Sunday Fulham Stuff (10/04/16)...

[WhiteJC]

 

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

[WhiteJC]

 
Follow Fulham To The Coast

Fulham are next in action on the South Coast this coming Friday (7.45pm) when we travel to Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium.

The best part of 2,000 fans have already booked their seat for the meeting with the Seagulls, and we'd love to fill our allocation for the fixture. To help achieve this, we're putting on FREE coach travel, with departure points at both Craven Cottage and Motspur Park.

Fans who prefer to travel by train can get a day return for £27.*

Last season Fulham sold out of their allocation at the Amex, and those in attendance were rewarded with one of the best away days of the campaign as the boys came from behind to claim a 2-1 win.

A strong travelling contingent goes a long way towards giving the team that extra edge, and we'd love to sell out our allocation again this time around as the Whites go in search of a fourth consecutive victory.

*At the time of writing


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/april/09/follow-fulham-to-the-coast?

[WhiteJC]

 
Hyndman's injury-time strike edges Fulham near safety

Fulham 2 Cardiff City 1

Fulham took a giant stride towards Championship survival as Emerson Hyndman's injury-time winner – his first goal for the club – earned them their third victory in the space of a week.

The Whites trailed at the break to Lex Immers' header four minutes before half-time.

Scott Parker levelled just 21 seconds into the second half, with his first goal in almost 18 months.

And just as it appeared they would have to settle for a point, substitute Lasse Vigen Christensen's tenacity created a chance for Hyndman, who drilled in to clinch a win.

Having beaten MK Dons last Saturday and Preston on Tuesday, this latest success for Slavisa Jokanovic's side lifts them to 17th – 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Fulham had had the better of the first half chances prior to Cardiff's opener, with Hyndman and Ross McCormack both denied by visiting keeper David Marshall.

They were caught out, though, when Aron Gunnarsson escaped the attentions of Richard Stearman and, with the outside of his right boot, clipped in a cross for the unmarked Immers to head in.

Cardiff almost doubled their lead immediately afterwards as Sean Morrison's header came back off the post.

Fulham's response after half-time was instant. Moussa Dembele chipped the ball through for Parker, who had found space in the box, and he coolly netted his first goal since November 2014.

Dembele had a shot blocked after good work by Fredericks down the right, while Cardiff were restricted to a Scott Malone effort which cleared the crossbar.

The hosts pressed late on, Dembele forcing a smart stop from Marshall and McCormack's deflected shot brushing the top of the bar.

Then, with seconds to go, Christensen – in his first appearance for two months – kept an attack alive on the byline and cut the ball back for Hyndman, on his 20th birthday, who slotted home.

Fulham: Bettinelli; Stearman, Madl (Fredericks 46), Amorebieta, Garbutt; Tunnicliffe (Christensen 67), Parker (Baird 78), Ince, Hyndman; McCormack, Dembele.
Subs not used: Lonergan, Burn, Woodrow, Smith.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-wls-hyndman-sinks-cardiff-in-injury-time-as-fulham-near-safety

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was pleased to see his Fulham side up their game in the second half against Cardiff City, and earn three points in the process.

Lex Immers had given the visitors the lead going into the break, but Scott Parker and Emerson Hyndman struck right at the beginning and end of the second period to secure a third consecutive 2-1 triumph for the Whites.

"I believe we deserved to win this game," Jokanović said. "In the first 45 minutes we were not aggressive enough and we weren't brave enough.

"In the second half we decided to press higher up the pitch and started to play a shorter game.

"We played very well in the second 45 minutes and created many chances and Emerson scored the late goal to give us the three points.

"We didn't play well in the first half and this certainly could have been my mistake. We started by playing a more direct game with long passes.

"This is not what we want to do. When we started to find the balance it was a lot more positive.

"We generally have a target to play in the way that we did in second half."

Hyndman's 93rd minute strike was his first goal in professional football, and his Head Coach was full of praise for his efforts on what was his 20th birthday.

"Two different players scored our goals today," he stated. "Today it was Emerson's birthday so he has had a great present for himself and for all of us.

