hugo Rodallega and Lasse Vigen Christensen to claim the three points and leave Symons a happy man.

"It was a fairly even game but it was there for the taking and we did that," he said. "We showed real character to come from a goal behind. We had to weather an early storm, we didn't start particularly well but we stayed in the game and overall I've got no arguments with the win!"

By their own high standards, Rodallega and Ross McCormack cut quiet figures in the first half. But the pair burst into life after the restart and Symons said: "As a pairing, they've done exceptionally well since I've taken over. They were quiet in the first half but there was a big improvement in the second.

"It was a quiet first half for us as a team. We huffed and puffed and showed some nice ideas without being clinical enough. But there's no doubt that Hugo and Ross are a good strike pair and link-up very well.

"I had words to the whole team about what we needed to do better at half-time. We needed to move the ball quicker and be a bit brighter in some of our play. Second half certainly, we were better. We created a fair few chances and I was delighted with the win."

The win saw the Whites climb up to 16th place in the table, nine points off the Play-Off places.

"We've got our foot on the accelerator now and I just want to keep on trying to improve every week," continued Symons. "We work in training on every aspect of the game and come every matchday if we can make small improvements then we'll end up in a decent place.

"It's going in the right direction and I'm very pleased with the response I've had from the players, staff and fans; it's been brilliant and I couldn't have asked for more.

"We've got one eye over our shoulders; I wouldn't get blasé about it as you can very easily get sucked back into a real scrap in this league. I'm fully aware of that and I'm under no illusions that it will be tough to climb our way up the table but I also know it's very achievable."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/november/29/manager-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
Kit Symons: Fulham have foot on the gas after Brighton win

Whites boss reckons club can power away from danger zone after 2-1 comeback

Manager Kit Symons says Fulham have got their foot on the gas and won't let up as they powered away from the relegation zone with victory at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Former Whites loanee Darren Bent scored on his Seagulls debut but the Cottagers responded through Hugo Rodallega and Lasse Vigen Christensen.

Fulham had been in reverse under Felix Magath but with Symons at the wheel things have started to improve and this latest win saw them climb to 16th in the Championship.

Despite now being just nine points off the play-offs, the Whites boss still has one eye over his shoulder but is confident his side can pull clear of the bottom of the table.

"We've got our foot on the accelerator now and I just want to keep on trying to improve every week," Symons said.

"We work in training on every aspect of the game and come every matchday if we can make small improvements then we'll end up in a decent place.

"It's going in the right direction and I'm very pleased with the response I've had from the players, staff and fans; it's been brilliant and I couldn't have asked for more.

"We've got one eye over our shoulders; I wouldn't get blasé about it as you can very easily get sucked back into a real scrap in this league.

"I'm under no illusions that it will be tough to climb our way up the table but I also know it's very achievable."

Symons was pleased his Fulham side showed resilience to secure the victory after falling behind to Bent's goal at the Amex.

"It was a fairly even game but it was there for the taking and we did that," he added.

"We showed real character to come from a goal behind. We had to weather an early storm, we didn't start particularly well but we stayed in the game and overall I've got no arguments with the win."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kit-symons-fulham-foot-gas-8199507?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham come from behind to earn a superb 2-1 away win at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Sky Bet Championship.

Goals from Hugo Rodallega and Lasse Vigen Christensen saw Fulham come from behind to earn a 2-1 away win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

After a goalless first half in which Marcus Bettinelli had made two outstanding saves from former Fulham loanee Darren Bent, Brighton went in front in the 52nd minute. Bent latched onto Adrian Colunga's pass and saw his shot take the slightest of deflections off Nikolay Bodurov to beat Bettinelli.

But Fulham were level exactly 10 minutes later. Lasse Vigen Christensen danced his way past two Brighton players and pulled the ball back for Hugo Rodallega who smashed the ball past David Stockdale.

And with 13 minutes remaining Fulham went in front when Christensen diverted Ruiz's scuffed shot past a stranded Stockdale.

Brighton were reduced to 10 men late on when Colunga, who had already been booked, picked up a second yellow card for a late lunge on Scott Parker and the Whites held on to record a vital three points and climb up the Sky Bet Championship table.

Fulham boss Kit Symons made three changes from the team that lost 2-1 at Brentford last time out. After being recalled from his loan spell at Shrewsbury Town, Jack Grimmer came in for his debut at right-back in place of Elsad Zverotić. Shaun Hutchinson replaced the suspended Dan Burn at centre-half and Emerson Hyndman came in for George Williams in midfield.

Brighton named three former Fulham players in their starting XI in Stockdale, Aaron Hughes and Bent. It was the latter's debut for the Seagulls following his loan switch from Aston Villa earlier in the week.

