Wednesday Fulham Stuff (21/01/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Sunderland vs Fulham: Who is the referee for the FA Cup fourth round tie?

Anthony Taylor will referee the Black Cats' FA Cup fourth round tie against Fulham at the Stadium of Light this weekend


Referee Anthony Taylor
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Cheshire official Taylor will take charge of Sunderland for the third time this season, having previously refereed the Black Cats' Tyne-Wear derby win last month and the goalless draw at Burnley back in September.

So far this season, he has 85 yellow cards and three reds in 20 games in all competitions.


http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-vs-fulham-who-referee-8476785?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham captain set to miss either Forest or Sunderland

Parker fitness levels closely monitored by Whites physics


To play or rest? Parker
Scott Parker is set to sit either the FA Cup tie at Sunderland on Saturday or tomorrow night's clash at home to Nottingham Forest.

Three-hard fought matches after tomorrow in 12 days, one of them 105 minutes for Parker, will leave Fulham boss Kit Symons soul searching while he scans recovery charts.

The captain and midfield pivot also played an integral part and all 95m:32s in the 2-1 win over Reading on Saturday.

The 34-year-old may yet come up against the Black Cats and miss starting against a side fresh off a heartening 2-1 away win at Derby on Saturday, but once bitten, Symons is twice shy of making the same mistake on 50-50 fitness decisions.

The gaffer put Lasse Vigen Christensen back in the team against Wolves in the home FA Cup match, and saw the Dane limp off after 32 minutes with a recurrence of a hamstring strain, and out of the reckoning of the next four games including tomorrow night.

"Scott's a really important player to us: he's our captain, our leader, and we will look after him as we do every player, but every player is different," explained the manager.

"Scott's one of our older players and they need to be treated differently compared with our younger boys. We're very mindful of that and that will be taken into consideration."

Whites will also be without long-term injuries Adam Taggart, Tim Hoogland and Fernando Amorebieta, while Sean Kavanagh is also doubtful with a knee problem.

Do you agree with our Fulham predicted starting X1? Tweet or email to GetWestLondon sport.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-captain-set-miss-forest-8474568?

[WhiteJC]

 
Valencia transfer target Bryan Ruiz would be a huge loss for Fulham

Fulham's Bryan Ruiz celebrates with Scott Parker and Shaun Hutchinson (Picture: Getty Images)

I haven't been very nice about Bryan Ruiz in the past. I've always held a simmering disdain for a player who joined Fulham for many millions but never quite matched his fee with effort.

I'd like to apologise for that. Not because I think I was wrong – he still lazes around looking a little disinterested – but because his worth to the club has become increasingly apparent throughout this tumultuous, painful season.

He's not suited to the Championship; you see it in every game he has played for us this year. He is far, far better than that and, in many ways, we don't really deserve him.

But we have him, not least thanks to his extortionate wage demands and the commanding sum Kit Symons would require for his services. Other clubs just seem unwilling to take the risk.

They should, though, in truth. The Costa Rican plays at a level above, a second ahead of his peers. In terms of sheer quality and natural talent, he is probably the best player in this league.

He is irreplaceable in many ways; a player of such innate ability and creativity that, in our league position, on our budget, he just cannot be matched.

When he came on against Reading, for example, to the backdrop of much noise about a potential switch to Valencia, he changed the game.

He took players on, the ball almost sticking to his feet. He opened up space. He saw the intelligent pass that, previously in the tie, nobody had exploited. And it all seemed so effortless to him.

That it was the 29 year-old who would seal the match in the dying moments was incredibly fitting for, over the course of this campaign, our reliance on his mercurial genius has become increasingly apparent.

And so I want to thank him, not merely for his cameo role on Saturday, but for being ridiculously good at playing football.

I doubt it will make him want to stay, but it's certainly worth a try.


http://metro.co.uk/2015/01/20/valencia-transfer-target-bryan-ruiz-would-be-a-huge-loss-for-fulham-5028353/?

[WhiteJC]

 
From The Opposition: Fulham Extend Midfielder Stay

Nottingham Forest travel to Craven Cottage on Wednesday night in the Championship

Both Fulham and the Reds should be in good spirits after stoppage-time winners in their respective weekend fixtures against Reading and Derby County.

