Saturday Fulham Stuff (26/09/15)...

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Fulham 4 0 QPR

Captain Ross McCormack scored twice as Fulham thrashed QPR 4-0 in a one-sided west London derby at Craven Cottage.

Just 117 seconds had been played when French teenager Moussa Dembele rose to nod in James Husband's left-wing cross.

After Massimo Luongo wasted a good chance to equalise for QPR, Ben Pringle doubled Fulham's lead from 18 yards.

McCormack slotted home from inside the box to make it 3-0 after 31 minutes and scrambled in a fourth, while QPR lost top scorer Charlie Austin to injury.

The second-half departure of their talismanic striker, with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, merely capped an awful night for Rangers as they were well beaten by their local rivals.

QPR, who would have gone into the Championship's top four with a victory, took time to settle after Dembele's early goal.

They could have levelled when a superb move put Luongo clear, but the Australia international side-footed wide from 12 yards.

The hosts were 2-0 up within a minute of Luongo's miss, as winger Pringle shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot before firing in past Robert Green.

Whites captain McCormack made the most of the space afforded to him inside the box to collect Tom Cairney's pass and beat Green with an angled shot.

The Scotland international rounded off the scoring shortly after the hour, forcing the ball in after QPR centre-back Gabriele Angella had turned a Ryan Fredericks cross onto his own crossbar.

Fulham, who climb to 11th and within a point of QPR in the Championship table, were rarely troubled defensively as they kept their first clean sheet in the league this season.


Moussa Dembele scored his second league goal of the season to put Fulham ahead


Ben Pringle netted Fulham's second goal from the edge of the penalty area


Pringle's goal was his second for Fulham since joining from Rotherham


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34287151

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Fulham 4-0 QPR: Charlie Austin off injured as Chris Ramsey's problems go from bad to worse with west London derby drubbing
Fulham thrashed QPR, scoring three first-half goals in west London derby
Moussa Dembele's header opened the scoring within two minutes
Ben Pringle doubled the lead with a terrific long-range effort for Fulham
Ross McCormack scored either side of half-time to compound QPR misery
Charlie Austin had to be taken off in second half with hamstring injury

Spare a thought for Charlie Austin. On the day he admitted his Euro 2016 prospects were effectively killed by his continued association with QPR in the Championship, he was part of that same side as they gave no indication that an upgrade back to the Premier League will happen any time soon.

QPR were dreadful, so bad in fact that elements of their support opted to leave after 31 minutes. That was how long it took for this expensive squad to be 3-0 down against local rivals who themselves have hardly looked like Premier League candidates this season.

They were a disjointed mess, pummelled by first-half strikes from Moussa Dembele, Ben Pringle and Ross McCormack, before the latter scored his second after 63 minutes.


Charlie Austin appeared to tweak his hamstring at the start of the second half against Fulham


QPR were already 3-0 down when Austin had to be taken off after injuring his hamstring at Craven Cottage


Moussa Dembele rises highest to head home and put Fulham ahead inside three minutes against QPR


Gabriele Angella (wearing 26), on loan from Watford, can only watch on as Dembele powers in a header


Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Rob Green was rooted to the spot as Dembele scored the opener


Dembele slides on his knees as he celebrates his second goal of the season for mid-table Fulham

QPR have now gone four games without a win and in among it all was Austin, a blameless figure in the general malaise for he has seven goals this season. Here, he trickled a single shot at goal and was substituted with an injury after 59 minutes – a rotten end to a rotten night.

For Fulham, they now have three wins in four Championship games and the knowledge that they have not been beaten at home by QPR since 1980. At times, the home crowd sang 'We want six' in reference to their 6-0 win at Craven Cottage in 2011. They really were not far off.

It took only one minute for QPR to look rattled, Green fumbling a corner from Pringle. The wait for a goal lasted barely a minute longer, with Dembele beating Gabriele Angella to a James Husband cross and heading past Green.

