Wednesday Fulham Stuff (06/04/16)...

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

[WhiteJC]

 
AIK Locked In Talks With Ex-Fulham Midfielder Etuhu Over New Deal

AIK Stockholm have opened talks with Nigeria international Dickson Etuhu over the extension of his contract.

The defensive midfielder would walk away from Friends Arena as a free agent if he does not extend his agreement with the Swedish Allsvenskan club before December 2016.

Sports Manager Björn Wesström, has revealed that AIK are hoping to reach a compromise with Etuhu and goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren.

"The ambition is that we will extend. Then, as always, agreeing what the club is capable of and what the players accept,"said Wesström to fotbolltransfers.com.

Etuhu defended the colours of Manchester City, Preston North End, Norwich City, Sunderland, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers before his shift to AIK in 2015.

Igho Kingsley


http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=18565

[WhiteJC]

 
Dembele's goal gives Fulham crucial victory

Preston 1 Fulham 2

Fulham had Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele to thank once again as they secured back-to-back victories for the first time since October to boost their Championship survival hopes.

The prolific strike partnership took their tally to 35 between them with a goal in either half, and a host of results went Fulham's way to lift them seven points clear of danger.

In their first trip to Deepdale for more than 15 years, the Whites were grateful to goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli for an early save – and within a couple of minutes went up the other end and took the lead.

Tim Ream clipped the ball forward and McCormack sneaked in behind the Preston defence, rounded their keeper Anders Lindegaard and slotted home.

Preston were forced into two substitutions in the first 25 minutes, losing both captain Tom Clarke and Calum Woods to injury.

Joe Garner was their primary threat and he went close twice shortly before half-time, first forcing Bettinelli into a save at his near post and then nodding narrowly over the bar from a corner.

Lindegaard kept out a firmly struck McCormack shot early in the second half but Preston gradually pinned Fulham back and they were rewarded with an equaliser on 64 minutes.

Manchester United loanee Marnick Vermijl, who had come on for Woods, drifted in from the right-hand side, beat a couple of players and drilled a shot in off the right leg of Bettinelli from a tight angle.

But parity lasted just 10 minutes, with McCormack's free-kick palmed out by Lindegaard into the path of Dembele, who snapped up the rebound.

Fulham were the only team in the bottom seven to win and, after also beating MK Dons on Saturday, now have a healthier cushion.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Madl (Burn 90), Amorebieta, Ream (Stearman 46); Cairney (O'Hara 58), Parker, Ince, Tunnicliffe; McCormack, Dembele.
Subs not used: Lonergan, Garbutt, O'Hara, Smith.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/dembeles-goal-gives-fulham-crucial-victory?

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović knows his side rode their luck at times against Preston North End, but cared little as Fulham left Deepdale with a 2-1 win.

Ross McCormack scored his 23rd goal of the season with just five minutes played, but a rejuvenated Preston took control of the second half and equalised through Marnick Vermijl.

They looked the most likely winners as they continued to dominate, but Moussa Dembélé turned home the loose ball after McCormack's free-kick hit the post to make it back-to-back wins for the Whites.

"The only important thing at this moment for us is winning points," Jokanović admitted. "We didn't play a brilliant game, but we played like a team. At the end we were a little bit lucky but we had quality in front of goal with Ross and Moussa, as always.

"We have our strengths and weaknesses, like every team. Our strength is our more offensive players. We have [Cauley] Woodrow and Matt Smith too in this offensive line. I use what I think is best for us, and they give us many, many points, and many, many goals.

"[Preston] tried, they pressed, they were solid and very strong. It's good for us because we were solid too. It's not our best characteristic in the team, but today we were fighting all together and in the end we found the points that we needed."

Results elsewhere went in Fulham's favour and seven points now separate us from the drop zone, but Jokanović is keen to secure as many wins as possible in the remaining sextet of matches.

"We are not safe," he insisted. "There's six games in front of us. We haven't made many things to make us happy this season. It's not time for us to think about holidays.

"We need to give our supporters something back as we haven't given them so many happy afternoons in home games and away games. We'll try and fix this problem in the six games that are in front of us.

"It's not a moment for us to be satisfied and so happy. Okay, it's an important result for us today, but the next final is the game against Cardiff.

"Our last game at home we played in front of fantastic support, and it's our chance to give these people something back. It's a chance to win a third game in a row."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/april/05/head-coach-reaction

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Fulham push towards safety with win at Preston

Moussa Dembele's second-half winner earned Fulham a 2-1 victory over Preston at Deepdale which moves them seven points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Dembele struck 16 minutes from time to snatch all three points, after Ross McCormack's early opener was cancelled out by Marnick Vermijl, to all but end Preston's slim hopes of a play-off place.