The Whites have extended the loan stay of Manchester City's 19-year-old midfielder Seko Fofana who will now remain in West London for the remainder of the season after making 10 appearances since his initial move.

Victory over the Royals came on the back of an FA Cup triumph at Wolves, Fulham winning a penalty shoot-out at Molineux in blizzard conditions.

Captain Scott Parker told his club's official website: "We need to recover now, rest up a little bit because we've had a few hard games. So we'll rest up quickly and go into the Forest game and hopefully we can carry on from a great week by grabbing a third straight win."



http://www.nottinghamforest-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/from_the_opposition_fulham_extend_midfielder_stay_851870/index.shtml?

[WhiteJC]

 
Parker dilemma for Symons

Fulham boss Kit Symons is weighing up whether to rest captain Scott Parker for the visit of Nottingham Forest.

The 34-year-old's fitness will be monitored after three matches in 12 days and he could sit out either against Forest or Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Fellow midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen is set to miss out with a hamstring injury and defender Sean Kavanagh is doubtful with a knee problem while Adam Taggart (groin), Tim Hoogland (hernia) and Fernando Amorebieta (knee) remain sidelined.

Bryan Ruiz could return to the starting line-up after stepping off the bench to score a last-minute winner against Reading on Saturday.

Forest midfielder Andy Reid is set to undergo surgery on his groin injury.

The Irishman, who has started only six games this season due to the problem, faces another four to six weeks on the sidelines.

Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt, Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are doubts after missing out against Derby at the weekend with knocks.

Manager Stuart Pearce could therefore stick with the side which registered a morale-boosting 2-1 win over their rivals.


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/413174/fulham-nottingham-forest/preview?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham gaffer fingers crossed over defender injuries

Double Whites return scheduled for February


Return: Fernando Amorebieta
Fernando Amorebieta and Tim Hoogland have been pencilled in for a return to Fulham action at the beginning of February - provided both defenders suffer no more setbacks.

Amorebieta has been sidelined since he pulled up with the recurrence of a knee injury against Blackpool on November 5. Hoogland, last seen in the 5-2 Capital Cup defeat to derby at the need of October, was spared surgery on a damaged pelvis with a different recovery programme.


Fingers crossed: Hoogland (L)
Both are back running, with boss Kit Symons planning a modified training programme next week - he hopes.

"They're both at the same stage with rehab even though they had different injuries and different treatments. By the end of next week, they should be back in training," added the manager.

"They need CV (cardiovascular) work; friendly games or in-house games, and maybe February for a return - provided there are no more setbacks."

Meanwhile, Symons plots back to back wins against Nottingham Forest after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Reading.

The Whites manager is worried he could face a backlash against a side struggling before they beat fierce rivals Derby, also 2-1.

He said: "Sometimes a team out of form can be a bit like a wounded animal, and we played (and lost to) Cardiff the day they went back to blue, but it's not an option when you play sides. To tell truth, I'm more worried about what we do on the night."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-gaffer-fingers-crossed-over-8479187?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham vs N Forest

Fulham boss Kit Symons is weighing up whether to rest captain Scott Parker for the visit of Nottingham Forest.

The 34-year-old's fitness will be monitored after three matches in 12 days and he could sit out either against Forest or Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Fellow midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen is set to miss out with a hamstring injury and defender Sean Kavanagh is doubtful with a knee problem while Adam Taggart (groin), Tim Hoogland (hernia) and Fernando Amorebieta (knee) remain sidelined.

Bryan Ruiz could return to the starting line-up after stepping off the bench to score a last-minute winner against Reading on Saturday.

Forest midfielder Andy Reid is set to undergo surgery on his groin injury.

The Irishman, who has started only six games this season due to the problem, faces another four to six weeks on the sidelines.

Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt, Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are doubts after missing out against Derby at the weekend with knocks.

Manager Stuart Pearce could therefore stick with the side which registered a morale-boosting 2-1 win over their rivals.


http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-preview/314081/-?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kavanagh's New Deal

The Club is delighted to announce that Sean Kavanagh has signed a new contract which will see him remain at Fulham until 30th June 2018.

The 20-year-old made his debut for the Whites this season and has gone on to make 11 appearances, in which he's shown his versatility operating as a left-back or in midfield.

