Saturday Fulham Stuff (27/12/14)...

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Match report: AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Fulham

AFC Bournemouth remain top of the Sky Bet Championship following a 2-0 win over Fulham on Boxing Day.
Having briefly been knocked off top spot by Ipswich Town in the lunchtime kick-off, the Cherries returned to first place thanks to Brett Pitman's early goal and Harry Arter's injury time finish.

Pitman made it two goals in his last two games, heading home from Matt Ritchie's corner in the ninth minute.

The Cherries had further chances in the opening period and Pitman missed a penalty just after half-time.

Meanwhile, Fulham produced an improved performance after the interval and almost found an equaliser through Ross McCormack, with Hugo Rodallega and Brian Ruiz failing to get a touch on the strike which went just wide.

But it was Pitman's finish and Arter's fantastic drive which proved to be decisive and kept the Cherries' unbeaten league run, which now stands at 13 matches, going.

The Cherries made an electric start, with Pitman going close before Nikolay Bodurov awkwardly cleared behind for a corner into the sidenetting.

But Pitman made no mistake as he darted to the near post and glanced Ritchie's inswinging corner beyond the goalkeeper.

Eddie Howe's team kept up the pressure and Marc Pugh's penalty appeal was soon followed by a long range effort from Callum Wilson.

Fulham couldn't get out of their own half, with Marcus Bettinelli producing a full stretch save to push away Ritchie's powerful free-kick and then getting up again to prevent Wilson setting up a tap in for Pitman.

A well worked move then created space for Arter and he guided his shot over in one of the hosts' best openings in the first half.

The early exchanges of the second period went Fulham's way as McCormack sent a strike just wide and Pitman missed a penalty.

Referee Keith Stroud had pointed the spot for Jack Grimmer's foul on Wilson, only for Bettinelli to read Pitman's plans and block the finish with his legs.

It was the away side who dominated after the restart and on loan stopper Artur Boruc could only watch on as Scott Parker's long range shot rolled just wide of the post.

However, it was Parker's brother-in-law who ended up on the winning side as the Cherries held on to their win to make it four straight league victories.

In fact, it was Arter who had the last word, finding the bottom corner at the end of an incisive counter attack in injury time.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith 90), Arter, Surman, Pugh, Wilson (Kermorgant 90), Pitman (Gosling 86).

Unused substitutes: Camp, Cargill, O'Kane, Fraser.

Booked: Pitman

Goal: Pitman (9), Arter (90)

Fulham: Bettinelli, Grimmer, Bodurov, Hutchinson, Stafylidis, Parker, Christensen (Williams 67), Fofana, Ruiz (Roberts 79), McCormack, Rodallega (Woodrow 87).

Unused substitutes: Kiraly, Zverotić, Hyndman, Burn.

Booked: Williams

Attendance: 10,926 (including 1,382 Fulham supporters)


Read more at http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/match-report-afc-bournemouth-fulham-2160044.aspx#yKkvgKJR5eQvhjqP.99

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AFC Bournemouth: Fulham boss Symons plays

FULHAM manager Kit Symons this evening quashed rumours linking the London club with a transfer window move for Cherries star Matt Ritchie.

Ritchie was the subject of speculation in the build up to Fulham's Boxing Day trip to Dean Court with suggestions the Cottagers could be plotting a £4million swoop for the winger.

However, when asked by the Daily Echo whether there had been any substance to the rumours, Symons replied: "No, not as far as I know.

"He is an excellent player and in really good form so I am sure a host of clubs would be interested in him but he is very much a Bournemouth player and playing for a team at the top of the league."

Symons, who has steadied the ship at Craven Cottage since replacing Felix Magath in October, saw goals from Brett Pitman and Harry Arter earn Cherries a 2-0 win.

Victory saw Cherries return to the Championship summit with Eddie Howe's team having registered 45 points and scored 52 goals at the halfway stage of the season.


http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/11689468._/?

