Sunday Fulham Stuff (26/02/17)...

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Results

Friday
Burton	1 - 1	Blackburn
Wolves	1 - 2	Birmingham
Saturday
Leeds	1 - 0	Sheff Wed
Aston Villa	1 - 0	Derby
Barnsley	1 - 1	Huddersfield
Brentford	4 - 2	Rotherham
Cardiff	2 - 2	Fulham
Newcastle	2 - 2	Bristol City
Preston NE	2 - 1	QPR
Wigan	0 - 0	Nottm Forest
Brighton	3 - 0	Reading

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Fulham forced to settle for a point in a four-goal fest at Cardiff
It finishes 2-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium in a match played throughout to a backdrop of relentless rain

It rained on Fulham's parade as a fourth win on the trot was denied them by a much better Cardiff than the side Whites beat in January.

That FA Cup win was beguiling, because this Bluebirds under Neil Warnock were a lot tougher.

Whites had to come from behind with a leveller from Neeskens Kebano to get their point after goals from Kenneth Zohore, and a first equaliser from Stefan Johansen saw points shared.

Unusually, Whites were under the cosh for the first five minutes.

Tomas Kalas did just enough to put off Junior Hoilett who fired over from all of five yards.

Back at his old club, Scott Malone back cleared as the ball flashed across goal and then David Button spread himself to deny Sol Bamba from even closer than Hoilett's chance.

The latter had the easiest chance yet three minutes later, but again Button was down left to push away.

But out of nothing Fulham counter-attacked in numbers. The ball was fed wide to Johansen who cut in and fired low and true for 1-0.

However, Whites lost Lucas Piazon in a tackle for which the midfielder was also booked to add salt to his wounds.


Tackle! Tomas Kalas denies Junior Hoilett (Photo: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE)

And then a dreadful mistake from the man who put Whites ahead.

Johansen let the ball slip under his feet as last man and Zohore ran on to put it past Button, even though the keeper got a hand to the shot.

Fulham were nearly ahead a second time as McDonald got a back post header cleared off the line. From the rebound Floyd Ayite forced Allan McGregor into a fine one-handed save.

Kebano completely shanked a decent sight of goal inside the box - and held his head in his hands to underline it.

Craig Noone wasted another decent set-up on 55 minutes when he thrashed over inside the box.

Another mess-up at the back, and Cardiff were ahead a second time. Whites defence lost the plot and Zohore got on his bike to ram a tremendous hit past Button.

But the second leveller was pure Fulham.

Eye of the needle passes and a final defence splitter from Cairney played in Kebano who rolled it home for 2-2.

David Button made a fantastic save at his near post as the clock counted down - and none of the travelling support could complain at the result.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-forced-settle-point-four-12656448

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was frustrated that Fulham's winning run came to an end in Cardiff, but acknowledged that a draw was a fair result.

Both sides had periods on top in the match, and the Whites Head Coach knew his team were in for a tough encounter against a side who have won more Sky Bet Championship points than anyone else this calendar year.

"We are disappointed because we arrived with desire and a plan to win the game," he said in his post-match press conference. "In the end I believe this result is fair. 

"We tried to use our weapons, Cardiff used a different style and created many chances. We created many chances too. Cardiff are the best Championship team in 2017 so we didn't expect anything to be easy.

"From another side, we need to be more solid in some parts of the game. We gave them many, many easy chances. My team created good football, we moved the ball from one side to the other and created many chances.

"We weren't clinical enough, but Cardiff needed to be more clinical too. I'm not satisfied but I have to accept this result as a fair one."

The Bluebirds' first goal came about after Stefan Johansen lost possession, but his boss refused to lay any blame.

"This is my responsibility and I support my team to try passing the ball," he explained. "When we made some mistakes it's completely my responsibility.

"When you want to do something, you can make mistakes. This first goal is completely under my responsibility."

Following Sheffield Wednesday's defeat earlier in the day, the draw cuts the gap on the top-six to five points.