The highlight of his campaign to date was undoubtedly his sweetly hit winning strike against Norwich City in October – his first professional goal.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/20/kavanaghs-new-deal?

[WhiteJC]

 
LOAN REPORT: Seko Fofana

In this series we ask fans of other clubs for progress reports on the City players currently out on loan. City have some well established players out on loan but the club's increasing focus on youth players makes it important for the fans to keep one eye on the future as well as concentrating on the present.

Seko Fofana has spent the last few months on loan at Fulham after a successful few years in the City reserves. The Frenchman has been seeing plenty of first team action for the Cottagers and has recently had his loan extended until the end of this season showing that both Fulham and City are pleased with the progress he is making. For the inside track we spoke to Fulham fan Ben Weeks who writes for Viva El Fulham and can be found on twitter.


Hi Ben, thanks for coming on. A simple one first up – What's your general impression of Fofana? How's his attitude been?

Here come the buzzwords – Seko Fofana is raw, has plenty of potential and bags of enthusiasm. He seems like a good guy, well able to deal with the fairly unusual circumstances of a loan move. He's played a lot of games for Fulham already and has, to be totally honest, been a mixed bag: a good passer of the ball (he's averaging 87% for us), pacy, direct and offering something different to what Fulham have in the midfield...but he can largely be erratic and sloppy.

Seko's attitude has been exemplary to be fair, he's been absolutely committed on the pitch – you wouldn't guess he's a loanee if you didn't know – and it's nice to see he's embraced his loan club on social media too.

Fofana's pass map vs Brighton

He's still young so there's a lot for him to learn and improve on. Which parts of his game stand out as particularly lacking at the moment?

His touch is quite often appalling, which is a big issue for a team that's focused on keeping possession – if his first touch doesn't spin off his boot, he often gets excited and runs at the opposition extremely directly and with proper power – until his third touch canons off his toe into the knees of their defensive midfielder. Occasionally it appears that he wants to pass rather than take a fairly clear shot at goal. Whether that's because he's a loan player, lacking confidence or else that's how Fulham's coaching staff have directed him I'm not sure, but it can be a bit frustrating.

Fofana's 5 shots taken in 8 appearances for Fulham

He's a central midfielder by trade; is he more suited to an attacking or a defensive role?

It's hard to say given how he's been used by Fulham boss Kit Symons so far. Symons started him out on the right-midfield last weekend against Reading which he really really shouldn't have, because Fofana is not at all a wide-player. Indeed he was brought more central in the second half of that game. Possibly he's slightly more defensive minded than offensive, but as aforementioned he does tend to bomb forward with the ball when he gets the chance – a classic central midfielder in many ways, rather than a modern attacking or defensive midfielder.

Fofana's touch map against Bournemouth showing a fairly even distribution between attack and defence

How useful has he been for Fulham? Would you keep him on after his loan given the opportunity?

For Fulham, probably the most useful aspect of Fofana is his energy and directness, which is something that a central midfield containing Scott Parker can unsurprisingly seem to lack quite often. Seko is a useful tool in terms of driving back an encroaching midfield – another Fulham fan I asked said that when he runs at the opposition, it's evident that they're terrified of him.

As far as keeping him goes: yes, absolutely that would be a good thing as it provides us with that extra option and change in midfield dynamic, but is is by no stretch a necessity.
In a lot of ways I feel he's quite similar to our own (currently injured) Lasse Vigen Christensen and of course, I as a Fulham fan don't want to reduce the playing time of one of our own in favour of a loanee.
(As I write these answers, Seko Fofana's loan at Fulham has indeed been extended until the end of the season, so there you go).
And finally, do you think he has what it takes to eventually break into the City first team?

I don't want to be pessimistic because I do think Fofana has the talent to become a Premier League regular, but I struggle on the basis of what I've seen to see him playing amongst the Yaya Toure's & Fernandinho's of Manchester City. Certainly his passing ability and energy levels are there though, so if he's amongst the right players and coaches to raise his on-the-ball game substantially, who knows.