"He is probably one of our most talented players. I am a little bit disappointed in myself for not finding more minutes for him this year.

"I believe in front of him he has a brilliant future and he is a very talented player. He is quality on the ball. I believe in the future he can be a very important player for us."

A 10-point gap has now opened up between Fulham and the relegation zone, but Jokanović wants to keep the performance levels going to continue giving the fans plenty to cheer.

"It is important for us because we haven't given our supporters many good afternoons this year," he explained. "It is important to keep going. We have had three huge games and in front of us are five games more.

"I am a positive guy and I believe that positive things can happen in the future. I am very satisfied with how my team is working hard each game.

"They worked and suffered against Preston. We didn't play great football but we had character then and then again the second 45 minutes [against Cardiff].

"We have character to find our best approach and in the final games we will do that. After a few months together we are starting to get confidence."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/april/09/head-coach-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 2-1 Cardiff City

Cardiff saw their Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes dented after Emerson Hyndman's first goal for Fulham helped the Cottagers secure a 2-1 win.

Lex Immers' first-half header was cancelled out by Scott Parker moments after the restart.

But Hyndman completed the turnaround when he struck deep into stoppage time.

The late winner boosted Fulham's survival hopes as they collected three successive wins to lift to them to the brink of safety, but Cardiff are now running out of games to extend their season.

The Bluebirds needed a win to keep alive their promotion hopes and it was no surprise to see them begin with more intent.

Aron Gunnarsson saw his header saved by Marcus Bettinelli after 11 minutes before Bruno Manga was off target from a Peter Whittingham corner.

Fulham finally threatened in the 25th minute through Hyndman. Joe Ralls gifted the ball to Hyndman and the left-back's jinking run ended with a 25-yard shot was tipped away by David Marshall.

The Cardiff goalkeeper was called into action again, on the hour mark, by Ross McCormack.

The former Cardiff striker's free-kick was heading in before Marshall flung around his post to turn the 25-yard set-piece to safety.

Cardiff, missing the influential Anthony Pilkington, saw Ralls force Bettinelli into a routine save.

But the Welsh side were restricted to attempts from distance until Immers headed the visitors into a 40th-minute lead.

Neat build-up play saw Gunnarsson cross for the Dutchman to ghost in unmarked to head beyond a stranded Bettinelli.

Within two minutes Cardiff could have extended their lead. Whittingham's corner was met by Sean Morrison but Fulham were saved by the post as his header somehow bounced out and away.

It was the stroke of luck needed as Fulham came flying out off the blocks to haul themselves level moments into the second-half.

Moussa Dembele's pass was weighed to perfection and Parker strode through before dispatching a low shot beyond Marshall.

Dembele then missed a golden chance after substitute Ryan Fredericks sent the Frenchman free only to see his shot blocked by Manga in the 54th minute.

Cardiff were being pegged back and a rare foray forward saw Scott Malone drive a shot over after space opened up in front of the left-back.

Fulham's Fernando Amorebieta headed McCormack's corner just wide as the game opened up in the final quarter.

But Cardiff were fast running out of ideas with Morrison's heading tamely wide.

Fulham were ending the game on top and Dembele came close before McCormack saw his deflected shot clip the top of the crossbar.

But from the resulting corner Cardiff failed to clear and Hyndman finished off a scramble in the visitors' penalty area.

ends


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/english-league-championship/match/423018/fulham-cardiff-city/report

[WhiteJC]

 
Fantastic Fulham beat Cardiff to move 10 points clear of Championship relegation zone

Slavisa Jokanovic's men make it three wins out of three to give themselves breathing space in the race to avoid the drop to League One


Midfield maestro: Scott Parker on the ball for Fulham

Fulham made it three wins out of three as a late Emerson Hyndman winner saw the hosts beat Cardiff 2-1 to further banish fears of a relegation scrap.

The Whites looked in fine form early on but were left behind at the break after Lex Immers exposed the hosts with a close-range header.

However, Scott Parker fired back shortly after the break, and with seconds remaining, Emerson Hyndman scored to seal the comeback.

