Sunday Fulham Stuff (03/10/10)...

[WhiteJC]

http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/203150/West-Ham-1-Fulham-1-Dempsey-taunts-Green-again/?
WEST HAM 1, FULHAM 1: DEMPSEY TAUNTS GREEN AGAIN

WEST HAM 1, FULHAM 1. CLINT DEMPSEY came back to haunt England flop Rob Green as West Ham slipped to the foot of the table once again.

USA striker Dempsey was on a one-man mission to embarrass the Hammers keeper again after Green gifted him a freak goal at the World Cup.

His shoot-on-sight policy paid off when he fired under-strength Fulham in front, but Green was blameless this time.

And although Frederic Piquionne struck his third goal in as many games to equalise, the Hammers found themselves bottom again after Everton's win at Birmingham.

Fulham remain unbeaten and were denied their first win here in nine years by some late heroics by Green on his 400th career club appearance.

But it was all so disappointing for the Hammers because it rendered their first Premier League win of the season against Spurs last time out a false dawn.

Fulham were full of confidence after their unbeaten start but without much firepower because of injuries to Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele.

Zoltan Gera was relegated to the bench after their goalless draw with Everton last time out as Eddie Johnson finally got a chance to shine.

Dempsey was obviously keen to test the Hammers keeper as often as possible, hitting a wayward 30-yarder within four minutes of kick-off.

Fulham had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Andy Johnson took a tumble after a shove in the back from Lars Jacobsen.

But they were ahead moments later when Dempsey played a neat one-two with Simon Davies and scooped a left-foot shot from ten yards past Green.
   
Dempsey was already sporting a big bruise from an unintentional elbow by Manuel da Costa and had just picked himself up off the floor after a scything tackle from Scott Parker. But he celebrated like a wild man as Green looked on miserably.

Fulham were straight back on the attack after the break with a snapshot from Dempsey skimming the crossbar with Green beaten.

But Piquionne headed the Hammers level in the 51st minute when Luis Boa Morte pounced on a pass from Brede Hangeland.

The former Fulham man fed Victor Obinna down the right and his cross found the unmarked Piquionne in acres of space for a rare goal from open play.

Green then denied Dempsey on a storming run, diving at the American's feet after he breezed past Danny Gabbidon and Da Costa.

Dempsey headed narrowly wide from a Chris Baird cross and Dickson Etuhu wasted a free header from a Davies centre as the visitors rallied.

Green pulled off two great saves, one from a vicious Davies shot and another from a Etuhu header.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/american-exports-dempsey-scores-fulham-draw?
American Exports: Dempsey scores in Fulham draw

Johnson also starts for Cottagers; Jones booted against Nürnberg

Clint Dempsey (right) celebrates his goal with fellow American Eddie Johnson during Fulham's 1-1 draw against West Ham on Saturday.    (Getty Images)

AMSTERDAM - Fulham's Clint Dempsey scored his second goal of the young season Saturday to earn his side a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.

Eddie Johnson started alongside Dempsey in attach, working 76 solid minutes.

It was Dempsey, however, who put in a monster effort, highlighted by his 33rd minute strike. The U.S. star worked the two-man game to perfection with Simon Davies before netting from at close range from a lob feed.

Tim Howard and Everton, meanwhile, earned their first win with a 2-0 victory at Birmingham City, the first away win at St. Andrews in over a year.

Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden had a rather quiet 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Brad Friedel and Aston Villa wasted an early lead, falling 2-1 at Tottenham.

Wolverhampton keeper Marcus Hahnemann did all he could, but couldn't save the 10-man visitors from a 2-0 loss at Wigan.

Nearby in Scotland, Maurice Edu worked a tidy full shift as Rangers maintained their perfect start to the season with a late rally to top hosts Hearts 2-1.

In France's Ligue 1, Carlos Bocanegra went the distance at left back as Saint-Étienne extended their table lead to two points with a lively 1-1 home draw against defending champs Olympique Marseille.

Next door in Germany, Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones got the early gate in a 2-1 defeat at FC Nürnberg.

The soon-to-be 'Nat was sent off after he was booked twice in 53 minutes, when his second ill-advised challenge of the day ended with a cleat in the chest of opposing 'keeper Raphael Schäfer.

Michael Bradley saw yellow in his 90 minutes as Borussia Mönchengladbach posted a 1-1 home draw with Wolfsburg.

[WhiteJC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9042038.stm
West Ham   1 - 1   Fulham

Frederic Piquionne's second-half header helped West Ham pin back Fulham as the Cottagers recorded their sixth draw from seven league games this season.

Clint Dempsey expertly clipped past World Cup foe Robert Green from 12 yards to put the visitors ahead.