"We have not surrendered and we are still thinking about trying to cut this distance between us and the teams above us," Jokanović stated. "We didn't make a good enough step, but 39 points are in front of us and it's not time to surrender.

"This season we have been working for eight or nine months, and it's two months in front of us where we have to be ready for everything, push hard and be ready for this set of games that we're going to play at home.

"We have to try and be competitive, and push until the last moment. Everything is possible."

Injuries suffered by Lucas Piazon and Floyd Ayité put a dampener on the point gained in Wales, with the prognosis already made on the former.

"This is the worst news for us, he has broken his jaw," Jokanović confirmed. "He will have a period out of the squad, and we need to assess Floyd Ayité too, and this is bad news for us."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/february/25/head-coach-reaction

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Match Review: Cardiff City 2-2 Fulham

Attendance: 15,656

The Bluebirds were held to a draw at home against play-off chasing Fulham in an entertaining clash.

Cardiff City had to settle for a point against an impressive Fulham side at Cardiff City Stadium despite coming from behind to take the lead.

Neil Warnock's men went behind after 17 minutes thanks to Stefan Johansen's break-away goal but Kenneth Zohore's fine double meant they hit the hour mark in front.

But Fulham hit back and Neeskens Kebano's 67th minute leveler meant the two sides had to share the spoils.

Cardiff remain in 12th place after the draw, while Fulham stay in seventh, cutting the gap between them and the play-offs to five points.

The Bluebirds head to London next weekend to take on Ian Holloway's Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Match Report

With both teams heading into this one on the back of three consecutive wins, an entertaining affair was expected and that's just how it unfolded.

Cardiff dominated early on and they had a whole host of chances to take the lead – Junior Hoilett come closest but David Button in the Fulham goal produced a wonderful save.

It proved important with Fulham taking the lead thanks to a slick counter attack from a Cardiff free-kick deep in the visitor's half. Stefan Johansen received the ball on the far side and with Cardiff struggling to re-group, he used his pace to break through and slot home.

Cardiff equalised just seven minutes later when Kenneth Zohore pounced on a poor back-pass before showing power to break away from his man and slot home.

The Bluebirds once again had the chances to go ahead but David Button was again resilient, keeping the hosts out.

Fulham ended the first half strongly and come close themselves, but they were kept at bay by a number of good blocks, one from Sol Bamba in particular was the stand-out challenge.

It was a quiet and scrappy opening to the second half, the complete antithesis to the first period.

But Cardiff took the lead just over 10 minutes in thanks to another excellent goal from Zohore. The Danish striker latched onto a bouncing ball, held off his defender and blaster a half-volley past David Button – A truly stunning finish.

Cardiff continued to dominate after the goal but the visitors drew level against the run of play when first half substitute Neeskens Kebano found the net with a mis-hit shot.

Fulham then went on to dominate the rest of the second half but other than a good effort from Aluko which drew a very good save from Allan McGregor, they were limited to few opportunities.

The visitor's few chances was thanks to some excellent last-ditch defending from Cardiff and two particular challenges stand out – Jazz Richards and Sol Bamba putting in potentially goal-saving tackles.

Cardiff created a big chance just before the clock struck 90 when Declan John was found at the far post. The young striker took the effort well on the volley but was denied by the upright.

Man of the Match -Kenneth Johore

The Danish striker just keeps getting better and better, he has strength in abundance and his ability to find the net is proving pivotal for the Bluebirds.

He did well wot hold off his man and finish for the first goal and his second was one of real class, finding the net with a powerful drive.

Good performances elsewhere from Sol Bamba who made a number of key challenges to keep Fulham at bay, and Kadeem Harris again looked dangerous.

Final Word

Both teams will be reasonably happy to take home a point after what was a difficult afternoon with two in-form teams going head-to-head.

It was a very open affair and one which could have gone either way with plenty of chances for both teams but a draw is a fair result.

Neil Warnock won't be too pleased with the way his team conceded the first goal, coming from a Cardiff free-kick, but overall he'll be pleased with the result.