Joe Garner tested Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli in the third minute when he rose highest to flick Paul Gallagher's free-kick on target from 12 yards.

But Fulham stunned Deepdale by taking the lead after five minutes. Tim Ream's ball forward picked out McCormack, who shrugged off Bailey Wright before rounding Anders Lindegaard to slot home his 21st league goal of the season.

Preston almost hit back just three minutes later through Jordan Hugill, but the forward's hooked shot from 12 yards was headed off the line by Michael Madl.

Despite their lowly status Fulham are the Championship's second-highest scorers, only behind leaders Burnley, and they went close again on 23 minutes when Tom Cairney whistled a shot just wide from 18 yards.

The hosts threatened after 40 minutes when Adam Reach's cross found Garner at the back post, but his shot was smothered by Bettinelli.

And Garner came even closer in first-half stoppage time when he met Gallagher's cross but headed onto the roof of the net from eight yards.

McCormack came close to grabbing his second just two minutes after the break when he unfurled a ferocious strike from the edge of the area which Lindegaard did well to tip over the bar.

Preston were looking to stretch their unbeaten run to four and pushed for the equaliser with Garner again hitting the target from a Gallagher corner in the 55th minute, but his tame header was straight at Bettinelli.

And they got their equaliser in stunning fashion after 63 minutes. Substitute right-back Vermijl picked the ball up on the right side, jinked past two defenders and lashed the ball past Bettinelli from 15 yards.

Against the run of play Fulham went back in front in the 74th minute. McCormack's curling free-kick from 20 yards came back off the post and fell to Dembele, who tucked the ball past Lindegaard from six yards to notch Fulham's 29th away goal this season - a league high.

As the game opened up, Preston almost hit back again three minutes later when Ben Pearson's cross picked out Jermaine Beckford eight yards out but his scuffed effort was clutched by Bettinelli diving low to his left.

In the closing stages, Gallagher had a chance to snatch a point for Preston but fired over from 20 yards as Simon Grayson's side slipped to their first home defeat since January 23.


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/423031/preston-north-end-fulham/report

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Preston 1-2 Fulham - Whites earn first precious midweek away win to ease relegation fears but there are injury fears for Tom Cairney

It's deep joy at Deepdale as the away side in yellow carve out three points after Championship results go their way elsewhere


Nice job: Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele celebrate

Fulham survived an agonising seven minutes added time to prove they do have steel at the back.

Too often this very average season, Whites have been called to task over sloppy defending, but bodies were put on the line to make sure this one didn't get away.

Goals from Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele - who else? proved the difference, although Tom Cairney suffered twofold for a second-half tackle that saw him first booked, and then limp off as a result of the challenge.

He was able to smile through the pain when he learned MK Dons had lost at home to Wolves that puts seven points between Whites and the Championship drop zone.

Earlier, Marcus Bettinelli was called into action to deny Joe Garner's header before McCormack did what he does best - score goals.

Tim Ream's lofted ball fell into the hit and hope category, but when McCormack picked up the loose ball as the defence dithered he was in like a knife through butter to round the keeper and park the ball in the net.

Ream may have provided the opener, but he almost gifted the leveller.

On 39 minutes he slipped at the back post, and allowed Garner another chance from an acute angle. Bettinelli was equal to it - and Whites held on that time.

Although Preston came back after the initial setback, it was that man McScoreback who asked the first serious question of the second half with a powerful shot that just got tipped over.

Cairney had a 51st minute to forget when he collided with Greg Cunningham. The referee saw it as a bad challenge; booked the midfielder; and then Cairney had to limp off six minutes later as a result of the mistimed tackle.

In fact it was a bad six minutes for the Whites.

Rohan Ince was also booked, and then Marnick Vermijl brought Preston back into the game with aplomb when he fired home right-footed inside the box.

The home fans were slilenced almost as soon as they had made themselves heard for the first time on he night.

Whites knight in shining yellow fired a fizzer from outside the box, but this time it wasn't McCormack adding to his goal tally - but his strike partner. Moussa Dembele tapped in the loose ball to set up a tense finale - but one where Whites took the applause.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/preston-1-2-fulham-whites-11143345?

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Match report: PNE 1 Fulham 2

Preston North End were unable to conjure up another comeback as they went down to defeat against Fulham at Deepdale.