Pringle added a second with a good, low strike across Green after Alejandro Faurlin got careless with a pass on the edge of his own area and McCormack made it 3-0, finding space away from Nedum Onuaha and slipping a shot past the former England goalkeeper with his left foot.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3249423/Fulham-4-0-QPR-Ross-McCormack-double-heaps-misery-Chris-Ramsey-s-Charlie-Austin-taken-injured.html#ixzz3mmnkh6DJ
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Fulham destroy QPR in one-sided derby



Fulham 4 QPR 0

Ross McCormack scored two of Fulham's goals as QPR were thrashed at Craven Cottage again.

Moussa Dembele and Ben Pringle also netted for the Whites, who led 3-0 after a totally one-sided first half.

Rangers, beaten 6-0 at Fulham in 2011, were totally outplayed once more and their miserable night also involved an injury to Charlie Austin, who limped off in the second half.

Dembele opened the scoring after just two minutes when he sneaked in unmarked to head home James Husband's left-wing cross.

And worse followed for Chris Ramsey's team after Alejandro Faurlin gave the ball away on 19 minutes.

Pringle pounced on Faurlin's attempted pass to Karl Henry and fired beyond keeper Rob Green from the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors were woeful, although Massimo Luongo missed a great chance to equalise shortly before the second goal when a nice Rangers move ended with the Australian steering a first-time shot wide of the near post.

When Fulham put together a similar string of passes, McCormack was spotted by Tom Cairney after drifting away from Nedum Onuoha and the striker finished brilliantly, shooting past Green and into the far corner.

Rangers head coach Ramsey responded by hauling off Tjaronn Chery 10 minutes before the interval.

That move backfired when the Dutchman's replacement, Jamie Mackie, picked up a knock and did not appear for the second half – and Austin was taken off shortly before the hour mark.

It left QPR without a recognised striker, but their shortcomings at the other end of the pitch meant the game was beyond them before McCormack netted his second and Fulham's fourth goal.

In attempting to stop Dembele scoring after good work on the right by Ryan Fredericks, Gabriele Angella inadvertently scooped the ball against his own crossbar and McCormack was on hand to score from a yard out.

Fulham: Lonergan, Fredericks (Voser 77), Stearman, Ream, Husband, Cairney, O'Hara (Christensen 66), Tunnicliffe, Pringle, McCormack, Dembele (Woodrow 77).
Subs not used: Lewis, Burn, Mattila, Kavanagh, Woodrow.
QPR: Green, Perch, Onuoha, Angella, Konchesky, Faurlin, Henry, Phillips, Luongo, Chery (Mackie 35 (Fer 45)), Austin (Tozser 58).
Subs not used: Smithies, Hall, Doughty, Gladwin.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/fulham-destroy-qpr-in-one-sided-derby?

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Win Offer

Following the Whites' emphatic derby victory over QPR, supporters can enjoy an exclusive 15% off everything online all weekend!

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 9:45pm Friday 25th September and 9am Monday 28th September.

Happy shopping - COYW!


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/september/25/win-offer?

[WhiteJC]

 
McCormack nets double as Fulham put QPR to the sword

Ross McCormack scored twice as Fulham thrashed QPR 4-0 in the west London derby at Craven Cottage.

QPR would have moved up to third in the Sky Bet Championship table with a win but goals from Moussa Dembele, Ben Pringle and McCormack in the first 31 minutes scuppered that plan.

McCormack then wrapped up a convincing victory with his second just after the hour as Fulham moved to within a point of their opponents in the standings.

It took Fulham just 116 seconds to take the lead thanks to Dembele's towering downward header past Robert Green.

James Husband provided the cross from the left and the forward leaped to meet it as marker Gabriele Angella remained grounded.

Fulham were back on the attack again not long after and Dembele was involved once more in setting McCormack free on the left of the box, but the Scot could only fire into the side-netting from a tight angle.

It took Rangers a while to muster a reply but a burst of speed from Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks was enough to stop Charlie Austin from latching on to a through ball.

A decent chance was then carved out by the visitors, with Austin involved in a swift interchange of passes that saw Massimo Luongo burst through on the left only to find the side-netting as well.

It was to prove costly as Fulham went down the other end and doubled their lead through Pringle in the 19th minute, although the visitors had only themselves to blame.