Fulham are a very good side and Cardiff will face few teams as well-drilled as them before the end of the season – It could have been won with the chances the Bluebirds had, but they'll settle for the point.


http://www.insidewelshfootball.co.uk/match-review-cardiff-city-fulham/

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Cardiff City 2-2 Fulham

By Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales Sport at Cardiff City Stadium

Fulham had won at Cardiff City Stadium in the FA Cup third round in January

Fulham edged nearer to the Championship play-off places with a thrilling draw at Cardiff City.

Stefan Johansen struck on the break to put the visitors ahead, before Kenneth Zohore equalised in a breathless first half.

Zohore's powerful half-volley put Cardiff in front, but Neeskens Kebano levelled with a deflected effort.

Fulham stay seventh in the table, now five points adrift of the top six, Cardiff remain 12th.

A share of the points was fitting for two sides whose attacking endeavour made for a compelling spectacle, on the day Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock signed a new contract.

The end-to-end entertainment was in striking contrast to January's sparsely-attended FA Cup tie between the same teams, in which Fulham outclassed a much-changed Cardiff side.

On this occasion, they encountered more resistance from the Bluebirds' first string, who peppered the visiting goal in a high-octane start to the game.

Despite initially not enjoying as much possession as they did last month, Fulham's pace made them a threat on the counter-attack - as they proved for the opening goal.

Stefan Johansen scored his ninth goal of the season for Fulham

After a Cardiff free-kick was cleared, Tom Cairney fed Johansen, who sprinted clear and finished neatly inside the hosts' penalty area.

Warnock's side were not behind for long, with Zohore seizing on hesitant defending to stride forward and stroke the ball beyond David Button into the bottom corner.

Chances came at both ends at breakneck speed, and Cardiff maintained that intensity at the beginning of the second half.

Wingers Kadeem Harris and Junior Hoilett were a menace to the Fulham defence with their direct, quick running - but it was the impressive Zohore who made the most telling contributions.

His emphatic left-footed volley - his fourth goal in two games - looked like it would set the Bluebirds on their way to a fourth straight win.

But Slavisa Jokanovic's men salvaged a point as substitute Kebano's deflected shot dribbled apologetically into the net.

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock said: "Very good for the neutral. We had an opportunity to win the game - if we'd have been four up at half-time I don't think anyone could have complained.

"But they're a good side, we knew they'd have opportunities. To score from our corner is like Sunday League, so to do it twice in a season is more than enough.

"It was a kick in the teeth but we came back strongly again. We didn't sulk and got the equaliser and, once we went in front, I thought we'd score more.

"But give them credit. They came back and they're a good side. Both teams could feel disappointed they didn't win it."

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: "I believe the result is fair. We tried to use our weapons, Cardiff used a different style and created many chances.

"Cardiff are the best team in the Championship in 2017 so we didn't expect it to be easy.

"We created enough chances but we were not clinical. I'm disappointed but I have to accept the result as a fair result."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39011729

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Kebano earns Fulham a point at Cardiff

Cardiff 2 Fulham 2

Neeskens Kebano's second-half goal earned Fulham a point in an action-packed game.

Stefan Johansen put Fulham ahead before Kenneth Zohore equalised following a defensive mix-up and scored again in the second half.

But the Whites battled on and drew level when Kebano, who came on for the injured Lucas Piazon midway through the first half, slotted home after being set up by Tom Cairney.

Both sides created a host of openings, with Junior Hoilett missing an early chance for Cardiff before Fulham goalkeeper David Button produced saves to deny Sol Bamba and Hoilett.

The visitors went ahead with a fine goal on the counter-attack on 17 minutes, Johansen finishing after galloping half the length of the pitch.

However, Johansen was at fault for Cardiff's equaliser, giving the ball away and enabling Zohore to haul the Welsh side level.

Button pulled off two more excellent saves before the break and Allan McGregor produced a fine stop at the other end to deny Sone Aluko.

