Sunday Fulham Stuff (27/11/16)...

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Results

Friday
Barnsley	2 - 5	Nottm Forest
Saturday
Aston Villa	3 - 1	Cardiff
Brentford	1 - 2	Birmingham
Brighton	2 - 1	Fulham
Derby	1 - 0	Norwich
Preston	1 - 1	Burton
Reading	2 - 1	Bristol City
Wolves	0 - 2	Sheff Wed
Ipswich	3 - 0	QPR
Newcastle	0 - 1	Blackburn
Rotherham	1 - 2	Leeds

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Albion hit back to beat Fulham


Albion winger Jamie Murphy in action against Fulham this afternoon.
Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)

Brighton & Hove Albion closed the gap on Championship leaders Newcastle to two points as they fought back to beat Fulham 2-1 at the Amex this afternoon.

The visitors took the lead through Kevin McDonald after 17 minutes but Brighton levelled through Sam Baldock's excellent volley seven minutes into the second half.

Glenn Murray volleyed Albion into the lead from Baldock's cross 11 minutes from time as the Seagulls increased their unbeaten run to 12 games and moved to within two points of leaders Newcastle, who lost 1-0 at home to Blackburn.


Fulham enjoyed a lot of the ball in the early exchanges but Albion had the first opportunity when Jamie Murphy cut in from the left after seven minutes but his daisycutter was comfortable for David Button.

The visiting keeper then pushed over a stinging shot from Murray five minutes later after a quick Murphy-led break by the hosts.

Fulham went ahead on 17 minutes as McDonald's back post header from Stefan Johansen's corner beat Albion keeper David Stockdale, who was on his knees after tripping as the cross came in. The goal was awarded by the assistant referee as the ball clearly crossed the line before Steve Sidwell could hook clear.

The visitors then threatened to double their lead twice in quick succession. Stockdale dived high to his right to keep out Floyd Ayite's goalbound 25-yard strike on 25 minutes, before Fulham broke quickly and Shane Duffy did well to block Sone Aluko's low drive.

The Cottagers cut through Brighton's defence again on 32 minutes but Stockdale was on hand to push away Scott Malone's shot across goal as Fulham took a one-goal lead into half-time.

Albion levelled with a superb Baldock volley seven minutes into the second half. Anthony Knockaert's free kick was headed back across goal by Dale Stephens and then only half-cleared to Baldock, who clinically volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area for his sixth goal of the season.

Tempers flared just before the hour when Steve Sidwell caught Fulham's Tomas Kalas woth a flailing arm and was booked for the foul. The visitors' Chris Martin was booked for his reaction, before Stephens was also yellow-carded for a foul shortly afterwards.

The visitors' Johansen was then perhaps lucky no further action was taken when he clashed with Baldock on the touchline, as both players just recevied a talking-to from referee Keith Stroud.

Ayite stung the palms of Stockdale on 68 minutes, before Brighton went agonisingly close to taking the lead on 74 minutes. Gaetan Bong's cross fell for Baldock six yards out but his shot took a deflection and went back into Button's arms after striking a post.

Albion did go ahead just five minutes later, though. Murphy led a break forward, before Bong and Baldock did well down the left, with the latter's cross volleyed home by Murray as Fulham appealed for offside.

Fulham made a triple substitution with five minutes to go but Brighton held on to register their 11th league win of the season.

BRIGHTON: Stockdale; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Knockaert (Skalak 72), Stephens, Sidwell, Murphy; Murray, Baldock (Norwood 84). Subs: Maenpaa, Hemed, Pocognoli, Goldson, March.

FULHAM: Button; Malone, Odoi (Fredericks 85), McDonald, Cairney, Ayite (Kebano 85), Johansen, Sigurdsson, Aluko (Piazon 84), Martin, Kalas. Subs: Bettinelli, Smith, Ream, Sessegnon.


http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/sport/football/albion-hit-back-to-beat-fulham-1-7699984?

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Liam Moore Suspended For Trip To Fulham
The centre-back has reached the yellow cards limit so won't feature at Craven Cottage.

Reading made it five consecutive league wins as they beat Bristol City 2-1 this afternoon, but the one bit of bad news from the game is that Liam Moore's yellow card means that he is suspended for next weekend's trip to Fulham.

The 23 year old was booked for a challenge on Tammy Abraham, which was his fifth yellow card of the campaign following other bookings against MK Dons, Ipswich, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

It is somewhat unfortunate timing for Moore, with all existing yellow cards being wiped from players' records on November 30th. Garath McCleary also had four bookings coming into today's game but managed to stay out of the referee's notepad.

Since signing from Leicester in the summer, Moore has made an impressive start to life in Berkshire, winning The Tilehurst End Player of the Month award for September.

