Thursday Fulham Stuff (23/04/15)...

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Chelsea may miss out on Marcus Bettinelli over playing time concerns

Chelsea may miss out on signing Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli according to the Telegraph because the youngster is concerned that he won't be afforded regular playing time.

The club seem more or less resigned to the fact that longstanding goalkeeper Petr Cech will be moving on during the summer and that means they need to bring in a new keeper to act as back-up to Thibaut Courtois.

With former Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer moving on to Leicester City in January it had seemed as if Chelsea would sign another from their neighbours when reports emerged linking the club with Bettinelli.

However now it seems that the 22-year-old is unsure of the move because he doesn't necessarily think that it will be the best move for his career because at this age he needs game time.

The report goes on to suggest that moves for the likes of Rob Green of QPR or Tottenham Hotspur's Brad Friedel are more likely because of their willingness to play fewer games.

With Courtois and Cech Chelsea had arguably the best goalkeeping set-up in the division but that seems almost certain to be ended over the summer and it will be interesting to see who they decide to bring in.

Marcus Bettinelli has a claim success rate of 96% this season.



Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/chelsea-may-miss-out-on-marcus-bettinelli-over-playing-time-concerns/360105#ABi9gIeAC8XTaptm.99

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Patrick Bamford fit for Middlesbrough's trip to Fulham this weekend

Middlesbrough are set to welcome Patrick Bamford back to their side in time for the trip to Fulham on Saturday, reports Get West London.

The 21-year old has been on loan in the north-east from Chelsea and has scored 19 goals in all competitions including 16 in the Championship with Middlesbrough sitting in third place behind Bournemouth on goal difference who occupy the automatic promotion position.

Bamford recently won the Championship Player of the Year award but after taking a knock to his ankle against Norwich on Friday night at Carrow Road the former Derby County and Milton Keynes loanee was a doubt for their trip to Craven Cottage.

Patrick Bamford admits he's targeting a place in Chelsea's first team.

Despite not training with the squad yesterday Bamford has had heat and hydrotherapy to try to get back to full fitness ahead of Middlesbrough's huge tie in the capital at the weekend.


Bamford scored once and assisted another against Wolves during their 2-1 victory at The Riverside.

Their opponents Fulham all but secured safety in the Championship after a Matt Smith header gave them a 1-0 victory over already relegated Blackpool, with Kit Symons' side now nine points ahead of Millwall who occupy the last relegation spot.


Bamford has a 53% shot accuracy from his 95 shots in the Championship scoring 16 goals.

Middlesbrough meanwhile could be preparing for life in the Premier League with just Brighton to play at the Riverside following their fixture against Fulham.

It would take a defeat by either Watford or Bournemouth or a 15 goal swing on the latter to see Boro promoted automatically but they are guaranteed a play-off place and with Bamford in their ranks they are well equipped for the difficult games ahead.

No team have conceded less goals (32) than Middlesbrough in the Championship this season.

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Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/patrick-bamford-fit-for-middlesbroughs-trip-to-fulham-this-weekend/359978#EPucvtAkhzxofu64.99

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THREE NEWS IN THE CALL-UP FOR THE MATCH AGAINST FULHAM

FC Porto B plays in England for the semi-final of the Premier League International Cup

Goalkeeper Ricardo Nunes, from the main squad, as well as the goalkeeper Raul Gudiño and striker Gonçalo Paciência are the news in the list disclosed by Luís Castro for the away match against Fulham, for the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup, scheduled for Wednesday, at 19h00, at Fulham's Training Centre, in England. The match will be broadcasted live by Porto Canal.

In comparison to the match that ended in a tie between FC Porto B and Leixões (1-1), for matchday 40 of the Second League, out are goalkeeper André Caio and defenders Víctor García and Zé António.