But Brede Hangeland's mistake let in Victor Obinna to set up Piquionne for a close-range leveller.

Fulham had the better chances to win it but Green saved superbly from Dickson Etuhu and Diomansy Kamara blazed over.

The result sees West Ham return to the bottom of the Premier League table yet they will be satisfied with a point from a full-blooded London derby that was high on energy but low on attacking finesse.

The game may also have laid a few more South Africa 2010 demons to rest for seemingly revitalised Hammers keeper Green, who put in a faultless display and this time could do nothing to prevent his World Cup nemesis Dempsey from opening the scoring.

It was the first chance for the pair to renew rivalries since Dempsey's infamous strike past Green in Rustenburg, and just two minutes were on the clock when the American tried his luck with a speculative 25-yard effort that went well wide.

There were more crunching tackles than chances in a scrappy first 30 minutes, most notably when Manuel Da Costa caught Dempsey with an elbow to the side of the head that went unpunished by referee Andre Marriner.

But the robust American, also the victim of meaty challenges from Danny Gabbidon and Scott Parker and by now sporting a shiny bump by his left eye, dusted himself down to notch an opening goal that Green was powerless to prevent.

Simon Davies' pass took a deflection and looped into the path of Dempsey, who controlled the ball with his chest and cleverly dinked it over Green from 12 yards.

The Hammers were tenacious but toothless, with Carlos Salcido's clearance off the line from Piquionne's early header the only time Mark Schwarzer's goal came under noteworthy threat in the first half.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes was also angered at Marriner's refusal to award the visitors a spot-kick when Eddie Johnson went down under a challenge from Lars Jacobsen.

Within moments of the restart, a Dempsey effort again beat Green but his powerful shot from the edge of the box clipped the top of the crossbar.

Two minutes later, the visitors had relinquished their lead after an uncharacteristic mistake from centre-back Hangeland.

The Norwegian's nonchalant pass out of defence went straight to Luis Boa Morte, who fed Obinna on the right and the Nigerian crossed for Piquionne to head home from close range.

Fulham had a chance to quickly regain the lead but Green reacted well to dive at the the feet of the impressive Dempsey.

As the game opened up, West Ham's Pablo Barrera and Fulham's Johnson were both guilty of wasting good shooting opportunities, while Etuhu should have done better with a free header.

For the hosts, attacking livewire Obinna enthralled and frustrated the home fans in equal measure with a dizzying mixture of piercing runs and wayward shots.

But it was Fulham who finished the strongest and it fell to Green to preserve West Ham's point and their four-match unbeaten run.

First, the Hammers keeper tipped a fizzing Davies drive around the post, then he made an even better stop to parry Etuhu's powerful header.

There was still time for Fulham to create another gilt-edged in injury time but Kamara fired well over from the edge of the box after being sent clean through.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/hughes-delighted-johnson-first-fulham-start-1155351?
Hughes delighted with Johnson in first Fulham start

Fulham boss Mark Hughes was delighted with Eddie Johnson's performance in their draw with West Ham United.

Hughes praised his all-American attack of Johnson and Clint Dempsey for their endeavour and purpose at Upton Park on Saturday.

"Clint got a nasty crack and he wasn't too happy at the time," Hughes told fulhamfc.com. "It's a little bit sore at the moment but credit to him because a bang like that could have knocked him out of the game - he did his part for the Team and produced today.

"It was Eddie's [Johnson] first start and he had a positive impact on the game so I'm pleased for him. We've got Mousa coming back hopefully after the international break and Andy Johnson isn't too far off."

[White Noise]

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2010/10/03/premier-league-trio-on-wilfried-zaha-trail-102039-22603801/

Premier League trio on Wilfried Zaha trail


Oct 3 2010

by Hotline, The People


CRYSTAL PALACE forward Wilfried Zaha is being monitored by FULHAM, WIGAN and BLACKBURN.

The 17-year-old has been watched closely by scouts in recent weeks as he makes a mark on the Eagles' first team.

[White Noise]

http://www.people.co.uk/play-win/competitions/2010/10/03/win-tickets-to-see-fulham-take-on-tottenham-at-craven-cottage-102039-22603968/


Win tickets to see Fulham take on Tottenham at Craven Cottage


Oct 3 2010


By The People Sports Desk


PEOPLE SPORT have teamed up with Barclays, sponsors of the Premier League, to offer one lucky reader a pair of tickets to Fulham's clash with Tottenham at Craven Cottage.

To be in with a chance of winning, tell us: Who is the Fulham manager?

E-mail your answer, with Barclays Ticket Comp in the header field, to [email protected] along with your name, full postal address and contact telephone number by noon on Tuesday. All usual Mirror Group rules apply.

