Monday Fulham Stuff (14/09/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham beat Blackburn thanks to goal from Moussa Dembele

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele fired Fulham to a 2-1 victory and piled on the misery for Blackburn.

Winless Rovers are rooted in the bottom three of the Championship after finding themselves two goals down inside the opening half an hour.

What should have then been a Sunday stroll for Fulham became less straightforward when Jordan Rhodes halved the arrears from the penalty spot.

But Rovers' rotten recent luck was summed up when Grant Hanley's late effort was disallowed despite replays showing the ball had clearly crossed the line.

It took just four minutes for Fulham to make the breakthrough, when Dembele chased down Ryan Tunnicliffe's through-ball and outmuscled Hanley.

Dembele squared the ball towards the penalty spot where McCormack was waiting to sidefoot home his fourth goal in three matches.

McCormack could have had a first-half hat-trick but for a fine near-post save from Jason Steele and a shot across goal which flew inches wide of the far post.

Moussa Dembele celebrates after scoring what proved to be the winner.

Instead the Scotland striker turned provider in the 30th minute when his cross was met with a firm header from Tunnicliffe.

His effort was kept out by a fine save from Steele, who then also managed to block Tom Cairney's follow-up, but the keeper's heroics were in vain as Dembele crashed in the loose ball at the third attempt.

Fulham did not have it all their own way in the first half, though, and they were indebted to goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan for denying Nathan Delfouneso and Corry Evans before he pulled off a stunning stop to keep out Ben Marshall's header before the interval.

The second half quickly became the Rhodes show with the usually prolific Rovers striker somehow hitting a post when he slid in to meet Marshall's cross from all of three yards out.

When Rhodes then planted a header over the crossbar and another straight at Lonergan it appeared his wait for a first goal of the season was destined to go on.

But he was gifted the chance to open his account after being shoved over in the area by James Husband in the 67th minute, and made no mistake from the spot to give Rovers a lifeline.

The visitors piled forward in search of an equaliser and should have got it when Jazz Richards blocked Shane Duffy's header on the line, only for the ball to rebound off Hanley and back towards goal.

The ball was over the line when Jamie O'Hara hacked it clear from underneath the crossbar but referee Tony Harrington did not award the goal and luckless Rovers were condemned to another defeat.


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/422881/fulham-blackburn-rovers/report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 2-1 Blackburn: Rovers robbed after Grant Hanley's late header is disallowed
Blackburn are still to win the SkyBet Championship this season after falling to a 2-1 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage
Ross McCormack gave the hosts the lead on four minutes from close-range
Moussa Dembele made it 2-0 by the half-hour mark
Jordan Rhodes scored a penalty for Rovers after the restart
Grant Hanley looked to have scored an equaliser for Blackburn late on, but a goal was not given due to uncertainty on the line

The arguments will carry on long into the night, and quite right too. Luckless Blackburn Rovers were robbed by the officials thanks to the absence of goal-line technology, seemingly not deployed at this level purely for monetary purposes.

Six minutes from time and 2-1 down, Grant Hanley's shoulder looked to have produced a deserved equaliser at Craven Cottage. Over the line it flew, only for Jamie O'Hara to hook clear.

The referee could not see how far the ball had travelled and his assistant, Andrew Aylott, failed to flag. Those watches cannot come soon enough in the Championship.


Fulham striker Ross McCormack celebrates after opening the scoring for his side against Blackburn


McCormack stabs in from close-range past Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele (left) at Craven Cottage


Fulham forward Moussa Dembele (left) scores to give his side a 2-0 lead against Blackburn on Sunday


Scotland international striker Jordan Rhodes pulls a goal back for Blackburn from the penalty spot 


Blackburn defender Grant Hanley sees a goal disallowed despite the ball appearing to cross the line

Fulham striker Ross McCormack celebrates after opening the scoring for his side against Blackburn


McCormack stabs in from close-range past Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele (left) at Craven Cottage


Fulham forward Moussa Dembele (left) scores to give his side a 2-0 lead against Blackburn on Sunday


Scotland international striker Jordan Rhodes pulls a goal back for Blackburn from the penalty spot 


Blackburn defender Grant Hanley sees a goal disallowed despite the ball appearing to cross the line

'There's a massive prize at the end of the season, a huge amount of money to get into the Premier League where there is technology. Hopefully this is an opportunity for the powers that be to make the game better,' a surprisingly relaxed Gary Bowyer said.