Call-up: Ricardo Nunes, Kadú and Raúl Gudiño (g.k.); Anderson, André Silva, David Bruno, Diego Carlos, Francisco Ramos, Frédéric, Lichnovsky, Graça, Gonçalo Paciência, Leandro Silva, Pavlovski, Pité, Rafa, Roniel and Tomás Podstawski.


http://www.fcporto.pt/en/noticias/Pages/Raul-Gudino-chamado-para-a-visita-ao-Fulham.aspx?

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Richards' Full Debut

Tom Richards made his full debut for Aldershot Town on Tuesday evening as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Wrexham.

The Welsh outfit took the lead with just 10 minutes played when Louis Moult netted, but the Shots improved and grabbed a deserved equaliser through Andre McCollin on the stroke of half-time.

The result leaves Aldershot sitting 18th in the Vanarama Conference table ahead of their final game of the season at promotion-chasing Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Speaking to theshots.co.uk after the game, Richards – who played the full 90 minutes – said: "It was nice to get a first start. We weren't happy with how we began the game, we gave them a bit too much time in the first 20/30 minutes, but in the last 10 minutes or so of the first half we did well and got the equaliser, and then in the second half we were the better team."

Photo courtesy of theshots.co.uk.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/22/richards-full-debut?

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Six Championship strikers Premier League clubs will be chasing this summer

Once again the Championship has overshadowed the Premier League with its frantic finish and battle at both ends. The promotion places and play-off spots are still up for grabs, so some strikers will get their Premier League wish, but we look at six of them who will be desperate for the chance, and deserve it.

Troy Deeney (Watford)
The former Aston Villa academy starlet has once again been the main man for Watford this season and has notched 20 goals for the third successive year. Watford are bang in the race for the automatic spots with just two games to go and their form suggests they will take some beating, especially at home. Deeney was heavily linked with a Premier League switch last summer, with Crystal Palace and QPR reportedly interested, but he stayed loyal and may reap the rewards with a promotion. Should the Hornets not make the top flight, Deeney's services will be required elsewhere.

Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough)
The Chelsea loanee grabbed the main gong at the Football League awards this week and is Boro's top scorer this term, trying to help them to the Premier League. First team chances are, and will be, scarce for the 21-year-old though with the Blues able to fork out huge sums on players such as Diego Costa every year. Bamford though will be keen to play in the top flight next season if it means leaving Stamford Bridge on loan. If Boro are promoted then expect them to clinch the deal but if not, plenty of other clubs will be alerted to Bamford after the sensational 18 months he has had.

Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn)
Jordan Rhodes needs one goal in his final two games this term to make it six seasons in a row of hitting the 20 goal mark. A sensational record for a 25-year-old and surely it is now his time to make the step up to the Premier League. Blackburn are struggling financially and have not made any mark on the play off race this season, so the likes of Rhodes and fellow striker Rudy Gestede must be becoming frustrated. A price tag of around £10million may well put some clubs off but this a gamble worth taking.

Ross McCormack (Fulham)
A wretched season for Fulham is dying a slow death, but they will still be a Championship club next season. Kit Symons has had to get the best out of Felix Magath's squad and if it wasn't for Ross McCormack's goals things may have been very different. The former Leeds man has 16 goals for a side battling at the bottom, which is impressive, and after being linked with a Premier League move, McCormack will have done nothing to sway potential investors. Although his price tag may.

Chris Martin (Derby)
It was no surprise that Derby hit a bad patch when Chris Martin missed nearly two months of football earlier this year, and his contribution to the Rams has been noted by many. The Scottish international penned a new contract with Derby this season but if Steve McClaren's side don't go up, and the play-offs are their only chance now, then Martin could join his manager with Premier League ambitions.