Zahore smashed in his second goal 10 minutes into the second half and Scott Malone missed a glorious opportunity to equalise against his former club before Kabano levelled.

There was no let up in the action, with Bamba going close before Johansen almost put Fulham ahead in the final minute.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/kebano-earns-fulham-point-cardiff

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Piazon suffers broken jaw in Fulham's draw at Cardiff

Fulham's on-loan Chelsea youngster Lucas Piazon suffered a broken jaw during the Whites' 2-2 draw at Cardiff City.

Piazon, 23, was taken off midway through the second half and faces a spell on the sidelines.

He was replaced by Neeskens Kebano, whose second-half equaliser earned a point for the visitors.

Piazon has impressed for Fulham this season, making 24 appearances for Slavisa Jokanovic's side and scoring six goals.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/piazon-suffers-broken-jaw-fulhams-draw-cardiff

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Williams fires Fulham into last 16

Forward's two goals gives Cottagers a 4-2 win over Charlton

A George Williams brace gave Fulham a come-from-behind victory over Charlton Athletic, a result which secures their place in the last 16 of the Premier League Cup.

It was the visitors who took the lead at Motspur Park through Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, but a goal from Matt O'Riley and two from Williams gave Fulham a two-goal cushion.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant pulled a goal back for Charlton but Elijah Adebayo made sure of the win with a cool header.

Fulham are now guaranteed top spot in Group F, as they are five points clear with one match to play, while second-placed Charlton will also progress if they defeat AFC Wimbledon next month.


https://www.premierleague.com/news/335080

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Chelsea loanee at Fulham breaks jaw - it's bad news for Lucas Piazon
Whites have to settle for 2-2 in south Wales - but midfielder looks set for a long lay off

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was left doubly disappointed after surrendering two points to Cardiff City.

Whites failed to make it four wins in a row on a rain-sodden afternoon and Lucas Piazon suffered a broken jaw in a collision with Kadeem Harris.

Before the Chelsea loanee went off, he had salt rubbed in his wounds when he was booked for the tackle on Kadeem Harris.

The Whites head coach admitted a draw was the fair result.

"We created many chances but Cardiff are the best Championship team in 2018, and we didn't expect it easy," Jokanovic said.

"We needed to be more solid in some parts of the game and we gave them many easy chances. But we were not clinical and nor were they.

"Lucas is the worst news for us. He's broken his jaw - and there will be a longer period out for him.

"Floyd Ayite also has concerns."

And the match...

It rained on Fulham's parade as a fourth win on the trot was denied them by a much better Cardiff than the side Whites beat in January.

That FA Cup win was beguiling, because this Bluebirds under Neil Warnock were a lot tougher.

Whites had to come from behind with a leveller from Neeskens Kebano to get their point after goals from Kenneth Zohore, and a first equaliser from Stefan Johansen saw points shared.

Unusually, Whites were under the cosh for the first five minutes.

Tomas Kalas did just enough to put off Junior Hoilett who fired over from all of five yards.

Back at his old club, Scott Malone back cleared as the ball flashed across goal and then David Button spread himself to deny Sol Bamba from even closer than Hoilett's chance.

The latter had the easiest chance yet three minutes later, but again Button was down left to push away.

But out of nothing Fulham counter-attacked in numbers. The ball was fed wide to Johansen who cut in and fired low and true for 1-0.

However, Whites lost Lucas Piazon in a tackle for which the midfielder was also booked to add salt to his wounds.

And then a dreadful mistake from the man who put Whites ahead.

Johansen let the ball slip under his feet as last man and Zohore ran on to put it past Button, even though the keeper got a hand to the shot.

Fulham were nearly ahead a second time as McDonald got a back post header cleared off the line. From the rebound Floyd Ayite forced Allan McGregor into a fine one-handed save.

ebano completely shanked a decent sight of goal inside the box - and held his head in his hands to underline it.

Craig Noone wasted another decent set-up on 55 minutes when he thrashed over inside the box.

Another mess-up at the back, and Cardiff were ahead a second time. Whites defence lost the plot and Zohore got on his bike to ram a tremendous hit past Button.

