Wednesday Fulham Stuff (24/02/16)...

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Tuesday Results
Leeds	1-1	Fulham
Birmingham	1-0	Bolton
Bristol City	0-4	Brighton
Burnley	1-0	Nottm Forest
Ipswich	0-1	Hull
Brentford	3-0	Wolves
Middlesborough	3-1	Cardiff
MK Dons	1-1	Huddersfield
Preston	2-1	Charlton
Sheff Wed	1-1	QPR
Reading	1-0	Rotherham

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EXCLUSIVE: FULHAM STAR REJECTS NEW CONTRACT OFFER

Ross McCormack has rejected a new Fulham contract offer, Football Insider sources understand.

The club's prize asset was offered improved terms in late January just days after the west Londoners rejected his transfer request.

But the latest Fulham news is that McCormack has turned down the deal and a Craven Cottage source has told Football Insider that the club are now likely to cash in on him in the summer.

Fulham rejected two bids from Middlesbrough for the forward in January, the second of which amounted to £10million.

The Championship strugglers refused to allow their 18-goal top scorer to leave after being slapped with a transfer embargo that meant they could only sign players on loan.

McCormack signed a new Fulham contract only last summer that runs until the summer of 2019 but was offered a more lucrative agreement to replace it.

The west Londoners have climbed to 18th in the table after winning two of their last three matches, with a young team reliant for goals from McCormack and 12-goal Moussa Dembele.


http://www.footballinsider247.com/mccormack-rejects-fulham-contract-offer/?

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KOSTAS TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE...
LEICESTER EYEING SURPRISE DEAL FOR RELEGATED £12M PREM FLOP



Table-toppers Leicester are keeping a close eye on Fulham's Kostas Mitroglou, who is currently on loan at Benfica, according to reports from O Jogo.

The Greece international joined the Cottagers in a £12m deal in January 2014, but the London club's gamble failed to pay off with the player registering only three league appearances as they slipped to relegation.

Mitroglou, who was prolific at Olympiakos prior to his Craven Cottage switch, then re-joined his former club on loan last season, and is now at Benfica, where he has netted 13 times in 22 Primeira Liga outings.

And this form has, reportedly, attracted Leicester's attention, with the King Power Stadium side having been scouting the marksman.

The Foxes look on course to be playing European football next term, so additions will be needed to bulk out Claudio Ranieri's squad.

Mitroglou, 27, has averaged close to a goal every other game throughout his senior career, hinting that his injury-hit spell with Fulham was a blip.


http://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/leicester/leicester-city-leicester/leicester-eyeing-surprise-deal-for-relegated-12m-prem-flop?

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Fulham denied win by spectacular Leeds goal

Leeds United 1 Fulham 1

Tom Cairney scored his fourth goal in as many games but Fulham were pegged back by an outstanding strike from Lewis Cook.

Having struck twice in the win over Charlton on Saturday, Cairney produced another fantastic finish to put Fulham in front after 17 minutes.

But Leeds levelled before the break as Cook unleashed a remarkable shot from 35 yards which flew into the far top corner.

A solid performance was marred by the injury-time sending-off of Fernando Amorebieta, who picked up a second yellow card for handball.

Fulham had been comfortable for large parts of the first half and almost took the lead when Ross McCormack's shot was headed onto his own crossbar by Sol Bamba.

They did break through shortly afterwards as Cairney pounced on a clearance and sent a left-footed volley flying into the net.

Leeds threatened when Bamba scooped over and Tom Adeyemi fired past the angle of post and bar, while at the other end Luke Garbutt was twice denied by Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri.

After Cook's spectacular shot, Fulham keeper Andy Lonergan was twice called into action, blocking Souleymane Doukara's shot with his legs and claiming Mirco Antenucci's header.

The two defences were largely on top after the break, with Bamba making a fine tackle to prevent Moussa Dembele from shooting and Michael Madl looking strong for Fulham.

Both teams had their chances late on. Leeds went close through former Brentford midfielder Stuart Dallas, as his cushioned volley dropped just wide of the post, while Alex Kacaniklic produced a save from Silvestri.