Daryl Murphy (Ipswich)
The Ipswich striker has gone under the radar for many this season but the top scorer in the Championship surely deserves more credit? Just the 24 league goals for the Irish international is great going and Ipswich will be desperate to have some success in the play offs after a number of near misses in recent times. Murphy probably wouldn't demand a big fee and Ipswich are certainly a club who can let their players go and then replace with adequate quality.


http://www.london24.com/sport/football/six_championship_strikers_premier_league_clubs_will_be_chasing_this_summer_1_4044215

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Fulham boss in two minds over other job with Wales

Whites gaffer has date with chairman in June


Dragon pair: Wales manager Chris Coleman (R) with Kit Symons

Fulham boss Kit Symons is reluctantly heading towards calling time on his involvement with the Welsh national side.

The manager has been sidekick to former Whites boss Chris Coleman since January 2012, and was originally given a green light by Whites club owner and chairman Shahid Khan to keep a foot in both camps.

Now, Symons admits D-Day approaches on whether to continue in what could be Wales's finest hour in 57 years as they strive for European qualification after the international against Belgium on June 12.

Symons is clearly reluctant to give up Wales, especially now when things are going so well, but admitted he knows where his bread is buttered.

"I'll do what's right for Fulham," he said.

"They're my club and they pay my wages. Quite often, I'm only away with Wales for a couple of days, but I'll assess. The build-up to Wales games doesn't impact, but situations change. I'll get the balance right, and there's no Welsh game until June. Then l'll talk with the chairman."

Symons can plan for next season after Millwall lost 2-0 at Blackburn last night. The limping Lions were the only side left who could have dragged Whites back into relegation fight, but after defeat at Ewood Park, Symons and Fulham are mathematically sure of Championship status.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-two-minds-over-9095098?

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We`re Definitely Staying Up
   
Relief all round for us Fulham supporters.

There is no need to show any concern whatsoever about suffering back-to-back relegations.

Before last night, Fulham Football Club needed a solitary point to ensure that relegation from the Championship was impossible.

With fixtures against two promotion chasing teams - Middlesbrough (h) and Norwich City (a) to come, even one point on our current form looked hard to achieve.

But Millwall, occupying the third relegation place, had to win all their remaining games just to be level on points with Fulham.

Last night the South London side travelled to Ewood Park, to face Blackburn Rovers and subsequently lost.

Millwall went down 2-0 with the goals coming from Rudy Gestede after seventy-eight minutes and Jordan Rhodes in injury time.

The defeat leaves Fulham Football Club safe, our London rivals Millwall can still survive if things go their way, but today it is all about us, safe is the buzz word for today!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=397390#ixzz3Y3IXSM39

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MSS Travel and Pub advice for Fulham

West London will be besieged with over six-thousand Teessiders on Saturday as Boro head to Fulham for a crucial promotion clash.  Craven Cottage is well served by a number of train and tube stations and, given the huge turn-out, we have recommended a number of pubs in each area.  All pubs are open to away fans and many have Sky TV for fans looking to watch the Brigton vs Watford game.

Fans are reminded that contactless credit/debit cards can now be used on London transport, removing the need for a travelcard or Oystercard.  Instructions for fans travelling by car can be found at the bottom of this article

Putney Bridge Tube (Zone 2)

Putney Bridge is the nearest tube station to Craven Cottage.  Fans travelling from Kings Cross should take the Westbound Piccadilly Line and change at Earls Court on to the Wimbledon-bound District Line.

The following pubs in the area are away friendly:

The Temperance (Our #1 recommendation. Has Sky)
The Larrik (formerly King's Arms) (Has Sky. Away fans only)
Eight bells
Golden Lion
Hammersmith Tube (Zone 2)

Hammersmith Tube is well served by a number of tube lines and is a 20-minute walk from Craven Cottage.  There are direct trains from Kings Cross on the Piccadilly Line, Circle Line and Hammersmith & City Line.

The following local pubs are away-friendly:

The Distillers - Fuller's
Old Suffolk Punch
The Crabtree
Putney Overground (Zone 2 & 3)

Fans travelling from Surrey or South London may find it easier to head to Putney Overground station.  There are a large number of pubs on the high-street and by the River.

