Tuesday Fulham Stuff (27/12/16)...

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Results

Boxing Day
Brentford	2 - 2	Cardiff
Aston Villa	2 - 1	Burton
Barnsley	2 - 0	Blackburn
Huddersfield	2 - 1	Nottm Forest
Ipswich	0 - 2	Fulham
Preston	1 - 4	Leeds
Reading	3 - 1	Norwich
Rotherham	3 - 2	Wigan
Wolves	3 - 1	Bristol City
Newcastle	0 - 1	Sheff Wed

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Fulham win at Ipswich to close in on top six

Ipswich 0 Fulham 2

Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson scored in either half as Fulham won at Portman Road to move to within touching distance of the top six.

Martin, who had been ineligible to face parent club Derby last time out, marked his return with the opening goal, whipping a 36th-minute free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

Floyd Ayite had several chances to score the important second goal, but he was shown the way by substitute Ragnar Sigurdsson, who headed in from Stefan Johansen's corner.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side moved up two places to seventh, one point off the play-offs.

Fulham were on top for large periods, and only a fantastic block from Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski denied Martin the opener after he got on the end of Scott Malone's cross.

However the Scotland striker did break the deadlock with a free-kick from 25 yards out, awarded after Johansen was fouled by Cole Skuse.

Whites keeper David Button made a good save late in the half to ensure Fulham went in level and they continued to look the more dangerous after the break.

Martin put the ball in the net on the hour mark, but the whistle had already gone for a foul by Denis Odoi.

Either side of that came two openings for Ayite. Firstly, he could not quite find the net from a tight angle having taken the ball past Bialkoswki and then missed a golden opportunity by firing wide after Johansen had laid the ball into his path.

Ayite had a further chance but was denied by Bialkowski, before the home keeper was finally beaten again when Sigurdsson met Johansen's corner from the left.

The margin of victory would have been greater but Bialkowski made late saves from Tom Cairney and Martin.

Fulham: Button; Odoi, Madl, Ream, Malone; McDonald, Johansen (Parker 90); Cairney, Aluko (Sigurdsson 65), Ayite (Piazon 83), Martin.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kebano, Smith.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-win-at-ipswich-to-close-in-on-play-offs

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Fulham look the business against Ipswich to claim deserved win
It ends 2-0 to joyous Whites and their 907 fans at Portman Road - but it could have been far worse for Town


Hug: Chris Martin feels the lurve after scoring

Fulham made it to the cusp of the Championship play-offs with a clinical performance that made the Tractor Boys look just that - slow and cumbersome.

Slick Whites squandered numerous chances to put the game out of sight. But eventually Ragnar Sigurdsson rose highest in a crowded box with 12 minutes left to add to Chris Martin's tremendous free-kick in the first half.

Fulham never gave Ipswich a chance.

Indeed, the Town faithful started by giving Martin grief for his time with hated neighbours Norwich.

They ended by chanting 'what a load of rubbish' at their own side - but in truth, Fulham made sure the hosts were second best throughout.


Deadly: Chris Martin scores with a free-kick

How the possession stats didn't read 80-20 to Whites at half time suggested someone was fiddling them. It ended 67-33 to the visitors - but even that didn't do justice to the visitors.

They forced the early pace with a delicious Scott Malone bending cross causing all kinds of havoc in the Ipswich defence.

Great build-up from the back ended with Floyd Ayite's shot on the angle taking a block.

Martin is still wondering how he didn't open the scoring on 32 minutes when he connected sweetly with Malone's cross to bring a point-blank save from Bartosz Bialkowski.


Boot boy: Cole Skuse (R) shows Stefan Johansen his footwear

Straight after, Kevin McDonald complained he got a tug on his shirt at the far post, but the Whites midfielder might still have done better when the ball stuck under his foot to poke wide.

That earlier Martin moment was instantly forgotten when his terrific free-kick was up, over the wall, and down into the corner to give Bialkowski no chance.

McDonald was a toe short of 2-0, but right at the break only a Tim Ream touch as Christophe Berra got on the end of a header to bring a fine save by the under-worked Button.