'Why should you only have it in just one league? Cricket don't just have it in one game, tennis not just at Wimbledon. They are open-minded.'

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/13/12/2C43800D00000578-3232669-image-a-74_1442144286027.jpg
Dembele (centre) has a shot at goal and forces an acrobatic save from Steele during Sunday's match

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/13/12/2C43824D00000578-3232669-image-a-73_1442144278106.jpg
Dembele (right) tussles for possession with Blackburn's Hanley during the Championship clash

How Bowyer needed that to go his way. Those around the club have bemoaned poor decisions all season, and this was indicative of their winless plight.

O'Hara should not have been on the pitch after sinking his studs deep into Ben Marshall's leg just minutes previously.

'I'm not going to apologise for us getting a bit of luck,' Fulham boss Kit Symons said. 'I've always been an advocate of technology. I'd push for it.'

There is definite fight in this Rovers team, they are certainly playing for their manager, but really - when all is said and done after obvious injustice - some blame lies with a shaky back four and limp midfield during a first half to forget.

With soft foundations, the visitors could not live with Fulham, behind inside four minutes as the lightning Moussa Dembele embarrassingly beat a stumbling Hanley in a footrace, intelligently waiting for reinforcements before sliding to Ross McCormack to prod home.


Fulham defender James Husband (left) jumps for the ball alongside Blackburn striker Rhodes on Sunday


Fulham defender Jazz Richards (left) comes in with a tackle on Blackburn's Craig Conway

Rovers were picked apart so often, at a loss how to deal with the hosts' width. The second goal, on half an hour, came as James Husband rocketed up from left back to find Ryan Tunnicliffe at the back post, Jason Steele excellently saving his effort and Tom Cairney's follow-up; Steele's defence were asleep though, and Dembele smashed past him.

The goalkeeper was the only man back there with any semblance of a clue. No wonder they've gone behind in every single game bar one thus far.

Dembele, a 19-year-old academy product, was making only his sixth Championship start but has all the tools to become a perfect foil for McCormack. 'A physical specimen,' said Symons.

That he notched a first senior league goal was indicative of Fulham's first half - everything that could go right did go right, although Dembele might have added another when McCormack's centre begged to be met.

'It was a lot of good football - it's coming,' Symons added. 'We've got some good players, but we weren't getting the results I felt we deserved. People were a little bit critical.

'I want to get to the stage where we turn up at the Cottage expecting to win.'


Fulham midfielder Jamie O'Hara (left) slides in to challenge on Blackburn striker Nathan Delfouneso

Bowyer hauled off the hapless Nathan Delfouneso at the break and they were a team reinvigorated, forcing Andy Lonergan into a string marvellous saves, thwarting Marshall and Craig Conway. The second was particularly impressive, stretching one-handed to claw clear on the line.

From there Blackburn enjoyed almost complete dominance at a ground that can turn restless very quickly. The nervousness that so defines Craven Cottage crept in; supporters here had seen just one league win since February.

And then came away hope when Husband leaned into Jordan Rhodes, with the 25-year-old dispatching the penalty with ease, although he had spurned a glut of chances prior to that. You sensed this was not to be their day when he diverted onto the post faced with an open goal - albeit under pressure.

Rovers were camped in the home third, Rhodes heading straight at Lonergan. They are missing Rudy Gestede, who upped for Aston Villa in July.

'We can't feel sorry for ourselves,' Bowyer added. 'It feels like nothing is going for us.'