Fulham: Lonergan; Madl, Burn, Amorebieta; Fredericks (Richards 84), Cairney, O'Hara (Tunnicliffe 52), Baird, Garbutt (Kacaniklic 52); Dembele, McCormack.
Subs not used: Lewis, Stearman, Hyndman, Smith.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-wls-leeds-uniteds-sensational-goal-denies-fulham-victory

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Leeds 1-1 Fulham: Lewis Cook's 35-yard screamer earns home side a point after Elland Road reject Tom Cairney's strike
Fulham and Leeds fought out a hard-earned draw at Elland Road
Tom Cairney volleyed the away side into the lead after 17 minutes
But Lewis Cook equalised on the half hour with a stunning strike

Two stunning goals; one from a Leeds midfielder with a big future, the other from one they rejected for being too small in the past.

Teenager Lewis Cook, whose talents have drawn admiring glances from England's elite clubs, struck his first league goal at the 66th attempt, a 35-yard drive, after Tom Cairney, dumped at 16 by United for his lack of inches, volleyed past a motionless Marco Silvestri to give Fulham the lead at Elland Road.

'If it was in the Premier League it would be shown for the next five years,' said Leeds manager Steve Evans.


Lewis Cook equalised for Leeds with a stunning 35-yard thunderbolt that gave Andy Lonergan no chance


The England Under 21 star is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring just his second goal for the club


Tom Cairney (left) fires Fulham into the lead in the first half with a terrific volley from the edge of the box

'I am blessed to work with him, he's a magnificent player.'

It meant both teams poor win ratios continued, and left them looking over their shoulders for the Championship run-ins.

However, Fulham, with just three victories since October, would have felt more aggrieved with their lot having created the majority of the chances in an entertaining contest.


The former Blackburn midfielder runs over to the fans after his strike to leave Elland Road stunned


Leeds centre midfielder Tom Adeyemi (left) battles with Luke Garbutt during the clash at Elland Road

For a Leeds team showing four changes – the absences of Giuseppe Bellusci, suspended after reaching 10 bookings, and Liam Bridcutt, absent to attend a family funeral, enforced - it is now just one win in 10 in the Championship.

Another of their former players Ross McCormack, who quit for Fulham in a £11million deal two years ago, was agonizingly close to giving the visitors the lead in the 13th minute, directing Cairney's cross towards the top corner only for Sol Bamba to deflect it onto the crossbar.

That was one of several opportunities before the break yet Leeds leveled through their first shot on target as Cook unleashed a howitzer to take visiting goalkeeper Andy Lonergan unawares.

Fulham should have doubled their advantage just 60 seconds after Cairney silenced the ground with his fourth goal in as many games - a precision effort after Leeds failed to clear – when Everton loanee Luke Garbutt got in behind the home defence.

However, Garbutt's effort lacked both power and direction and Silvestri clung on.


Fulham defender Dan Burn (left) closes down Souleymane Doukara as the striker looks to turn

Then, after Bamba wastefully lifted over from a corner at the other end, Cairney's vision appeared to have created another far-post chance for McCormack, only for young full-back Lewie Coyle to make a crucial interception.

Seconds later, Garbutt's effort from outside the area was beaten away by Silvestri, and an inability to convert their dominance left Fulham susceptible to Cook's opportunism.

After the interval, it took a sublime Bamba tackle to dispossess Moussa Dembele in the process of shooting and Fulham's Frenchman believed he was deserving of a penalty when Toumani Diagouraga's challenge floored him in the area.

Yet Leeds substitute Stuart Dallas could have won it late on with his first touch, only to volley over, before Slavisa Jokanovic's frustration was compounded by the dismissal of defender Fernando Amorebieta in injury time for a deliberate handball, his second booking.

As it was a second booking, there is no right of appeal against a suspension and Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic moaned: 'This rule is very stupid.'

He added: 'I think we made enough chances to win the game but this is football and sometimes it happens.

'It was a good performance but we weren't clinical in important moments.

'I'm trying to make some progress and step by step we are starting to make things better.

'They scored a fantastic goal but in my opinion we played better football and came closer to winning three points.'