Thanks again, Ben. That's very interesting and he certainly seems like one City fans should keep watching even if he still has much to learn...


http://www.typicalcity.org/2015/01/20/loan-report-seko-fofana/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Nottm Forest

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Wednesday, 21 January Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Fulham could rest captain Scott Parker after a run of three matches in 12 days, but Bryan Ruiz could start.

Lasse Vigen Christensen has a hamstring injury and defender Sean Kavanagh is doubtful with a knee problem. Adam Taggart (groin), Tim Hoogland (hernia) and Fernando Amorebieta (knee) are out.

Forest midfielder Andy Reid needs surgery on his groin injury and will miss another six weeks.

Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt, Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are doubts.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Nottingham Forest won the earlier meeting this season 5-3 at the City Ground in September - their first win in six meetings in all competitions.

Fulham are unbeaten in the last six meetings at Craven Cottage in all competitions, although they have won only one.

Nottingham Forest's last win there was 1-0 in the old Division Two in January 1975.

Fulham
Fulham won 2-1 against Reading at home on Saturday, after losing their previous three games in the Championship.

Fulham have lost one of their last four games at Craven Cottage in all competitions. Their only defeat at home since early December was 2-0 against Brighton in the league on 29 December.

Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest won 2-1 at Derby on Saturday - their first victory in in nine games in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest have won only two of their last 12 away games in all competitions. Their only other win on the road since August was 3-0 at Wolves in the Championship on 22 November.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30815295

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Real Betis want Fernando Amorebieta

Real Betis are reportedly interested in bringing Fernando Amorebieta back to Spain this month.

The versatile defender currently represents Fulham in the English championship, but has plenty of Spanish experience having played for Athletic bilbao between 2005 and 2013.

According to Marca, Fulham are prepared to let the 29-year-old depart Craven Cottage this month and it is Betis that lead the race.

Betis dropped out of La Liga last season, but they currently sit second in the Segunda Division and are among the favourites to return at the first time of asking.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/betis/transfer-talk/news/report-betis-want-amorebieta_200148.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Gary Rowell column - Sunderland cannot falter against Fulham in FA Cup

AS SUNDERLAND continue to under-perform in the Premier League, the focus this weekend shifts to the FA Cup with Fulham providing the opposition.

Since winning the derby, Sunderland's results have nose-dived and we're in desperate need of a boost. Hopefully a win in the cup and progress to the next round can provide that.

I'm a firm believer that a cup run can help a club improve their league form, rather than it having to be a hindrance.

It can stimulate the fans and provide interest outside the grind of a relegation battle, and if you get a good draw in the fifth round, a trip to Wembley can become a genuine reality.

Yes, some will say a team battling against the drop can do without the distraction of extra games, but for me the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Fulham showed great spirit in their replay against Wolves when they equalised with the last kick of extra-time, then kept their nerve to go through on penalties to earn themselves a trip to Wearside.

They were underdogs in that replay and will be underdogs again on Saturday, but that takes the pressure off them and they can play with freedom, knowing not many will expect Fulham to knock Sunderland out.

On the other hand, Sunderland and especially the fans, will accept nothing less than a win and won't be in a forgiving mood if they don't achieve that.

This could be the perfect game for Jermain Defoe to help him get the match fitness he needs, and hopefully his first goal, and it will also give the fans who weren't at Spurs their first chance to see him in a Sunderland shirt.

There's no grey areas for Sunderland on Saturday, it's a game they are expected to win and if they do, it's job done.

But a defeat or even a draw, which would mean a replay that Gus Poyet will certainly not want, must be out of the equation.


http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/gary-rowell-column-sunderland-cannot-falter-against-fulham-in-fa-cup-1-7059828

[WhiteJC]

 
The Tony Gale Column

Last week was a very enjoyable one for Fulham with a couple of wins under our belt. I was very pleased on Tuesday because my two teams both went through in the FA Cup; West Ham beat Everton on penalties and Fulham beat Wolves on penalties. I was delighted by that, it was a great result. The cup is so important because it's something else to compete in and fight for. And what better way to improve confidence than a cup run? No doubt we'll go up to Sunderland on Saturday and make a good fist of it. I'd be very surprised if they put their first team out, bearing in mind they're in trouble in the Premier League, so it could be a good opportunity for us to cause an upset.