After securing two wins and a draw in their last three games from losing positions, the Lilywhites could not manage it this time despite their best efforts.

It looked like they might do at one stage, substitute Marnick Vermijl netting a superb goal in the 64th minute to bring them level after Fulham had led through Ross McCormack's fifth-minute opener.


But the Cottagers regained the lead 10 minutes later, Moussa Dembele tapping-in from close range after a McCormack free-kick had been pushed against the post by Anders Lindegaard.

North End fought and scrapped for a second equaliser but not even nine minutes of stoppage-time could bring a goal - much of that additional time put on for some blatant time-wasting by the visitors.

It was their first defeat since January 23 when another London club, Brentford, inflicted a 3-1 loss.

Simon Grayson had stuck with the same starting XI and substitutes which had been involved in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Named on the Fulham bench was former North End goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan, making his first return to Preston since being sold to Leeds in July 2011.

North End started brightly enough and had the game's first chance in the third minute.

Paul Gallagher delivered a free-kick from the left channel into the box, Joe Garner meeting it with a flicked header which keeper Marcus Bettinelli stretched to tip over the bar.

They were done on the counter-attack for Fulham's opener, Tim Ream's ball from the edge of his own box aimed up towards McCormack who had Tom Clarke and Bailey Wright for company.

Clarke seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball, allowing McCormack to go one-on-one with Wright.

He got the better of him to run clear into the box, taking the ball round Lindegaard before rolling a low finish into an unguarded net.

Calum Woods was not far away from finding a quick equaliser, cutting inside from the right-wing and driving a left-foot shot just over the bar.

Jordan Hugill hooked a shot towards goal after Bettinelli had failed to gather a cross but Michael Madl cleared inside the six-yard box.

Preston lost Clarke's services in the 11th minute, the skipper having clashed heads with team-mate Woods.

He was able to walk off the pitch after being treated by the physio and club doctor but looked groggy as he made his way to the tunnel.

Paul Huntington replaced him from the bench, slotting into the middle of the back three.

Not too long after, Woods ended up in the dressing room with Clarke after injuring his left ankle - Vermijl coming on to play in the right-back slot.

Tom Cairney sent a first-time shot from the edge of the box in a rare Fulham attack, the visitors content to sit back after taking the lead.

Hugill went down in the box just before the half-hour mark but got a corner rather than a penalty for his troubles.

After a scrappy spell of play from both sides, North End presented more of a threat in the build-up to the interval which included five added minutes for Clarke's injury.

Alan Browne's cross from the left found Garner at the back post, the striker bringing it down before seeing his shot smothered by Bettinelli.

Two minutes into stoppage-time, Garner met Gallagher's corner but put his header inches too high and on to the top of the net.

Fulham came close to adding to their lead in the 47th minute, Wright's pass intended for Browne intercepted by Scott Parker.

He drove forward before feeding a pass out to McCormack who got into the box and forced Lindegaard into a save at his near post.

North End had a couple of sights of goal in quick success, Vermijl's shot from the edge of the area deflected behind for a corner.

A Gallagher cross then found Garner at the far post but his header looped up into the keeper's gloves.

A strong spell of Preston pressure paid off in the 64th minute as they equalised in some style.

Vermijl drove the right side of the box, going past two defenders, before finishing superbly with a low shot across the keeper from a tight angle.

Hugill's race was run shortly after the goal, with Jermaine Beckford replacing him in PNE's third and final change.

Fulham went back in front within 10 minutes of North End's leveller, Greg Cunningham's foul on Ryan Fredericks conceding a free-kick five yards outside the box.

McCormack curled the free-kick up and over the wall, Lindegaard getting across to push it against the post.

With North End's defence slow to react, Dembele was first to the rebound and bundled it over the line.

The search for a second equaliser saw Beckford force a diving save from Bettinelli with a low shot.

Gallagher curled a shot well over the bar from outside the box as the hosts continued to press.

When seven minutes of additional time was signalled by the fourth official, a huge cheer went up.

Four minutes into that period, Lindegaard went up into the Fulham box when North End won a corner.

As the clock ticked further on, Beckford's flick from Garner's downward header just cleared the bar.

PNE: Lindegaard, Clarke (Huntington 11), Wright, Cunningham, Woods (Vermijl 22), Pearson, Gallagher, Browne, Reach, Garner, Hugill (Beckford 67). Subs (not used): Johnson, Doyle, Robinson, Kirkland.