Ipswich went with two attackers in a bid to see some of the ball in the second half.

But the 907 away fans were the ones closest to the game's second goal when Martin stuck the ball into the net from close in only to see the recalled Denis Odoi harshly flagged for a foul in the build-up.

Ayite then might have regretted that second mulled wine when he made a hash of a cross from Stefan Johansen just eight yards on 69 minutes and flashed his effort wide.

Johansen himself came close with a half a connection at the near post as the other 19,000 supporters were forced into silence, and the wasteful Ayite then fired straight at the grateful Bialkowski.

But there was always going to be one that made it between the sticks - and sub Sigurdsson provided it as Whites piled six into the box for a corner with the Icelander the one to head home.

It was as comfortable as any of the previous eight victories thus far.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-look-business-against-ipswich-12371920

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Ipswich Town 0-2 Fulham - Match Report

Goals from Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson saw Fulham to a comfortable 2-0 Boxing Day victory over the Blues at Portman Road, their first win against Town for precisely 53 years. Martin opened the scoring with a freekick on 36, then sub Sigurdsson headed home a corner in the 78th minute but the margin of victory should have been wider.

Jonathan Douglas replaced the injured Jonny Williams in an otherwise unchanged Town team.

Andre Dozzell kept his place in a three-man midfield and was making his first home Championship appearance of the season. Leon Best was back on the bench with no place in the 18 for Luke Varney.

Fulham started the brighter and Christophe Berra did well to cut out a cross from the left. Following the corner, Whites skipper Tom Cairney screwed a shot well wide.

Town first threatened to create an opening in the 12th minute when, after good work from Brett Pitman, Dozzell played the ball towards the left of the area to Tom Lawrence who dummied for Douglas but the ball ran behind the breaking midfielder.

The visitors continued to dominate possession, prodding and probing and looking for an opening. On 17 Floyd Ayite was played in on the left of the area by Stefan Johansen but Berra slid in to make a fine saving challenge.

Fulham almost scored the goal their first-half performance deserved in the 32nd minute when Scott Malone crossed from the left and Chris Martin turned the ball towards goal from close range only for Bartosz Bialkowski to somehow keep the ball out with his feet.

Following the corner Kevin McDonald diverted the ball wide at the far post with what looked to be a hand.

But the goal Fulham deserved wasn't too much longer in coming. After Cole Skuse had fouled Johansen 25 yards out, Martin hit a freekick which appeared to go through the Town wall before nestling in the corner of the net to Bialkowski's right.

Having gained the lead, the visitors continued to control the game, passing the ball around slickly - the home crowd were chanting 'we're supposed to be at home' with good reason - and a minute before half-time created another opening, Jonas Knudsen doing well to block from Sone Aluko from the right of the area.

As the half moved into injury time, Fulham keeper David Button was forced into his first save of the afternoon, the former Spurs man diving across to his right to palm defender Tim Ream's header towards his own goal wide.

Town were unable to create anything from the corner and referee Oliver Langford's whistle was met with boos from the home support.

The Blues had been thoroughly outplayed by the visitors throughout and on another afternoon might well have found themselves further behind.

Fulham had passed the ball around as well as anybody Town have faced this season, while Mick McCarthy's men were left chasing shadows for the most part. That the closest they had come to a goal was Ream's inadvertent late header summed up the half.

That the Cottagers ended the half only one goal up was perhaps the only positive, but Town needed to be a very much better prospect after the break.

As had seemed likely, McCarthy made immediate changes of personnel with Pitman and Dozzell, who had never really got into the game, although the 17-year-old was far from alone in that, replaced by Leon Best and David McGoldrick.

Town had more of the ball in the early stages of the second half but the visitors created the first opening when Ayite was found on the left and broke into the area before being halted by skipper Luke Chambers. From the resultant corner, the ball found Michael Madl but the centre-half was unable to get it under control and Skuse cleared.

Fulham had quickly reasserted their dominance and should have made it 2-0 just before the hour when an over-casual Webster lost possession to Aluko and Ayike was sent through on goal but was forced wide by Bialkowski and shot across the face of goal.

