Sunday Fulham Stuff (17/09/17)...

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Results

Saturday
Ipswich	2 - 0	Bolton
Birmingham	1 - 3	Preston NE
Bristol	4 - 1	Derby
Burton	2 - 1	Fulham
Cardiff	1 - 1	Sheff Wed
Hull	1 - 1	Sunderland
Brentford	1 - 1	Reading
Middlesborough	3 - 2	QPR
Millwall	1 - 0	Leeds
Nottm Forest	1 - 2	Wolves
Sheff Utd	0 - 1	Norwich
Barnsley	0 - 3	Aston Villa

[WhiteJC]

 
Reportedly wanted by Newcastle, dazzling PL attacker shares why he snubbed them for Londoners

Sheyi Ojo has revealed that he snubbed Premier League big hitters Newcastle to join Fulham in order to get more game time.

The Sun claim the England Under-21 international had a choice of loan possibilities this summer as he was "wanted" by Newcastle as well as Championship big-spenders Middlesbrough.

But dazzling winger Ojo, 20, agreed with parent club Liverpool that it was best to go to a club where he would play regularly to help his development.

Ojo told the Sun: "The main decision this season was about getting the exposure and the game-time that's going to help my development.

"If I had gone on loan to the Premier League, maybe that would have been a different matter.

"I came to Craven Cottage for the game against Norwich on the first day of the season and I really liked the style of play Fulham were playing.

"In my opinion, Fulham are the best footballing team in the Championship and  that's only going to improve me.

"As a young player, you can only really develop if you're playing games.

"Last season I was limited to playing-time with injuries and stuff. This season the main  aim was to get regular games and  improve."

Ojo has made three appearances on loan at Fulham, which have yielded a single assist in the 2-1 midweek win against Hull City.

At Liverpool, the wide forward has made 13 senior appearances, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

He is highly regarded by the Reds coaching staff and has a contract that runs until the summer of 2020.



http://www.footballinsider247.com/reportedly-wanted-by-newcastle-attacker-from-pl-giants-shares-why-he-snubbed-them-for-londoners/

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MATCH REPORT: FULHAM

Lucas Akins' 51st minute penalty secured a vital home victory for the Brewers. The popular Brewers frontman held his nerve to fire home after Fulham skipper Kevin McDonald had dragged Kyle McFadzean to the ground. Albion had taken an early lead through Stephen Warnock's first goal for the club only for Oliver Norwood to equalise on 31 minutes.

Fulham, as they did on their previous Championship visit, showed plenty of silky football going forwards but this time lacked the cutting edge to finish off their best moves whilst Albion were clinical with the chances that came their way.

Albion showed just one change to the side that earned a precious point at Carrow Road on Tuesday evening. Sean Scannell was declared fit after suffering with a tight calf ahead of the Norwich game and he was brought back into the side in an attacking role partnering Marvin Sordell up top as Joe Mason dropped to the bench.

Fulham, who were arguably the best side to visit the Pirelli Stadium in the Championship last season quickly flooded forwards with Neeskens Kebano an immediate threat on the left running at the Burton defence. The shrill of the referee's whistle from the kick off had barely died out when the flying winger found space to deliver a low cross that was hastily cleared by Ben Turner inside his own six yard box. Young left back Ryan Sessegnon, who bagged a last gasp equaliser at Craven Cottage last season to deny Albion an away win also found space at the back post to send in a low shot that deflected off John Brayford into the waiting arms of Stephen Bywater.

Albion found themselves a foothold in the game and Jamie Allen, on his home debut, worked space on the edge of the box for a shot that was comfortably fielded by David Button in the Fulham goal.

Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo also found himself with an early chance to go for goal but his eighth minute curler was too high and in the end no threat to Bywater's goal.

Having settled themselves after all the early pressure from Fulham it was the Brewers who grabbed the lead on 12 minutes. Jake Buxton's searching ball over the top picked out the run of Scannell. The winger turned striker got into the box and picked out the supporting run of Sordell. Whilst the Fulham defence got back to crowd out the Albion striker the ball deflected perfectly into the path of WARNOCK who had the simple task of side footing into the empty net.