Fernando Amorebieta of Fulham is shown a red card after receiving his second yellow for handball


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3461062/Leeds-1-1-Fulham-Lewis-Cook-s-30-yard-screamer-earns-home-point-Elland-Road-reject-Tom-Cairney-s-strike.html#ixzz414SOc6me
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Leeds United 1-1 Fulham: a great Tom Cairney strike claims a point but Fernando Amorebieta sees red

It's a night of mixed fortunes for Whites in Yorkshire as Slavisa Jokanovic oversees a fourth point in four days from the Cottage industry


Off: Amorebieta feels the pain

Fulham like going to Leeds - the point here was their fifth in three visits - but Fernando Amorebieta won't remember the night with affection.

The Whites defender was sent off in the dying seconds for a second yellow card - a handball - and what might have been a welcome three points and only a second midweek win of the entire campaign was reduced to one.

That was thanks to a terrific Tom Cairney strike in the first half when he chested down and half-volley past a startled Marco Silvestri in the United goal.

It could have been more, many more.

Ryan Tunnicliffe missed a great chance when he took too long to get his shot away in the box, and Ross McCormack - who else? Was denied by a goalline clearance from Sol Bamba who headed against his own frame to deny the Fulham striker.


Knee glee: Tom Cairney scores

Moussa Dembele was adamant he should have had a penalty when brought down by Bamba, and the same Leeds player cleared again from the the other half of the Whites spearhead with a sliding tackle as Dembele bore down on goal.

That said, ex-Brentford Stuart Dallas missed a great second-half chance to win it for United when unmarked he headed wide at the back post.

Fulham did all the hard yards in the first half and deservedly took the lead through Cairney's hit.

Whites might have had more, with Luke Garbutt going close twice to bring decent saves from Silvestri, and Ryan Fredericks having a field day down the left to send in a couple of telling crosses.

The Leeds leveller came out of the frosty blue when Lewis Cook let fly from fully 30 yards to beat Andy Lonergan on 37 minutes, and it needed a worldy. It also needs a word in Amorebieta's ear about discipline. The red was his third in two seasons and his 13th yellow.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leeds-united-1-1-fulham-10940101?

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović believes Fulham were more deserving of three points than Leeds United and is pleased in the improvements shown since last week's defeat at Blackburn.

"I think we made enough [chances] to win the game but this is football and sometimes it happens," said Jokanović. "It's good news for us because we showed a different face and a different performance as what we showed last Tuesday night against Blackburn.

"With this mentality, we can make more chance to win a game. We cannot be happy when we don't win the game. It's simple but we have seven days since we were very, very disappointed with our performance. We made a good performance but we weren't clinical in important moments. I try to make some progress and some improvements and I think step-by-step we start to make better things."

"We created many [chances], they scored a fantastic goal too. In the end, in my opinion, I believe we played better football than Leeds and we were closer to win the three points. At the end, Leeds was fighting very well and put us under some kind of pressure. They are fighting and deserve this point too.

Jokanović could not hide his disappointment that Fernando Amorebieta was shown a second yellow card for what was interpreted as a handball and felt aggrieved the decision could not be overturned.

"We are talking about if we can appeal but it's the rules you cannot appeal two yellow cards," he added.

"Fernando did not touch the ball with his hand and the referee made a mistake. This rule is very silly. I am going to lose the player for the next game because the possibility does not exist for an appeal in this situation. I can not change the rules but it is a very stupid rule and that is it."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/february/23/jokanovic-reaction

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Fulham boss rages against 'stupid rule' that bans defender for Middlesbrough visit

Whites chief disappointed at dismissal in dying seconds as Leeds are held 1-1 - the third time running his team have come away with something from Elland Road


Bad decision: Slavisa Jokanovic

Slavisa Jokanovic saw Fernando Amorebieta get sent off in the final seconds of the 1-1 draw at Leeds - and wasted no time berating the decision by referee Kevin Wright.

The Portuguese got his marching orders for a second yellow card, a handball, and will play no part in the home match against Middlesbrough on Saturday where Amorebieta was on loan both last season and this.