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Nine wins on the spin for Cherries

A ninth minute header by Brett Pitman and a goal in stoppage time by Harry Arter gave AFC Bournemouth a 2-0 win over Fulham and maintained their position as SkyBet Championship leaders.

Cherries dictated the game for long periods and with better finishing - Pitman missed a second half penalty - would have won by a wider margin.

Fulham were on the back foot from the start as they struggled to cope with Bournemouth's pacey, high tempo game.

Playing neat intricate football, full of sharp passing, Cherries stretched the visitors on both flanks, with Simon Francis rampaging down the right touchline while Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels linked on the left.

Brett Pitman and Callum Wilson went close, but in the eighth minute Bournemouth took the lead, the goal being fuelled by one of Francis's raids down the right.

Bournemouth forced a corner on the right and from Pugh's short ball, Matt Richie picked out Pitman to send a glancing header into the top corner past Marcus Bettinelli.

Bournemouth pressed forward, with Wilson having a shot saved and then Bettinelli flung himself low to his left to make a superb double save.

He initially blocked a fierce low 25-yarder from Ritchie and then made a key follow-up save as Wilson moved in.

Fulham gradually began to get a foothold, with Lasse Vigen Christensen becoming more involved on the right.

But Bournemouth continued to look impressive and, on the balance of play, deserved more than their one-goal half-time lead.

Significantly, Bournemouth failed to kill Fulham off and in the opening minutes of the second half the Whites might well have equalised.

Ross McCormack, playing a deep lying role, cut in from the left and fizzed a low shot into the danger zone, but neither Hugo Rodallega nor Bryan Ruiz were able to get a crucial final touch.

Five minutes after the break Bournemouth wasted a gift wrapped chance to double their lead from the penalty spot.

Wilson's pace took him in from the left before Jack Grimmer bought him down.

However Pitman drilled his spot kick straight at the sprawling Bettinelli, who blocked the shot before Fulham cleared the danger.

Fulham, enjoying a better second period, responded with Scott Parker sending a low deflected shot behind for a corner, but as the half progressed so Bournemouth look the sting out of the visitors' threats.

Kit Symons rang the changes for Fulham, using all three substitutes, but Arter who clinched the points in stoppage time.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball and ran deep into Fulham territory before sending a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.



http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/395132/afc-bournemouth-fulham/report?

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Fulham Reaction - Cottagers

Here's the post match reaction from the Cottagers after their defeat on the south coast.

Manager Kit Symons was quoted after the match as saying: "We said at half-time we'd weathered the storm a little bit. We had some opportunities, but it wasn't quite to be. We rode our luck at times, but we had to be brave and take the game to Bournemouth and I thought we did that in the second period".


http://www.afcbournemouth-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/fulham_reaction__cottagers_849499/index.shtml?

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JONES SET TO TAKE CHARGE FOR FULHAM

Brighton & Hove Albion interim boss is set to take charge of the team for Monday night's trip to Fulham – as chairman Tony Bloom continues his search for the club's new manager.

Chief executive Paul Barber said today that Bloom has identified a shortlist, and the pair have already begun meeting with potential candidates over the Christmas period.

Barber refused to speculate on timescale, but did confirm he expects Jones to lead the team at Craven Cottage in three days time.

Meanwhile, Jones speaking yesterday evening after the 2-2 draw with Reading, said he isn't thinking any further ahead than the Fulham match – with his focus on a game-to-game approach.

"What happens now is up to the board and the chairman to decide. I will plan for training and Fulham, until I hear otherwise from the board then that is what will happen."

"I have got no personal ambitions with regards the situation here, but I am very proud to be employed by Brighton & Hove Albion.

"I was asked to take the team for one game which is what I have done, and I hope that the job that I have done is something of which the club will be proud.
 
"I am not looking any further than that. My family are down for Christmas and I will spend a little time with them this evening before starting to prepare for the next game on Monday."



Read more at http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/brighton-hove-albion-nathan-jones-take-charge-fulham-2165830.aspx#pVL1vuk4ZJidGpy1.99