After shaking off the disappointment of conceding Fulham were soon threatening the Burton penalty area once more, Stefan Johansen doin well to pull a ball back from the bye line only for Ollie Norwood to scoop the ball over the bar from close range. The inevitable hands on the head reaction from the Fulham man told you what a good chance it was. Kebano and Floyd Ayite then combined well inside the box, Ayite denied at the near post by a smart stop from Bywater.

NORWOOD made up for his poor miss just after the half hour mark with an excellent equaliser. Benefitting from a deflection that took the ball into his path he looked up and from 25 yards angled a searing shot into the bottom corner of the net. A disappointing goal to concede from an Albion perspective.

Albion were inches away from regaining the lead on 36 minutes as Sordell set up Jamie Allen for a shot that beat Button all ends up but cannonned back into play off the inside of the post.

John Brayford tested Button as well with a left foot shot as Burton maintained their pressure before Fulham broke forwards and thought they should have had a penalty when Ojo burst through. The winger went downas Bywater came to meet him and close him down but referee Stephen Martin was highly unimpressed with Ojo's theatrics and booked him for diving.

Half time: Burton Albion 1-1 Fulham

It was Albion who started the brighter in the second period and Lucas Akins twice got into the Fulham box. The first time he unfortunately slipped at the vital moment trying to deliver his cross and the second time he was crowded out before he could get a cross into the box.

Sean Scannell was denied a first Burton goal as his effort was blocked at the near post before the Brewers were eventually rewarded for their persistence. Referee Martin pointed to the spot after Fulham skipper Kevin McDonald dragged McFadzean to the ground. AKINS stepped up to nervelessly beat Button to restore Albion's lead.

Fulham thought they should have had a spot kick when Ayite went down trying to meet a low cross. Ben Turner stood his ground and cleared well. Referee Martin was not remotely interested in awarding a penalty. Ryan Fredericks managed to jink his way into the area before he was stopped by an excellent challenge from Warnock. Again the Fulham fans behind the goal were baying for a penalty but there was nothing doing.

The visitors began to pile in balls in from the left and Albion's defence had to be on the very top of their game as space began to open up. Both Buxton and McFadzean got vital touches to balls fizzed through the Burton box to deny Fulham players a clean shot on goal as the pressure intensified.

Bodies were having to be thrown in front of everything at this stage and Fulham came closest yet to getting back on level terms when Sessegnon crossed in from the left and Ojo saw a rising effort crash back off the crossbar.

Sessegnon was proving a fruitful outlet for the visitors on that left hand side and when another low cross came in from the teenager it was Johansen who turned and smashed a rishing shot over the bar as the frustrations of the West Londoners increased.

Ojo did finally have the ball in the back of the net on 75 minutes but by the time he shot the flag had long since gone up for offside.

McFadzean picked up a yellow card for the Brewers as a rash challenge on Sessegnon ended his attempts to create something for the visitors cutting infield from the left hand side.

Despite plenty of late Fulham pressure the Burton backline defended superbly and when Bywater clung onto a late cross into his near post referee Martin was ready with the final whistle to signal another famous victory for the Brewers.



https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/2017/september/match-report-for-burton-albion-vs-fulham-on-16-sep-17/

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Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović felt the award of Burton Albion's winning penalty was a strange one on Saturday afternoon.

Multiple replays failed to confirm what referee Stephen Martin had seen when he pointed to the spot early on in the second half, with Lucas Akins stepping up to slot in the winner from 12 yards.

Jokanović refused to solely blame the defeat on the decision, though, admitting his side weren't good enough at key moments.

"We gave them two advantages, and in this small game it's not always easy to score the goals," he explained. "They were cheap goals. We weren't aggressive enough.

"The penalty was strange. Without talking too much, if this is a penalty... There was a situation with Floyd Ayité in the opposite box, one situation is a penalty and the other's not a penalty.

"I don't complain, I don't want to talk about this, but today it was a strange attitude by the referee."

Asked what was different compared to the previous trip to the Pirelli Stadium earlier in the year which Fulham won 2-0, Jokanović replied: "We didn't give them so many presents last game like today, we didn't have this bad luck with the referee that we found today.