Booked: Hugill 44, Beckford 90, Huntington 90

Fulham: Bettinelli, Federicks, Madl (Burn 90), Amorebieta, Ream (Stearman 46), Cairney (O'Hara 58), Parker, Ince, Tunnicliffe, Dembele, McCormack. Subs (not used): Garbutt, Smith, Baird, Lonergan.

Booked: Cairney 53, Dembele 60, Tunnicliffe 86

Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland)

Attendance:10,358 (379 away)


http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/match-report-pne-1-fulham-2-1-7835355?

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Anthony Pilkington doubt for Fulham as Cardiff City striker subbed off with knee problem at Turf Moor

The Irish international will be scanned tomorrow morning

Anthony Pilkington will be a doubt for Cardiff City's game against Fulham on Saturday after injuring his knee in the 0-0 draw with Burnley.

The Irish international was subbed off in the second half after over extending his knee in an off the ball incident.

He has had problems with similar injuries in the past but this is understood to be unrelated and not serious.

Pilkington left Turf Moor with support on his knee and will be assessed and scanned by the medical staff tomorrow.

If he is unable to play at Craven Cottage, it could open the door for Kenneth Zohore, who was superb in a cameo off the bench.

The Dane surged past Burnley defenders on numerous occasions and hit the bar in the closing stages.


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/anthony-pilkington-doubt-fulham-cardiff-11143593?

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Dembele secures massive win for battling Fulham
by DAN on APRIL 5, 2016

Back-to-back victories certainly make the Championship table look a lot more attractive. Moussa Dembele grabbed his second crucial winner in four days as Fulham fought to record their first set of consecutive wins since October at Preston tonight and established a seven point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone. This success was something of a smash and grab raid, especially as Simon Grayson's side completely dominated the second half, but Slavisa Jokanovic won't be complaining.

Dembele and Ross McCormack, who had combined so effectively to see off MK Dons on Saturday, have now scored 35 league goals between them this season and the Frenchman's predatory winner, which came after he instinctively followed in McCormack's free kick that had been turned onto the post, might be his most valuable one yet. If the teenage forward is set to wave goodbye to Craven Cottage on a Bosman in  the summer, he's certainly leaving on a high note. It mattered little that he had been largely anonymous for the rest of the contest – after all, that's the hallmark of a goalscorer.

Fulham might have expected something of a more comfortable evening after McCormack's majestic breakaway goal had put them in front inside five minutes. A clearance from Tim Ream bounced kindly for the Scottish international, who skipped away from Tom Clarke and Bailey Wright before rounding Anders Lindegaard, and tucking the ball into the unguarded net. Yet, the visitors were already indebted to a splendid save from Marcus Bettinelli for keeping out a flicked header by Joe Garner, and Preston showed few signs of being discomforted by two early injuries to defenders Clarke and Calum Woods.

They continued a carry a real threat and Michael Madl had to be alert to hook away Jordan Hugill's chip from just in front of his own goal after Bettinelli, who had thought he had been fouled, failed to claim a deep cross. The former England under-21 international was forced into action again shortly before the break when he managed to foil Garner at the far post and the ex-Nottingham Forest forward perhaps should have done better than send a header narrowly over the bar from Paul Gallagher's corner in first half stoppage-time.

Jokanovic introduced Richard Stearman for Tim Ream as Fulham switched to three centre backs for the second period, but the game followed much the same pattern as at the end of the first half, save for Lindegaard producing an excellent save to keep out McCormack's drive after some fine approach play from Scott Parker, who belied his 35 years with another tenacious display in central midfield, completing 180 minutes in the space of four days. The captain's influence became all the more important when Tom Cairney limped off after injuring himself in a tackle.

Preston continued to press for an equaliser. Substitute Marnick Vermijl offered a warning about his own attacking ambitions when his 20-yard effort was deflected wide and Garner tested Bettinelli's reflexes with a close rage header. Fulham were being pushed deeper and deeper towards their own goal and it was little surprise when Grayson's side equalised, although Jokanovic will feel that Vermijl, well forward from right back, was allowed to cut inside both Ryan Tunnicliffe and Parker far too easily. The Belgian's powerful low effort seemed to creep under a surprised Bettinelli from an acute angle – and the goal certainly galvanised the home side.

For a while, it appeared as though there would only be one winner. Former Manchester United midfielder Ben Pearson was posing all sorts of problems for Fulham and Preston threw on former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford in search of a second, but just as the visitors were coming under sustained pressure a pacey break from Ryan Fredericks won a free kick towards the right angle of the box. It was comfortably within McCormack's range, but Lindegaard splendidly turned the ball onto the post, and the defenders look favourite to reach the loose ball ahead of Dembele, who did brilliantly to hook it home.