Denis Odoi was then harshly adjudged to have fouled Chambers as he shoulder-charged the Blues skipper and played the ball back into the box for Martin to tap home.

Bialkowski subsequently sent Sears away on the Town left and the ball eventually deflected off Knudsen and into the six-yard area before being claimed by Button. The Dane screwed a shot well wide after a later Town attack. On 64 McDonald was booked for a foul on Lawrence.

Despite those attacks, Fulham were still very much in the ascendency and again should have added to their lead in the 69th minute when Johansen crossed low from the left and Ayite smashed well wide when he should have scored.

As Bialkowski prepared to take the goalkick Lawrence was booked for an earlier foul. Soon after, McGoldrick joined him in the book for a late tackle on Madl.

Fulham wasted another opportunity to seal their victory in the 78th minute when, after a free-flowing moving which cut through the Blues, Ayite's effort was saved by Bialkowski.

But the second goal finally came from the corner, Sigardsson nodding in Johansen's flag-kick from close range.

The second Fulham goal, which had certainly been coming, prompted shouts of 'Evans sort it out' from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand and then later chants of 'what a load of rubbish'.

Bialkowski saved from Cairney as the game moved into its final five minutes, then at the other end Chambers turned a Lawrence cross from the right well over.

Fulham saw out the final minutes comfortably while sections of the crowd chanted 'McCarthy out' and again called for owner Marcus Evans to 'sort it out'.

Late on, Bialkowski saved from Martin from a tight angle before the final whistle was greeted by further loud boos. Manager McCarthy was booed by a section of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand support as he made his way into the tunnel.

Prior to kick-off McCarthy said he wanted a unifying performance and result but he got anything but that with the Blues putting in as poor a display as they have this season against an excellent and attractive Fulham side who really should have scored more than two goals.

Town began the game on the back foot and never really recovered with Fulham, the best side to visit Portman Road this season, taking the game to them from the off and they could have been ahead prior to Martin's goal.

The half-time changes briefly made a difference - and McGoldrick showed his quality in patches throughout the second period - but the visitors continued to dominate and while a repeat of their 10-1 Boxing Day victory back in 1963, their last victory over Town, was never on the cards, the margin could have been more significant if Ayite in particular had been less profligate

The result leaves the Blues in 16th, still eight points from the relegation zone, with Bristol City, who lost 3-2 at Wolves today, at Portman Road on Friday evening.

Town: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Chambers (c), Berra, Webster, Skuse, Douglas, Dozzell (Best 46), Sears, Lawrence, Pitman (McGoldrick 46). Unused: Gerken, Bru, Ward, Emmanuel, Kenlock.

Fulham: Button, Odoi, Ream, Madl, Malone, McDonald, Cairney (c), Ayite (Piazon 83), Johansen (Parker 90), Aluko (Sigurdsson 65), Martin. Unused: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kebano, Smith. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 19,723 (Fulham: 907).


- See more at: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30848/#sthash.7QU7ssWI.dpuf

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Flawless Fulham pile the pressure on McCarthy
by DAN on DECEMBER 26, 2016

Match report from Tom Chalmers

Goals either side of half-time from Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson secured Fulham's first league win over Ipswich Town for 53 years and piled the pressure on under-fire manager Mick McCarthy.

A performance full of verve and pretty passing extended Fulham's unbeaten run to five and moved them to the brink of the Championship play-off places, although they should have been well out of sight long before Sigurdsson's powerful header punished some slack Ipswich marking at a corner. The home side had been indebted to some excellent goalkeeping from Bartosz Bialkowski for keeping them in the game – and for a while it appeared as if Fulham's prolifigate finishing might set up a grandstand finish.

The visitors were the quickest to settle and quickly penned a subdued and defensively minded Ipswich back. Christophe Berra had to be alert to turn away a Scott Malone cross on the stretch – and the classy Tom Cairney worked some space for himself on the edge of the box before shooting wide. Berra then timed his saving tackle to perfection as Floyd Ayite burst through on goal, having been released by a fine raking pass from Stefan Johansen. It was the first of several glorious chances the Togolese winger was to spurn.