"We didn't play worse than that day but in different moments we weren't aggressive enough, we made some costly mistakes.

"We created the chances like we always make, we missed the chances that we always make. We weren't aggressive enough, and we paid an expensive price for our mistakes. For a long time we've paid an expensive price for similar mistakes."

The defeat leaves the Whites on 10 points from eight games, and Jokanović wants to see more from his team in the coming matches.

"We want to fight for more things, we want to be better, but right now we have not improved so much," he stated. "If we don't show more ambition to win the game against Burton, it's complicated to think about more important things.

"The time in front of us is for working and trying to improve. We are not in a good enough level at the moment and we have to push harder to improve."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/september/16/head-coach-reaction-burton

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Burton Albion 2 - 1 Fulham - report: Warnock and Akins send Brewers to superb win over promotion contenders

The Brewers made it seven points from their last nine on home soil with a superb display against last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists

Stephen Warnock and Lucas Akins struck either side of half-time to send Burton Albion to an impressive victory over promotion hopefuls Fulham.

Albion continued to show the character they are so famed for after last weekend's defeat to Leeds United by taking the lead through Warnock's back-post tap-in.

And while Oliver Norwood levelled things up before the break with a classy finish, Akins struck from the penalty spot to give Burton a lead they were unwilling to part with.

Given the quality of the Brewers' midweek display in drawing 0-0 at Norwich City, Nigel Clough made only the one change to take on the Cottagers.

That was a straight swap up front, with Sean Scannell coming in for Joe Mason as a forward partner for Marvin Sordell.

The pair would not take long to make their mark - but not before Fulham threatened to notch the earliest of openers.

Barely 40 seconds were on the clock when Neeskens Kebano used his pace to latch onto a long ball in behind Jake Buxton and John Brayford down the left, Ben Turner providing a timely clearance inside his own six-yard box.

Both sides then threatened to break the deadlock in the space of a minute, Jamie Allen's deft touch freeing up space for him to drill a tame shot at David Button from 20 yards, before Ryan Sessegnon - a goalscorer against Burton last September - saw a volley plucked out of the air by Stephen Bywater.

The net was soon bulging at Fulham's end, though, as Warnock got off the mark in Brewers colours.


Oliver Norwood of Fulham fires in the Cottagers' equaliser against Burton Albion (Image: Brandon Griffiths/Epic Action Imagery)

It was his first goal since August 2014, and owed much to Scannell's pace in behind. He got onto Buxton's lobbed pass and made it to the by-line before cutting possession back across goal for Sordell.

The ex-Coventry City man was denied by a lunging block, but that only nudged possession across for Warnock, who tapped in freely at the back post.

The lead would last 19 minutes - enough time for Norwood to spurn a fine chance from Stefan Johansen's clever cutback.

But the Fulham midfielder made up for that miss soon after, collecting the ball 25 yards in front of goal and rifling a low effort that skidded inside Bywater's far post.

Still, it was Albion who finished the half the brighter, Brayford stinging Button's palms with a powerful left-footed strike and Allen then seeing his classy effort beat the Fulham keeper, only to cannon back off the bottom of a post.

And Clough's men made sure to carry that momentum into the second half.

Scannell had earlier pulled Button into a smart block from close range when Albion were awarded their first penalty of the league season - and only their third since coming into the Championship.

McFadzean was felled by Kevin McDonald in the box, and Akins stepped up to slam it down the middle and through Button, who got a decent touch on it but was unable to stop it.

An inevitable backlash followed from last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists, with Sessegnon asking many of the questions down Fulham's left flank.

It was from his fizzing low cross that Sheyi Ojo should have levelled things up for the visitors.

But the on-loan Liverpool man leant back and smashed his effort against the crossbar, with Bywater and the defence stranded.

And while the Brewers struggled to find a way out of their own half as Fulham ratcheted up the pressure, Albion again stuck to their task to secure a second win of the campaign and move on to eight points ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup trip to Old Trafford.



http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/burton-albion-2-1-fulham-487479

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham beaten at Burton after disputed penalty

Burton Albion 2 Fulham 1

Fulham's mini unbeaten run ended thanks to a controversial penalty at the Pirelli Stadium.