But the second leveller was pure Fulham.

Eye of the needle passes and a final defence splitter from Cairney played in Kebano who rolled it home for 2-2.

David Button made a fantastic save at his near post as the clock counted down - and none of the travelling support could complain at the result.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chelsea-loanee-fulham-breaks-jaw-12657743

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Slavisa Jokanovic urges Fulham to push for top-six finish

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has not given up hope of reaching the Championship play-off places despite playing out a 2-2 draw at Cardiff.

A Kenneth Zohore brace for the Bluebirds had cancelled out Stefan Johansen's early goal, but Neeskens Kebano's 68th-minute strike salvaged a point for the Whites.

Sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday's defeat to Leeds meant a Fulham win in Wales would have closed the gap to just three points with a game in hand.

However, the Cottagers were lucky to go home with a draw after Bluebirds defender Declan John hit the post in stoppage time in an action-packed game.

"We're disappointed because we created chances, both teams did," said Jokanovic. "We didn't expect anything to be easy but we needed to be more solid in some parts of our game.

"We gave away too many easy chances and I'm not satisfied with the result." Johansen, who netted in Fulham's 2-1 FA Cup win against Cardiff last month, haunted the Welsh club again when he gave the Whites the lead in the 17th minute.

But Johansen went from hero to zero in the space of seven minutes after gifting Cardiff an equaliser. The Norwegian midfielder miscontrolled the ball and Zohore surged forward and finished coolly.

Zohore netted his sixth goal in as many games to put Cardiff in front in the 56th minute after latching on to a long ball and emphatically scoring with the outside of his left boot.

However, Fulham hit back after Tom Cairney's clever ball found Kebano, whose scuffed shot trickled past Allan McGregor.

Despite the setback at the Cardiff City Stadium, Fulham are unbeaten in four league games and are now five points behind Wednesday.

"We can't surrender now, we have to push harder and continue to fight for the top six," said Jokanovic. "Anything is possible - we want to be better than the position we are in. The war is not finished yet."

Meanwhile, Cardiff stay 12th and remain one of the most in-form Championship sides since the turn of the year, collecting 22 points.

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock signed a new deal to keep him at the club until the end of next season, and he reckons his Cardiff side would have succumbed to Fulham's pressure if they had played each other at the start of his reign in October.

"With the chances we had we should've been 4-0 up at half-time," said Warnock.

"Both teams can feel disappointed that they didn't win it. But we've come a long way and that's a game where I think we would've been beaten earlier in my tenure. "We've got to try to get the other lads to take their opportunities, like Kenneth [Zohore] is doing."



Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/cardiff-city/slavisa-jokanovic-urges-fulham-to-push-for-top-six-finish-1843097.html

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Lucas Piazon: Fulham's on-loan Chelsea forward breaks jaw in Cardiff City draw

Lucas Piazon was unable to carry on after picking up the injury on 25 minutes

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has confirmed forward Lucas Piazon suffered a broken jaw in their 2-2 Championship draw at Cardiff City.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, on loan from Chelsea, suffered the injury as he fouled Bluebirds winger Kadeem Harris, and was booked before being replaced.

Piazon has scored six times in 24 games this season for the Championship side.

"This is the worst news for us," Jokanovic said after the match. "He will have a period out of the squad."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39092042

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Three games Leeds must win to secure play-off spot

Leeds secured a priceless victory over promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, in a game that could prove to be a defining factor in the final Championship standings this season.

Chris Wood's first-half strike handed Garry Monk's side the three points, and tightened their grip on the play-off places.

They are now within just seven points of second-placed Brighton, while they have also established a similar margin ahead of seventh-placed Fulham.

However, with 13 games still to play, their place in the play-offs is by no means secure, and their hard work over the course of the season could be thrown out the window if they don't win these three key games.

Fulham (away) – Tuesday 7 March

The next item on the agenda for Leeds is back-to-back away games at Birmingham at Fulham. However, while Leeds will be expected to take three points away from struggling Birmingham, their clash at Craven Cottage will be considered the must-win affair.

