Sunday Fulham Stuff (24/12/17)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Results

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

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was very happy with Fulham's "dominant" performance against Barnsley, as he praised his team for being able to come away with a victory at the final home match of 2017.

It was 0-0 after 45 minutes, but second-half goals from Floyd Ayité and Sheyi Ojo ensured that the Whites head into the busy Christmas period on a positive note.

"My team worked well," the Head Coach said. "We dominated the game. It's important to start the tough Christmas period with a victory—it's our third home win in a row.

"Our supporters have been behind us at all times, but we haven't given them many reasons to be satisfied, and in the end, this win is some kind of Christmas present for them.

"For all the Championship teams, it's normal to check the team before every game and try to use fresh legs. This is only the first game in a tough period, including an FA Cup game. We'll try to do our job."

The Head Coach was cognisant of the need to rotate his squad during this jam-packed stretch of matches, and was pleased that Lucas Piazon, Floyd Ayité, and Neeskens Kebano were now available to join his squad.

"If Lucas is on the bench, it's because we believe he can help us during the game," Jokanović said. "We haven't had an U23 game to check him or an opportunity to organise a game for him yet. He's a talented player and I will use him in the future. In this period, in this few days, he will probably be back."

"Floyd showed a high level today and scored a quality goal. He's coming back from injury and we had to take care of him today," the Head Coach continued. "I took the decision to change him because we have to be a little bit careful. We saved him and gave Kebano a chance."

Jokanović ended on a positive note, and encouraged his side to push themselves during the holiday period.

"I believe we deserved the three points. We showed many great things during the game and it's important that we start this Christmas period well," he said. "This is an opportunity to add points and start the New Year with a new energy.

"Football is a strange game. Anything is possible. We need to be ready for the immediate challenge in front of us and expect that we will be successful."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/23/head-coach-reaction-barnsley

[WhiteJC]

 
That was a Christmas present for the Fulham fans beating Barnsley, says Slavisa Jokanovic

What did Slavisa Jokanovic have to say after Fulham's win today?

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic was a very happy man following his side's 2-1 win over Barnsley this afternoon.

The Whites should have been well ahead by half-time but were held to a goalless first half. And they deservedly took the lead early on in the second period, thanks to Floyd Ayite's long range strike.

Fulham were pegged back against the run of play by Tom Bradshaw, but Sheyi Ojo restored their lead moments later.

Jokanovic was delighted with the dominance shown at Craven Cottage.

"My team have been working well," he said.

"We played a good game and we created many chances. I don't know how many times we crossed into the six-yard box.



"We dominated the game and had the passes, and scored a quality goal. But we also showed a good reaction after the equalising goal.

"It is important for us to start this tough Christmas period with a victory. We haven't given our supporters much satisfaction in the last few games, but in the end this is a Christmas present for them."

Fulham now have two long trips after Christmas, to Cardiff and Hull.

But Jokanovic accepts it's part of the Championship and English football at this time of year.

"It will be the same for everyone in the Championship, and it's normal to travel wherever," he said.

"But for the team we may need fresh legs. They are two games (in quick succession), and three if you include the FA Cup game. We will do our best to do our job."




http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/christmas-present-fulham-fans-beating-14077721

[WhiteJC]

Ojo's fluke floors Barnsley
by Dan on December 23, 2017

A combination of a superb strike from the returning Floyd Ayite and a more fortuitous finish from Sheyi Ojo secured a precious three points for Fulham against battling Barnsley at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side controlled much of the contest but failed to take their chances until Ayite, who returned to the starting eleven after a month out with a hamstring injury, fired home from 25 yards nine minutes after the interval. The Whites looked set for more home frustration when Tom Bradshaw headed in Barnsley's first goal from open play since November 18 after Marcus Bettinelli failed to reach Andy Yiadom's cross, but lady luck smiled on the hosts. The industrious Ojo couldn't have been going for goal when he floated over a right-wing cross with the eighteen minutes to play but the delivery totally wrongfooted Adam Davies, looping over the Tykes keeper and into the top corner.

The Barnsley goalkeeper enjoyed a jittery afternoon, which began on five minutes when he spilled a speculative free-kick from Stefan Johansen, recovering swiftly enough to repel Tim Ream's follow-up at close range. Fulham, enlivened by the presence of the busy Aboubakar Kamara up front, started at quite a tempo and might have had an early reward were it not for Davies displaying great agility to turn Ojo's rising drive over the crossbar.