The key incident occurred five minutes into the second half, when Kyle McFadzean went down under attention from Kevin McDonald, after Fulham had failed to clear a corner.

Referee Stephen Martin awarded the spot-kick, which Lucas Akins scored despite Fulham keeper David Button getting a touch to it.

The hosts went in front early on when Oliver Norwood's attempt to cut out Sean Scannell's cross landed at the feet of veteran full-back Stephen Warnock, who swept home.

Norwood had his head in his hands not long afterwards as he met Stefan Johansen's cut back on his left foot five yards out but scooped it over the bar.

However, he made up for it from much further out, sending in a low right-footed shot into the far corner just after the half-hour mark to equalise.

Jamie Allen hit the post for Burton while Button also made a good save to deny John Brayford as the hosts finished the first half strongly.

After the penalty, Sheyi Ojo struck the crossbar from Ryan Sessegnon's cross, while Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic introduced Jordan Graham for his debut in the last 10 minutes.

The on-loan Wolves winger took charge of set pieces but Fulham could not prevent a first defeat to the Brewers.

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon; Johansen, McDonald, Norwood (Graham 80); Ojo, Ayite, Kebano (Fonte 70).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Odoi, Djalo, Cisse, Mollo.



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-beaten-burton-disputed-penalty

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Lucas Akins on the spot as Burton earn first victory against Fulham

Lucas Akins' 51st minute penalty proved to be the difference as Burton Albion secured a first ever victory over Fulham with a 2-1 home success.

Akins fired home after defender Kyle McFadzean had been dragged down by Fulham skipper Kevin McDonald and referee Stephen Martin had pointed to the spot. It proved to be the winner despite Fulham dominating most of the second half but finding themselves unable to breach the Burton defence for a second time in the game.

Burton grabbed a 12th minute lead when Stephen Warnock netted his first goal in just over three years. The pace of Sean Scannell got him in behind the Fulham defence and although Marvin Sordell was crowded out, latching onto the Scannell's pass the ball fell kindly for Warnock to roll it into the empty net.

Oliver Norwood's equaliser just after the half hour came after the visitors had worked several chances in and around the Burton box but having failed with the intricate passing route to goal. A deflected pass set the midfielder up for a 25-yard effort that flew into the bottom corner of Stephen Bywater's net.

Fulham started well with Neeskens Kebano and Ryan Sessegnon going close early on until they found themselves behind. Searching for an equaliser a golden chance went begging when Stefan Johansen set up Norwood who scooped a more than presentable chance over the bar.

Jamie Allen, on his home debut for Burton, saw a 20-yard shot come back off the inside of the post and John Brayford, returning for a third spell at the Pirelli Stadium, tested David Button as Burton looked to go back in front.

Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo thought he had won a penalty as 40 minutes as he went down after knocking the ball past Bywater but referee Martin was not impressed and showed the youngster a yellow card for simulation.

Albion's bright start to the second period was rewarded with the lead via Akins' first league goal of the campaign before Fulham appeals for a spot kick were waved away when Ben Turner was stronger than Floyd Ayite trying to meet a low cross.

Fulham began to dominate as Albion found it hard to generate any real forward momentum with defender Ryan Fredericks denied by a superb tackle from Warnock inside the box.

Desperate for an equaliser Fulham camped themselves in and around the Burton box for a sustained spell with Burton defenders throwing themselves at everything. They were powerless though when Sessegnon picked out Ojo and his rising drive came back back off the crossbar.

Burton dealt with all the late pressure from the Cottagers to hang on for the three points to move them four points clear of the relegation places.



https://www.clubcall.com/fulham/lucas-akins-on-the-spot-as-burton-earn-first-victory-against-1863050.html

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Slavisa Jokanovic believes Fulham weren't "aggressive enough" as they lost 2-1 at Burton

A stunning goal from Oliver Norwood wasn't enough to get any share of the points and Jokanovic believes the side weren't aggressive enough to win

Slavisa Jokanovic believes Fulham weren't aggressive enough as they lost 2-1 to Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.