Ipswich rarely committed too many numbers to attack but when they did, the danger arrived at the other end. After one half-paced Town move broke down, Malone drove deep into Ipswich territory and delivered a teasing cross that Martin, jeered for his previous association with Norwich City, diverted goalwards only for Bialkowski to produce a superb reaction save with his legs. From the ensuing corner, Kevin McDonald should have done better than poke a good chance harmlessly wide.

It seemed only a matter of time before Slavisa Jokanovic's side broke the deadlock and the goal arrived shortly before the break after Cole Skuse had upended Johansen into a central position, around 30 yards from goal. It was Martin who took aim and his low powerful finish scuttled into the bottom corner, leaving a flat-footed Bialkowski with little chance. Ipswich might have considered themselves fortunate to be merely a goal down at the interval, but Tim Ream almost levelled matters in first half stoppage time when, in trying to beat Berra to a high ball forward, he sent a looping header towards the top corner of his own goal – only for David Button to palm it away in the nick of time.

McCarthy sent on David McGoldrick and Leon Best for Brett Pitman and Andre Dozell at the start of the second half, but the changes didn't alter the patter of the first period. Fulham still had the majority of the play and were beginning to profit from some jittery home defending. Denis Odoi, pressing high up the pitch, charged down a pass from Andy Webster and Ayite rounded the goalkeeper before failing to apply the finishing touch from the tightest of angles. Moments later, Martin did have the ball in the net – but it was ruled out for an apparent high foot from Odoi when he seemed to have won the ball cleanly.

Ayite then missed an even simpler chance as the Whites surged forward down the left. Malone and Johansen swapped passes at pace to work an opening on the angle of the box before the Norwegian produced the perfect pass for Ayite to sidefoot home from eight yards, only for the winger to woefully miscue his shot and screw the ball horribly wide. Another lightening break saw Martin and Johansen combine to send the onrushing Odoi into the inside left channel and the recalled rightly-back did superbly to tee up Ayite, whose shot bounced off the chest of Bialkowski and behind for a corner.

Ipswich's reprieve was merely shortlived. Johansen's dangerous outswinger bent towards three white shirts on the edge of the six yard box and Sigurdsson, only recently introduced for Sone Aluko, buried a simple header to ease any lingering Fulham nerves. The natives took this as their cue to indicate their displeasure with McCarthy's regime – and after Bialkowski had foiled Cairney again – the home side came as close as they managed all afternoon to testing Button. It was a testament to Luke Chambers' desire that he burst into the Fulham box to meet a Tom Lawrence cross, but his improvised acrobatics sent the ball high and wide of the goal. It was that kind of frustrating afternoon for Ipswich, who failed to register a shot on target, – and one that could leave McCarthy on the brink.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-5-1): Bialkowski; Chambers, Knudsen, Berra; Webster; Skuse, Dozzell (McGoldrick 45), Douglas, Lawrence, Sears; Pitman (Best 45). Subs (not used): Gerken, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Bru, Ward.

BOOKED: Lawrence, McGoldrick.

FULHAM (4-1-2-3): Button; Odoi, Malone, Madl, Ream; McDonald; Johansen (Parker 90), Cairney; Aluko (Sigurdsson 65); Ayite (Piazon 83), Martin. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kebano, Smith.

BOOKED: McDonald.

GOALS: Martin (36), Sigurdsson (78).

REFEREE: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

ATTENDANCE: 19,723.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/flawless-fulham-pile-the-pressure-on-mccarthy/

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Match report: Ipswich Town 2 Fulham 0 – Portman Road atmosphere turns toxic as Blues out-fought and out-thought


Ipswich Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is on his knees after Chris Martin's free-kick puts Fulham 1-0 up at Portman Road. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE

The mood inside Portman Road turned toxic as Ipswich Town were out-fought and out-thought by impressive Fulham, losing 2-0 in an utterly one-sided match.

Chris Martin's free-kick (36) and Ragnar Sigurdsson's header from a corner (76) sealed a very comfortable away victory for the slick Cottagers.

