Sunday Fulham Stuff (08/11/15)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Birmingham run riot at Kit Symons' underwhelming Fulham

Birmingham returned to winning ways as they comfortably ran out 5-2 winners at Fulham.

Stephen Gleeson, Paul Caddis and Jon Toral goals saw Gary Rowett's men boast a three-goal cushion at half-time on the banks of the Thames.

Alex Kacaniklic and Ross McCormack netted for the hosts, reduced to 10 men by James Husband's red card, but efforts from Clayton Donaldson and Viv Soloman-Otabor saw City secure a comfortable win.

The signs were there early on when Fulham midfielder Jamie O'Hara slipped on the greasy Craven Cottage surface, allowing Toral to break and square to Demarai Gray - only for goalkeeper Joe Lewis to palm away at the near post.

The home side were almost caught out again on eight minutes, but Donaldson unexpectedlyput his effort well wide.

Fulham started to regain their composure and Tom Cairney forced goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into a fine stop soon after.

However, Birmingham powered ahead with two goals in the space of three minutes.

Their first, after 19 minutes, came when Gleeson struck first time from a pass from Jacques Maghoma to superbly drive home from twenty yards out.

Caddis doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 22 minutes when Donaldson was fouled by Lewis, although cries for a dismissal from the away fans were ignored.

Fulham attempted to regain a foothold in the game and Tim Ream curled his effort over the bar after managing to cut inside the box.

However, it got even worse for the west Londoners two minutes later when Toral fired home after a byline cross from Maghoma.

O'Hara attempted to calm increasingly frayed nerves when his 35th minute free-kick hit the crossbar, although the ire on the half-time whistle was aimed at a disconsolate-looking Kit Symons.

The mood further darkened four minutes after the restart as Husband was dismissed for the home side with his second booking of the game.

Birmingham, on the other hand, were not content to sit back on their three-goal cushion and further tested the Fulham defence with pace.

The day of the home side was summed up with a 62nd minute effort from substitute Matt Smith, who saw a low drive from the edge of the box hit the post and away to safety.

They were given a glimmer of hope four minutes later when Kacanilkic slotted home from a tight angle, but Donaldson was quickest to react to a save from Maikel Kieftenbeld's shot to put the result beyond doubt.

A late effort from McCormack was cancelled out again from a solo effort from Solomon-Otabor.


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/422761/fulham-birmingham-city/report?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham thrashed at home by Birmingham

Fulham 2 Birmingham City 5

Ten-man Fulham suffered a second consecutive defeat as three goals in 12 first-half minutes ensured they were well beaten.

Birmingham took control through Stephen Gleeson's strike before a Paul Caddis penalty and Jon Toral's shot as good as sealed victory by the interval.

And any hopes of a fightback were ended when James Husband was sent off for two yellow cards after the break.

Substitute Alexander Kacaniklic's strike gave hope of an unlikely comeback, but Clayton Donaldson made it 4-1.

Ross McCormack's injury-time curler did little to lift spirits on a miserable day which was summed up by Viv Solomon-Otabor making it 5-2.

The result increases the pressure on Fulham boss Kit Symons, who has faced much criticism from fans this season.

Fulham had made an encouraging start, with Jamie O'Hara shooting just wide and Tom Cairney forcing a good save from keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

But Birmingham played to their typical gameplay under manager Gary Rowett, surrendering possession and attacking with great purpose on the break.

They led against the run of play when Gleeson shot low in to the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards and a Caddis penalty, after Fulham keeper felled Donaldson, doubled that advantage.

Tim Ream shot over and Dan Burn was off target with a header as Fulham responded, but Jacques Maghoma teed up Toral for a third Blues goal.

O'Hara did hit the bar with a fine free-kick, however the slim chance of avoiding defeat disappeared with Husband's dismissal for two bookings inside 90 seconds after 53 minutes.

Fulham still continued to create chances. Matt Smith struck the post from close range and then his header was converted by fellow substitute Kacaniklic.

In a frantic finish, Birmingham's former Brentford striker Donaldson scored on the follow-up after a fine save by Lewis for a fourth Blues goal before McCormack's classy curled effort made it 4-1.

However, Solomon-Otabor's shot restored the three-goal advantage.

Fulham: Lewis; Stearman, Burn, Ream; Christensen (Kacaniclik 45), Tunnicliffe (Garbutt), O'Hara, Cairney, Husband; McCormack, Dembele (Smith 55).
Subs not used: Rodak, Hutchinson, Parker, Woodrow.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-wls-pressure-mounts-on-symons-after-fulham-are-thrashed-by-birmingham

[WhiteJC]

 
Kit Symons to be sacked as Fulham manager
Former Wales international is expected to become the third Championship manager to lose his job inside a week after a heavy 5-2 home defeat to Birmingham


Kit Symons will pay the price for a heavy 5-2 home defeat to Birmingham
Photo: REX FEATURES

Kit Symons is set to be sacked by Fulham in the next 48 hours.