Burton took the lead through Stephen Warnock when Sean Scannell found himself in behind the defence, before he pulled the ball back into the Fulham box, a ball that Oliver Norwood could only deflect into the path of the left back.

Norwood pulled Fulham level but a questionable penalty saw Burton take the lead once again, and despite bombarding the hosts' area with ball after ball the away side could find no way through.

Jokanovic believes that penalty decision was a "strange one" but has said his side weren't aggressive enough to stand up to Burton.

He said: "We gave them two advantages, and in this small game it's not always easy to score the goals, they were cheap goals. We weren't aggressive enough.

"The penalty was strange. Without talking too much, if this is a penalty... There was a situation with Floyd Ayité in the opposite box, one situation is a penalty and the other's not a penalty.

"I don't complain, I don't want to talk about this, but today it was a strange attitude by the referee.
Read More

    Burton Albion 2-1 Fulham: Player ratings as Slavisa Jokanovic's side lose at the Pirelli

"We didn't give them so many presents last game like today, we didn't have this bad luck with the referee that we found today.

"We didn't play worse than that day but in different moments we weren't aggressive enough, we made some costly mistakes.

"We created the chances like we always make, we missed the chances that we always make. We weren't aggressive enough, and we paid an expensive price for our mistakes. For a long time we've paid an expensive price for similar mistakes."

"We want to fight for more things, we want to be better, but right now we have not improved so much," he stated. "If we don't show more ambition to win the game against Burton, it's complicated to think about more important things.

"The time in front of us is for working and trying to improve. We are not in a good enough level at the moment and we have to push harder to improve."



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-believes-fulham-werent-13630936

[WhiteJC]

 
Nigel Clough ranks Burton Albion's win over Fulham as one of their best ever in the Championship

It's fair to say Nigel Clough was impressed by what he saw from his team against Slavisa Jovanovic's men

Nigel Clough believes Burton Albion's 2-1 victory over Fulham might be the club's best result since breaking into the Championship last year.

The Brewers were outplayed by the Cottagers at the Pirelli Stadium back in February, but they more than matched them for long spells today.

Thanks to Stephen Warnock's early strike and Lucas Akins' successful penalty just after the break - as well as supreme efforts to keep Slavisa Jokanovic's out late on - they clinched a valuable three points against a Fulham team who made the play-offs only four months ago and are likely to be pushing for the Premier League again come May.

It was not just the defensive commitment Burton showed in withstanding the visitors' that so impressed Clough - and, undoubtedly the majority of the home crowd - either.

Albion played some eye-catching football going forward to defeat a side renowned for their quality on the ball, with Jamie Allen hitting the post and John Brayford testing Fulham keeper David Button.

And Clough reckons the overall result deserves to be ranked right up there with the best they have recorded in the Championship.

Asked about what most impressed him on the day, he said: "Just the whole team performance - and the way we went about it.

"The way we defended, the way we got forward when we got the opportunity.

"It's possibly our best result since getting promoted.

"I'm more than satisfied. I thought we were magnificent today from start to finish.

"We had to undergo some pressure late on, but I thought we deserved our win for our effort and our honesty.

"I thought it was a brilliant performance, to a man."



http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nigel-clough-ranks-burton-albions-487725

[WhiteJC]

 
Jokanovic bemoans 'strange' decision after Fulham defeat

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was dismayed after a "strange" penalty decision led to his team losing 2-1 at Burton.

Kevin McDonald being adjudged to have fouled Kyle McFadzean seemed more than harsh on the Whites, who might have had a penalty themselves for a foul on Floyd Ayite.

Lucas Akins scored from the spot and Burton held on to take three points.

"We give them two chances for an advantage, which they took, and in a game on a smaller pitch it is not always easy to score goals," Jokanovic said.

"We tried, we moved the ball and we created some chances, but after we gave them the advantage it was hard and we could not score.

"The goals we conceded were cheap goals. We were not aggressive enough.