Replacements
There are actually quite a few options.

Jake Cooper, who was on the bench today for the first time since August, is a candidate to replace Moore, whilst Danzell Gravenberch is another natural option. Chris Gunter, who has played at right wing-back in the last two games, might make the move inside. George Evans can also play as a centre-back, as can Joey van den Berg, but the Dutchman has not featured since before the international break.

Having played 3-5-2/5-3-2 recently, Jaap Stam could also revert back to a four at the back formation, with Tyler Blackett and Paul McShane in the centre of defence and Gunter and Jordan Obita as full-backs.


http://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2016/11/26/13752290/liam-moore-suspended-for-trip-to-fulham-reading-fc-yellow-cards-limit

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Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Fulham 1: Strong midfield, forward woes and three other things we learned from the Amex clash
Second half strikes from Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock ensured the hosts took the spoils

Fulham were downed at Brighton and Hove Albion to suffer their first defeat in four, but were made to rue their profligacy.

Kevin McDonald had given the visitors the lead midway through the first-half, but the Cottagers were made to pay for missing a hat full of chances when they were on the front foot.

Second half strikes from Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock ensured the hosts took the spoils but Slavisa Jokanovic's team will be left frustrated.

Here are five things we learned from the clash at the Amex Stadium.

Fulham must be more clinical

The Cottagers suffered defeat at the Amex but they had only themselves to blame for not making the most of their dominance.

Slavisa Jokanovic's men had a 15-minute spell in the first period in which they had four chances to put the game to bed – fortunately they took one through Kevin McDonald but let too many go begging.

They will not be so fortunate in weeks to come and must show more conviction when in front of goal if they are to even take a point from matches.


Sone Aluko competes as the Whites are downed at Brighton (Photo: Getty Images)

The visitors simply ran out of steam
Jokanovic will have been impressed at what he saw at half-time with his side one up and firmly in control of the game despite playing promotion chasing Brighton.

They created plenty of chances and nullified much of the Seagulls attacks but in the second-half quality shone through and Fulham spent much of the second period on the back foot and it eventually told.

Away form cannot counter home form
Fulham travelled to the side with the best home form in the division and they came unstuck despite being the Championship's second best travellers after Newcastle.

They suffered their only away defeat at Aston Villa a month ago, but succumbed to their second away reverse in three game on the south coast.


Bingo! Tomas Kalas (hidden) gets a hug from Stefan Johansen and Ryan Fredericks (R) after scoring against Huddersfield

Jokanovic's midfield trio were immense
The Whites may have lost the game but their midfield trio of captain Tom Cairney , Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen showed what they were capable of – particularly in the first 45.

They were affective in attack with McDonald getting on the scoring sheet and showing creativity but were equally positive as a flat three protecting the Fulham back four when they game was in full flow.

Defensive lapses were to blame for both goals which undid much of their efforts throughout the game.

Chris Martin needs a partner
Fulham 's striker went missing at times in the second-half – as did most of his team mates – but showed in the opening period how positive he can be at turning defence into attack.

He didn't have any chances himself on Saturday afternoon but played a key role in creating almost all of Fulham's chances proving he has plenty to offer even when he's not scoring.


Way to go: Martin scores


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brighton-hove-albion-2-fulham-12235438?

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Murray caps Brighton comeback
by DAN on NOVEMBER 26, 2016

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Fulham's promotion aspirations received a serious reality check this afternoon at the AMEX Stadium as Slavisa Jokanovic's were punished for failing to make the most of their first half dominance by second-placed Brighton. Albion, badly below par in the first 45 minutes, upped the intensity after the break and two terrific strikes from the potent strike partnership of Sam Baldock and Glenn Murray secured the home side's twelfth straight league victory.

The defeat was tough to take for Jokanovic's side – especially given just how great their control and fluency was in the first half. The visitors settled the quickest, dominating possession, with Floyd Ayite – recalled to the starting line-up today in place of Lucas Piazon – a real livewire down the right wing. Fulham had served notice of their intent when Sone Aluko burst into the box only to be denied by a combination of David Stockdale and the offside flag, but they took the lead from a corner when former Fulham keeper Stockdale lost his footing as he tried to claim Stefan Johansen's ball in and Kevin McDonald's downward header from beyond the back post trickled over the line before Steve Sidwell could clear.

Despite his glaring error, Albion had Stockdale for thank for their task not being any more difficult by the half-time whistle. The former England under-21 international, who has already kept nine clean sheets in the Championship this season, produced a fine one-handed save to turn aside a deflected strike from Ayite and then thwarted Scott Malone from close range as the Fulham left back raced through on goal. The home side seemed subdued and offered little in response, with one drive from Jamie Murphy being tipped over by David Button and another ambitious effort from long-range off target.