The summer signing from Rotherham had seen his pass cut out by a defender but he was in the right place when Alejandro Faurlin surrendered possession cheaply and drilled past Green from 20 yards.

The Hoops were rocking and needed Angella to slide and and prevent McCormack from setting up a team-mate in front of goal.

The reprieve was short-lived, however, as McCormack made it 3-0 in the 31st minute to cap a fine move that saw Tom Cairney's pass open up the Rangers' defence once again. R's coach Chris Ramsey made an instant change with Tjaronn Chery replaced by Jamie Mackie with 10 minutes still remaining in the first half, which ended with Dembele seeing an effort saved and McCormack firing wide from range.

Rangers, who replaced Mackie with Leroy Fer at half-time, looked more potent after the break but Richard Stearman did well to stop James Perch in the box before Fulham goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan dived to keep out Paul Konchesky's header.

Fulham remained on top, however, and Perch did well to avert danger before McCormack fired straight at Green.

Rangers then made another change when Austin was forced off by injury in the 59th minute and Daniel Tozser came on.

McCormack made it 4-0 on the rebound in the 63rd minute after Fredericks had set up Dembele, who saw his shot under pressure loop up and brush the bar.

Ryan Tunnicliffe forced Green into another save with a long ranger but Fulham fans' demands for a repeat of a 6-0 thrashing of Rangers in October 2011 did not come to pass, although substitutes Cauley Woodrow and Kay Voser both came close to netting number five late on.



Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/fulham/mccormack-nets-double-as-fulham-put-qpr-to-the-sword-1783075.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Wolves Tickets

The Whites are back in action next Tuesday evening when Wolves visit SW6 (29th September, 7:45pm).

On the back of their West London derby victory, Kit's side will be looking to secure back to back wins at the Cottage.

Tickets for the match are on General Sale now, and priced from £20 adults and £10 juniors.

Secure your seat online, by phone on 0843 208 1234 (option 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/september/25/wolves-tickets?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 4 QPR 0: Ross McCormack at the double as hosts move within a point of local rivals

Ross McCormack scored twice as Fulham thrashed QPR 4-0 in the west London derby at Craven Cottage.

QPR would have moved up to third in the Sky Bet Championship table with a win but goals from Moussa Dembele, Ben Pringle and McCormack in the first 31 minutes scuppered that plan.

McCormack then wrapped up a convincing victory with his second just after the hour as Fulham moved to within a point of their opponents in the standings.

It took Fulham just 116 seconds to take the lead thanks to Dembele's towering downward header past Robert Green. James Husband provided the cross from the left and the forward leaped to meet it as marker Gabriele Angella remained grounded.

Fulham were back on the attack again not long after and Dembele was involved once more in setting McCormack free on the left of the box, but the Scot could only fire into the side-netting from a tight angle.

It took Rangers a while to muster a reply but a burst of speed from Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks was enough to stop Charlie Austin from latching on to a through ball.

A decent chance was then carved out by the visitors, with Austin involved in a swift interchange of passes that saw Massimo Luongo burst through on the left only to find the side-netting as well.

It was to prove costly as Fulham went down the other end and doubled their lead through Pringle in the 19th minute, although the visitors had only themselves to blame.

The summer signing from Rotherham had seen his pass cut out by a defender but he was in the right place when Alejandro Faurlin surrendered possession cheaply and drilled past Green from 20 yards.

The Hoops were rocking and needed Angella to slide and and prevent McCormack from setting up a team-mate in front of goal.

The reprieve was short-lived, however, as McCormack made it 3-0 in the 31st minute to cap a fine move that saw Tom Cairney's pass open up the Rangers' defence once again.

R's coach Chris Ramsey made an instant change with Tjaronn Chery replaced by Jamie Mackie with 10 minutes still remaining in the first half, which ended with Dembele seeing an effort saved and McCormack firing wide from range.

Rangers, who replaced Mackie with Leroy Fer at half-time, looked more potent after the break but Richard Stearman did well to stop James Perch in the box before Fulham goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan dived to keep out Paul Konchesky's header.

Fulham remained on top, however, and Perch did well to avert danger before McCormack fired straight at Green. Rangers then made another change when Austin was forced off by injury in the 59th minute and Daniel Tozser came on.

McCormack made it 4-0 on the rebound in the 63rd minute after Fredericks had set up Dembele, who saw his shot under pressure loop up and brush the bar.

Ryan Tunnicliffe forced Green into another save with a long ranger but Fulham fans' demands for a repeat of a 6-0 thrashing of Rangers in October 2011 did not come to pass, although substitutes Cauley Woodrow and Kay Voser both came close to netting number five late on.


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-4-qpr-0-ross-mccormack-at-the-double-as-hosts-move-within-a-point-of-local-rivals-a2956266.html?

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Fulham thump West London rivals Queens Park Rangers 4-0

Fulham were emphatic 4-0 winners against West London rivals Queens Park Rangers on Friday night.

The Cottagers put on an impressive all-round display and goals from Moussa Dembele, Ben Pringle and Ross McCormack (2) eased them to their third victory in four Sky Bet Championship outings.

Dembele found the net after only two minutes with a well-placed header, before Pringle scored with a low left-footed drive from 20 yards, capitalising on some slack passing from QPR.

McCormack then completed a superb team move to make it 3-0 after 31 minutes, and added a fourth just after the hour mark from close range.

The result moved Kit Symons' men up to 11th in the Championship table ahead of Saturday's games.


Read more at http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2015/fulham-thump-west-london-rivals-queens-park-rangers-4-0-2711101.aspx#k7S1Ij35sSaoUbyq.99

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Moussa Dembele hails Fulham's "best performance" of the season

Moussa Dembele has said that Fulham had their "best performance" of the 2015-16 season in their 4-0 victory over West London rivals Queens Park Rangers.

The captain opened the scoring before a Ben Pringle strike and a brace from Ross McCormack secured the victory for the home side.

The midfielder told Sky Sports News: "I think that was our best performance this season, we kept the clean sheet and scored some goals. I'm enjoying having game time and having the manager believe in me."

The result leaves Fulham with three wins in their last four matches.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/qpr/news/dembele-hails-fulhams-best-performance_248523.html#$$nv9uhp&&VBj7QmQZEeWEChKxit6XgQ$$

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Ross McCormack: 'Fulham aiming for playoffs'

Ross McCormack has insisted that Fulham can challenge for a place in the playoffs following their victory over Queens Park Rangers.

The striker scored twice in the 4-0 victory in the West London derby at Craven Cottage, which leaves Fulham 11th in the table, just a point outside the playoff places.

The 29-year-old told Sky Sports News: "We want to challenge, we have always said that the playoffs are the aim and we are not going to change that. We are just going to go about our business."

McCormack has scored six goals in 11 appearance for Fulham so far this season.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/mccormark-fulham-aiming-for-playoffs_248525.html#$$nv9ujt&&gbAnzmQZEeWviBKxit6XgQ$$

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Ross McCormack scores twice as Fulham thrash QPR

Fulham 4 - 0 QPR


Fulham's captain, Ross McCormack, celebrates after scoring against QPR in the Championship on Friday night.
Photograph: BPI/Rex Shutterstock

Ross McCormack scored twice as Fulham thrashed QPR 4-0 in the west London derby at Craven Cottage.

QPR would have moved up to third in the Championship with a win but goals from Moussa Dembélé, Ben Pringle and McCormack in the first 31 minutes scuppered that plan.

McCormack then wrapped up a convincing victory with his second just after the hour as Fulham moved to within a point of their opponents.

It took Fulham 116 seconds to take the lead thanks to Dembélé's towering downward header past Robert Green. James Husband provided the cross from the left and the forward leapt to meet it as his marker, Gabriele Angella, remained grounded.

Fulham were back on the attack again not long after and Dembélé was involved once more in setting McCormack free on the left of the box but the Scot fired into the side netting from a tight angle.

It took Rangers a while to muster a reply but a burst of speed from the Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks was enough to stop Charlie Austin from latching on to a through-ball.