The following pubs are near the station:

The Railway -  Wetherspoons
Spotted Horse - Young's
Coat & Badge (Has Sky)
The following pubs are on the South-side of the River:

Duke's Head
Star & Garter
The Rocket - Wetherspoons
The Boathouse (Has Sky)
A map of all of the pubs can be found here.

Travelling by car

There is limited parking around Craven Cottage.  Fans travelling from the North by car are advised to park at a tube station on the outskirts of London and use the tube for the remainder of the journey.

We recommend that fans travelling by car park at the NCP Car Park near North Ealing tube.  When coming from the North, head all the way down the M1 and you'll get to Staples Corner roundabout. Follow signs for Wembley which takes you onto the North Circular road. Once you pass Wembley, follow signs for Ealing. Before you reach the centre of Ealing, you'll see a sign for North Ealing tube. All day parking is available for £2.00 and the Eastbound Picadilly Line runs directly to Hammersmith.


http://www.mss.org.uk/index.php/topnews/310-mss-travel-and-pub-advice-for-fulham?

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Flyover Closure

Ahead of Saturday's fixture against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage, fans are advised that the westbound carriageway of the Hammersmith Flyover will be closed from 10.30pm on Friday 24th April, until 5am on Monday 27th April.

Traffic using the A4 Hammersmith Flyover, travelling from central London, will be diverted from Earl's Court to the A40 and then onto A406 to join the A4/M4 at Chiswick Roundabout. Diversion routes will be signed during the works and local access below the flyover will not be affected. The eastbound carriageway will also be unaffected.

Fans are advised to plan their journey before travelling.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/22/flyover-closure?

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Opposition View

Porto B manager Luis Castro is anticipating a stern test of his side's credentials when they face Fulham in the first Semi-Final of the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday evening.

The teams both finished second in their respective groups earlier in the competition – the Whites behind Athletic Bilbao, who Porto knocked out in the Quarters. Similarly, it was the Dragons' conquerors at the Group Stage, Chelsea, who were put to the sword by Peter Grant's men last time out.

And it's that quality which Castro believes will lead to an entertaining match at Motspur Park. Speaking to fcporto.pt and Porto Canal, he said: "We have to be smart on the pitch, manage the paces and remain true to our principles. Fulham is a demanding team that will force us to be at our best level.


"It's true that we've been having some difficulties in different moments of the match to set our pace, caused by a number of conditions that we knew we would face at this point in the season, but we're prepared to overcome them and do everything we know as a team.

"[Fulham's] a physically strong team, that aims at quick transitions, but who is also comfortable in taking control of the match. Usually, when they are defending, they leave two target men up front and, as soon as they get the ball, they try to pass it to one of those players. They are a team with the ambition to, just like us, make it to the Final."

Porto B were last in action in the league when they drew 1-1 at home to Leixões on Sunday. After their meeting with Fulham they return to domestic matters with two games in five days, starting on Sunday, but Castro will not be rotating his squad too much for the International Cup fixture.

"We decided to keep the team at its core," he explained. "And that's why we only lost one of the last nine matches, which gives us the stability needed for the game, which I consider important."

Meanwhile, Porto have announced the squad which has travelled to England for Wednesday night's game:

Ricardo Nunes, Kadú, Raúl Gudiño, Anderson, André Silva, David Bruno, Diego Carlos, Francisco Ramos, Frédéric, Lichnovsky, Graça, Gonçalo Paciência, Leandro Silva, Pavlovski, Pité, Rafa, Roniel, Tomás Podstawski.

Season Ticket Holders can attend the game for free, while all other fans can join us for just £3 adults and £1 concessions. Kick-off is at 7pm.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/22/opposition-view?

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Murphy: Manager's calmness key to our great escape
Former Fulham midfielder recalls the club's successful battle against BPL relegation in 2007/08

With only six points separating the bottom six teams in the Barclays Premier League and with five matchweeks remaining, the battle to avoid the drop is set to go down to the wire.