Tom Cairney wasted an opportunity to wrap up the points against his former employers, who sold him for almost £3million in the summer, but Fulham managed to cling on after O'Hara was lucky not to see red, Conway blazed over the top and substitute Fode Koita struck a post.

Asked about O'Hara's lunge, Bowyer grinned and replied: 'What for?' The last thing he needs is an FA fine on top of everything else.


Fulham's Tom Cairney (left) and Blackburn's Tommy Spurr battle for the ball at Craven Cottage 



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3232669/Fulham-2-1-Blackburn-Ross-McCormack-Moussa-Dembele-target-Rovers-winless-run-continues-Craven-Cottage.html#ixzz3lekfHEtH
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Fulham hold on to beat Blackburn


Moussa Dembele got Fulham's second. Credit: PA

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele fired Fulham to a 2-1 victory and piled on the misery for Blackburn.

Winless Rovers are rooted in the bottom three of the Sky Bet Championship after finding themselves two goals down inside the opening half an hour.

What should have then been a Sunday stroll for Fulham became less straightforward when Jordan Rhodes halved the arrears from the penalty spot.


It got a touch feisty in the second half. Credit: PA


http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-09-13/fulham-hold-on-to-beat-blackburn/?

[WhiteJC]

 
McCormack and Dembele score in Fulham victory

Fulham 2 Blackburn 1

First-half goals from Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele were enough to give Fulham a controversial victory at Craven Cottage.

Jordan Rhodes brought Blackburn back into the match with a penalty midway through the second half after he was fouled by James Husband.

And the Whites had two let-offs in the final five minutes, first when Grant Hanley's close-range shot seemed to cross the line before being cleared by Jamie O'Hara, and then when Fode Koita fired against the post.

Fulham's brilliant start proved to be all-important. They went ahead after just four minutes when Dembele burst through on the right-hand edge of the penalty area and teed up McCormack, who finished coolly.

McCormack returned the favour by playing a key role in Demeble's goal on the half-hour mark.

The Scotland forward crossed from the left and keeper Jason Steele produced a fine double save to deny Ryan Tunnicliffe and then Tom Cairney only for Dembele to follow up by hammering the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Blackburn simply could not cope with Fulham's front two and could have been more than two goals down at the interval.

McCormack had a near-post header saved by Steele, fired wide after again being found by Dembele, and also sent in a teasing low cross which his strike partner was just unable to connect with.

Not that Fulham had things all their own way. Andy Lonergan made several fine saves, keeping out efforts from Nathan Delfonso and Danny Guthrie before producing a stunning stop shortly before half-time when he stooped to his right to parry Ben Marshall's header.

Rovers threatened again early in the second half and an unmarked Rhodes was unable to direct his header at the target after being found by substitute Koita's right-wing cross.

Rhodes then did manage to direct Craig Conway's left-wing delivery towards goal, but Lonergan produced another impressive save.

Lonergan also dived to his left to push away a curling effort from Conway but was finally beaten by Rhodes' spot-kick after the Rovers striker had been shoved over at the far post by Husband following Conway's left-wing cross.

Fulham (4-4-2): Lonergan; Richards, Stearman, Ream, Husband (Burn 88); Cairney, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle (Fredericks 61); McCormack, Dembele.
Subs not used: Lewis, Kacaniklic, Mattila, Woodrow, Christensen.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/mccormack-and-dembele-score-as-fulham-beat-blackburn?

[WhiteJC]

 
15% Win Offer

Following the Whites' 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers, supporters can round the weekend up with an exclusive 15% off everything online!

Head to the Online Store and shop from Replica Kits, Training Wear, tees, polos and much more!

To redeem your 15% discount simply enter the code WIN15 when prompted in the payment process.

The 15% discount is available to enjoy across all retail products between 3pm Sunday 13th September and 3pm Monday 14th September.

Happy shopping - COYW!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/september/13/win-offer?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham strike early then get lucky with Blackburn's ruled-out equaliser


Fulham's Ashley Richards clears from Blackburn's Jordan Rhodes during the Championship fixture at Craven Cottage.
Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembélé fired Fulham to a 2-1 victory and piled on the misery for Blackburn Rovers.

