Friday Fulham Stuff (30/10/15)...

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PREVIEW: Swans U21s v Fulham U21s

. . . Development Squad look to continue unbeaten run

Swansea City Under-21s will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in Barclays Premier League Division Two to four games when they face Fulham at Motspur Park on Friday (7pm).

A dominant display saw the development squad thrash Aston Villa 5-0 at Landore training ground last week.

Meanwhile, Fulham go into the game off the back of a 2-0 win at West Ham on Monday.

Despite a five-star performance against Villa in their last match, U21s captain Liam Shephard believes the side need to refocus ahead of Fulham.

"We can't go into Friday's match being over-confident," he said.

"Our result against Villa was great, but we need to put that behind us and focus on Fulham.

"We have played well in recent weeks but need to be more consistent, especially with our finishing. When it comes together we get a result like we did last week.

"Fulham are a strong side, so we are not going to go there expecting an easy game."

Shephard took over the captain's arm band in September when Josh Sheehan secured a loan move to League Two side Yeovil.

The 20-year-old, who also gained experience on loan at the Glovers last season where he was named young player of the year, said he is enjoying his time as captain.

"It is nice to captain the side but I think we are all leaders on the pitch," he added.

"This season I feel my game has matured and I am looking to help the team with the experience I gained from going on loan last season.

"Friday will be a tough test. We have trained hard all week and now need to apply that to the game but we are looking forward to the challenge."

Swans U21s squad (from): Josh Vickers, Gregor Zabret, Dan Alfei,Raheem Hanley, Alex Gogic, Liam Shephard, Joe Rodon, Ryan Hedges, Daniel James, Adnan Maric, Keston Davies, Tom Holland, Stephen Fallon, Owain Jones, Henry Jones, Kyle Copp, Oliver McBurnie, Botti Biabi

Read more at http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/swansea-city-under-21s-fulham-premier-league-division-two-2771204.aspx#TAbkIgyuCmmKXpKP.99

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Team News

Jamie O'Hara is available for selection against Bristol City on Saturday after serving a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards, but Jazz Richards will not feature.

The right-back was withdrawn after just 37 minutes of Fulham's comeback win against Reading last time out, and his Manager Kit Symons confirmed he's set to miss the Whites' upcoming fixtures.

"It's his calf," he revealed. "It's a bit of a niggly one but it's going to be two to three weeks [out] from the time of doing it.

"He's still not out running or doing any physical work as of yet, so we'll have to make sure we get that right for him, and we will do, but that's why we need a squad.

"We've got three big games coming up now in a week, starting at Bristol, away to Burnley, then home to Birmingham. Three massive games before the next international break, three brilliant games for us, but we're going to use the whole squad."

And aside from Richards and the longer-term injuries of Marcus Bettinelli and Jack Grimmer, Symons has a full-strength group to choose from.

"Everyone's looking good," he said. "Matty Smith's back now and is available, Scotty Parker is back available again now, so it's looking okay."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/october/29/team-news?

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Symons reveals Richards injury

Fulham boss Kit Symons has confirmed that Jazz Richards is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a calf injury.



The Welsh international lasted just 37 minutes of Saturday's 4-2 win over Reading and having been assessed, he now looks set to miss the upcoming games against Bristol City, Burnley and Birmingham. Symons admits the injury could take time to heal but is confident he has the depth within his squad to deal to cover the defender's absence. "It's his calf," he told the club's official website. "It's a bit of a niggly one but it's going to be two to three weeks [out] from the time of doing it. "He's still not out running or doing any physical work as of yet, so we'll have to make sure we get that right for him, and we will do, but that's why we need a squad."


Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/championship/symons-reveals-richards-injury-1787012.html?

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Aaron Ramsey names SCOTT PARKER as toughest opponent

The Gunners midfielder hailed the Fulham player for his energy and tackling ability when asked about the hardest player he has played against

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey may have dropped a surprise when naming the toughest player he has played against, opting for Fulham's Scott Parker!

Ramsey, who is a seasoned campaigner in the Champions League and in international qualification, has played against the likes of Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger, favoured the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfield battler over other illustrious players.

Speaking in an interview with Uefa's official website, the Welsh player praised Parker's energy and constant harrying in the middle of the pitch.

Asked about his toughtest opponent, Ramsey said: "Scott Parker. He doesn't give you a moment's rest on the ball and is always kicking away at your ankles or tackling you. He is definitely the toughest opponent I've played against."



http://www.goal.com/en/news/13712/extra-time/2015/10/29/16805362/-?

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Preview: Bristol City vs. Fulham

Bristol City will look to move away from the Championship relegation zone with victory against Fulham on Saturday.

However, the Cottagers travel to Ashton Gate with the joint best attack in the division and looking to edge nearer to the playoff places with a win in the West Country.

Bristol City
Robins' manager Steve Cotterill boldly claimed that his team deserved to beat Cardiff City last time, but refused to criticise his team after they were forced to settle for a goalless draw in South Wales. City have struggled to settle back in the second tier and have won only twice in 13 league outings.

The Reds are only just above the drop zone, but have become tougher to beat in recent games, losing two of their last six.

However, while Cotterill claimed that the performance at Cardiff was "not a one-off", their victory against Nottingham Forest remains City's only triumph on home turf since gaining promotion from League One.

Since the start of the campaign, conceding goals has been a problem, with only Rotherham United having let in more than the Cider Army.