Slavisa Jokanovic's men dominated possession throughout and could have scored more. Ipswich mustered just one 'attempt' on goal, Luke Chambers' ambitious acrobatic attempt going high and wide in the 87th minute.

This was a golden opportunity to win back some stayaway fans or casual attendees, with a bumper festive crowd of 19,723, but the Blues' non-performance – typical of their 2016 in general – left a sour taste in the mouth.

There were rousing chants of 'Evans sort it out' aimed at owner Marcus Evans, while a section of the Sir Bobby Robson stand chanted 'we want McCarthy out' as Blues boss Mick McCarthy's stock took another major blow. Significant boos greeted the final whistle.

Town fall to 16th in the Championship table – eight points above the relegation zone – ahead of Friday night's visit of Bristol City (7.45pm). Fulham move to within a point of the play-off places.

McCarthy made one enforced change to his team following the 3-2 win at Wigan – Jonathan Douglas replacing the injured Jonathan Williams. That meant that 17-year-old Andre Dozzell was pushed into a more advanced midfield role.

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic made four changes to his team following a 2-2 home draw with Derby. Under-pressure keeper David Button kept his place, but three of the back four changed. Key centre-back Tomas Kalas dropped out through injury, while Ryan Fredericks and Ragnar Sigurdsson were relegated to the bench as Denis Odoi, Michael Madl and Tim Ream came into the side.

Top-scorer Martin returned to the starting XI, at the expense of Lucas Piazon, after being unable to face his parent club.

Fulham started on the front foot to set the tone for an utterly one-sided first half.

Christophe Berra had to hack a dangerous low Scott Malone cross behind in the fourth minute, then midfielder Tom Cairney fired well wide from acres of space on the edge of the box.

Ipswich were playing with the tactics of an away team trying to protect a one-goal lead with five minutes to go. They sat increasingly deeper and deeper and, as a result, the visitors dominated possession.

One decent home move, which ended with Tom Lawrence's clever dummy almost lead to a Jonathan Douglas opening, was a real rarity.

Fulham's players had the freedom of the pitch – midfield duo Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen particularly – and were able to pull the strings and stride forward under zero pressure.

Johansen's driving run and through ball set Floyd Ayite scampering away in the 17th minute, but Berra did well to keep pace and make a last-ditch slide challenge.

There was ironic applause from the home crowd when Ipswich strung three passes together in the 19th minute. By the midway stage of the half Fulham's share of possession had reached 75%.

It required a reaction save from Bartosz Bialkowski to prevent the West Londoners from breaking the deadlock in the 32nd minute. Johansen again was given acres of space in the middle, he found Malone on the over-lap and the latter's searching low cross from the left was met by the out-stretched boot of Martin in the six-yard box. Bialkowski kept the ball out with his legs.

From the resultant corner, a deep Johansen delivery to the far post, Skuse did just enough to put off McDonald.

There was a rare Town attack when Pitman's cross from the right was headed behind.

Fulham broke the deadlock in the 36th minute after another driving Johansen run drew a foul. Martin's free-kick from a central position, around 25 yards out, wasn't hit with much pace, but it squeezed through a fractured wall and curled into the bottom left corner. Bialkowski, perhaps unsighted until late, didn't commit to his dive.

Disgruntled Blues fans finally found their voices for a rousing rendition of 'we're supposed to be at home'.

The first time the Fulham keeper was tested arrived in stoppage-time – and that was courtesy of a Cottagers player. Lawrence's deep ball into the box was hopeful at best, Madl's looping header was bound for the top corner but David Button clawed it behind.

The Town players left the field to significant boos at half-time.

McCarthy responded with a double change at the break – David McGoldrick and Leon Best replacing Dozzell and Pitman.

There was also a switch in formation – to 3-5-2 – with Lawrence operating at right wing-back, Jonas Knudsen left-wing-back and McGoldrick playing in behind strike duo Freddie Sears and Best.

Town were marginally improved offensively by the changes – and the crowd got behind them – but they began to look very edgy at the back.