The rest of the contest was one way traffic. Bettinelli produced a quite brilliant save to deny Beckford an equaliser almost immediately afterwards before Gallagher's ambitious effort from distance flew wide and Beckford's improverised flick at the death drifted just over the crossbar. Fulham hung on throughout nine nervous minutes of added time to claim a priceless victory – their first at Preston since 1998.

PRESTON NORTH END (5-3-2): Lindegaard; Pearson, Woods (Vermijl 22), Clarke (Huntingdon 11), Wright, Cunningham; Gallagher, Browne, Reach; Garner, Hugill (Beckford 67). Subs (not used): Kirkland, Robinson, Johnson, Doyle.

BOOKED: Hugill, Beckford, Huntingdon.

GOAL: Vermijl (63).

FULHAM (4-4-2): Bettinelli; Fredericks, Ream (Stearman 45), Madl (Burn 91), Amorebieta; Ince, Parker, Cairney (O'Hara 58), Tunnicliffe; McCormack, Dembele. Subs (not used): Lonergan, Garbutt, Baird, Smith.

BOOKED: Cairney, Ince, Tunnicliffe.

GOALS: McCormack (5), Dembele (74).

REFEREE: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).

ATTENDANCE: 10,358.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/04/dembele-secures-massive-win-for-battling-fulham/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham are not safe yet, warns Jokanovic

Fulham can not afford to relax despite moving seven points clear of the relegation zone, boss Slavisa Jokanovic warned.

The Whites followed up Saturday's win over MK Dons with a 2-1 victory at Preston, thanks to goals from prolific strike duo Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele.

The back-to-back successes, plus other results going their way, has raised hopes of avoiding the drop, but Jokanovic does not want the team to think the job is done.

He said: "We are not safe. It's six games in front of us. It's not time for a holiday.

"We need to give the fans] something back. We don't give them so many happy afternoons in games [so we will] try and fix a little bit this problem in these six games in front of us."

Jokanovic admitted the performance in the win at Deepdale was far from perfect, but he was pleased with the defensive display and the finishing of McCormack and Dembele, who now have 35 goals between them.

He said: "In this situation where we actually are right now, it's only important for us to win the points.

"We didn't play a brilliant game but we played like a team. At the end, we were a little bit lucky and we have quality in front of the opponent's goal to score the goals, as Ross and Moussa do always."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-are-not-safe-yet-warns-jokanovic?

[WhiteJC]

 
'Fulham are massive underachievers' says Preston boss - and Slavisa Jokanovic insists it's anything but party time despite win

Plenty left to do says Joka despite first midweek away win of the season while the man in the other dugout can't understand Whites plight


Not safe: Slavisa Jokanovic

Head coach Slavisa Jokanovic played a straight bat when he reckoned Fulham were anything but safe despite a 2-1 win at Preston - but his opposite number was far more vocal about the winners.

Simon Grayson, like the rest of the Championship, is mystified Fulham are only now seven points clear of the relegation places.

The North End gaffer had to suffer goals from Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele - like quite a few before him with the lethal pair accounting for 37 of Fulham's 61 league goals this season.

"McCormack and Dembele are the hottest property in the division but they are down near the bottom for a reason," Grayson said. "They haven't got all the components right and massively underachieved, they should be nowhere near the bottom four or five."

Mac the Attack rounded the keeper for 1-0 before latecomers had taken their seats, but then Preston levelled. McCormack's shot proved too hot to handle on 74 minutes - and there was Dembele to gobble up the rebound.

All of which was greeted with characteristic stoicism from the boss.

"We are not safe. With six games in front of us, now it's six points we don't have reason to think about a holiday," said Jokanovic.

"We need to do much for our away supporters who travel with us and push us towards safety.

"It's not time for holiday; we need to give these people something back because we haven't given them too many happy afternoons. We can fix that in these six games ahead of us.

"In this situation that we are in the only important thing for us is the points."

Dembele's strike was Fulham's 29th away goal this season - a league high. And Jokanovic admits his side's attacking talents are getting them out of trouble.

"We didn't play a brilliant game but we play like a team and in the end we were a little bit lucky and we had the quality in front of goal for scoring the goals that we always make," he added.

"This is Fulham. We have our strengths and weakness and one of the strengths is the more offensive players.

"Ross and Moussa give us many many points and many goals. Preston pressed and were very solid and very strong.

"It was good for us to be solid. We were fighting all together and we find the points we need which is more important at the moment for us."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-massive-underachievers-says-preston-11143680?