Winless Blackburn are rooted in the bottom three of the Championship after finding themselves two goals down inside the opening half an hour.

What should have then been a Sunday stroll for Fulham became less straightforward when Jordan Rhodes halved the arrears from the penalty spot. But Rovers' rotten recent luck was summed up when Grant Hanley's late effort was disallowed despite replays showing the ball had clearly crossed the line.

It took just four minutes for Fulham to make the breakthrough, when Dembélé chased down Ryan Tunnicliffe's through-ball and outmuscled Hanley. Dembélé squared the ball towards the penalty spot, where McCormack was waiting to sidefoot home his fourth goal in three matches.

McCormack could have had a first-half hat-trick but for a fine near-post save from Jason Steele and a shot across goal which flew inches wide of the far post. Instead the Scotland striker turned provider in the 30th minute when his cross was met with a firm header from Tunnicliffe. His effort was kept out by a fine save from Steele, who then also managed to block Tom Cairney's follow-up, but the keeper's heroics were in vain as Dembélé crashed in the loose ball at the third attempt.

Fulham did not have it all their own way in the first half, though, and they were indebted to Andrew Lonergan in their goal for denying Nathan Delfouneso and Corry Evans before he pulled off a stunning stop to keep out Ben Marshall's header before the interval.

The second half quickly became the Rhodes show with the usually prolific Rovers striker somehow hitting a post when he slid in to meet Marshall's cross from all of three yards out. When Rhodes then planted a header over the crossbar and another straight at Lonergan it appeared his wait for a first goal of the season was destined to go on.

But he was gifted the chance to open his account after being shoved over in the area by James Husband in the 67th minute, and made no mistake from the spot to give Rovers a lifeline.

The visitors piled forward in search of an equaliser and should have got it when Jazz Richards blocked Shane Duffy's header on the line, only for the ball to rebound off Hanley and back towards goal.

The ball was over the line when Jamie O'Hara hacked it clear from underneath the crossbar but the referee, Tony Harrington, did not award the goal and luckless Rovers were condemned to another defeat.



http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/13/fulham-past-blackburn-hanley-effort-disallowed?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 2-1 Blackburn: Rovers drop into the relegation zone as winless streak continues

Blackburn Rovers' dismal start to the Championship season continued as they fell to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The writing was on the wall early on for Rovers when Ross McCormack scored after only four minutes as he finished from a Moussa Dembele cutback following a good through ball by Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Dembele went from provider to goalscorer for the second on 20 minutes after goalkeeper Jason Steele made two fine saves from Tunnicliffe and Tom Cairney, but could not make a third as the Frenchman finished from six yards.

Rovers got back into the game in the second half when Jordan Rhodes took a tumble in the box after a shove from James Husband.

Rhodes picked himself up to score from the spot but it was not enough as Gary Bowyer's men drop into the relegation zone while still in search of their first victory of the campaign.


Read more at http://talksport.com/football/fulham-2-1-blackburn-rovers-drop-relegation-zone-winless-streak-continues-150913166353#k718JIzWw2tLh5Bv.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Kit Symons: 'Fulham were resilient'

Kit Symons has said that Fulham had to be "resilient" to hold on for a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

Goals from Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele put the hosts ahead in the first half, but Jordan Rhodes got Blackburn back into it from the penalty spot, before the visitors twice hit the woodwork and had a shot cleared off the line, which Gary Bowyer's side claimed was in.

The manager told Sky Sports News: "It was an uncomfortable second half. Andy Lonergan made some important saves and they put us under huge pressure. They are a big side, it was tough, we had to be resilient.

"We gave away a very soft penalty which gave them a lift, the non-goal was a tough call but I am not going to apologise for getting a bit of luck."

The result moves Fulham up to 11th in the table.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/kit-symons-fulham-were-resilient_245875.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Do You Remember that Proposed Deal for Hooper?
   
Do you recall, not too long ago, we reported on how Fulham Football Club were interested in bringing Gary Hooper to Craven Cottage?