The final stages of BPL campaigns gone by have produced a number of remarkable turnarounds from teams on the brink of relegation and Danny Murphy, one of the catalysts for Fulham's revival in 2007/08, told Premier League TV that the influence and calmness of manager Roy Hodgson inspired a dramatic change of fortunes.

On 26 April 2008, the west London club were looking like they would be six points adrift of safety with two matches remaining when they were 2-0 down at half-time at Manchester City. But Murphy, in the heart of Fulham's midfield, netted an equaliser either side of two Diomansy Kamara goals that turned the match on its head in the last 20 minutes.
As it stood: The 2007/08 relegation battle

Half-time: 26 April 2008

Pos   Club   P   GD   PTS
16   Birmingham   36   -16   34
17   Bolton       36   -20   33
18   Reading   36   -28   33
19   Fulham   36   -28   27
20   Derby        35   -59   11

Full-time: 26 April 2008

Pos   Club   P   GD   PTS
16   Bolton       36   -20   33
17   Reading   36   -28   33
18   Birmingham   36   -17   32
19   Fulham   36   -25   30
20   Derby        35   -59   11

Final table: 11 May 2008

Pos   Club   P   GD   PTS
16   Bolton       38   -18   37
17   Fulham   38   -22   36
18   Reading   38   -25   36
19   Birmingham   38   -16   35
20   Derby        38   -69   11

Fulham went on to win their last two matches and secure BPL safety on goal difference, and Murphy said the calmness of Hodgson, now manager of England, had a big impact on the players.

"We went on a good run and that was ultimately because we had some good players, we had everyone fit at the end of the season and we had a manager who changed the way we played to play better football, which is what we wanted to do, and a manager [Roy Hodgson] who wasn't scared of the repercussions of failing," Murphy said.

"That transpired to the players. We had a freedom from the manager to not make it the biggest deal in the world. He had a bigger picture in mind and didn't really let us feel the pressure of the relegation battle.

"He was the one that gave us the platform to play our football and really gave us belief in ourselves, and not to worry about results.

"I know that sounds bizarre when you need results but half-time at Manchester City he turned around to the lads and said 'We're 2-0 down but we've played OK. We've made chances, could've been 2-2, could have been 3-3. Go out and play the same way and win the second half.'

"Roy really deserved credit for that because, at that particular time when there was so much pressure, another manager could've made different decisions."

Murphy described the match as a turning point and, following a 2-0 home win against relegation rivals Birmingham City in their next fixture, their fate was in their own hands. Survival was ensured on the final-day as Fulham claimed a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.



'I knew I was going to score'

It was Murphy who scored the only goal at Fratton Park and the former Liverpool midfielder admitted that he was not even supposed to go up for the set piece that resulted in his headed winner.

"A team usually plays the way their manager conducts himself," he added. "You can normally find a correlation between the two. We certainly transferred Roy's calmness onto the pitch, which we showed especially on the last day of the season.

"We had to win to stay up, irrelevant of anybody else, and I remember Erik Nevland coming on as a substitute. He came up to me and Jimmy Bullard and said 'the other teams are winning, we need a goal'.

"Jimmy got a free-kick. He was always very good on set plays. I decided, which I shouldn't have done because it wasn't my job, to go in the box and try to score a goal. Sometimes as a footballer you get a feeling, and I knew I was going to score.

"He landed it straight on my head, the goal went in. The elation was there for everyone to see. What was more impressive was the way we saw out the game.

"It was a remarkable recovery and wonderful feeling to get the goal. Also, I'd never been relegated before. I didn't want that on my CV."

Murphy played an instrumental role as Hodgson's Fulham finished seventh the following season and reached the UEFA Europa League final in 2010, having knocked out the likes of Juventus and Hamburg.