And the result means Slavisa Jokanovic's men can start to look ahead to next season in the Championship after their rivals MK Dons and Charlton both suffered defeat.

Fulham forced the first real opportunity midway through the opening half when Hyndman, returning to the first team, waltzed past a series of Cardiff challenges and curled an effort at goal which David Marshall kept out at full stretch.

Ross McCormack then challenged the Cardiff skipper just minutes later when his 20 yard free kick was parried to safety by the Blues keeper.

But it was the visitors who struck against the run of play when Aron Gunnarsson skipped beyond Richard Stearman and delivered a cross with the outside of his boot which an unmarked Immers stooped to head home.


Star striker: Ross McCormack


Magic: Moussa Dembele takes a shot

The lead did not last long, however, and the hosts equalised just 43 seconds into the second half when captain Parker slammed a half volley into the net after a wonderful pass by Moussa Dembele.

The Whites forward should have put Jokanovic's men in front minutes later after substitute Ryan Fredericks burst through on goal, and slid a pass just behind the French striker, who could only dig out a weak shot which was blocked.

Dembele may have won the game for his side when he cut inside from a tight angle, but could only force Marshall into another smart save.

And McCormack was agonisingly close to stealing an injury time win when his deflected effort looped onto the crossbar and over.

But Hyndman scored from the resulting corner, smashing home from a Dembele lay-off, to see the Whites to a fine win.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/fantastic-fulham-beat-cardiff-move-11162918?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 2-1 Cardiff City: Five things we learned as the Whites took another huge step towards Championship safety

Here's a closer look at what we can take away from three vital points at Craven Cottagers for Slavisa Jokanovic's battling troops

Fulham defeated Cardiff to earn a third straight win to leave Slavisa Jokanovic's men within reach of guaranteed safety.

Scott Parker equalised after Lex Immers' first-half header, before Emerson Hyndman stole the show with an injury time winner.

And while the Whites made it four games without defeat , Charlton and MK Dons, both in the relegation zone, also suffered defeat to ease the Cottagers' woes.

And here are five things we learnt from another rollercoaster match in west London.

Confident Fulham are fantastic to watch

Get in! Fulham fans celebrate against Cardiff

The Cottagers entered the Cardiff match unbeaten in three, and fresh off the back of wins over relegation rivals MK Dons as well as Preston North End.

And the succession of victories clearly boosted the Whites on the field, with some fantastic forward play on show.

Between Moussa Dembele, Ross McCormack and Hyndman, the Whites countered with aplomb and but for a couple of last ditch tackles, might have scored more goals.

And with that much attacking firepower, it is still a mystery how they are lingering at the lower end of the table.

Marcus Bettinelli remains unbeaten

Star stopper: Marcus Bettinelli

The young Fulham goalkeeper returned to the first team following long-term injury in the 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

Since then, the academy graduate has seen his side pick up three wins and has been a vocal presence at the back for the Whites.

His return has provided a lift despite the able job done by Andrew Lonergan in his stead, and Jokanovic will hope to keep him fit next season.

Emerson Hyndman is finding form

Battle: Emerson Hyndman gets stuck in

Fulham's young USA international returned to the starting lineup after injury to Tom Cairney forced Jokanovic's hand.

After impressing initially last season, Hyndman has found this season somewhat more difficult, with lack of game time breaking up his influence on the team.

But he slotted in for the Cardiff fixture and more than played his part, linking up well with Moussa Dembele and Ross McCormack.

And the Whites midfielder stole the show with his well-deserved late strike.

Lasse Vigen Christensen is back

Back in the fold: Lasse Vigen Christensen

Christensen is another young midfielder who made a substantial impact last season, and in particular under the guidance of Kit Symons.

But the young Dane suffered an injury last term and has not quite yet reached the heights as he did under the Welsh manager.

He limped off in the emphatic victory over Queens Park Rangers after just six minutes and made his return against Cardiff, but his role proved limited.

The Whites should now start planning ahead

The boss: Slavisa Jokanovic

After a string of positive results and performances, Jokanovic's men should be in the clear and avoid ending the season in the drop zone.