The deal would have seen the 27-year-old come to Craven Cottage on loan with a view to a permanent deal following on.

But, it seems that the deal was thwarted by his current club, Norwich City, having a change of heart, news that left Fulham and the other Championship clubs chasing him, shell-shocked.

The change of heart also deprived the former Celtic striker of a chance of regular first team football.

However, matters seem to have gone from bad-to-worse for Hooper with it now being revealed that he has been forced out of action with an ankle injury.

It`s a strange world we live in is it not?


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=413299#ixzz3leo1CgdO

[WhiteJC]

 
The View from South Texas — Fulham v. Blackburn Rovers
by HatterDon

Another Weekend, Another Mixed Bag​

For most of the first half, I told myself that if today's lineup was Fulham's default starting XI for the rest of the season, I'd be happy with it. Fulham started brightly, striking deep and quick into Blackburn's unsettled defense with a great example of – dare I say it – direct, long-ball strikes. With Cairney and Pringle playing as out-and-out wingers and with McCormack and Dembele an actual strike pair, quick counters looked to be on all day. When O'Hara and Tunnicliffe got into the mix with excellent short passing, Fulham looked to be a very good side indeed.

And so it was as early as the 4th minute, when Dembele shook off his defender a few yards into the Rovers' half and headed straight for the goal line. A quick stop and a blind pass to his left was all it took for Fulham's captain to be one-on-one with Blackburn's keeper. Ross doesn't miss these and it was 1-0. From then on throughout most of the first half, Fulham treated the crowd with a great exhibition of passing – short, long, diagonal, flicks, the lot. Especially noteworthy were Jazz Richards' cross-field inch-perfect arcing deliveries to Ben Pringle. During this portion of the first half, Tunnicliffe gave a great demonstration of the art of box-to-box midfield play.

On the 30th minute, Fulham got the goal they deserved. McCormack was the recipient of another delivery on the left wing and provided a cross that Tom Cairney fired on. It was then deflected to Tunnicliffe who blistered the palms of the very busy Steele. The rebound fell to Dembele who made no mistake burying the ball into the roof of the net for his first Championship goal.

At this point, Fulham could have run rampant, and a third goal didn't seem out of the question, but some profligate passes and hesitancy in front of goal deprived them of the goal that could have ended the contest before half-time. Most notable was another gorgeous McCormack cross – this time from the right wing – that Dembele met almost on the goal-line. All it needed was a gentle flick, and that's exactly what Dembele gave it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too gentle and the result was nothing but hand wringing and disbelief.

It was also at this point that the Rovers began to play. And a funny thing happened on the way to a clean sheet: Blackburn Rovers are NOT a bottom-three team. A series of blistering attacks from both wings resulted in Andy Lonergan being called upon to make some very nice saves and clearances. Still, on the half-time whistle, Fulham were very much in charge.

The second half was, of course, a totally different slice of sausage. It wasn't so much that Fulham came out hesitant and over-protective of their lead; it was more that Rovers made a tactical substitution that irrevocably turned the match around. Off came the speedy, but serially disappointing Nathan Delfouneso to be replaced by Bengaly Fode-Koita. From that point on, Rovers got more physical. I'm not saying that they played dirty or even negative. Far from it. I'm saying that they made it clear that every Fulham possession was going to be robustly challenged, and each Rovers possession was going to result in an assault on Lonergan's goal.

This change showed me a lot about Gary Bowyer, Rovers coach. Going from quickness to strength was exactly what was needed on the day. Fulham was always going to "out-football" Rovers, but had little chance in beating them in commitment. Blackburn has a lot of tall, strong defenders and midfielders, and Jordan Rhodes is no Andy Johnson either. Throughout the second half they kept the ball in the air and won almost every challenge. They were very effective at dead-ball situations, not because Fulham defended them poorly, but because they were able to deliver consistently into an area where an aerial contest would result in their favor. And so, for most of the half, they hammered Fulham. Jordan Rhodes had the devil's own luck, hitting the post more often than a half-drunk corgi. When James Husband was adjudged to have taken him down in the six-yard box, I was doubtful. The replays confirmed what I should have realized all along: only a foul was going to keep Rhodes from heading in that cross.