We'll give it a good go because a cup run does everyone the world of good. People still talk about the Europa League run, and they'll continue to talk about it for the rest of their lives. That will live with Fulham fans forever. When people demean the Europa League, I say, 'well look at my club – it was the best thing that ever happened to us.' And with the FA Cup people still talk about 1975 when Les Strong played in every game but not the Final, and how it would have been different if he'd featured. (I don't think it would've been, mind!) 

We followed the Wolves win up with a cracking victory at the Cottage on the weekend. Some might say that our stoppage-time winner was a bit harsh on Reading, but I always think things like late goals even themselves out. When you get a late victory it just gives you a little fillip going into the next game. But those three points are so, so important. It was also good to see Alex Kačaniklić get on the scoresheet. He's just come back so that goal will have done his confidence no harm whatsoever. Ryan Tunnicliffe featured too, so it's good for these boys that they've contributed to a win so soon after returning from their loans.

We'll be looking to make it three wins on the spin on Wednesday when Nottingham Forest visit, but we probably couldn't have played them at a worse time because they won their local derby at the weekend with a late goal themselves. They were kind of drifting in the league and Stuart Pearce came under a lot of pressure, but I think we might now find that Forest kick on again because you need something to spark your season and that late goal did. I thought they were going to be promotion favourites, and even title winners, with the way they started the season – they flew out of the traps but now they'd no doubt settle for a Play-Off spot. They've got an outside chance of that, I think. 

When we played Forest earlier in the season, they were top and we were bottom, but now we can go level on points with them if we win. So it's funny how fortunes change, although I knew there'd be a levelling out for us because Kit got off to a blistering start. To say we're three points behind them, you'd have settled for that, but you wouldn't have thought they'd have dropped that low.

There's been plenty of good news coming out of Motspur Park recently, with the Club announcing that George Williams, Cameron Burgess and, most recently, Sean Kavanagh have signed long-term deals. It's good that those boys see their long-term futures at Fulham, but it's important that they don't think they've got their feet under the table. It's crucial now that the people around them – their agents and their families – tell them this should be the springboard. You haven't made it now but this could be the springboard to kick on and have a good career. Twenty or 30 games in a first team doesn't make you a player. A couple of hundred, then you've made it.

That's one of the advantages of appointing a manager like Kit in the first place, because he not only knows the players, but he also knows what surrounds them when you're involved in their development at a younger age. He understands it a lot more than most people.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/20/the-tony-gale-column?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ref Watch: Taylor In Charge Of Sunderland v Fulham
   
The referee for this weekend's FA Cup tie against Fulham will be Cheshire based Anthony Taylor.

Earlier in the season Taylor was the referee in Sunderland's 0-0 draw with Burnley and in December he was back to officiate the Tyne-Wear derby which Sunderland won 1-0.

Eight yellow cards were shown that afternoon of which four went to Sunderland players John O'Shea, Seb Coates, Lee Cattermole and Connor Wickham.

Including the two Sunderland games, Taylor has been in charge of 20 games in which he has shown an amazing 80 yellow cards and three red.

Taylor will be assisted by Michael Salisbury and Mark Dwyer, the fourth official will be Andrew Madeley.



Read more: http://www.sunderland.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=385217#ixzz3PO78dOBz

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Nottingham Forest: Talking tactics – more of the same please

Life is so much simpler when you have won.

And, as Stuart Pearce ponders his options for tomorrow night, surely he has only one real option – to change absolutely nothing. As long as Michail Antonio recovers from his rib injury and Britt Assombalonga has no ill effects from his hip problem then the Nottingham Forest manager's job should be a simple one.

Following a team performance at Derby in which the Forest line-up looked balanced, it feels as though Pearce has found a successful formula.

Ben Osborn looked comfortable on the left, Antonio a threat on the right and a fluidity in the centre of the pitch allowed, at various points, both Robert Tesche and Henri Lansbury to get forward in support of lone striker Britt Assombalonga, while Gary Gardner simply covered every blade of grass.



Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Fulham-v-Nottingham-Forest-Talking-tactics-8211/story-25894434-detail/story.html?#ixzz3PO7XWlJN
Follow us: @Nottingham_Post on Twitter | NottinghamPostOnline on Facebook

[WhiteJC]

 
Youngster Commits to Cottage Future
   
As Fulham Football Club prepares for the future, a future we hope will see us make a return to the Premier League, the club has announced that another of our youngsters has committed himself to our club.