Fulham created the first real opening of the second period when Webster's attempted pass out the back was charged down by Aluko. The alert Ayite seized on the loose ball and skipped around Bialkowski, but could not find the net from the acutest of angles.

Jokanovic's men then missed a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 69th minute after impressive left-back Malone set the equally impressive Johansen's away down his side. The Norwegian's low cross took out the entire home defence and picked out Ayite on the edge of the six-yard box, but he screwed his left-footed shot well wide. It was a major let-off.

Moments later, Webster, not for the first time, gave the ball away cheaply and Berra was forced to hack away a clearance.

Fulham continued to do all the attacking and finally netted a killer second. A slick move down the left led to Odoi's turn and low cross taking out the entire home defence, only for an unmarked Ayite to shoot straight at Bialkowski from 10 yards out.

From the resultant corner, substitute Ragnar Sigurdsson headed down into the bottom corner at the near post.

The atmosphere inside Portman Road immediately turned toxic and there were rousing chants of 'Evans sort it out' from all sides of the ground. A section of the Sir Bobby Robson stand later chanted 'we want McCarthy out' as well as 'Mick McCarthy, your football is s***'.

Ipswich finally produced their first 'attempt' on goal, of their own making, in the 87th minute when Luke Chambers' ambitious acrobatic attempt went high and wide.

At the other end, Bialkowski had to make a smart near post stop from Martin.

There were prolonged chants from the Sir Bobby Robson stand of 'we want our Ipswich back' followed by boos at the final whistle.

Town now host Bristol City at Portman Road on Friday night.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-2-3-1): Bialkowski; Chambers (cpt), Webster, Berra, Knudsen; Douglas, Skuse; Sears, Dozzell (McGoldrick 46), Lawrence; Pitman (Best 46).

Unused subs: Gerken, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Bru, Ward.

Booked: Lawrence (69), McGoldrick (76).

FULHAM (4-1-3-1-1): Button; Odoi, Madl, Ream, Malone; McDonald; Ayite (Piazon 83), Cairney, Johansen (Parker 90); Aluko (Sigurdsson 65); Martin.

Unused subs: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Kebano, Smith.

Booked: McDonald (64).

Attendance: 19,723 (907 away)

Referee: Oliver Langford


http://www.sudburymercury.co.uk/sport/match_report_ipswich_town_2_fulham_0_portman_road_atmosphere_turns_toxic_as_blues_out_fought_and_out_thought_1_4829563

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Jokanovic 'very happy' with 'important' victory
by DAN on DECEMBER 26, 2016

Slavisa Jokanovic toasted 'a very good Boxing Day' for Fulham after his clinched a crucial 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town to leave the Whites just a point outside the Championship play-off places.

Fulham's fluent football was on display from first whistle to last and their arguably could have crafted a far more comfortable winning margin than the one that arrived courtesy of goals from Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson. Jokanovic was pleased both with the aesthetic quality of Fulham's display and another clean sheet that ensured there was no way back for Mick McCarthy's side.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Serbian head coach said:

We are very happy with how we played today, it's a very good Boxing Day for us. We won a very important three points to continue fighting towards our targets. We secured another clean sheet, we dominated the game, and Ipswich didn't have any shots on target. This is good news for us.

We created many, many chances but didn't score the second goal in the moments where we were dominant. But in the end we scored this goal to close the game out. We changed the system when we started to have some kind of problem, and it's a great day for us.

We tried to put the ball on the floor. We tried to be brave, tried to move the ball, and tried to follow our style. I believe my team has this kind of quality, so we tried to show our strengths and not our weaknesses.

As usual, Jokanovic refused to contemplate the possibility of breaking into the division's top six and preferred to concentrate on preparing his side for the mouthwatering clash with fellow promotion contenders Reading at the Madjeski Stadium on Friday night.

I know what the targets of this club are, I know what our supporters want, but I prefer thinking about short steps. I prefer to think about the Reading game which is in front of us. This is the new chance to fight for three points. We'll know in May if we're in the top-six or not, but right now we are working and preparing for what is immediately in front of us.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/jokanovic-very-happy-with-important-victory/

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BOSS: BEST I'VE SEEN HERE

They were much better than us on the day says Mick as Fulham impress

Mick McCarthy conceded Town were beaten by the better side after seeing Fulham end a 53 year wait for a victory over Blues.