The Seagulls started brightly but a succession of early corners came to nothing. Bettinelli then kept the scores level with an unbelievable save from Bent in the 14th minute. Joe Bennett's cross was met by the striker whose header was kept out by Bettinelli's right leg. From the resulting corner, a stretching Lewis Dunk turned a flick-on over the bar from close range.

At the other end three minutes later, Ruiz played a one-two with Christensen and jinked his way into the box but Stockdale raced out to beat away the Costa Rican's flick.

The game turned somewhat scrappy after that with neither side really causing the other any problems. That was until two minutes before half-time when Bent was put clear and held off the challenge off Bodurov only to see his shot turned behind by the outrushing Bettinelli.

Grimmer was then booked for catching Elliott Bennett before the half-time whistle sounded.

Fulham had a great chance to open the scoring just a couple of minutes into the second half. Ross McCormack got to the byline and cut the ball back for Rodallega only for the Colombian to send his shot into the side-netting.

The miss came back to haunt Fulham as Bent opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, latching onto Colunga's cross and seeing his shot from six yards take a nick off Bodurov to deceive Bettinelli. The striker celebrated by running the length of the field to cup his ear to the travelling support.

The Whites responded but McCormack slashed Rodallega's cross wide at the far post, before the Colombian hitman smashed Fulham level just after the hour mark. There seemed little on when Christensen picked up the ball. But the midfielder tip-toed past two Brighton players and into the area before pulling the ball back for Rodallega to fire home.

Loan arrival Seko Fofana then replaced Hyndman in Fulham's first change and Rodallega could have made it 2-1 when he met McCormack's cross to the far post but turned over from just a couple of yards out.

The game had suddenly opened up and Parker went into the book for fouling Colunga from behind just outside the area, before Bent latched onto Bruno Saltor's pass and nicked the ball around Bettinelli but saw it go out of play.

The Whites went in front in the 72nd minute. The ball was worked to Ruiz who scuffed his shot towards goal. It would have been easy for Stockdale but Christensen stuck out a leg to divert it past the Brighton keeper.

Brighton substitute Solly March saw a cross flash across the face of goal, before Ruiz, who appeared to be injured, made way for Cauley Woodrow. Fulham's final change saw Zverotić replace Grimmer.

McCormack was booked late on for stopping Brighton from taking a free-kick quickly and Colunga was shown his marching orders in stoppage time when he caught Parker to pick up a second yellow card.

The Seagulls through everything forward in the dying seconds but the Whites stood firm to record an excellent away win.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2014_2015/league/away/brighton-and-hove-albion

[WhiteJC]

 
Post-match reaction to Fulham's 2-1 victory over Brighton.

Fulham boss Kit Symons is convinced his players are "heading in the right direction" but warned they still have much to do following their 2-1 victory over Brighton.

Loan signing Darren Bent gave Brighton the lead at the Amex Stadium, but second-half goals from Hugo Rodallega and Lasse Vigen Christensen gave Symons his sixth win in a dozen Sky Bet Championship games since taking over.

Fulham were rooted to the bottom of the Championship with only one point from their opening seven matches when Symons took charge, and he believes his men are capable of improvement in all areas.

The former Wales international said: "We will keep trying to improve on every aspect of the game. We want to get up in a decent place and are certainly going in the right direction.

"In this league you're never out of a relegation battle until you're safe and the players must not be complacent. You can get sucked into a scrap and I've seen both sides of it."

Brighton finished with 10 men, after the stoppage-time sending-off of Spanish striker Adrian Colunga for two yellow cards.

Symons felt his team, now up to 16th place, did particularly well in coming back strongly after a slow opening.

He added: "The boys showed real good character after we didn't start well. We weren't clinical enough but our two strikers were excellent in the second half."

Brighton have dropped into the bottom three after winning only one of their last 15 league games and manager Sami Hyypia says the mental side of the players' game has to improve.

The Seagulls have a bad habit of throwing away leads and the former Liverpool defender said: "It's more of a mental thing.

"We need to be mentally strong and keep the ball until the 90th minute. There would be something wrong if the fans weren't frustrated."

Hyypia admitted it was "not a nice situation" to be in the bottom three and felt it was the responsibility of everyone involved to turn the form around.

"It concerns me. It is not a nice situation," Hyypia said.

"We need to turn it around very quickly. It is a very tight league and if you win a few games you'll be in mid-table.

"It's not a nice position to be in and the fans have a right to be unhappy. We must try to make everything better.

"We can affect what we do on the training field and we are working hard to correct it."

Hyypia felt the arrival of former England striker Bent had given the club a big boost, but he warned that the 30-year-old would not "save us alone".

"Everyone has to toughen up and be more concentrated," Hyypia added. "Darren is a good addition for us, but we have to all take responsibility."


http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-reaction/313987/-?

[Fernhurst]

Thank you JC  :54: