Sunday Fulham Stuff (09/08/15)...

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Cardiff City 1-1 Fulham: Craig Noone equalises Matt Smith's opener to earn Bluebirds a draw in Championship opener
Cardiff were held 1-1 by Fulham in opening Championship fixture
Matt Smith opened the scoring for the Cottagers shortly after the break
Anthony Pilkington had a goal ruled out for handball before being booked
Craig Noone equalised in the final minutes to earn Bluebirds a draw

Substitute Craig Noone produced a stunning late strike to earn Cardiff a 1-1 draw in their Sky Bet Championship opener at home to Fulham.

Cardiff seemed to be running out of ideas when Noone, who had been on the pitch for only eight minutes, rifled a 25-yard shot into the top corner of the net with only four minutes remaining.

What had been an evenly-balanced contest turned Fulham's way when Matt Smith punished Simon Moore's goalkeeping error two minutes after the re-start.


Substitute Craig Noone is congratulated by team-mates after his late goal earned a 1-1 draw


Noone came on to score in the dying minutes to see the spoils shared in the opening Championship fixture


Matt Smith wheels away in celebration after handing Fulham the lead at Cardiff City Stadium


The Cottagers striker finished with a close range header shortly after the interval to give his side the lead

Moore, deputising for suspended West Brom target David Marshall, misjudged Ben Pringle's overhit cross and spilled the ball for the alert Smith to head home from close range.

Cardiff welcomed back Kagisho Dikgacoi and Anthony Pilkington after injury-riddled spells last season and both players were influential in the early stages as the Bluebirds sought an early advantage.

Pilkington set up Joe Mason for a second-minute shot which was blocked by Dan Burn before Dikgacoi rolled an exquisite ball into the wideman's path.

The Republic of Ireland international picked out Mason at the near post but the striker was stretching and unable to hit the target.

Fulham's response was immediate as Matt Smith almost profited from the hesitation of Moore as the big striker headed against the outside of a post. 


Fulham forward Smith (centre) wins a header under pressure from Scott Malone and Matthew Connolly


Fulham midfielder Ross McCormack shoots just wide as both sides struggle to break the first-half deadlock


Fulham midfielder McCormack (right) presses Connolly of Cardiff City for the ball


Fulham's Tom Cairney (left) makes a break while being chased by Cardiff defender Malone

Smith's aerial ability produced the visitors' best moments of an entertaining first period, rising above Cardiff defenders but unable to keep down crosses from Jamie O'Hara and Kay Voser.

Cardiff were enjoying the greater share of possession and they were at their most dangerous when they managed to get Mason, back at the club after spending last season on loan at Bolton, into the game.

Pilkington found him with a neat ball and Mason's sharp spin and shot on the turn forced a flying save from Andy Lonergan and the Fulham goalkeeper had to deny the same player with his feet following a clever flick from Alex Revell.


Fulham manager Kit Symons (left) watches from the sidelines alongside Cardiff counterpart Russell Slade


Fulham team-mates rush to congratulate Smith after he headed home the opener in the second half


Smith acknowledges the visiting fans during the opening fixture of the Championship season


Anthony Pilkington found the back of the net only for the goal to be ruled out for handball


Substitute Craig Noone (3rd left) scored a sensational equaliser in the dying minutes of the game

Cardiff almost took the lead within 40 seconds when Pilkington's deflected shot looped onto the crossbar but Fulham were ahead a minute later.

The Bluebirds thought they had equalised four minutes later when Pilkington got the final touch but referee Darren Bond had spotted a handball and booked the winger for ungentlemanly conduct.

Cardiff pressed frantically for an equaliser in the final quarter and Mason and Scott Malone both went close before Noone's late strike.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3190305/Cardiff-City-1-1-Fulham-Craig-nets-late-equaliser-earn-Bluebirds-draw.html#ixzz3iInCwZWV
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Late equaliser denies Fulham opening-day win at Cardiff

Cardiff City 1 Fulham 1

Matt Smith's header early in the second half was almost enough to give Fulham a winning start to the season.

Cardiff substitute Craig Noone netted a superb equaliser four minutes from time, cutting in from the right flank before unleashing a perfect drive over Andy Lonergan from the edge of the area.

Smith showed a poacher's instinct to touch in from close range after keeper Simon Moore had spilled a speculative cross from Ben Pringle underneath his crossbar.

Lonergan had a fine game for the Cottagers and did superbly to deny Joe Mason an equaliser, his left hand blocking a rasping shot on the turn.