"What we went on to achieve from that moment, over the next few years, was incredible for a club of Fulham's stature," Murphy said. "It was just a wonderful time in the club's history."


http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/apr/220415-danny-murphy-remembers-fulham-great-escape-in-2008.html?

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Eric Paylor: Let's hope Boro win in style at Fulham - just like Charlton's Champions in 1974

Former Gazette Boro writer Eric Paylor remembers a sensational display at Craven Cottage in his weekly column

There's a popular thread of opinion that one of Boro's finest ever team performances was witnessed at Craven Cottage.

It came in March, 1974, when Boro went to Fulham on a Tuesday evening and trounced the home side 4-0.

So dominant were Boro throughout the 90 minutes, that it was one of those proverbial games where Fulham were fortunate to get nil.

The Boro team we are talking about is Charlton's Champions, who by that stage of the season were virtually untouchable by any other side in the Second Division.

Boro were well on their way to recording their runaway title success, which in fact was sealed four days later when they beat Oxford United at Ayresome Park.

Oxford are regularly the fall guys when Boro clinch promotion, aren't they? Pity Boro are not playing them at the Riverside on May 2.

Jack Charlton's line-up at Fulham was at full strength, and it was a night when the defenders got in the act at the other end of the pitch, scoring three of the goals.

Willie Maddren netted twice, skipper Stuart Boam once, while the other goal came from midfielder Graeme Souness.

It was not unusual to see Maddren on the scoresheet.

After all, he could have ended up as a striker as easily as he became a defender.

Boro boss Stan Anderson tried him in every possible position because Willie could do a job wherever he was asked.

Anderson's preferred role for Maddren was as a midfielder, but Willie was happier at the back, where he found the football so comfortable, and at the end of the day Willie had his way.

They say that Maddren was Boro's best uncapped player – and you can't really argue with that.

He was a quality defender, with an uncanny ability to read the game, and he was also a talented ball-player.

His erstwhile centre-back partner Boam was arguably a more natural defender, and as tough as they come.

Boamy also fancied himself as a ball player, and many is the time he had Big Jack out of the dug-out, screaming for him to release the ball as he went charging upfield on one of his typical dribbling runs.

People say that Boro have never had a centre-back partnership since to match Boam and Maddren, and they may well be right.

The duo were just as effective once Boro were strutting their stuff in the First Division and, if it hadn't been for Maddren's troublesome knee injury, they might have gone on playing together for several more years.

But Maddren was forced to give up his playing career in the summer of 1977, while Boam moved on to neighbours Newcastle United two years later.

Souness also needs no introduction to Boro fans of all ages. The fact that he won a poll in the 1990s to find Boro's best player of all time sums up his qualities.

But for the faith shown in him by Charlton, we'll never know whether he would have become such a major talent at another club. His career had failed to take off at Spurs, where he came through their youth system, and it was something of a gamble when Anderson forked out £30,000 to sign him in December 1972.

Souness played 11 games in the second half of the 1972-73 campaign, most of them under caretaker manager Harold Shepherdson, though former World Cup winner Nobby Stiles was the dominant force in the Boro midfield at that time.

It's fair to say that Boro fans did not regard Souness as anything special at that stage, and nor did Charlton when he arrived to take over the reins at Ayresome Park because Big Jack did not select him in his first few line-ups.

However, an injury to teenage defender Brian Taylor in a home match against Carlisle United in the September of 1974 led to Charlton bringing Souness off the bench and the Scot never looked back.

While Taylor's injury handed Souness his chance, it's interesting to think what might have happened if Taylor had stayed fit – because Souness might have had fewer opportunities, while Maddren could well have developed as a defensive midfield player.

Charlton's team at that time was so rampant because the players were so overwhelmingly good, but Big Jack's system also bamboozled most opponents.

It was based on strong defence and quick breaking, in which Alan Foggon was the key player.

Foggon was a good finisher and his job was to come in late and pick up both crosses from the wings and also second-phase possession on the edge of the box.

His oncoming pace and power usually allowed him to cut through defences at will, and naturally he ended up as top scorer both in the promotion season, and the first campaign in Division One.

Foggon relied on tremendous service from the flanks, where Bobby Murdoch and David Armstrong were light years better than any other wing pairing in the Second Division.

Charlton did not sign many players for Boro, but Murdoch was the first one and undoubtedly the best.

Many other clubs might have shied away from showing interest in a 29-year-old midfielder. who had played almost 500 games for Celtic over a 13-year period, won numerous Scottish titles and cups and had a European Cup winner's medal in his back pocket – not to mention the fact that the old legs were not as sprightly as they used to be.

However Murdoch's remarkable abilities were perfectly summed up by Charlton, who revealed: "Bobby was amazing passer of a ball who could drop a ball on a sixpence from any distance.

"And although I've had more players who covered more ground, I never worked with anyone who could strike the ball as well as he could."

Murdoch did what he did best, and was the final piece in the jigsaw when Charlton brought him in on a free transfer just a few weeks into the 1973-74 campaign.

By the time that Boro went to Fulham, they had lost just two league games and players like Murdoch, Souness, Boam and Maddren were the reasons why.

And that's not forgetting the rest of the lads – Jim Platt. John Craggs, Frank Spraggon, David Mills and John Hickton.

The names just roll off the tongue, don't they?

Ironically, the big victory at Fulham was the team's second successive 4-0 success, having won by the same scoreline at West Brom three days earlier.

Souness scored again at the Hawthorns, while Hickton scored two, including one from the penalty spot, and Foggon notched the other.

The win at Fulham gave Boro one foot in the First Division, and it's this kind of team performance which Aitor Karanka's men need to reproduce on Saturday.

Boro should go there full of confidence.

Fulham have struggled in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League, while Boro have a half-decent record at Craven Cottage.

I've seen them win there on a few occasions, including a 3-0 romp in the late 1980s, while the teams of both Steve McClaren and Gareth Southgate have both beaten Fulham on their home soil in recent times.

In fact McClaren's bunch of kids almost pulled off an incredible win at Craven Cottage in 2006, when Boro fielded a team of players who had come through the Academy ranks, ahead of the UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven.

Again, that was another battling effort, full of typical Boro resolve and commitment.

However, the level of commitment needed was never more typified by Charlton's Champions, and a repeat will be most welcome this weekend.


http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/eric-paylor-lets-hope-boro-9095288?

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U19 Debut For Davies

Fulham defender Aron Davies made his debut for Wales Under-19s on Tuesday, but they were defeated 2-0 by Germany at the Eintracht Stadion in Nordhorn.

The current UEFA European U19 Championship holders took the lead with just 10 minutes played when Enis Bunjaki of Eintracht Frankfurt converted a penalty, before FSV Mainz 05's Heinz Mörschel made it two from outside the box just before half-time.

Davies made way on the hour mark to be replaced by Swansea City defender Joe Rodon.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/22/u19-debut-for-davies?

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England Call For Edun

Fulham left-back Tayo Edun has been named in the England squad for the upcoming UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

The 16-year-old's call-up is just reward after enjoying a terrific season, having featured a number of times for his country and making a handful of appearances for Peter Grant's Under-21 side, despite his tender age.

The tournament will take place in Bulgaria from 6-22 May, and England have been drawn in Group D alongside the Netherlands, Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

The Three Lions will be looking to retain the trophy, having beaten the Dutch on penalties in last year's Final, with Patrick Roberts playing a starring role in their success.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/april/22/england-call-for-edun?

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Swansea City's Jazz Richards to help pay for Josh Maddick headstone

SWANS footballer Jazz Richards has generously pledged £1,000 to help pay for a headstone for Swansea soldier Josh Maddick.