Fulham have been impressive under Slavisa Jokanovic this term, and their position of seventh in the Championship table is testament to their hard-work and quality.

Their record of eight league defeats is bettered only by the league's top two sides this season – Newcastle and Brighton – while they have scored the third-highest number of goals.

They have performed particularly well on home soil, and Leeds will need to be at their very best to take anything away from their visit to Craven Cottage.

Jokanovic's side have lost just four home league games since the start of the season, and held Leeds to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road back in August.

Defeat against Fulham would open the door for them to make up valuable ground on the play-offs.

Reading (away) – Saturday 1 April

Another must-win encounter will be Leeds' trip to the Madejski Stadium at the start of April.

Leeds and Reading have gone toe-to-toe for much of the campaign so far, and with just one point currently separating the two sides so far, the battle could go right down to the wire.

Reading too have been on a decent run of form, with their narrow defeat to Huddersfield last time out bringing to an end a six-game unbeaten run for Jaap Stam's side.

If the Dutchman has proved anything since his arrival at the club in the summer, it is that his team must not be underestimated at any cost.

Yet despite their good form, Reading have struggled against the top teams in the division this term, including Leeds, and that can work in favour of the visitors.

In their six games against sides in the top six, Reading have won just once – at home to Huddersfield in September.

Preston (home) – Saturday 8 April

Shortly after the Reading game, Leeds return to Elland Road to host Preston North End. Simon Grayson's side have been performing above expectation this season, and find themselves in eighth-place.

They have lost just once in the league in their last 11 games, a run that dates back to their last encounter with Leeds on Boxing Day.

Leeds ran out comfortable 4-1 winners on the day, but it will not be quite so easy at the second attempt.

Over the course of the campaign, Preston have defeated the likes of Brighton, Norwich and Huddersfield, three sides that are in contention for promotion.

As things start to heat up over the coming weeks, Grayson will no doubt love to add Leeds' scalp to his list of downed victims, whilst maintaining their own push for promotion.

Preston are currently six points adrift of the play-offs, and are by no means out of the running yet.

The timing of the clash may also be crucial for Leeds, because they face tricky away ties to Brentford and Newcastle either side of the Preston meeting.


http://www.footballinsider247.com/three-games-leeds-must-win-secure-play-off-spot/

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Defensive lapses frustrate Fulham boss

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic bemoaned his team's sloppy defending after the 2-2 draw at Cardiff.

Neeskens Kebano's second-half equaliser earned a point for the Whites and both teams created a host of chances in an open game.

"We weren't solid enough and gave them chances," Jokanovic said.

"In a few situations we gave them chances to be one-on-one and this is not acceptable. We have to avoid this kind of situation."

A win for Fulham would have left them just three points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday, who lost at Leeds earlier in the day.

Jokanovic said: "We came to Cardiff with ambition to win the game. We didn't do it.

"It was a fair result and we must accept it, but we must be disappointed because our ambitions were different."


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/defensive-lapses-frustrate-fulham-boss

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Liverpool set to beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City to signing of Championship wonderkid
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has jumped to the front of queue of clubs wanting to sign Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon this summer.


Liverpool leading the race to sign Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon was last week named the best 16 year-old in European football and the left-back has been scouted by nearly every leading club.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte made a personal visit to Craven Cottage to see him in FA Cup action against Tottenham last weekend and is known to have liked what he saw.

He has already been likened to Gareth Bale and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants to lure him to Anfield from under the noses of the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.

The England under-17 international isn't able to sign a professional contract until he turns 17 in May but looks certain to leave the Championship side this summer.

He only made his debut in an EFL Cup tie against Leyton Orient last August but has been a regular in the Fulham side ever since.

They are hoping that whoever buys him will loan him back to them so he can continue his development playing regular first team football.



http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/772079/Liverpool-leading-race-sign-Championship-wonderkid-Chelsea-Arsenal-set-miss-out-News