Symons is expected to become the third Championship manager to lose his job inside a week after a heavy 5-2 home defeat to Birmingham on Saturday.

Fulham have been deliberating over the former Wales international's future for weeks but are now preparing to end his tenure at Craven Cottage after just 12 months in charge.

Relegated from the Premier League in May 2014, Fulham spent around £7million this summer in a bid to build a squad capable of a promotion challenge.

But Saturday's defeat leaves them in 12th place and well short of the play-off positions, which was a target for the board this season.

Symons, 44, is on the verge of being dismissed imminently, joining Chris Powell and Chris Ramsey who left Huddersfield and QPR respectively on Wednesday.

Birmingham coasted into a 3-0 lead with goals from Stephen Gleeson, Paul Caddis (a penalty) and Jon Toral before Fulham's James Husband was sent off.

Fulham did respond through Alexander Kacaniklic and Ross McCormack but Birmingham secured a comfortable win with goals from Clayton Donaldson and Viv Solomon-Otabor.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/11981726/Kit-Symons-to-be-sacked-as-Fulham-manager.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Kit Symons facing sack at Fulham

Kit Symons is reportedly close to being sacked at Fulham after their 5-2 loss against Birmingham City.

The Welshman would be the third Championship manager to lose his job in the space of a week and according to The Telegraph, Symons will be removed from his position in the next 48 hours.

The former Fulham player has been in charge at the Cottages since October 2014, but it is believed that the club's hierarchy have been debating his position for the past few weeks.

The board had aimed for a playoff place after investing £7m in this summer to rebuild the squad but after 16 games, Fulham sit in 12th and it is believed that a change will be made sooner rather than later.

Symons has taken charge of 63 games as Fulham manager, managing 22 wins.


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

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham manager set to be sacked after heavy defeat to Birmingham

Fulham are set to make Kit Symons the latest managerial casualty in the Sky Bet Championship after they suffered a disappointing 5-2 loss to Birmingham City at Craven Cottage this afternoon, reports The Telegraph.

Speculation has been rife about Symons' future in recent weeks, but it now looks as if the Fulham board have finally lost patience with Symons after just a year in charge at Craven Cottage.

It appears that big victories over Reading and Bristol City only prolonged the inevitable, with back-to-back defeats to Burnley and now Birmingham appearing to be the final nails in the coffin for the 44-year-old.

He now looks set to be the third manager in a week to lose his job, after Chris Powell and Chris Ramsey, and sixth in the division since the start of the campaign.

Fulham fans and owners expected the Cottagers to mount a promotion push this season having spent a considerable amount on new signings, but they have failed to impress and Symons now looks set to pay with his job.

Saturday's defeat leaves Fulham 12th in the Championship, eight points away from the play-off places and the owner, Shahid Khan, looks set to make a change as he looks to inspire a promotion push.


Read more at http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-manager-set-to-be-sacked-after-heavy-defeat-to-birmingham/?#u16xr5fvG1u5KX0U.99

[WhiteJC]

 
'Awful' defending angers Fulham boss Symons

Fulham boss Kit Symons described his team's defending as "awful" following their 5-2 defeat at home to Birmingham.

The Whites, who had James Husband sent off in the second half, were three down by the interval.

"Birmingham played very well but the three goals we gave away were awful from our point of view," Symons said.

"You can't afford to do that. You can't give yourself a three-goal mountain to climb by half-time and that's exactly what we did.

"It was just awful from us defensively and we gave ourselves too much to do.

"We're scoring goals but you need to be able to defend as well. There are two sides to the game. The defensive side needs to get better."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/awful-defending-angers-fulham-boss-symons?

[WhiteJC]

 
Kit Symons "very disappointed" with Fulham loss

Kit Symons has said that he is "very disappointed" after Fulham's 5-2 loss to Birmingham City.

The Lilywhites were three goals down when James Husband was sent off and the result sees them slip to 12th in the Championship table.

"It's very disappointing, I fancied us going into the game, being on decent form with two big wins, so I expected better today," Symons told BBC Sport.

"We actually started the game okay, we had a few decent openings and then to concede two goals in such a short space of time is very poor defending from us.

"The third goal wasn't much better, and the sending off completely compounds it in the second half.

At 10 men I thought we were quite brave and had a go."

Reports have emerged that Symons could be sacked following the result.


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