The Fulham keeper twice got in the way Mason strikes – palming away a powerful shot and later getting down well to keep out a near-post piledriver.

But it was by no means one-way traffic, with Smith a constant menace to the home side. He almost nodded a ball into the path of skipper Ross McCormack and from the rebound, headed down onto the base of the post.

The target man also headed just over when found from a cross from the right by Jamie O'Hara and from the left by Kay Voser, while McCormack was narrowly off-target after skipping away from Peter Whittingham to open up a half-chance.

There was a let-off for Fulham at the start of the second half, when Dan Burn stumbled inside the box and Antony Pilkington's deflected effort came back off the crossbar.

But seconds later, Smith had the Whites in front with a close-range header on 48 minutes.

Alex Revell had the ball in the Fulham net in the next City attack, but the use of a hand earned him a booking rather than glory.

Only a despairing block from former QPR man Matt Connolly denied Pringle after a good move down the right involving Thomas Cairney and McCormack, while Shaun Hutchinson replicated the heroics to deny Sean Morrison following a goalmouth scramble.

Fulham: Lonergan; Richards, Hutchinson, Burn, Voser; O'Hara, Vigen Christensen; Cairney, McCormack, Pringle; Smith (Dembele 78).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Bodurov, Kacaniklic, Mattila, Woodrow, Hyndman.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/late-equaliser-denies-fulham-opening-day-win-at-cardiff?

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Manager Reaction

Kit Symons was frustrated to leave the Cardiff City Stadium with just a point from Fulham's season opener, but believes that shows how ambitious everyone is for the campaign ahead.

It looked as though Matt Smith's header early in the second half would be enough to earn the Whites the win, but Cardiff substitute Craig Noone scored a stunning equaliser with four minutes remaining.

Stand-in Captain Ross McCormack could have won it for his side at the death, though, but got the ball stuck under his feet with the goal gaping.

When asked in his post-match press conference if he was disappointed with the result, Symons replied: "Yeah I am, and the changing room was, which is sort of a sign of expectations in our ranks I think.

"It was always going to be a tough place to come on the opening day of the season. They've got a real partisan home crowd so we knew it was going to be tough but we're disappointed not to have won it.

"Over the whole game a draw was probably a fair result but at 1-0 we had one or two very good chances, and then at 1-1 obviously there was the great chance for Ross at the end to go and win it.

"We're not the Harlem Globetrotters, we're not just here to look nice, I want an end product as well."


"So we're disappointed not to come away with all three points but also I'm pleased with the performance overall. There's improvement to be done in our team, but we'll get there."

There were plenty of positives to take from the display, with a confidence flowing through the side as everybody looked to get on the ball.

"There was some real nice rotation and movement, which we encourage obviously," the Fulham Manager said. "What we need now is a little bit more of an end product; more shots on goal, more shots on target, and more crosses into the box.

"We're not the Harlem Globetrotters, we're not just here to look nice, I want an end product as well. So we're fully focused on that but we've got some very talented footballers who want to play so we'll always have that nice movement, that nice play through central areas but, like I say, we want a little bit more of a cutting edge as well to go with it.

"The whole group this season are really driven. We had Alex Kačaniklić on the bench today who didn't feature who's been outstanding in pre-season.

"There's a real difference with the players individually and as a group. There's a real drive and determination and a belief that we're going to do well this season, so long may that last."


Smith got the Whites' season up and running as he bravely headed in after City goalkeeper Simon Moore had dropped the ball, and his boss was full of praise for his contributions.

"I think it's always nice for strikers to get off the mark so he'll be pleased with that," he stated. "He worked very hard, battled really well.

"Obviously there was a real physical battle with the two Cardiff centre halves, as we would expect, and he did well for us today, so I'm pleased that he got the goal. I would've taken a goal from anyone, mind. But I'm pleased for Matt personally that he got that to go with his hard work."

Andrew Lonergan enjoyed a fine game in goal on his debut but could do little about Noone's wonder goal, which Symons admitted was a special effort.

"It was a fantastic strike," he confessed. "It was a little bit unfortunate from our point of view – Ben Pringle slipped as he was going out to try and force him down the line onto his right foot.

"But as soon as he slipped over Noone saw the opportunity, cut inside and he's got a wonderful left foot, we knew that, and he put it right in the top corner so Lonners didn't have too much chance with that one."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/august/08/manager-reaction

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Cardiff City 1-1 Fulham: Match Review

Attendance: 15,429 (925 Away Supporters)

Goalscorers: Matt Smith (47′), Craig Noone (86′)

Our MOTM: Scott Malone



The game begun with both sides looking to make an impression as you would expect from an opener, the open style of the play would remain for the majority of the clash as both teams looked to make it an opening day to remember.

The home side pressed early on as Anthony Pilkington continuously caused Fulham problems on the wide, his close control and strength made it difficult for Kit Symons side to defend. The first real chance came when Pilkington whipped the ball in low across the box but Joe Mason fired over the bar from ten yards.

Kagisho Dikgacoi looked improved in the midfield for the Bluebirds and demonstrated his ability with some perfectly waited passes during the first half. Despite Cardiff's early pressure, it was the away side who looked most dangerous on the break and came close through Matt Smith half-way through the first half but he headed well over.

Cardiff looked much improved in the midfield and didn't look like losing the ball when in possession which comes as a stark contrast to last term. Following some promising play out wide from Scott Malone, the ball was sent through to Joe Mason, the Irish forward hit a powerful, accurate strike and found the target despite being on an angle but he was denied by Andy Lonergan saved well low down and it remained 0-0 going into the break.

The second half begun just as open as the first but it was Cardiff who would get the first chance when Anthony Pilkington drove a strike goal wards, his effort was deflected onto the crossbar before Fulham cleared safely up-field.

Two minutes into the second half, Ben Pringle overhit a cross into the box but to the shock of the Cardiff City Stadium, Moore decided to attempt to catch the ball, the Bluebirds stopper tipped the ball on to the bar and it dropped to Matt Smith who knocked in the simple tap-in, 0-1 Fulham.

Despite going behind, the Bluebirds had the ball in the Fulham net  four minutes later but the goal was disallowed for a goal in the build up and Anthony Pilkington received a yellow card for his troubles.

Fulham then went on the offensive as they searched for a goal to finish the game and came close when the ball was cuts back to Ben Pringle, with the goal at his mercy the former Rotherham midfielder dispatched goal wards but he was terrifically denied by a Matt Connolly block as the Cardiff defender dived across goal.

The Bluebirds were next to try their luck when a set-piece resulted in Matt Connolly and Sean Morrison being denied on the line. The game was end-to-end and both teams will have felt unlucky not to score three or four.

There  was yet another scramble in the box fifteen minutes later and it ended with an accurate low strike from Joe Mason but the City striker was denied superbly by Andy Lonergan in the Fulham goal. City were coming closer and closer but couldn't break through, Malone coming close also with a rasping effort but it sailed just wide of the target.

The goal would finally come with four minutes remaining when Craig Noone, despite only being on for ten minutes, cut inside leaving his opponent on the floor before striking a fantastic effort into the left-hand top corner from outside the box on the right. A goal to remember for Noone and finally Cardiff had equalized.

Both teams then went in search of the winner but with the fresh legs of Moussa Dembele up top, Fulham looked the more dangerous. Dembele slipped his marker and with no flag raised, he paced on before squaring for Ross McCormack. Despite having an open goal and a simple tap-in, the former City man took a very poor first touch before being cut out superbly by Matt Connolly.

The match finished Cardiff City 1-1 Fulham and the result seemed a fair one with both teams having some great chances. Cardiff looked the best in possession while Kit Symons men looked much more dangerous on the break.

Always difficult for both teams on the opening day of the season with everyone looking to prove themselves and formations not quite perfected. Platforms to build upon for both sides after this afternoon with some very good individual performances but a lot to work on also.

Man of the Match- Scott Malone

Scott had a terrific game throughout with a solid showing in the full-back position. The former Millwall man pressed forward and looked dangerous on the attack while remaining solid as ever when Fulham counter-attacked. Matt Connolly and Anthony Pilkington may be among some people's choice but for me, no one came close to Scott Malone's performance this afternoon.


http://insidecardiffcity.co.uk/cardiff-city-1-1-fulham-match-review/?

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Cardiff City still have issues but Fulham display offers hope Russell Slade may yet have a chance of defying critics

Steve Tucker delivers his verdict on Cardiff City's performance in the 1-1 opening day draw against Fulham

You wonder what the Russell Slade critics at Cardiff City will have made of this opening day encounter with Fulham? Surely, you suspect, a form of confusion will reign over them.

On the one hand, failure to win at home on the opening day will disappoint, but the nature of a battling comeback point offers an undoubted positive.

So what of the performance? Well, in truth, there were holes all over the place.

There was still that lack of urgency and drive out of midfield that had tainted their last campaign. Peter Whittingham, who one suspects might get on Slade's team-sheet even if he was stuck at the top of Mount Everest, was pedestrian for too long, again another nasty flashback to last term.

Service into the box might also have been better, and these were all failings that will have those Slade detractors stroking their beards and muttering: 'I told you so.'

But saying that, in the blistering sun that seems to mark any opening day of the football season, there were signs of life from the Bluebirds.

In the first-half in particular Cardiff played smarter, more controlled, more joined up and, yes, more exciting football than they did for almost all of last term's forgettable campaign.

Those in blue shirts finally looked like they wanted the ball, like they knew what to do with it. There were even some nice sweeping moves, again something that might lead to confusion within the anti-Slade brigade ranks.

At the back too, a defensive line which has Championship respectability written all over it held firm for much of the time. It was breached, of course, thanks to a dreadful calamity from poor old Simon Moore in the Cardiff goal who spilled an easy shot and allowed Matt Smith to nod home.

Cardiff actually carved out chances here, Joe Mason almost scored and Fulham were forced to ride their luck at times as the Bluebirds turned the screw. Again, there were not many times that phrase was used last season.

They got what they deserved at the end too as Craig Noone, fresh from the bench, fired a screamer into the top corner for a share of the spoils. Hey come on, even the Cardiff bench looks like it finally has some options on it too now.

Slade seems to have been on borrowed time in the Welsh capital since the moment he arrived in unimpressive fashion from Leyton Orient. Never has a Cardiff manager been vilified so strongly after such a short time.

I'm not here to defend the man, he is big enough to do that himself, but you must agree that here his Bluebirds looked in ruder health than they have done at any point since he took charge?

This was not the start to the season Slade might have wanted, but in another way maybe it was. One thing is for sure, the Cardiff boss has bought himself more time with this showing. The knives indeed can be returned to their sheaths, for the time being at least.


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-still-issues-fulham-9817598?

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U18s fall to opening-day Fulham defeat

Barclays U18 Premier League
Fulham 3-1 West Ham United

Summer signing George Dobson opened his account for West Ham United U18s, but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

The hosts made the perfect start at Motspur Park when Aron Davies found space to fire home after 11 minutes, before former Arsenal midfielder Dobson levelled matters after Jahmal Hector-Ingram had hit a post.     

The visitors might have completed the turnaround midway through the half, but Joe Powell saw his spot-kick saved by Fulham keeper Jake Soutter.

The Cottagers made the most of their reprieve after the break, with frontman Joshua Walker and full-back Ryheem Sheckleford firing the hosts to an opening-day win. 

On his West Ham debut, Dobson started alongside Matt Carter in the heart of midfield, while Oscar Borg, Marcus Browne and Joe Powell, all of whom featured for the Development Squad at Canvey Island on Wednesday, supported Hector Ingram in attack.   

But it was the Whites who showed first, with a goal which stemmed from a set piece. Hammers stopper Tim Brown had initially repelled Ravin Shamsi's free-kick, but Foday Nabay reacted quickest to whip the ball in across the face of the goal for Davies to stab home.

The Hammers, however, were not behind for long. With 19 gone, Fulham 'keeper Soutter spilled a Hector-Ingram shot from distance onto the woodwork, which fell to the feet of Dobson, who finished confidently to restore parity.

New boy Dobson was involved again three minutes later, this time being upended in the box as he prepared to shoot. Powell took charge from 12 yards but was denied by Soutter, who was smartly back to his feet to repel Browne's follow up.

West Ham carved out another fine opportunity five minutes into the second half, when Hector-Ingram slotted through to Browne, but Soutter was again on hand to smother.

And Fulham made the Hammers pay for their missed chances with their second of the contest on the hour mark. Walker raced in behind the West Ham backline and slotted sweetly into the corner.

As Steve Potts' side searched for a second equaliser, Declan Rice and Dobson both connected with Powell free-kicks, but neither could keep their headers on target. 

At the other end, Fulham went desperately close to extending their advantage. Shamsi saw his strike cannon back off the woodwork, before Brown denied Fulham's Estonian substitute Mattias Kait on the rebound.

With just five minutes left to play, Brown was again called into action, this time to brilliantly repel Walker's header. But the second ball fell kindly for Sheckleford, who slammed home to consign the Hammers to defeat.

