Sunday Fulham Stuff (17/01/16)...

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RESULTS

Friday
Brentford	1-3	Burnley
Saturday
Sheff Wed	2-0	Leeds
Blackburn	0-1	Brighton
Bristol City	1-0	Middlesborough
Derby	0-3	Birmignham
Huddersfield	1-1	Fulham
Hull	6-0	Charlton
Ipswitch	1-1	Preston
MK Dons	1-0	Reading
Nottm Forest	3-0	Bolton
Rotherham	0-3	QPR
Wolves	1-3	Cardiff

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Fulham earn first point under Jokanovic

Huddersfield 1 Fulham 1

Fulham picked up their first point under new head coach Slavisa Jokanovic in an open encounter.

The Whites were gifted the perfect start inside two minutes, Ross McCormack calmly finishing past keeper Jed Steer after a dreadful mistake by Jonathan Hogg.

But Huddersfield levelled through Mark Hudson and, despite plenty of attacking intent from both sides, neither team could find a winner in the remaining 70 minutes.

A first win after three consecutive losses under Jokanovic, and just a second victory in 14 games, looked likely when McCormack profited from Hogg's careless pass to slot in his 17th goal of the season.

But Huddersfield responded impressively and, after Jamie Paterson's strike hit the post, Hudson levelled when he stretched to divert an Emyr Huws free-kick past Andy Lonergan.

Both sides threatened to take the lead before the break but the Terriers created the best openings soon after the restart, with Lonergan making fine saves to keep out efforts from Nahki Wells and Joe Lolley.

Fulham, who had a strong McCormack penalty claim turned down in the first half, also had a couple of sights of goal, Alex Kacaniklic shooting in to the side netting and his replacement Moussa Dembele heading wide.

But Jokanovic's men were forced to settle for a point, which leaves them just four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-earn-first-point-under-jokanovic?

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Ross McCormack haunts Huddersfield again as Fulham get first point for new boss

PM Ross McCormack continued his scoring run against Huddersfield and helped claim a first point for new Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic in a 1-1 draw.

McCormack took less than two minutes to score his fifth goal in four appearances against Huddersfield.

Town skipper Mark Hudson equalised before half-time with his second goal in four days but Fulham were good value for the away point.

Serbian Jokanovic had lost his first three games in charge but top scorer McCormack wasted no time in settling Fulham nerves.

McCormack, a target for promotion-seeking Derby in the January transfer window, had four goals in his previous appearances against Town, including a hat-trick for former club Leeds.

The striker will not have scored many simpler goals this season after an awful blunder by Town midfielder Jonathan Hogg. Hogg attempted a long crossfield ball across the back line. He failed to lift his pass and instead rolled it to the unmarked McCormack who slotted past the helpless Jed Steer.

Town almost levelled eight minutes later when Jamie Paterson cut in from the left, side-stepping a defender, but his drive came back off the inside of the far post. Joe Lolley was unable to control the rebound.

Fulham had the ball in the back of the net again in the 16th minute but McCormack was ruled off-side as Alex Kacaniklic fired home.

Fulham had claims for a penalty when McCormack went down under challenge from Hudson but referee Christopher Sarginson waved play on.

Town equalised in the 20th minute with Hudson's second of the season when he converted Emyr Huws' free-kick.

Huws drifted the ball invitingly for centre-back Hudson to stick out a boot and steer a finish past Andy Lonergan and into the far corner.

McCormack had another sight of goal after Jamie O'Hara's free-kick from the right but his shot was blocked by Hudson's lunge.

Huws curled an effort wide for the home side and close to half-time Nahki Wells was clean through and faced down Lonergan but a brilliant saving tackle from Dan Burn kept the scores level.

Early in the second half Lonergan pulled off a superb double save when he got down low to save from Wells and then produced an even better instinctive one-handed stop from Harry Bunn.

O'Hara's shot had the sting taken out of it by Hudson and Steer had an easy save but Fulham kept possession well and had a great chance to win the game.