"The penalty is strange. If it is a penalty in one box then it is a penalty on Floyd Ayite in the other box."



http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/jokanovic-bemoans-strange-decision-fulham-defeat

[WhiteJC]

Burton bring Fulham down to earth
by Dan on September 16, 2017

Any aspirations that Fulham held of figuring in the Championship promotion picture were dealt a hefty reality check this afternoon as Slavisa Jokanovic's side were beaten at Burton Albion in one of the Brewers' best ever victories, according to a delighted Nigel Clough. A predatory strike from skipper Stephen Warnock and a disputed second-half penalty were enough to secure Burton's first ever win over Fulham, who flattered to deceive, even after Oliver Norwood's excellent equaliser and will have had plenty to ponder on the trip back to London.

Warnock's first goal in more than three and a half years was a fitting reward for the hosts' enterprising start to the fixture, which seemed to catch Fulham cold. The former Liverpool left back, operating as a wing-back in Clough's defensively disciplined 5-3-2 system, punished some diabolical defending to stab home into unguarded net after Sean Scanell had scampered onto Jake Burton's searching pass down the right. How the former Crystal Palace forward managed to gain enough time and space to advance inside Tim Ream was questionable, but the ricochet from Norwood's sliding tackle took the loose ball out of the reach of David Button and allowed Burton the tonic of early lead.

Fulham's possession football was far too patient at times, but the visitors probed with regularity outside the Burton box. Sheyi Ojo had already spooned an early effort over Stephen Bywater's bar, but Norwood was guilty of lifting a much more presentable opening high into the home fans from close range after Stefan Johansen's smart cut-back. Bywater was then called into action to repel Floyd Ayite's low drive at his near post following fine interplay between the Togolese international, again operating as a false nine, and Neeskens Kebano.

The visitors did eventually fashion an equaliser just after the half hour although it owed a bit to good fortune and much to Norwood's ambition. The pass into the Northern Ireland midfielder's path by Johansen benefited from a looping deflection but Norwood's low drive from 25 yards was a thing of real beauty, arrowing into the bottom corner beyond a beaten Bywater. Jokanovic would have expected his charges – so dominant in possession – to kick on from this point but they failed to make their press home their advantage when on top, which has been the story of a frustrating campaign to date.

Indeed, it was the home side who went closest to reestablishing their lead before the break. Lucas Akins curled an effort from range into Button's arms but the former Brentford goalkeeper was well beaten by a low drive from the industrious Jamie Allen that came back off the far post. Fulham fashioned openings for Kebano, who sent a header on the strech wide, and Ayite nearly intercepted a meek backheader from Ben Turner – but the game was evenly poised at the interval.

Burton began the second period at a high tempo – once again pushing their visitors onto the back foot. They forced a succession of corners and Scanell had a dangerous shot deflected behind, before referee Stephen Martin, who had let a number of robust challenges go unpunished previously, adjudged that Ryan Sessegnon had brought down Kyle McFadzean. It looked a soft spot-kick and insult was added to injury when Akins' scuffed effort squeezed past Button, who might have felt he could have kept it out.

Jokanovic admitted afterwards he felt the award was 'strange,' especially when Martin waved away vociferous Fulham appeals after Turner's challenge on Ayite immediately afterwards at the other end, but his side failed to take the chances that came their way. Sessegnon did brilliantly to cut a low ball back from the by-line but Ojo struck the crossbar from seven yards out when it seemed easier to find the net. Fulham sent on Rui Fonte in search of an equaliser but, despite the Portuguese forward's intelligent runs, the best chance fell to Johansen, who drove a volley high into the away fans, after Ayite had sauntered down the left.

Jokanovic then introduced Jordan Graham for Norwood – which might have unbalanced a midfield that was gradually getting on top – and, although white shirts continued to flood forward, they struggled to carve out clear openings in the closing quarter of an hour. The assistant referee's flag ruled out Ojo's clever run and finish for offside and the best opening fell to teenager Sessegnon who climbed well to connect with Graham's deep corner, but guided his header off target.

This was an important reminder of the competitive nature of the Championship for a Fulham side who are still to find their feet this season. Burton battled manfully and their defensive discipline was commendable, largely meriting the precious three points they earned after four minutes of injury-time – but Jokanovic will need to reflect on why Fulham couldn't translate 70 per cent of the ball into more than two efforts on target.