Our young midfielder, Sean Kavanagh, has put pen to paper on a new contract.

The young Irish midfielder who turns twenty-one this Saturday has signed a deal that will see him remain at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2018.

Good news all round I`d say.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=385225#ixzz3PO7pcflF

[WhiteJC]

 
Seko Fofana extends Fulham stay

Manchester City midfielder to remain with the Cottagers


Staying put: Seko Fofana will remain at Fulham
Seko Fofana's loan at Fulham has been extended until the end of the season.

The Manchester City youngster has featured 10 times for the Whites since initially joining in November, and has now been given the green light to remain at Craven Cottage for the next four months.

Fofana, 19, told the club's website: "I'm delighted to be prolonging my stay at Fulham and I want to continue to help the team win as many games as possible.

"I have enjoyed my time here so much and gained a lot of experience of playing first team football in the Championship.

"I thank Manchester City for allowing me to extend my stay here and Kit Symons who has shown a lot of faith in me.

"I also would like to thank my team-mates who have made my integration into the first team easier and our supporters who have shown me a lot of affection since I joined."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/seko-fofana-extends-fulham-stay-8478879?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham v Forest - Early Team News
   
Wednesday evening sees Fulham welcome Nottingham Forest to Craven Cottage.

It is a game Fulham supporters believe the Cottagers should win considering Forest`s poor run of form under Stuart Pearce.

But, as the game approaches, what are the early indications when it comes to the two team line-ups?

With regards to Fulham, it is intimated that Kit Symons may well choose to rest Scott Parker with the veteran midfielder having played three times in twelve days.

With regards to players that are unavailable through injury, the following are side-lined,

• Lasse Vigen Christensen (hamstring)
• Sean Kavanagh (knee)
• Adam Taggart (groin)
• Tim Hoogland (hernia)
• Fernando Amorebieta (knee)

As for Nottingham Forest, their midfielder Andy Reid is definitely out after it was confirmed he needs surgery on his groin injury.

Also side-lined are:-

• Michael Mancienne
• Matty Fryatt
• Dexter Blackstock
• Danny Fox

COYW`s


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=385240#ixzz3PQYPZSZr

[WhiteJC]

 
Match pack: Fulham (A)

Pre-match brief

Fresh from their thrilling 2-1 victory over local rivals Derby County on Saturday, Nottingham Forest are on the road once again tomorrow night as they head to the capital to take on Kit Symons and his Fulham side.

The last-gasp win at the iPro Stadium has injected new life into Forest's stuttering season and Stuart Pearce's men will make the journey to Craven Cottage looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-November.

Fulham will be high on confidence themselves after they notched an injury-time winner to defeat Reading at the weekend meaning that the gap between Forest and the Cottagers stays at just three points.

Team news

Forest manager Stuart Pearce may be tempted to stick with the side that beat Derby on Saturday with no new injury concerns or suspensions to The Reds' squad following the game at the iPro Stadium.

The trip to Craven Cottage tomorrow may come too soon for Michael Mancienne and Matty Fryatt as the pair recover from their respective injuries while Chris Cohen, Andy Reid and Dexter Blackstock remain in the treatment room.

Fulham defender Sean Kavanagh missed the weekend win over Reading with a cut knee but could return in time for tomorrow night's game while midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen may be fit after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Cottagers boss Kit Symons will be without the services of defenders Tim Hoogland (hernia) and Fernando Amorebieta (knee) while Australian striker Adam Taggart is a long-term absentee with a groin injury sustained in pre-season.

View from the Red corner

Stuart Pearce: "They've got two youngsters, Dembele and Woodrow, who have come through the academy set-up with Steve Wigley, and Patrick Roberts on the bench. They've got a good squad situation and it's going to be a tough game for us, there's no doubt.

"They're certainly picking up after a horrific start to the season, but it should be a game we go in to with our tails up, saying 'We need to build from the weekend. Can we get a positive result to keep the momentum going now?'"

Click here to read more of Pearce's thoughts ahead of the match against Fulham.

What's the form guide?