The messy January transfer embargo prevented the latest Fulham manager from upgrading a team which has been poor at times.

But with a third straight win, and both relegation rivals suffering defeat, the Whites should be in the clear.

Fulham need to keep Ross McCormack

Heroes: Scott Parker celebrates with Ross McCormack

It almost goes without saying, but the Whites need to keep hold of their former Leeds star.

His link up play with Dembele is great, and although it seems almost certain that the Frenchman will depart the club, McCormack has shown that he is more than capable of linking up with different strikers.

In fact, his former Leeds team mate Matt Smith is waiting in the wings should Jokanovic use that option.

And he once more showed in the win against Cardiff that he is so crucial to the team if they fancy their chances at a promotion challenge next season.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-2-1-cardiff-city-11163131?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic hails Fulham hero Hyndman

Boss Slavisa Jokanovic predicted Emerson Hyndman would grow into an important player for Fulham after the American celebrated his 20th birthday with an injury-time winner against Cardiff.

Hyndman's late goal, coming after Scott Parker's equaliser, earned the Whites their third league win in a row – something they last achieved in March 2012.

Having been brought in to the side after Tom Cairney's injury in midweek, Hyndman impressed Jokanovic – who admitted he regretted not being able to use him more often.

He said: "He's probably one of the more talented players. I am a little bit disappointed with myself because I didn't find the time to give him more minutes, for different reasons, this season.

"He has quality with the ball. He probably needs to be a little bit stronger to play in the Championship, which is a tough competition.

"He is a young guy and I believe in the future he can be very important for us."

Jokanovic insisted Fulham's focus would remain on securing the five points they need, at most, to guarantee survival.

And he was pleased with the second-half performance which turned a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 2-1 victory.

He added: "In the first 45 minutes we didn't be aggressive enough, we didn't be brave enough.

"In the second half we decided to press higher and start to play with the football.

"We created many chances in the end and got the goal for the three points."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-wls-jokanovic-hails-fulham-hero-hyndman-after-win-over-cardiff

[WhiteJC]

 
Hyndman hands Fulham third straight win
by DAN on APRIL 9, 2016

If, as seems likely, Emerson Hyndman's Fulham career concludes in a couple of months time with a Bosman move away from Craven Cottage, you get the sense that the regulars will reflect on a prodigious young talent that got away. The young Texan, a gifted midfield playmaker, made an instant impression on his promotion to the first team under Felix Magath but a combination of injuries and a rich competition for places means that Hyndman will likely be plying his trade somewhere else by the start of the new season to further his international career. Even if that is the case, Hyndman will at least have a glorious memory to remember his two years at the Cottage by – having stroked his first senior career goal on his 20th birthday to clinch victory over promotion-chasing Cardiff City this afternoon.

Hyndman's mature performance, as a late replacement in the starting line-up for Tom Cairney, deserved to be remembered for far more than his winner, as significant as it was. The diminutive midfielder delivered an all-action display from an unfamiliar slot on the right side of a midfield four, full of energy, determination and plenty of eye-catching passes. He might have had a sensational goal midway through the first half, when he latched onto a error from Joe Ralls, and darted his way past three Cardiff defenders before unleashing a curling effort from 25 yards out then was superbly parried away by David Marshall.

Instead, Hyndman's moment arrived three minutes into stoppage time just as an absorbing contest appeared destined to end in a draw. Cardiff half cleared a Ross McCormack corner and, after Lasse Vigen Christensen did superbly to cut the ball back towards the near post from the byline, Hyndman ghosted in and kept his composure, taking a touch, before guiding the ball into the far corner. It sealed Fulham's third straight Championship victory – the first time they had mustered such a sequence since 2012 – to take them ten points clear of the relegation zone to the delight of a raucous home crowd.

For much of the afternoon, it seemed as if this would be what came after the Lord Mayor's show following two wins in four days that had given Fulham some breathing space. The visit of Cardiff, still eyeing a play-off place, represented a stern test of the new defensive durability that Slavisa Jokanovic has drilled into his charges – and they were found lacking in an open first half. Russell Slade's side began the more adventurously and Marcus Bettinelli had to field a header from Aron Gunnarsson before defender Bruno Ecuele Manga glanced a header wide from Peter Whittingham's corner.