Once Rhodes converted the penalty, the game got to be lots of fun. Dembele finally demonstrated the fine art of meshing pace and strength, winning several one-on-one battles and nearly tacking on another goal. At the other end, yet another goal-mouth scramble that featured woodwork contact ended when O'Hara provided what television replays showed to be an ACROSS the goal-line clearance. The battle continued until the final whistle – which I actually got to see since I got up at 0600 to watch it live. Had I slept in and watched the recording, I'd have missed the last four or five minutes of activity.

And so Fulham won and moved to 11th in the league table. The new boys were blooded and the fans went home happy – I'm assuming. The Blackburn following must be even more convinced than ever that they don't deserve their current league position. They are very good in all aspects of the game and, in Rhodes, have a game-changer deluxe.

Fulham? We'll we're significantly better than we were at any point last season, and I like our attack more than I have since Jol screwed it up. We played wide, the fullbacks got into the attack, we had two goal poachers up front and O'Hara and Tunnicliffe marshaled the middle nicely. Stearman and Ream looked sound, and Jazz Richards was marvelous all day long. What was disturbing was Mr Hyde replacing Dr. Jekyll in goal about 55 minutes in. Twice Lonergan hit a hard pass upfield directly to a Rovers player, the last time hitting Rhodes in the back so hard that the rebound went into the stand. It could have easily bulged the back of the net. He also punched a clearance directly to Koita which really should have led to a goal.

Over all, though, I am still upbeat about the future. If these guys can play this well in such a short time together, the future looks good for me.

HatterDon's Man of the Match: Well, with all due respect to Dembele, Cairney, Richards, and McCormack, I'm giving the award to Richard Stearman. He played a quality center half all match and, when we looked as if we were going to be out-muscled in the second half, he was a rock out there. One thing is for sure, if I'm in a crowd and it all kicks off, I was Stearman to be on my side. Welcome to Craven Cottage, Richard!


http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=507

[WhiteJC]

 
Gary Bowyer: 'Unlucky' Blackburn Rovers were the better team in Fulham defeat

Rovers see another chance go begging. Pictures: CameraSport

BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer's lamented his side's 'luck' after they were beaten 2-1 at Fulham today to extend their worrying winless start to the Championship season to six matches.

Rovers, who remain third from bottom, were two shockingly defended goals down in the first 30 minutes, scored by Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele, and deservedly so.

But they dominated the Sky Sports-live clash thereafter with Fulham's goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Andrew Lonergan producing a string of quality saves.

He was eventually beaten in the 68th minute by Jordan Rhodes, who had earlier hit the post, after the striker notched his first goal of the campaign by converting a penalty he had won.

And Lonergan was beaten again in the 86th minute when the ball rebounded off Grant Hanley and clearly crossed the line.

The officials, however, failed to give the goal and salt was rubbed into Rovers' wounds when substitute Fode Koita crashed a late shot – one of 23 his team had in total – against the upright.

Bowyer said: "My main feeling is one of major, major disappointment. We've come here, against an expensive side, and we've been the better team by far.

"Overall it was our best performance of the season but it's also been the same as what we performed at Brighton for a spell, and certainly Cardiff at home, and Huddersfield second half, when we created loads of chances. It's just the actual converting of them.

"There were was a foul on Grant Hanley for the first goal, but it was too easy, and then I felt we let Steeley (Jason Steele) down for the second goal. He'd made a double save and then it stills drop to Dembele.

"But it was a fabulous response from our lads and Lonergan was man of the match by a long way.

"He saved from (Nathan) Delfouneso, from Ben Marshall's header, and Grant Hanley missed a free header in the first half, and we came in thinking, 'we're more than in this game and we could easily be level'.