Hearing about the 22-year-old's tragic death in Mount Pleasant last month, it brought Jazz back two similar deaths his family suffered, and he felt a donation was the least he could do to help.

"My sister went through a similar situation with two of her friends, but I was too young at the time to realise," said the defender, who is currently on loan at Fulham.

Sarah Heaven, Mr Maddick's former girlfriend and mother of his son Riley, contacted Jazz over Facebook hoping he may attend a memorial event being held on Saturday.



Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-City-s-Jazz-Richards-help-pay-Josh/story-26375420-detail/story.html#ixzz3Y6HvOFXk
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Fulham U21s 0 3 FC Porto U21s

A Leandro Silva hat-trick earned Porto B a 3-0 win over Fulham Under-21s on Wednesday evening, but that doesn't tell the full story of this Premier League International Cup Semi-Final.

The Whites were more than a match for their continental opponents, but a red card for Liam Donnelly shortly before half-time gave them an uphill battle.

Silva then put the visitors in front a few minutes before the break, and added to his tally with two stunning strikes after the restart.

Despite the scoreline and their man disadvantage, Fulham continued to press and exit the competition at the last-four stage with their heads held high.

Porto had the first chance of the game three minutes in when Frederic Maciel stood a cross up to the far post where Andre Silva was lurking, but the forward's thumping header came back off the near post.

The Whites responded with a barnstorming Ryheem Sheckleford run that saw him burst beyond his marker and cut back to Moussa Dembélé, but the Frenchman's shot was blocked.

Ange-Freddy Plumain then beat two men down the left flank and played a clever inside pass to Jordan Evans, whose venomous shot whistled wide of the far stick.

Goncalo Paciencia burst through on goal with 12 minutes on the clock but dragged his low shot wide, before Maciel was denied in quick succession by Evans and Marek Rodák.

Dragons goalkeeper Ricardo Nunes was then called into action at the other end as he easily saved Dembélé's shot, before a Plumain strike deflected kindly into his arms.

A Porto corner was met by Diego Silva on 19 minutes which required a save from Rodák, before Andre Silva was slipped in only for Jonathan Buatu to read the danger and take the ball off his toes.

Paciencia thought he'd broken the deadlock with 26 minutes played when he met a cross from the right, but somehow Rodák got across to pull off a fantastic save.

The next goalmouth action arrived seven minutes later when Paciencia shrieked and threw himself to the ground looking for a penalty. Cue titters from the home fans in the Motspur Park stand.

But it was moments later that it all kicked off. Josh Smile appeared to have won the ball as he went in for a 50/50 challenge, but a foul was given. That prompted the entire Porto team to surround the referee requesting the Fulham midfielder be sent off. He was booked but in the aftermath Donnelly was dismissed for squaring up to an opponent.

And it took just a matter of minutes for Porto to make their advantage count as a break down the right culminated in the ball being fed to Silva, who did the rest with a placed finish.

Noe Baba replaced Dean O'Halloran to shore up the defence, but Porto could have gone into half-time two up had Paciencia been more clinical with his shot that was kept out easily by Rodák in the end.

After the teams re-emerged it wasn't particularly evident that one side had more players, but Porto did begin to turn the screw as time went on and doubled their lead on the hour mark with a sublime Silva effort from 25 yards.

The Whites responded with a Plumain cross-shot that needed palming away by Nunes and a Patrick Roberts free-kick that missed the target by a yard.

At the other end, Maciel took advantage of a rare Buatu mistake to fashion a shooting opportunity, but bent his attempt wide.

Fulham went close to getting on the scoresheet in the first minute of stoppage time when Plumain got on the end of a deep Evans free-kick, but the visitors would have the final say when Silva picked the ball up in his own half, spotted Rodák off his line, and found the net in perfect style.

It brought the curtain down on Fulham's Premier League International Cup campaign, but there was no lack of effort and passion from Peter Grant's boys.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/under-21s/2014_2015/international-cup/semi-final/porto