The Fulham gaffer also reckoned his team had enough chances to wrap up all three points - but had to settle for just one - a cracking half volley from Tom Cairney that was cancelled out by an even better one from Lewis Cook.

"Fernando did not touch the ball with his hand and the referee made a mistake," Jokanovic said.

"This rule is very silly. I am going to lose the player for the next game because the possibility does not exist for an appeal in this situation. I can not change the rules but it is a very stupid rule and that is it."

"But I think we made enough chances to win the game but this is football and sometimes it happens," he said.

"It was a good performance but we weren't clinical in important moments.

"I'm trying to make some progress and step by step we are starting to make things better.

"They scored a fantastic goal but in my opinion we played better football and came closer to winning three points."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-rages-against-stupid-10940681?

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MATCH REPORT: Leeds 1-1 Fulham- Cook's Exquisite Strike Earns A Point Despite Another Dire Display

Steve Evans' side drew 1-1 with Fulham for the second time this season, with Lewis Cook scoring a goal which will be a contender for goal of the season.

LU 1-1 FFC // 23rd February 2016 // Elland Road // ATT: 17,103 (364 Fulham)

After suffering a 1-0 defeat at Watford last week, Leeds made four changes to the starting lineup. Silvestri, Coyle, Cooper, Bamba, Taylor, Adeyemi, Diagouraga, Cook, Mowatt, Doukara and Antenucci lined up for the Whites against Fulham.

The United bench consistent of Peacock-Farrell, Wootton, Berardi, Murphy, Dallas, Botaka and Erwin.

Fulham: Lonergan, Fredericks, Madl, Burn, Amorebieta, Garbutt, Baird, O'Hara, Cairney, McCormack, Dembele.

Fulham bench: Lewis, Richards, Stearman, Smith, Kacaniklic, Tunnicliffe, Hyndman.

Leeds didn't start too badly and just five minutes in Lewie Coyle found Antenucci with a lovely cross-field ball. The Italian crossed for Adeyemi but the Cardiff loanee couldn't made a good connection with the ball and the attack amounted to nothing.

A minute later, and Luke Garbutt, just one of four ex United players who started for Fulham, was denied by a crucial block from a United defender.

Fulham had a real opportunity with 13 minutes on the clock. McCormack's volley looked to be heading into the back of the United net but Bamba turned the effort into the crossbar with a crucial header. I'm not convinced that the Ivorian international knew too much about it but it was a crucial intervention.

Four minutes later, and former Leeds academy player Tom Cairney fired Fulham into the lead. He chested down the ball and smacked in a very well hit volley from the edge of the United box to give the Cottagers the lead.

Two minutes later and Garbutt found himself through on goal but the left-sided player could only fire straight at United keeper Silvestri.

Fulham were defending deep but were still creating far more than Leeds. Amorebieta scooped an effort just wide after a cross from a freekick by McCormack with just around half an hour played.

Leeds had a few forays forward after that, a half-volley from Bamba a minute after Amorebieta's miss was far from handsome and it went well over.

Adeyemi then had an attempt just a few minutes afterwards but he could only fire high and wide from a tight angle after a back-post cross was played into the area.

Lewie Coyle was making his first championship start for United in this game and he made a crucial intervention to deny McCormack a tap-in at the back post. He turned a dangerous cross behind with 36 minutes played.

Leeds had been fairly poor and Lonergan hadn't really had a save to make. But then, a goal out of nothing. A bolt from the blue from Cook.

The young midfielder isn't known for his long-range shooting capabilities, but he took aim from miles out and found the top corner with a superb strike that will be a goal of the season contender.

It was the best goal I've seen live at Elland Road for a long time. 30 odd yards out and bang, Lonergan had no chance.

This goal seemed to spark Leeds into life, and just three minutes after that ridiculously good Cook goal, Doukara saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Lonergan who used his legs to deny the Frenchman.

A minute later and Antenucci had a header which was held by Lonergan.

1-1 at the break. Despite Cook's magnificent goal, it was clear to see which of the two sides possessed the greater goal threat. Fulham did create the better opportunities.

The first meaningful action of the second period saw Sol Bamba made a brilliant challenge to deny Dembele a shot on goal.