Barnsley, buoyed both by the this week's takeover by a Chinese consortium that also includes the Oakland A's statistical guru Billy Beane and an impressive point at Brentford that ended a five match winless run, gradually found their feet. Harvey Barnes, who had earlier had a penalty shout waved away by the clueless James Linington, had two shots blocked in quick succession before a hurried throw from Marcus Bettinelli dropped straight at the Leicester loanee's feet. The Fulham goalkeeper, only recently restored to the number one jersey in place of David Button, managed to smother Barnes' shot and paw the ball away from Mahamadou Thiam, who was waiting to pounce.

Thiam, like Kamara at the other end of the pitch, was proving a real nuisance to the centre halves. He fashioned a wonderful opportunity for George Moncur, majestically bringing down a long punt forward, and slipping in the son of John with a clever pass but the former Colchester midfielder blazed wildly into the Hammersmith End. Fulham finished the half strongly, with Ayite sending a free-kick wide, and then passing up the game's clearest opportunity on the stroke of half-time – outjumping Ethan Pinnock but heading Ryan Sessegnon's inch-perfect delivery wide from five yards out.

Ayite was eager to make an impact on his long-awaited return but it seemed as if fate was conspiring against him. He was ready to celebrate the opener five minutes after the break having slid in to send another Sessegnon centre over the line after it had missed Kamara and Ojo, but Yiadom did superbly to readjust his body and desperately hook the ball clear underneath his own crossbar. It would need something special to break the deadlock – and the Togolese winger delivered a couple of minutes later. Little looked on when Ayite darted onto Tom Cairney's lay-off, but his shot, struck with surprising power fro such a short back-lift, arrowed into the bottom corner with unerring accuracy. There was relief around the Cottage, but especially for Ayite after a frustrating month on the sidelines following his untimely injury at Bramall Lane.

Paul Heckingbottom, who has been assured by new chairman Chien Lee that his position is not under threat, acted swiftly to alter the momentum of the contest by introducing Adam Hammill and Lloyd Isgrove. The lively wingers took just eight minutes to work their magic, having already served notice of their ability to unsettle the Fulham full-backs. Hammill was used as a decoy by Yiadom, who surged down the left after Cairney had been outmuscled in midfield, and sent over a cross that Bettinelli began to come for before stopping and Bradshaw, so unfortunate not to make the Welsh Euro 2016 squad last summer, headed home his eleventh goal of the season. The pouch of penguins amongst the Barnsley support in the Putney End particularly enjoyed the equaliser.

Jokanovic sent on Neeskens Kebano immediately and Fulham kept pushing forward. Their winner was something of a fluke, with Ojo almost embarrassed to celebrate after Davies – who had flapped at a couple of deep cross earlier in the half – totally misjudged the flight of his latest centre, but owed much to the home side's determination to retain possession and Tim Ream's searching ball out wide. Barnsley continued to press for a second leveller to mark Heckingbottom's hundredth game of a transformative spell in charge of the south Yorkshire side with Bradshaw seeing a shot blocked and Gary Gardner spooning an effort into the visiting supporters after space opened up for him, but Fulham held firm for a deserved – if unconvincing – victory.

FULHAM (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Fredericks, R. Sessegnon, Kalas, Ream; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney; Ojo (Norwood 87), Ayite (Kebano 70), Kamara (Fonte 81). Subs (not used): Button, Djalo, de la Torre, Piazon.

BOOKED: Ojo.

GOALS: Ayite (54), Ojo (72).

BARNSLEY (4-4-2): Davies; McCarthy, Yiadom, Pennock, Lindsay; G. Gardner, Williams, Moncur (Hammill 61), Barnes (Ugbo 78); Thiam (Isgrove 61), Bradshaw. Subs (not used): Townsend, Fryers, Cavare, Bird.

BOOKED: Yiadom, G. Gardner.

GOAL: Bradshaw (68).

REFEREE: James Linington (Isle of Wight).

ATTENDANCE: 17,308.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/12/ojos-fluke-floors-barnsley/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 2-1 Barnsley


Floyd Ayite's goal was his second of the season for Fulham

Floyd Ayite marked his comeback from injury with a superb goal as Fulham increased Barnsley's worries with victory at Craven Cottage.

The home side had plenty of pressure in the first half, but Ayite headed their best chance wide from six yards.

He atoned after the break by finding space to beat Barnsley keeper Adam Davies with a fierce low shot.

Tom Bradshaw headed Barnsley level, but Davies misjudged a cross from Sheyi Ojo which found the net off the far post.

It was the sixth defeat in eight winless games for Paul Heckingbottom's Tykes, who were taken over in midweek by a consortium including Chinese billionaire Chien Lee and 'Moneyball' pioneer Billy Beane.