Nevertheless, City have now kept two clean sheets and, with the possible exception of Hull City's impending visit, may see their forthcoming fixtures as a chance to climb the table. Recent form: LDDWLD

Fulham
Shahid Khan may have been distracted by his Jacksonville Jaguars team playing at Wembley last weekend, but the Fulham owner was clear with his assessment of the club's recent form.

Speaking last week, Khan demanded improvement from the Cottagers after a run of three wins in 12, but his words appear to have taken effect.

Admittedly, Fulham found themselves trailing 2-0 at home to Reading, but three goals in six minutes helped Kit Symons' men to a 4-2 win against the Royals. That win meant that, following a barren run, the Whites are unbeaten in their last four games and lay five points off the top six.

Furthermore, striker and club captain Ross McCormack believes that his teammates will take confidence from that result and the fact that his team are the joint top scorers in the Championship. However, the Cottagers have also conceded 19 this term, keeping only one clean sheet in 13 league games.

Team News © Getty Images Cotterill is likely to persist with Aaron Wilbraham and Jonathan Kodjia in attack, having played the duo up front for much of the campaign so far.

If those two continue to lead the line then Kieran Agard will probably remain on the bench.

However, the Robins' boss may consider a recall for Wales international Wes Burns, who was left out of the game against Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Symons may consider naming an unchanged starting lineup after their win against Reading. However, Dan Burn, Jamie O'Hara, Ben Pringle and Luke Garbutt will all be vying a place against the Robins, after being dropped for the clash with the Royals.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Fielding; Bennett, Ayling, Flint, Baker; Williams, Smith, Pack, Freeman; Wilbraham, Kodjia

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Fredericks, Stearman, Ream, Richards; Husband, Tunnicliffe, Cairney, Christensen; McCormack, Dembele Head To Head Bristol City and Fulham will be meeting for the first time at any level since December 1997, when the pair met in League Division 2, which the Londoners won 1-0.

The Cottagers' previous record at Ashton Gate is poor, having won only two of their last 10 visits to the West Country. However, one of Fulham's two wins came in emphatic fashion when they won 5-1 in October 1988.

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Fulham

City's have started to tighten up at the back, but Fulham's recent unbeaten run means that they should be a tough nut to crack. The Robins might have to settle for a share of the spoils.


Read more at: https://tr.im/a9x08

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BRISTOL CITY: Cottagers boss Kit Symons riding out the storm following triumph over Reading

LAST weekend's startling come-from-behind victory over promotion hopefuls Reading has bought Fulham boss Kit Symons precious time.

Under fire from disgruntled supporters following their modest start to the campaign, the former central defender was booed off the pitch following a recent 1-1 home draw with Leeds United. And with club owner Shahid Khan watching from the stands, the writing appeared to be on the wall when the West London outfit fell behind at home to Reading.

But Ross McCormack netted a superb individual goal to inspire a comeback which saw the Cottagers score three times in six minutes on the way to a 4-2 triumph.

That result, and second-half performance, served to lift the gloom over Craven Cottage and Symons' side head for Ashton Gate on a four-match unbeaten record.

Symons has been hit by a series of injuries to key players and the Cottagers have had to do without goalkeepers Andy Lonergan and Marcus Bettinelli, striker Matt Smith, defender Tim Ream and midfield play-maker Jamie O'Hara in recent weeks. Third-choice keeper Joe Lewis has performed well since stepping into the first team and he is expected to face City.

Ream returned against Reading last weekend and O'Hara is available after serving a three-match ban. Smith, a firm favourite with City fans during a successful loan spell last season, is making a steady recovery from knee ligament damage and could feature among the substitutes.

In his absence, teenage forward Moussa Dembele has come to the fore, leading the line and scoring six goals, three of them in his last two appearances.



Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTOL-CITY-Cottagers-boss-Kit-Symons-riding/story-28079363-detail/story.html#ixzz3q2LDfIzF
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BRISTOL CITY: Striker Ross McCormack is Fulham's talisman

SIGNED from Leeds United for £11 million in the summer of 2014, the Scotland international was expected to score the goals that sent Fulham back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Although things have not gone quite to plan – the Cottagers finished in mid-table last season – McCormack remains a focal point of Fulham's attack.

And he has lost none of his goal-scoring prowess, finding the back of the net eight times in 16 outings so far this term.

An elusive runner, the 29-year-old Scot has struck up a decent partnership with young Moussa Dembele since Matt Smith has been out through injury.



Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTOL-CITY-Ross-McCormack-Fulham-s-talisman/story-28079315-detail/story.html#ixzz3q2LihuuD
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BRISTOL CITY: Team ethic can close the spending gap argues Robins boss Steve Cotterill

STEVE Cotterill is adamant Bristol City's team ethic can create a level playing field when big-spending Fulham come to Ashton Gate tomorrow.

Relegated from the Premier League two seasons ago and boosted by a multi-million pound parachute payment, the cash-rich Londoners have assembled one of the most expensive squads in the Championship.

In £11m striker Ross McCormack, the Cottagers boast a player who cost more than City's entire first team squad put together.

But Robins manager Cotterill believes his team's spirit and collective ability can even things up when City return to home soil for the first time since they defeated Nottingham Forest at the Gate on October 16.



Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTOL-CITY-Team-ethic-close-spending-gap-argues/story-28079125-detail/story.html#ixzz3q2M5D3BN
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