Nottingham Forest recorded their first win in nine matches on Saturday as Ben Osborn's thunderous last-minute strike earned them all three points at the home of near neighbours Derby County in a 2-1 win.

Victory at the iPro Stadium moved Forest back into the top half of the Sky Bet Championship table and another win at Craven Cottage tomorrow night would see The Reds leapfrog three teams and move up to ninth.

Fulham recorded their first league win in five attempts on Saturday as Bryan Ruiz's 93rd-minute strike was enough to see off Reading 2-1 at Craven Cottage and move the Cottagers up to 15th in the Sky Bet Championship table.

Kit Symons' men have been in inconsistent form on their own turf in recent weeks having suffered defeats to Watford (5-0) and Brighton (2-0) either side of a crushing 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Haven't we met before?

The two teams last met back in September at The City Ground as Britt Assombalonga's excellent hat-trick was enough to guide Forest to a thrilling 5-3 win in a game which spelled the end of former Fulham boss Felix Magath's reign.

February 2001 was the last time the two sides met at Craven Cottage as Louis Saha's 20th-minute goal separated the teams with The Reds fielding a team which included Dave Beasant, David Johnson and Ben Olsen.

Are tickets available?

Around 800 tickets remain for Nottingham Forest's trip to Fulham on Wednesday night. For more details and a list of prices, please click here.

How do I get there?

At the end of the M1, turn right (west) onto the A406 (North Circular) and follow it towards Harrow for nearly 4.5 miles. Turn left (east) onto the A40 heading into London (passing close to Loftus Road) and after a little over four miles turn right (west) onto the A402 for just about 350 yards.

Turn left (south) along the A219 for a little over half a mile. This brings you into Hammersmith where you turn right onto the A315 and then after just 130 yards or so turn left (south) back onto the A219. Follow this road for a little over a mile, and the stadium is located down the side streets off to your right.

The closest station to Craven Cottage is Putney Bridge which is approximately a 10-20 minute walk from the stadium. Exit the station and walk through the underpass into Bishops Park. Follow the path through Bishops Park, along the river until you reach the stadium.

What if I can't make the game?

Live audio commentary will be available on Forest Player, as well as free live text commentary on www.nottinghamforest.co.uk and via @Official_NFFC on Twitter.

Forest Player will also have extended match highlights from 12pm on Thursday, as well as all the reaction from the Forest camp.

What are the odds?

Nottingham Forest are the slight 2/1 outsiders to make it two wins on the spin at Craven Cottage tomorrow night with the draw priced at 12/5 and a home win at 13/10.

Ben Osborn struck a stunning winning goal at Derby on Saturday and supporters can back the midfielder at 5/1 to find the back of the net once again in West London tomorrow night.

Unsurprisingly a repeat of Forest's 5-3 win back in September is a long shot at 250/1 while a potentially more realistic 2-0 win for The Reds has odds of 14/1.

Please visit www.skybet.com/forest for all the latest odds for Fulham v Forest.

Who is in charge?

Referee: Andy Haines
Assistant Referees: John Busby and Andrew Laver
Fourth Official: Darren Blunden

Who else is playing?

Leeds v Bournemouth (Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm)
Middlesbrough v Cardiff (Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm)
Brighton v Ipswich (Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm)



Read more at http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fulham-v-forest-match-pack-2212559.aspx#7wgOFszxoq9kBClR.99

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Next At Home: Nottingham Forest

Head down to Craven Cottage this evening when Fulham take on Nottingham Forest (21st January, 7.45pm) under the Cottage floodlights.

Tickets for the match are available to purchase on General Sale now, priced from £30 adults and £15 juniors.

Supporters will also be able to purchase tickets at the ground this evening; on advertised cash turnstiles in the Hammersmith and Putney Ends, and from the Ticket Office for tickets in the Johnny Haynes and Riverside Stands.

Make sure you're at the Cottage for our final home game of the month, as the Kit Symons' boys look to make it two league wins on the bounce!

Forest Tickets
A number of Matchday Hospitality packages remain available to buy tonight, with our London's Original in McBride's package just £50 per person (+VAT) at this match.

Keep warm pre-game, at half-time and after the final whistle in McBride's Bar, as well as enjoy the game from seating on the half-way line.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/january/21/forest-tickets?