A decent chance was then carved out by the visitors, with Austin involved in a swift interchange of passes that saw Massimo Luongo burst through on the left only to find the side netting as well.

It was to prove costly as Fulham went down the other end and doubled their lead through Pringle in the 19th minute, although the visitors had only themselves to blame.

Pringle, signed from Rotherham in the summer, had seen his pass cut out by a defender but he was in the right place when Alejandro Faurlín surrendered possession cheaply and he drilled the ball past Green from 20 yards.

Rangers were rocking and needed Angella to slide and prevent McCormack from setting up a team-mate in front of goal.

The reprieve was short-lived, however, as McCormack made it 3-0 in the 31st minute to cap a fine move that saw Tom Cairney's pass open up the Rangers defence once again.

Chris Ramsey made an instant change with Tjaronn Chery replaced by Jamie Mackie with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, which ended with Dembélé seeing an effort saved and McCormack firing wide from range.

Rangers, who replaced Mackie with Leroy Fer at half-time, looked more potent after the break but Richard Stearman did well to stop James Perch in the box before the Fulham goalkeeper, Andrew Lonergan, dived to keep out Paul Konchesky's header.

Fulham remained on top, however, and Perch did well to avert danger before McCormack fired straight at Green. Rangers then made another change when Austin was forced off by injury in the 59th minute and Daniel Tozser came on.

McCormack made it 4-0 on the rebound in the 63rd minute after Fredericks had set up Dembélé, who saw his shot under pressure loop up and hit the bar.

Ryan Tunnicliffe forced Green into another save with a shot from distance but Fulham fans' demands for a repeat of the 6-0 thrashing of Rangers in October 2011 did not come to pass, although the substitutes Cauley Woodrow and Kay Voser both went close to scoring a fifth.



http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/25/fulham-qpr-championship-match-report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Dembele demolishes QPR
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

Football might well be a very funny old game, but rarely can it have produced nights as surreal as this. Two west London sides desperate to return to the top table of English football came together at Craven Cottage seeking a catalyst to reignite their fitful seasons and two likeable, yet inexperienced mangers, knew the pressure would ramp up following a derby defeat. The stage appeared to set for one of those cagey, cautious contests but instead Fulham blew QPR away in 29 scintillating first-half minutes. By the break, Chris Ramsey's hopes of putting pressure on the Championship's top two lay in tatters – and his authority had been undermined by Tjaronn Chery's petulant reaction to being withdrawn before half time.

Ross McCormack's brace might garner tomorrow morning's headlines, but it is his young strike partner who deserves the plaudits. It was Moussa Dembele who set the tone with a towering header after just 116 seconds to deliver Fulham the perfect start. The Frenchman's terrific movement, encapsulated by the way he drifted between Paul Konchesky and Gabriele Angella to guide James Husband's cross past Rob Green, posed problems for a ponderous QPR defence all evening and the early goal sent his confidence soaring. Shortly afterwards, a fine pass put McCormack in the clear but the Fulham captain could only ruffle the side netting from an acute angle.

Rangers, rocked by Fulham's blistering start, were just beginning to get a foothold in the game when Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo burst into the box and sent a shot wastefully wide – a miss that was to prove decisive. Fulham swept down the other end of the field and doubled their advantage, although the accommodating nature of the visitors' defending had plenty to do with it. Ben Pringle, who had previously shown glimpses of the form that made him such a favourite at Rotherham, capitalised on a sloppy square pass from Ale Faurlin, darted between a couple of defenders and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Fulham's tails were up and only a last-ditch diving tackle from Angella prevented McCormack from scampering through on Green's woefully underprotected goal. A third duly arrived just past the half hour mark and it was a team goal of the highest quality. After fourteen sharp passes had teased open a gap in a central area just outside the box, Tom Cairney cleverly resisted the crowd's cries to shoot and slipped a reverse ball back through the Rangers defence for McCormack to finish with a modicum of fuss.