"So we said to them, 'you're going to have to have a real, real good go and don't leave anything in the dressing room and out on the pitch. Give it everything you've got'.  You saw they did that and nationally people have seen it as well.


"We hit the bar, we hit the post, we had one cleared off the line, and we had one that actually crossed the line.

"The officials didn't give us anything all day and in my opinion they didn't do their job properly with the goal that went over the line."

Bowyer is on his longest run with without a win since taking over the Ewood Park reins in May 2013.

And he heads to Loftus Road on Wednesday, for an encounter with QPR, with pressure mounting.

But he said: "We'd be more concerned if we weren't creating chances but you've seen the number of chances we've created there.

"You've got to keep the belief that it will turn for us as you've seen today that we've not lost the game through a lack of effort or a lack of commitment, we just haven't been lucky enough in front of goal a little bit and certainly with certain decisions.

"I think you saw the passion and honesty that these lads have got for the club."


http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/13717484.Gary_Bowyer___Unlucky__Blackburn_Rovers_were_the_better_team_in_Fulham_defeat/?ref=mac

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham cling on for third straight win
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Gary Bowyer called for the introduction of goal-line technology in the lower leagues after this game – and the Blackburn manager was fully justified to air his frustrations given the way in which his side were cruelly denied a point when Grant Hanley's effort clearly crossed the line before being cleared by Jamie O'Hara. He will also have wondered how Rovers were behind at that point after dominating the second period so comprehensively that Andy Lonergan in the Fulham goal was quite clearly the man of the match.

Fulham clung on for dear life to the three points that lifted them into the top half of the table for the first time this season, but Kit Symons will want his team to replicate the blistering twenty minutes with which they started the contest instead of its nerve-shredding climax. The home side lost their way well before an uncharacteristically prolifigate Jordan Rhodes converted a second half penalty, with both O'Hara and the previously excellent Ryan Tunnicliffe tiring noticeably in the final quarter. But, considering just how long Symons had to wait for a first league win, he will be more than happy to console himself with three points.

The hosts were rewarded for their energy and endeavour that threatened to blow Rovers away at the beginning. The pace and power of Moussa Dembele, finally getting a run in the side after Matt Smith's unfortunate injury at Hull, unsettled Hanley and allowed him to reach a penetrative pass from Tunnicliffe. The French forward showed plenty of poise as he bore down on goal, too, impressively cutting the ball back for Ross McCormack to steer home from ten yards out. That was the Scottish striker's fourth goal in three matches following a barren run at the start of the campaign and he seemed in the mood to add to his tally – seeing a shot smartly saved by Jason Steele at the near post and driving another attempt just wide.

McCormack turned provider for Fulham's second, drifting out to the left wing and sending over a deep cross that Tunnicliffe emphatically met with a diving header. Steele saved that brilliantly and somehow got himself off the floor to prevent Tom Cairney scoring against his former employers, but could do nothing about Dembele's follow-up, which sent the loose ball soaring high into the roof of the net. That the hosts enjoyed a two-goal cushion at the break was largely down to Lonergan, though, who spread himself superbly to thwart Nathan Delfouneso as he sped through on goal and also kept out a shot from Corry Evans. Lonergan's best save, however, was a truly fantastic one-handed effort to claw out Ben Marshall's header from behind him just before half-time.

Bowyer clearly told his players to keep pressing after the break and Fulham's uncertainty at the back – despite the inclusion of deadline day arrival Richard Stearman – shows no signs of having been banished. On another day, Rhodes would have ended his goalscoring drought with a glut of goals, but he had to settle for the penalty, awarded for James Husband's clumsy foul at the back post. The Scottish striker made lighter work of that task that when he somehow contrived to hit the post, sliding in to connect with Marshall's cross from three yards out, and also wasted two free headers, sending one in the rows of empty seats at the Putney End and heading another straight at Lonergan.