Goals from Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson gave the Cottagers a 2-0 win and if wasn't for the reflexes of Bart Bialkowski, that margin could have been greater.

"I can't say we were particular good but I've got to give credit to Fulham, they are a good team and played very well on the day. That was the best display I've seen from a visiting team here this season," the Town boss told Ipswich Player HD.

"We didn't help ourselves with the goals. We gave the ball away in the final third and they break away and get a corner that leads to the second goal. We didn't mark from the corner so that wasn't good enough from us.

"I've not really seen the first goal again yet. It was poor allowing them to break on us after we gave the ball away and Martin didn't power in the free-kick but I need to look at it again.

"It was always going to be difficult when we went behind. They moved the ball around well. I changed it at half-time and we started okay but I've got no complaints, they fully deserved to win.

"It's not all about them though. I would have expected us to compete a lot better than we did. That disappointed me and it's a difficult time for all of us at the moment."


Read more at http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/mick-mccarthy-and-fulham-3486376.aspx#soWfRiCZ7fEa35FK.99

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Jokanovic eyes January additions
by DAN on DECEMBER 26, 2016

Slavisa Jokanovic has described the looming loss of Floyd Ayite and Neeksens Kebano to the African Cup of Nations as 'a very big problem' for Fulham and admitted he will be scouring the transfer market for replacements next month.

Ayite has been Fulham's first choice on the left wing since his sumer arrival from Bastia and he has scored four goals in his last four appearances. The 28 year-old is set to fly out to Gabon with Togo early in the new year, whilst Neeskens Kebano – probably the most ready-made replacement for Ayite – is set to represent DR Congo at the same tournament.

Jokanovic told BBC London after this afternoon's 2-0 win at Ipswich that additional signings are likely in January:

It's a very big problem for us and this situation cannot surprise us. We have in our squad quality players who can play in this position for their country. We have to look in the market. In January, it is very busy. In January, it is many games and we have to be ready for everything.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/jokanovic-eyes-january-additions/

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Martin: Pantomime Villain

As it was panto season when Fulham headed to Ipswich Town's Portman Road, Chris Martin was happy to play the role of the villain.

An academy graduate of fierce rivals Norwich City, the striker was given plenty of stick from the home supporters, something that quickly died down after he fired his side into the lead.

"I enjoy playing here actually," he told fulhamfc.com. "I'm a bit of a pantomime villain every time I visit, having come through just down the road at Norwich. It gives it that extra little bit of spice for me.

"It's all good fun, joining in with the crowd and whatnot, but the most important thing was that we came away with another hard fought win, but one that I think we thoroughly deserved."

The Whites had bossed proceedings in the lead up to Martin's 36th minute opener, when his perfectly struck free-kick flummoxed home goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

"When I take a free-kick the all important thing is trying to get it over the wall, and that will give the 'keeper the challenge of trying to get across," he explained.

"I always knew where I was going to put it but perhaps he thought I was going to go the other side or that Stefan [Johansen] was going to take it. But I was absolutely delighted to see it go in, especially after how we dominated the first half.

"With the chances we created it would have been a travesty if we didn't have a lead heading into half-time, so it was an important time to score. It took the weight off a little bit and I was just happy to see us go on to win the game."

Fulham saw a number of clear-cut chances pass them by in the second half before Ragnar Sigurdsson doubled the advantage, and Martin admitted there was still a lingering disappointment that it wasn't a bigger victory.

"It's been a pretty similar pattern for quite a lot of our games," he stated. "We normally dominate the ball, have a lot of possession, create a lot of chances, but it's about how ruthless and how good we can be in that final third.

"We didn't quite get it right today I don't think, even though we came away with a very good 2-0 win, we could have made it much more comfortable for ourselves, both in the first and second half.

"With the chances we had to make it 2-0, it was a hell of a relief when Ragnar popped up with that second goal. Once that went in we were breathing a little easier.