In an eery echo of QPR's 2012 humbling here, where Neil Warnock replaced Adel Taraabt at half-time during their 6-0 humbling, Ramsey sent on Jamie Mackie for Chery, who promptly scuttled down the touchline towards the dressing rooms and seemed to revel in an ovation from the visiting supporters. Macke himself was replaced by Leroy Fer at the interval and Rangers briefly threatened to make more of a game of it in the second half, with Richard Stearman blocking an effort from James Perch and Andy Lonergan smartly stopping Konchesky's header. Any hope of applying further pressure evaporated when Charlie Austin, whose only sight of goal was snuffed out by Ryan Fredericks in the first half, limped off with a hamstring injury on the hour.

Fulham added a fourth when Fredericks' lightening pace took him clear down the right and McCormack stabbed home the rebound from a couple of yards out after Angella, under pressure from Dembele, screwed an attempted clearance against his own crossbar. It looked as though the visitors might cave under the pressure, at that point, especially as Green did well to parry away a powerful strike from Ryan Tunnicliffe and smother another McCormack effort but a rampant home side failed to increase their margin of victory despite late pressure that saw substitutes Cauley Woodrow and Kay Voser spurn good chances in the closing stages.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Lonergan; Fredericks (Voser 77), Husband, Stearman, Ream; O'Hara (Christensen 65), Tunnicliffe, Cairney, Pringle; McCormack, Dembele (Woodrow 77). Subs (not used): Lewis, Burn, Kavanagh, Matilla.

GOALS: Dembele (2), Pringle (19), McCormack (31, 63).

QUEENS PARK RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Green; Perch, Konchesky, Onouha, Angella; Henry, Faurlin; Luongo, Chery (Mackie 35; Fer 45), Philips; Austin (Tozer 59). Subs (not used): Smithies, Hall, Gladwin, Doughty.

BOOKED: Perch.

REFEREE: Kevin Friend.

ATTENDANCE: 19,784


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/09/dembele-demolishes-qpr/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Manager Reaction

Kit Symons was thrilled his Fulham side were able to send their supporters home happy after comfortably seeing off Queens Park Rangers at Craven Cottage.

Goals from Moussa Dembélé, Ben Pringle and Ross McCormack (2) earned the Whites an emphatic win over their local rivals, and when asked if that was the best result of his tenure, Symons responded: "I think so. It's the most pleasing one, what with it being a local derby as well.

"It was a massive night for everyone connected with the football club, as we spoke about in the pre-game press conference. It's a huge thing and I wanted to make sure we had the bragging rights come tomorrow morning, and Fulham fans will be crowing after that one, and rightly so."

It's the sort of result which can kickstart a club's season, but the Whites boss wasn't surprised to see his troops secure that sort of win.

"I think we've played well this season," he said. "We had a real solid pre-season, I was delighted with that, and I think we've played well this season. First few games we didn't get what I felt we deserved, but if you keep doing the right things you'll end up getting what you deserve.

"It's not that long ago it was 'Symons out' walking off after Huddersfield, and we were still doing the right things then, and we've continued to do that. I've got a really strong belief in the way we work.

"I've got total faith in the players as a group and the way we've done our recruitment, I think it's been excellent, so I'm really pleased with it and it was just waiting for it to click and for everything to fall into place, and it did tonight.

"It's only three points so we need to kick on from this now and this will give us great confidence, without a doubt, and we need to make sure this sort of performance becomes the norm and we can really start moving up the table."

Whilst the goal scorers will get the headlines, any one of the Fulham team could have been named Man of the Match. Tim Ream and Richard Stearman were rocks at the back as we secured a first league clean sheet of the term, Ryan Fredericks and James Husband were a threat from full-back, while Jamie O'Hara and Ryan Tunnicliffe ran the show in the middle of the park.

"We've got really good players, but we're a really good team, which is what I'm most pleased about," Symons explained. "That, and the fact that we got a clean sheet. Those two things delighted me.

"The sum of the whole with us is without doubt worth more than the sum of the parts. Because of the types of characters we've got, and the spirit within the camp and the willingness to work for each other, the sum of the whole is always more and that gives us a fantastic chance to do very, very well.

"Things are coming. There's been a lot of work, and a lot of changes that we've had to make, and they're starting to pay off. If you keep doing the right things and you've got the right people, that will give you the right outcome."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/september/25/manager-reaction?