The home side gradually garnered a foothold in the contest and, after Marshall denied Hyndman from distance, the Scottish international goalkeeper scrambled across his goal-line to claw away a curling McCormack free-kick. Just as the home side threatened in a sustained spell of pressure, they went behind at the worst possible time, just before the break. Richard Stearman, who looked far more comfortable after moving to centre back from full-back at half time, allowed Gunnarsson far too much time and space down the Cardiff left and the Icelandic midfielder's flighted cross found Lex Immers all alone inside the six yard box to head home his fifth goal of the season. The Bluebirds should have increased their lead just a minute later when centre back Sean Morrison somehow saw his powerful header from a Whittingham corner come back off the near post and bounce away to safety.

Slade's side were made to pay for their prolifigacy almost immediately after the restart. The previously anonymous Moussa Dembele measured the perfect pass for skipper Scott Parker, so outstanding in Fulham's last two victories, to stride into the Cardiff area and guide an unerring finish inside the far post from an acute angle. The relief inside the Cottage was tangible – and Fulham drew great confidence from their equaliser. They might have gone in front shortly afterwards when substitute Ryan Fredericks' pace took him clear of the Cardiff defence, but he opted to square the ball for Dembele – whose shot was blocked – when a first time shot might have been a better bet

Fulham's more expansive football reduced the amount of sustained threat that the Bluebirds posed in the second period, but left back Scott Malone blazed over from a promising position and both Gunnarsson and Morrison spurned decent chances. Jokanovic's side looked the more likely scorers the longer the game went on. In a dramatic finale, Dembele was denied by a superb reaction save from Marshall who made himself big to push away the French striker's close range shot and McCormack's deflected drive from 20 yards shaved the crossbar – before Hyndman's late intervention.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Bettinelli; Stearman, Garbutt, Madl (Fredericks 45), Amorebieta; Ince, Parker (Baird 77), Hyndman, Tunnicliffe (Christensen 67); McCormack, Dembele. Subs (not used): Lonergan, Burn, Woodrow, Smith.

BOOKED: Fredericks.

GOALS: Parker (46), Hyndman (90+3).

CARDIFF CITY (4-4-2): Marshall; Peltier, Malone, Ecuele Manga, Morrison; Ralls, Gunnarsson (SAADI 82), Noone, Whittingham; Immers, Lawrence (ZOHORE 65). Subs (not used): Moore, Fabio, Dikgacoi, Connolly, O'Keefe.

GOAL: Immers (40).

REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 17,149.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/04/hyndman-hands-fulham-third-straight-win/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic hails Hyndman after winner
by DAN on APRIL 9, 2016

Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic heaped praise on birthday boy Emerson Hyndman after his injury-time strike to beat Cardiff City secured a third straight league win for the Whites.

The Texan midfielder's first senior goal was a fitting reward for a fine performance on the right side of the Fulham midfield that belied his tender twenty years. Hyndman, who has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage in the summer, has caught Jokanovic's eye in his three and a half months at the club and the Serbian admits that he probably should have found more game time for the gifted playmaker.

Today is his birthday. It's a great present for himself and for all of us in the last moment of the game. He's probably one of the more talented players. I am little bit disappointed with myself that I haven't found more minutes for him this season.

He probably needs to be a little bit stronger for the Championship. But he's a young guy and he will be a very good footballer for us.

Jokanovic conceded that he might have been to blame for Fulham's rather insipid start against promotion-chasing Cardiff after two important league wins had lifted them clear of the relegation zone, but their second half display was much more assured.

We didn't play a good football game in the first 45 minutes. That could be my mistake. Maybe my message was a bit confused. The second half was a game we want to play.

We've had one perfect week where we've won three games but in front of us is five games more. Mathematically, we are 10 points ahead. It's 15 points needed, so we need five points more to be 100 per cent sure.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/04/jokanovic-hails-hyndman-after-winner/?