In the 70th minute Lasse Vigen Christensen found space to cross from the left and sub Moussa Dembele, on at half-time, was free in the box but headed wide.

Paterson tested Lonergan again at his near post but overall Town failed to spark and Fulham held out.


Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/fulham/ross-mccormack-haunts-huddersfield-again-as-fulham-get-first-1796348.html?

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West Ham transfer news: Hammers join Man City in £10m chase for Fulham wonderkid

West Ham United have joined Manchester City in the race for Fulham's young striking sensation Moussa Dembele.

The 19-year-old was tipped for big things during his spell in the West London club's youth and reserve sides and has impressed this season in the Championship.

The Frenchman's contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign and a number of Premier League side's are monitoring his situation.

Any bosman move for the youngster would result in his new club coughing up a compensation fee, making a January move just as likely, with Fulham bagging a substantial fee.

Tottenham have made inquiries about the player's availability while representatives from Monaco met with Dembele's agent last week to discuss a potential move to France.

Spurs remain as favourites to sign the striker but any deal would almost definitely include an instant return to Craven Cottage on loan.



Read more: http://www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/West-Ham-transfer-news-Hammers-join-Man-City-10m/story-28539819-detail/story.html#ixzz3xULep6BA
Follow us: @Gazetteseries on Twitter | gazettebrentwood on Facebook

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Jokanovic discusses Dembele and McCormack's Fulham futures and reveals loan plans


Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic on the touchline (Credit: Daniel Hambury)

Slavisa Jokanovic insisted he was looking to build a strong Fulham squad not sell his best players after securing his first point in a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield.

Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele are both said to be January targets for rival clubs but Jokanovic said: "I have every intention of keeping these players."

McCormack scored his 17th goal of the season inside the first two minutes to rock the home side, while Town skipper Mark Hudson equalised midway through the first half and Fulham held out for a point.

Jokanovic, who had lost his first three games in charge since taking over as head coach, dismissed rumours over the future of McCormack and Dembele and said: "This is all speculation and I want them to stay.

"We intend to use the loan market and we are looking to bring players in. It won't be easy. We are under an embargo and can't spend money but we need to try to strengthen.

"This was the Fulham plan before I arrived and this is what we want to do."

Jokanovic, who led Watford to promotion from the Championship, said a draw was a fair result and added: "We scored very fast and if we had scored one more we would have won.

"We need a stronger mentality and a killer instinct for winning the game. We also need more training and there is work to do. We need to be more competitive."

McCormack rocked Huddersfield with a second-minute strike, his fourth goal in five appearances against Town, including a hat-trick for former club Leeds.

McCormack will not score many simpler goals after Town midfielder Jonathan Hogg rolled a pass to him on the edge of the box.

The in-form striker was one-on-one with Jed Steer and made no mistake with the finish.

Centre-back Hudson, who started his career at Craven Cottage, levelled in the 20th minute when he stuck out a boot and turned Emyr Huws' free-kick beyond Andy Lonergan and into the far corner for his second goal in four days.

Jamie Paterson hit the post for Town and Fulham's Alex Kacaniklic had an effort ruled out for offside.


Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/jokanovic_discusses_dembele_and_mccormack_s_fulham_futures_and_reveals_loan_plans_1_4382200
Copyright © LONDON24

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Report: Fulham interested in West Brom's Anders Lindegaard

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has been linked with a move to Fulham in the January transfer window.

Fulham are interested in signing Anders Lindegaard from West Bromwich Albion in the January transfer, according to The Times.

It has been reported by the British newspaper that the Championship side are confident of bringing in the goalkeeper on a loan deal because they are under a transfer embargo.

Lindegaard joined West Brom in the summer of 2015 on a free transfer after leaving Premier League rivals Manchester United.

The 31-year-old was on the books of United for four-and-a-half years, but he struggled to playing time. The Denmark international goalkeeper is facing a similar situation at West Brom.

Lindegaard has not made a single Premier League appearance for the Baggies so far this season.