"But, like I said, I thought we thoroughly deserved it, we played some excellent stuff against a tough team. I've been in some real battles here at Portman Road but we played really well and the only negative was the fact that we didn't score a few more goals."

As the openings seemed to pass Fulham by, fans could have been forgiven for fearing a suckerpunch may be on its way, but a resolute display throughout the side ensured that didn't happen.

"I thought we defended extremely well as a team," he said. "The two centre-halves were very, very good, and Butts [David Button] made an important save at the end of the first half.

"That's what you need when you've not got the cushion of a two or three goal lead. In certain situations it can be easy to switch off and concede a goal, but that's something that we haven't done, and we've worked hard on that.

"We knew they were going to bombard our box with long balls and I think we stood up to that challenge very well today, which was an important step for us."

Next up for the Whites is a trip to the Madejski Stadium where Reading will be keen for revenge following their 5-0 defeat in SW6 at the start of December.

They recovered well from that loss, though, and after three wins from their subsequent four matches, Martin knows a stern test awaits on Friday: "Credit to Reading, after we put in a real dominant performance against them, they kicked on again and got back to winning ways.

"It's going to be another tough game. We were under no illusions about that the last time, although it turned out to be an easier afternoon than we thought it was going to be.

"Obviously an away game makes it that little bit tougher, but we've got a hell of a lot of confidence from the last few games and the way that we're playing and creating chances, and we know that we can be a real tough match for anybody."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/december/26/chris-martin-pantomime-villain

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was pleased to see his team's fluid football overcome Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Boxing Day.

A Chris Martin free-kick had put his side in front, and although a number of chances were missed before Ragnar Sigurdsson headed in to make it 2-0, it was a comfortable win in the end for Fulham.

"We are very happy with how we played today, it's a very good Boxing Day for us," Jokanović stated. "We won a very important three points to continue fighting towards our targets.

"We secured another clean sheet, we dominated the game, and Ipswich didn't have any shots on target. This is good news for us.

"We created many, many chances but didn't score the second goal in the moments where we were dominant. But in the end we scored this goal to close the game out. We changed the system when we started to have some kind of problem, and it's a great day for us.

"We tried to put the ball on the floor. We tried to be brave, tried to move the ball, and tried to follow our style. I believe my team has this kind of quality, so we tried to show our strengths and not our weaknesses."

The victory moved the Whites to within a point of the Play-Off spots, but Jokanović reiterated his stance that he is not looking that far ahead.

"I know what the targets of this Club are, I know what our supporters want, but I prefer thinking about short steps," he explained. "I prefer to think about the Reading game which is in front of us.

"This is the new chance to fight for three points. We'll know in May if we're in the top-six or not, but right now we are working and preparing for what is immediately in front of us."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/december/26/head-coach-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic considers changes after Fulham win

Slavisa Jokanovic was a happy man after Fulham's 2-0 win at Ipswich on Boxing Day – but hinted at changes for Friday's trip to Reading.

Goals in either half from Chris Martin and Ragnar Sigurdsson – his first for the club – earned the Whites a deserved three points at Portman Road.

But with two more games in the next week – Fulham also face Brighton next Monday – Jokanovic said he might rotate to keep his in-form squad fresh.

He said: "Fulham is not only 11 players. I need all the squad.

"I need people with character, with ambition and with desire to be successful. I expect those who didn't participate today to be an option for the next game.

"In front of us, we have a few days to prepare for the Reading game and we are going to choose what is best for us."

Jokanovic, who has previously urged his side to be more clinical in front of goal, again saw more chances being passed up in the win at Ipswich.

But despite this, he was satisfied with the display and the clean sheet that lifted them to within one place of the play-offs.

"It's a very good Boxing Day for us," Jokanovic said.

"We played very well, we scored two goals, we won three important points.

"It's true we could have scored more to make it a little bit easier but in the end we have to be satisfied with what we showed today.

"We were organised, we were brave, and we were a little bit more solid than is usual for us."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-boss-pleased-win-ipswich-might-make-changes-reading