Potts' men will look to pick up their first points of the season when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Little Heath on Saturday 15 August. Kick-off is set for 11am.

West Ham United U18s: Brown, Sylvestre, Neufville (Pask 46), Dobson (Henry 79), Akinola, Rice, Borg, Carter (Eggleton 64), Hector-Ingram, Browne, Powell. Subs not used: Boness, Lewis.



Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/August/8-August/U18s-fall-to-opening-day-defeat-at-Fulham?#MVOHte6Et4PZYw8c.99
Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/August/8-August/U18s-fall-to-opening-day-defeat-at-Fulham?#tFc8id07vZmLIXDd.99

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Fulham earn opening day point
by DAN on AUGUST 8, 2015

Fulham were five minutes away from starting their new Championship campaign with a won but were denied all three points by a stunning equaliser from Cardiff substitute Craig Noone. Former Bluebirds' striker Ross McCormack somehow squandered a glorious chance to clinch all three points in stoppage time – contriving to stab wide of an unguarded goal from five yards out – leaving Kit Symons cutting a frustrated figure at the final whistle.

In truth, there was a lot for Symons to be pleased with after Fulham's first outing of the new season. While last season's defensive frailties were far from completely banished, Dan Burn was dominant at centre back and Shaun Hutchinson turned in a largely unruffled display alongside him as the pair made light of the club's failure to attract a new centre half during the summer. Jamie O'Hara proved both composed and combative at the heart of a new-look midfield, whilst fellow newcomer Ben Pringle played a key part in Fulham's goal.

The left-sided midfielder, signed on a free transfer from Rotherham during the close season, was a lively presence at both ends of the field, although his contribution to Matt Smith's strike – which arrived two minutes into the second half – owed a fair bit to Simon Moore's untimely juggling skills. The Cardiff goalkeeper, deputising for David Marshall, got himself into a horrible tangle trying to deal with Pringle's floated cross and Smith needed no second invitation to pounce on the loose ball.

The visitors were perhaps fortunate to be in front at that point. Although Smith bad bravely headed against the base of the post from an acute angle and taken a clout from Moore to his face in the process, Cardiff enjoyed far more of the possession and carved out three clear chances. They all fell to Joe Mason, who will rue the hurried nature of his first effort, which flew wide from nine yards after clever approach play from Peter Whittingham and Kagisho Dikagchoi. Debutant Andy Lonergan then denied Mason with two smart saves from point blank range as the half ended scoreless, with McCormack dragging a shot across the face of goal after racing clear from the halfway line.

Cardiff pressed for an equaliser for much of the second period and thought they had levelled matters moments after Smith's opener but after a lengthy delay Anthony Pilkington's header was ruled out for offside. An Alex Revell effort was deflected onto the crossbar with Lonergan rooted to the spot. Hutchinson then made a quite brilliant block to deny Matt Cononley after the ball bounced around at a corner, before at the other end Connolly dived in to prevent Pringle from capping his debut with a goal after McCormack had created the opening superbly.

Lonergan then produced a fine low save to repel another Mason effort and left back Scott Malone drilled a rising drive fractionally over the bar from twenty yards. The introduction of Noone gave Cardiff an outlet down the right to further test Kay Voser, who had been targeted by the hosts from the outset. A rare misplaced pass from O'Hara – when McCormack and substitute Moussa Dembele were both in space – saw possession returned to Cardiff. Noone's direct run down the right threatened but there appeared to be little danger until an untimely slip from Pringle allowed the winger to cut inside and bend an unstoppable shot beyond Lonergan.

There was still time for a gripping end-to-end finale. Both sides searched for a winner and the clearest opening arrived in the Cardiff box in stoppage time. Dembele did superbly to reach a Christensen pass, beat a defender and unselfishly cross for McCormack, who appeared in two minds when the ball arrived at his feet and unfathomably failed to tuck it away with the goal gaping. His pained expression at the final whistle said it all.

CARDIFF CITY (4-4-2): Moore; Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Connolly; Dikagchoi (Noone 63), Whittingham, Ralls, Pilkington; Revell (Ameobi 70), Mason. Subs (not used): Wilson, Fabio, O'Keele, Gunnarsson, Doyle.

FULHAM (4-4-1-1): Lonergan; Richards, Voser, Hutchinson, Burn; O'Hara, Christensen, Cairney, Pringle; McCormack; Smith (Dembele 65). Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Bodurov, Mattila, Hyndman, Kacaniklic, Woodrow.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/08/fulham-earn-opening-day-point/?