Fulham made a double change a minute later with Garbutt and O'Hara coming off for Kacaniklic and Tunnicliffe.

With around an hour played Madl did well to head an Antenucci cross away from Doukara. Had the ball reached the Frenchman the ball would probably have found it's way into the net.

It just wasn't Ross McCormack's night. He fired a 25-yard freekick into the South Stand with 67 minutes played.

Erwin came on for Antenucci just a minute later. Another underwhelming showing from the Italian, who hasn't netted a goal for United since November 2015.

Fulham then applied some pressure and saw a low Kacaniklic effort held by Silvestri.

Cook cut-inside soon after that, and he went for goal but he could only fire wide this time.

The best chance of the game fell to Dallas. He'd come on for Mowatt a minute prior to this chance. He was found unmarked at the back-post after a floating cross from Cook but he somehow managed to volley wide. Golden opportunity.

A minute later and Kacaniklic fired a low strike toward goal but Silvestri did well to save it and push it away.

The last meaningful thing to occur in the game was Amorebieta getting sent off for a second yellow card in the dying embers of what was a poor match.

FT: 1-1

Summary-

It was better than Watford and we registered more shots but we only had one real clear cut chance and that was the Dallas one with ten minutes to play.

Cook's goal was fantastic and it will easily be our goal of the season. A truly special goal.

In all honesty though, it was a poor game involving two sides who have endured disappointing campaigns.

United were dire but so were Fulham and a draw was probably about right.

The atmosphere was as usual, flat. Empty seats are not exactly an uncommon sight at Elland Road now, and given the current shocking state of the club it's no surprise.

Man of the match for me was Coyle who performed terrifically for his first ever championship start. I'd been calling for poor old Wootton to be replaced by Coyle for weeks and he showed why I wasn't alone in having that particular opinion.

Worryingly, Fulham did create quite a few decent chances and they looked the more likely of the sides to find a winner. But Dembele and McCormack were kept relatively quiet, much to my surprise.

Positives and negatives to take from the game. Coyle was great, Cook's goal was superb, but it was another poor showing in a game we really should be looking to win.

Fulham had shipped 53 goals prior to the game and we could only create one good chance against them. A reminder of our lack of a goal threat.

Up next for Leeds, a much tougher task as we travel to Brighton, who took apart Bristol City and beat them 4-0 at Ashton Gate last night.


http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/leedsunited/news/42112/?

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Fulham again witness 'absolutely stunning goal' against them in Leeds United clash


Slavisa Jokanovic watches his Fulham side in action (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

Leeds boss Steve Evans described Lewis Cook's 35-yard strike in the 1-1 draw with Fulham as the best goal he has seen in the flesh.

Fulham have been mightily unfortunate with the number of long range stunning strikes which have soared into their net this term.

United, with only one win in nine going into the game, were staring down the barrel of a seventh league defeat at Elland Road after former trainee Tom Cairney gave Fulham a deserved 17th-minute lead.

But teenage midfielder Cook changed the course of the game with a brilliant effort just before the break which earned high praise from his manager.

"It was an absolutely stunning goal from a stunning young player," Evans said.

"I'd go as far as to say it's the best goal I've seen live in a game. If it's in the Premier League, it'd be shown for the next five years.

"I'm very blessed to work with him. He's a magnificent player and a magnificent boy as well."

Both sides pushed for a winner in the second half but had to share the spoils from an entertaining contest played out in front of a crowd of just 17,103. Like Leeds, Fulham have endured a disappointing season although their form has picked up in recent weeks.

Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic, who saw Fernando Amorebieta sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence, felt his side deserved all three points after spurning a host of first-half opportunities.

"I think we made enough chances to win the game but this is football and sometimes it happens," he said.

"It was a good performance but we weren't clinical in important moments.

"I'm trying to make some progress and step by step we are starting to make things better.

"They scored a fantastic goal but in my opinion we played better football and came closer to winning three points."



Read more at: http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/fulham/fulham_again_witness_absolutely_stunning_goal_against_them_in_leeds_united_clash_1_4430747
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