There was a marked difference about Brighton's play after the break with more tenacity about their tackling and a greater purpose in the closing down, which cut down the amount of time Fulham's midfield had to play. The more aggressive attitude paid dividends seven minutes in the second period when, after benefiting from the dubious award of a free-kick, Baldock lashed home an unstoppable volley from the edge of the box after Tomas Kalas could only half clear a knock-down from Dale Stephens.

The goal lifted the home supporters and whole tone of the contest changed after that. Suddenly, Brighton looked far more dangerous – and the game also became a scrappy and bitty affair. Both sides saw several players cautioned, with both Murray and Stefan Johansen booked for using their arms against opponents, and it became much more of an attritional battle. Stockdale produced another fine reaction save to keep out Ayite's rising drive at his near post, but the home side were seeing much more of the ball by now. Baldock almost put Albion back in front from close range, when his snapshot deflected off Kalas and rebounded back to Button off the base of the post, but Fulham failed to heed the huge let off.

Just four minutes later – and with league leaders Newcastle trailing at home – Brighton turned the game completely on its head. Baldock did brilliantly to carve out a dangerous cross from the left but not one of three red shirts picked up Murray, who clinically rifled his finish home from around the penalty spot, as Fulham looked forlornly for an offside flag that never came. For a manager who has drilled his teams majestically on defensive positioning on the training ground, Jokanovic will have been incandescent at both the freedom which a master poacher like Murray was afforded and Malone's questionable decision to try and play him offside in such a dangerous area.

The final ten minutes whizzed by in blur. Belatedly, Jokanovic threw on Ryan Fredericks, Lucas Piazon and Neeskens Kebano in search of an equaliser but Fulham failed to carve out a clear chance despite plenty of late pressure. The closest the Cottagers came to salvaging a point at the death was when Malone, their saviour in injury-time last week against Sheffield Wednesday went to ground in the box after a challenge from substitute Jiri Skalak, but referee Keith Stroud waved away Fulham's desperate penalty appeals.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-4-2): Stockdale; Bruno, Bong, Duffy, Dunk; Sidwell, Stephens, Murphy, Knockaert (Skalak 71); Murray, Baldock (Norwood 84). Subs (not used): Maenpaa, Pocognoli, Goldson, March, Hemed.

BOOKED: Dunk, Sidwell, Stephens.

FULHAM (4-1-2-3): Button; Odoi (Fredericks 84), Malone, Kalas, Sigurdsson; McDonald; Cairney, Johansen; Aluko (Kebano 84), Ayite (Piazon 84), Martin. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Ream, Sessegnon, Smith.

BOOKED: Sigurdsson, Button, Martin, McDonald, Fredericks.

REFEREE: Keith Stroud (Bournemouth).

ATTENDANCE: 29,445.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/11/murray-caps-brighton-comeback/?

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Jokanovic laments familiar Fulham failings
by DAN on NOVEMBER 26, 2016

Slavisa Jokanovic was left to rue familiar Fulham shortcomings as his side surrendered the lead at promotion chasing Brighton and Hove Albion this afternoon to go down to a damaging defeat.

It looked as if the Whites might maintain their excellent away form when midfielder Kevin McDonald headed them in front from an early corner, but two second half goals – which Jokanovic described as 'cheap' – from Sam Baldock and Glenn Murray allowed the Seagulls to claim a vital victory and cut the gap to Newcastle United at the top of the table. The Serbian head coach felt Fulham had not done enough to capitalise on their dominance of proceedings in the first period and were too timid in their own box.

Speaking during his post-match press conference, Jokanovic's disappointment was clear. He said:

We created many chances but we didn't find the end product, we didn't put the ball in the net. We conceded two very cheap goals and paid a hard price. Okay, if you don't score the goals, then concentrate more and make sure you don't concede the kind of goal that we conceded today.

It's frustrating that we weren't clinical enough in the first 45 minutes. In the second half I didn't feel that they dominated us and made so many chances, but the half chances that they made resulted in two goals, which was the complete opposite to us.

Jokanovic described Fulham's second half collapse as the culmination of 'an ugly afternoon' but backed his players to be able to recover from the setback swiftly and get their promotion push back on track.

We played very well in the first half and created the chances, but we didn't score the goals. At the end, they punished us very hard. It's a hard punishment for myself and our away supporters, but we have to be brave and believe in ourselves and each other, and push hard.

t's an ugly afternoon for us. We are not happy, but we are going to try and play similar in the next game which is in front of us. I believe we are making progress, I believe we play very good football, I believe we created enough to go back to London with some points. But we didn't do it.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/11/jokanovic-laments-familiar-fulham-failings/?