It does not look likely that the former Aalesund star will be able to get much playing time at The Hawthorns.

Perhaps it would be best for Lindegaard if he moves to Fulham in the Championship on loan until the end of the season.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/01/16/report-fulham-interested-in-west-broms-anders-lindegaard/?

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Fulham striker Moussa Dembele attracting interest from Juventus and Roma
Dembele has scored 11 goals for Fulham this season
French teenager is out of contract in the summer and unlikely to sign a new deal with Fulham
Tottenham, Roma and Juventus among the clubs interested in signing him

Serie A clubs Juventus and Roma are hoping to rival Tottenham for the signature of Fulham's outstanding teenager Moussa Dembele who has decided not to sign a new contract at Craven Cottage and could leave in the January transfer window.

Dembele, 19, joined Fulham from Paris St Germain in 2012 and the French forward is tipped for a bright future.


Moussa Dembele in action for Fulham in the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield on Saturday


Dembele is wanted by a number of teams including Spurs, Roma and Juventus

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to add him to the young players already thriving at White Hart Lane but faces competition from Italy as well.

Fulham are currently under a transfer embargo so would prefer loan players in return for Dembele, whose current deal runs out in the summer. Ironically, there is already another Mousa Dembele at Spurs – though he only has one 's'.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3403111/Fulham-striker-Moussa-Dembele-attracting-Juventus-Roma.html#ixzz3xUNCZBN5
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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Fulham reject Ross McCormack bid from Middlesbrough

HITC Sport understands that Middlesbrough had a bid turned down earlier this week for Fulham captain Ross McCormack.

Fulham turned down an offer from Middlesbrough for captain Ross McCormack earlier this week, HITC Sport understands.

The 29-year-old has long been a target for Boro, and he almost joined them in 2013 from Leeds United - as reported by GazetteLive - but the moved failed and he switched to Fulham a year later.

McCormack finished 2015 as one of the top-scorers in Britain, and Boro believe that he could be the final piece in the jigsaw to take them to promotion.

Boro's defence has been rock solid, but boss Aitor Karanka clearly feels that they are missing a cutting edge up-front and McCormack is their number one target - as revealed by HITC Sport.

Now HITC Sport understands that Boro's opening offer was rejected earlier this week, but they are ready to go back with another bid.

Fulham have already told Boro that they don't want to sell and the fact they are under a transfer embargo does not help the situation, but the Championship promotion favourites will test their resolve again.

McCormack himself continued his fine form on Saturday with his 15th goal of the season as he scored the only goal of the game in their 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.

Middlesbrough are also understood to be in the market for Jordan Rhodes, and if they fail to get McCormack could very well try and tempt Rovers with a cash plus player bid using their Spanish striker Kike as bait.


http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/01/17/fulham-reject-ross-mccormack-bid-from-middlesbrough/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanović Reaction

Fulham claimed a first point under Slaviša Jokanović at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but the Head Coach was not satisfied with only taking a draw from the match.

"This is not my target, my target is to win the game," he said in his post-match press conference. "Generally I believe we are starting to improve, but there is still a big space in front of us.

"Our obligation is to play better football than we are playing right now. With more time, with more training, and if we can bring people in next week on loan, we can make these steps.

"It's important for us and soon I think we can compete with every Championship team. And that's it; simple.

"We need to be more solid, we need to still be more prepared to compete. This is a competition for big boys.

"At the same time we'll try and find some improvements in the loan market, because we cannot buy any player. I expect we'll make some steps soon – that's important for us."

The 1-1 draw at the John Smith's Stadium marked a first positive result in Jokanović's short tenure, and he's keen to see his side build on the result.

"Now is the moment to draw a line under the last two weeks," he stated. "We played four games and lost three and drew only one.

"It's important to analyse my first two weeks and try and find a solution. This is what I tried to explain; with a little bit more time, a little bit more training, more confidence, more personality, with more character, and being more solid and ready for the fight."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/january/16/jokanovic-reaction