Rovers laid siege to the Fulham goal in the final ten minutes but, for once, fortune was with the Cottagers. Referee Tony Harrington waved play on after the pinball in the penalty area that saw Jazz Richards clear Shane Duffy's header off the line, but Henley's instinctive effort was well over the line when O'Hara hooked it clear. There was still time for the effective substitute Bengaly-Fode Koita to strike the post from close range – and the relief was tangible when Harrington's whistle ended five agonising minutes of stoppage time.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Lonergan; Richards, Husband (Burn 90), Stearman, Ream; O'Hara, Tunnicliffe, Cairney, Pringle (Fredericks 62); McCormack, Dembele. Subs (not used): Lewis, Mattila, Christensen, Kacaniklic, Woodrow.

BOOKED: O'Hara.

GOALS: McCormack (4), Dembele (19).

BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-4-2): Steele; Duffy, Spurr, Henley, Hanley; Guthrie, Evans (Akpan 83), Marshall, Conway (Lawrence 90); Delfouneso (Koita 45), Rhodes. Subs (not used): Raya, Williamson, Kilgallon, Olsson.

BOOKED: Rhodes, Hanley, Koita, Duffy.

GOAL: Rhodes (pen 68).

REFEREE: Tony Harrington (Durham).

ATTENDANCE: 14,372.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/09/fulham-cling-on-for-third-straight-win/?

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Jason Steele insists Blackburn Rovers won't let heads drop despite 'outrageous' Fulham defeat


Jordan Rhodes converts his penalty but Rovers were unable to force an equaliser

RECALLED goalkeeper Jason Steele insists the Blackburn Rovers players will not let their heads drop despite being left staggered by their 'outrageous' defeat to Fulham yesterday.

The 2-1 loss left Rovers rooted in the Championship relegation places going into Wednesday's trip to QPR and without a victory from their first seven matches of the season.

But Steele believes their dominant second-half display at Craven Cottage, when they laid siege to the Fulham goal, was further proof that the players' spirit has not been affected by their winless start.

And the former England Under-21s international is adamant that Rovers will be 'fine' once they record their maiden success.

"Everybody is in a bit of shock because I've never really seen anything like that," said Steele, who kept his side in the game during the first 30 minutes, but was a virtual spectator after the break.

"We're all gutted but it's one of them, none of us are going to feel sorry for ourselves and we've just got to go again on Wednesday.

"The lads were absolutely brilliant and I said that to them at the end. They were a credit to themselves.

"To create that many chances and not come away with the three points was quite outrageous really.

"But, as I said, we can't feel sorry for ourselves, we've got to pick ourselves up, train hard tomorrow and Tuesday, and make sure we're ready for what's coming up on Wednesday."

Fulham were the better team for the first half hour and, aided by some poor defending, led through goals from Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele.

But from then on Rovers took control of what developed into a thrilling contest and, after Jordan Rhodes halved the arrears from the penalty spot, they were denied an equaliser when the officials failed to spot a fortuitous effort from Grant Hanley had crossed the line.

Rovers have now had 71 shots at goal in their last four games and Steele said: "If we keep playing like that we'll be fine.

"I think anyone who has watched that second half, and understands football, will know that we're not that far at all from giving somebody a bit of a hiding.


"We've just got to stick together, kept grafting for each other, and we'll get that first win soon."

Steele was making his first league start of the season after Rovers boss Gary Bowyer started the campaign with teenager David Raya between the posts.

"I've gone about things the right way, and it was just a case of keeping working hard and hoping I'd get a chance," said Steele.

"Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not the sort of lad who chucks my toys out of the pram. I'm married with two kids and I go home to a happy house.

"I'm not one to shout or scream, I just try and let my football do the talking.
     
"I don't feel I've ever let anyone down when I've played and I thought I did okay today."

Asked about his decision to replace Raya, who had kept his first clean sheet of the campaign before the international break, with Steele, Bowyer said: "The young lad has come in and done ever so well but we just felt it was time for him to come out for a little bit and go with Steeley's experience."


http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/13717538.Jason_Steele_insists_Blackburn_Rovers_won___t_let_heads_drop_despite____outrageous____Fulham_defeat/?ref=mac