BURTON ALBION (5-3-2): Bywater; Brayford, Warnock, Buxton, McFadzean, Turner; Allen, Murphy, Akins; Scannell (Lund 77), Sordell (Varney 88). Subs (not used): Ripley, Flanagan, Naylor, Dyer, Mason.

BOOKED: McFadzean.

GOALS: Warnock (12), Akins (pen 51).

FULHAM (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, R. Sessegnon, Kalas, Ream; McDonald, Norwood (Graham 79), Johansen; Kebano (Fonte 70), Ojo, Ayite. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Djalo, Odoi, Cisse, Mollo.

BOOKED: Ojo.

GOAL: Norwood (31).

REFEREE: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

ATTENDANCE: 4,049.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/burton-bring-fulham-down-to-earth/

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic: Fulham 'weren't aggressive enough'
by Dan on September 16, 2017

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic felt his side were not aggressive enough as they went down to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion this afternoon.

The Serbian coach bemoaned the concession of two 'cheap goals' and felt referee Stephen Martin's decision to award the hosts a second-half penalty for a foul on Kyle McFadzean was 'strange'. Jokanovic insisted he didn't want to talk too much about the official and was very strident about his own side's failings after Fulham failed to build on Ollie Norwood's equaliser.

Jokanovic told his post-match press conference:

    We gave them two chances for an advantage, which they took, and in a game on a smaller pitch it is not always easy to score goals. We tried, we moved the ball and we created some chances, but after we gave them the advantage it was hard and we could not score.

He lamented familiar failings that were in stark contrast to Fulham's fine display at the Pirelli Stadium.

    We didn't play worse than that day [last season] but in different moments we weren't aggressive enough, we made some costly mistakes. We created the chances like we always make, we missed the chances that we always make. We weren't aggressive enough, and we paid an expensive price for our mistakes. For a long time we've paid an expensive price for similar mistakes.

    We want to fight for more things, we want to be better, but right now we have not improved so much. If we don't show more ambition to win the game against Burton, it's complicated to think about more important things. The time in front of us is for working and trying to improve. We are not in a good enough level at the moment and we have to push harder to improve

    The penalty was strange. Without talking too much, if this is a penalty... There was a situation with Floyd Ayité in the opposite box, one situation is a penalty and the other's not a penalty. I don't complain, I don't want to talk about this, but today it was a strange attitude by the referee.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/09/jokanovic-fulham-werent-aggressive-enough/

[WhiteJC]

 
Bristol City 4-1 Derby County

Cauley Woodrow's header was his first since joining Bristol City on loan from Fulham

Bristol City scored four second-half goals as they came from behind to beat Derby County at Ashton Gate.

Matej Vydra had given the Rams a first-half lead from the penalty spot after City goalkeeper Frank Fielding brought the Czech Republic striker down.

Cauley Woodrow headed in Joe Bryan's cross to level after the break.

Bobby Reid scored from the spot, before Jamie Patterson made it 3-1 with a superb free-kick and Famara Diedhou bent in a late fourth.

City are now unbeaten in six Championship matches, and have only lost once this campaign - a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham on 12 August.

They were good value for their win, registering 25 shots, but it was only in the second half when Lee Johnson's side became clinical.

Forward Woodrow, on loan from Fulham, started the comeback with his first City goal before Reid slotted in his seventh of the season following Richard Keogh's foul on Jonathan Leko.

Patterson's free-kick bounced in off the crossbar and Senegal striker Diedhou completed a fine afternoon for the Robins with a cool finish in stoppage time.

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson:
"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but I was delighted with what I saw even in the first half.

"At the interval I just told the players to produce more of the same. The only problem was some of our delivery from crosses and at times we could have got the ball in quicker.

"The second half was everything I want to see from my team. Jonathan Leko is like the Lord of the Dance and I would hate to be a defender playing against him.

Derby County manager Gary Rowett:
"From the start we failed to match Bristol's intensity or handle their forward play. At half-time I told the players they would need to do much better because we had ridden our luck to be in front.

"Bristol played well, but I felt sorry for our travelling fans and the only message I want to get to them is how disappointed I am with the performance.

"I'm incredibly disappointed and a little bit embarrassed."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41209772