[WhiteJC]

 
The View From South Texas — FFC v. QPR
by HatterDon

Sometimes, everything you try works

Fulham renewed their rivalry with their near neighbors Friday evening before what must have been the largest crowd since the hosts left the Premier League. Manager Kit Symons had been saying that once the new boys got their feet under them, the football at Craven Cottage would be something to see. And so it turned out to be.

Fulham put out what looks to be their default lineup – until James Husband's loan expires anyhow – with the exception of Ryan Fredericks who replaced the injured Jazz Richards. The way the speedy number 7 patrolled the right touchline, it may be hard to get him off the pitch.

Fulham began the match by knocking the ball about comfortably. There was a lot of one touch stuff on display, with O'Hara and Tunnicliffe especially catching the eye with their accurate long passes. The first goal came just at the end of the 2nd minute when QPR's Angella calmly watched Moussa Dembele rise alone to nod home his second goal of the season. After a dazzling display of quick, short passes, Ben Pringle found himself free just inside the penalty area and zipped home the second on the 16th minute. Ross McCormack put the match away just after the half-hour to make it 3-0. At this point, Fulham's defense had been troubled only once.

QPR are a very good side, but they didn't look like it Friday night. Their defense looked a step slow and the Hoops pretty much lost every challenge on each touch line. It was for this reason that Jamie Mackie replaced Chary on the 35th minute. Mackie is a bit of a bruiser, and I guess the idea was to unsettle Husband and make him less effective. There was a little bit of effort to get back into the game, but the half ended to a chorus of boos from the large QPR contingent who had grown somewhat restive hearing their near rivals chanting "Why are you still here?"

It was a complete surprise when the second half began without Mackie. What he could have done in his ten minutes of activity to upset his manager is a mystery to me. On came Leroy Fer, back from injury, and – as expected – QPR began play by trying to overwhelm their hosts. A funny thing happened, though. Fulham reacted to QPR's attacks by pressuring Rangers all over the pitch. Fulham looked especially lethal on the break, and it was from one of these counters that McCormack scored the fourth and final goal.

Fulham has been a team of one half pretty much all season, but this was not the case tonight. Every time QPR tried to get back into the game, they found themselves under attack. Who was threatening them? Tunnicliffe ... and O'Hara ... and Pringle ... and Husband ... and Fredericks ... and Dembele. Not only did QPR never look like cutting the deficit, more clinical finishing by Dembele, Husband, and substitutes LVC and Woodrow could have eclipsed our famous 6-0 thrashing of the R's back in the Premier League.

Yes, everything worked. I didn't see anyone to fault for anything, although I'm sure that there will be those that will. The thing is that Fulham showed themselves to be a sharp passing side – short, medium, long – with an eye for attack and the ability to repel counters. In Tim Ream, we may have found the reincarnation of Aron Hughes – the calm, economical, dependable, and elegant support for his #5. When some began calling Jamie O'Hara the new Danny Murphy earlier in the season, I was hesitant to agree, but today he and Tunnicliffe showed steel and creativity in the center of the midfield. Fredericks is crazy good out there. I've always valued right backs, and when they are tough in the tackle, and are possessed of blazing speed, then they are especially precious. And Moussa Dembele showed everything you want in a striker in this league. He was both quick and fast, was strong, ran the channels well, set up his teammates, and wasn't afraid to take a shot or two. His distribution was a bit lacking, but I forgive him that because he tied Onuoha and Henry into knots all match long.

For me, the only thing that didn't work was my DVR. Although I was promised a recording that lasted 2 hours and 5 minutes, it actually was 1 hour and 50 minutes. Anything that happened after the 85th minute remains a mystery to me.

HatterDon's Man of the Match decision is a toughie. I narrowed it down to one from Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, McCormack, Pringle, Husband, and Dembele and then I remembered what I used to do on those rare occasions when a Fulham XI dominated all over the pitch while executing a cohesive and coherent game plan. So, a tip of the FFC South Texas sombrero to MotM Kit Symons. Well done Kit and well done all the lads.


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