They remain 20th in the Championship table, just two points clear of the relegation zone, while Fulham climbed to 11th.

Bradshaw's goal from an Andy Yiadom cross was only their third in that eight-match run and their first from open play since 18 November.

Fulham were good value for their win, their third in a row at home, with Ayite back in the starting line-up after missing four games with a hamstring injury.

The visitors had a chance to snatch a point, only for Bradshaw to shoot wide from substitute Lloyd Isgrove's ball into the box.

Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic:
"We dominated the game. Ayite scored a quality goal, and we showed the reaction after we conceded the equaliser.

"We showed many great things during the game and it's important for us to start this period well.

"We had to take care with him [Ayite] today, I took the decision to change him to be a little bit careful. It's not the first time he's been injured this season."

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom:
"I'm disappointed for the players, [with] the effort, the organisation and the belief, I definitely thought we deserved something out of the game.

"We just lacked a little bit of quality when we were in good situations, which means we didn't get enough efforts off from some really good positions.

"We've got lads in our group, some who have never played league football before, and we've thrown them into the Championship."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42375408

[WhiteJC]

Jokanovic delighted by Fulham's dominance
by Dan on December 23, 2017

Slavisa Jokanovic heaped praise on his players for what he described as a 'dominant' performance after Fulham beat Barnsley 2-1 at Craven Cottage to register their third consecutive home win this afternoon.

The hosts went in front thanks to a thunderbolt from the returning Floyd Ayite and, after a wobble that saw Tom Bradshaw equalise for the Tykes, secured victory with a bit of good fortune when Sheyi Ojo's looping cross completely deceived Andrew Davies in the Barnsley. Jokanovic, who was highly critical of his side's display at Sunderland last weekend, felt Fulham were good value for all three points:

    My team worked well. We dominated the game. It's important to start the tough Christmas period with a victory—it's our third home win in a row. Our supporters have been behind us at all times, but we haven't given them many reasons to be satisfied, and in the end, this win is some kind of Christmas present for them.

The Fulham head coach was full of praise for Ayite, whose majestic finish was the perfect way to mark his comeback after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

    Floyd showed a high level today and scored a quality goal. He's coming back from injury and we had to take care of him today. I took the decision to change him because we have to be a little bit careful. We saved him and gave Kebano a chance.

Jokanovic hopes Fulham can take confidence from collecting another win in front of their home fans into two festive away trips to Cardiff and Hull City before starting the new year on the front foot.

    I believe we deserved the three points. We showed many great things during the game and it's important that we start this Christmas period well. This is an opportunity to add points and start the New Year with a new energy. Football is a strange game. Anything is possible. We need to be ready for the immediate challenge in front of us and expect that we will be successful.




http://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/12/jokanovic-delighted-by-fulhams-dominance/

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Slaviša Jokanović was very happy with Fulham's "dominant" performance against Barnsley, as he praised his team for being able to come away with a victory at the final home match of 2017.

It was 0-0 after 45 minutes, but second-half goals from Floyd Ayité and Sheyi Ojo ensured that the Whites head into the busy Christmas period on a positive note.

"My team worked well," the Head Coach said. "We dominated the game. It's important to start the tough Christmas period with a victory—it's our third home win in a row.

"Our supporters have been behind us at all times, but we haven't given them many reasons to be satisfied, and in the end, this win is some kind of Christmas present for them.

"For all the Championship teams, it's normal to check the team before every game and try to use fresh legs. This is only the first game in a tough period, including an FA Cup game. We'll try to do our job."

The Head Coach was cognisant of the need to rotate his squad during this jam-packed stretch of matches, and was pleased that Lucas Piazon, Floyd Ayité, and Neeskens Kebano were now available to join his squad.

"If Lucas is on the bench, it's because we believe he can help us during the game," Jokanović said. "We haven't had an U23 game to check him or an opportunity to organise a game for him yet. He's a talented player and I will use him in the future. In this period, in this few days, he will probably be back."

"Floyd showed a high level today and scored a quality goal. He's coming back from injury and we had to take care of him today," the Head Coach continued. "I took the decision to change him because we have to be a little bit careful. We saved him and gave Kebano a chance."

Jokanović ended on a positive note, and encouraged his side to push themselves during the holiday period.

"I believe we deserved the three points. We showed many great things during the game and it's important that we start this Christmas period well," he said. "This is an opportunity to add points and start the New Year with a new energy.

"Football is a strange game. Anything is possible. We need to be ready for the immediate challenge in front of us and expect that we will be successful."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2017/december/23/head-coach-reaction-barnsley