If you are not successful you can always try to win a pair of tickets by visiting your nearest Barclays ATM and requesting a receipt, or go to www.barclaysticketoffice.com – you don't even have to be a Barclays customer.

Match tickets are up for grabs every 90 minutes, every day, throughout the 2010/11 season. Further information and terms and conditions are available from www.barclaysticketoffice.com

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=215646
Fulham - Hughes the Main Draw?
And so another draw makes it six draws in seven games, a quite remarkable statistic.

But, in his post match interview, Mark Hughes was a touch angry about a penalty he felt should have been given, when Dempsey was fouled and also quite sure that the single points will soon start turning into three points, when he remarked,

"At 2-0 it would have been very hard for them to get back at us. Eddie Johnson got behind the defence, there was a clear coming together. A goal scoring opportunity denied, and, on that basis, it should have been a penalty."

"I`m not setting out my team to get draws. We have taken a point from games where we did not deserve it and then there are games like this when we have deserved to win."

"It is only a matter of time before we start putting three points on the board on a regular basis."


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=215646#ixzz11II7d0sm

[WhiteJC]

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Pompey-Academy-3-Fulham-Academy-4-1458.aspx?
Pompey Academy 3 Fulham Academy 4

Pompey conceded two late goals to slip to defeat against Fulham at the Wellington Sports Ground.

The Blues took the lead after just four minutes when Carl Walshe (pictured) fired home from the penalty spot.

But Karim Frei quickly equalised for the Cottagers and then added a second on 20 minutes.

Pompey hit back after the break and Lewis Tallack drew them level before Alex Grant's goal gave the hosts the lead.

However, with just 10 minutes remaining Stephen Arthurworry scored for Fulham and Marcella Trotta struck at the death to give the Londoners all three points.

Director of youth operations Paul Smalley said: "We produced our best all-round performance of the season and although we were trailing at half-time we had shown plenty of endeavour and energy.

"Midway through the second half we had overturned our deficit to lead 3-2 but some poor defending from a corner and a late strike meant it was a cruel end to an otherwise pleasing day.

"Carl Walshe again produced a fine performance and most of the side performed well against an excellent Fulham side.

"All of the first-year scholars are starting to adjust to their responsibilities in their football education. They are getting stronger and fitter, starting to understand the game better and certainly enhancing their skills.

"The group has a good work ethic and togetherness and there is a nice atmosphere. But it will still take time to turn their performances into better results.

"We are still at a very early stage of the season so it is important that the players reflect, learn and understand from game to game, to make the necessary progress.

"We are bottom of the table but most of our defeats have been by just a one or two-goal margin and the players' learning and understanding is developing and certainly moving in the right direction.

"So we will be looking forward with excitement to our next game and certainly demanding the same level of performance."

Pompey: Gledhill; Tallack, Bennett, Magri, Grant; Seeley (Fitzharris 75), Stockford (c), Tsovolos (Harris 67), Butler; Jennings (Colson 71), Walshe

Fulham: Bettinelli; Monguel, Arthurworry, Maloney, Kamau; Barroihet (Cosgrove 84), Pritchard (Banya 35 (Owusu-Awah 65)), Minkwitz, Harris; Trotta, Frei
Sub not used: Miller-Rodney

There was a better result for Pompey's under-16 side who drew 1-1 with Fulham.

Smalley said: "They took the past month of good displays to the next stage with a consistent performance of energy, hard work and desire."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2010/1003/1224280276847.html?
Duff to report for duty
NOEL O'REILLY

Soccer: Damien Duff will be assessed by the Irish medical team when he joins up with the rest of the Republic of Ireland squad tomorrow. The Fulham winger picked up an unspecified injury during the 1-1 draw with West Ham yesterday but has not been ruled out at this stage.

Duff was replaced with 20 minutes remaining at Upton Park and limped from the pitch holding his left leg. As of this morning, however, the FAI had received no communication from Fulham and expect the 31-year-old to report for duty when the squad assemble tomorrow lunchtime.

Giovanni Trapattoni's side meet Russia in what is likely to be the pivotal Euro 2012 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on Friday. They then travel to Zilina for a tough assignment against Slovakia the following Tuesday.

Duff missed Ireland's opening two qualifiers, the wins over Armenia and Andorra, with a calf problem with Aiden McGeady deputising.

The Spartak Moscow winger has been in sparkling form since making the move east and with Liam Lawrence and Keith Treacy also impressing in recent weeks, Trapattoni at least has plenty of cover should Duff be deemed unavailable.

Elsewhere, Richard Dunne, who missed the last two club matches with a knee injury, was restored to the heart of Aston Villa's defence yesterday but was unable to prevent his side losing 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

Dunne was up against Roman Pavlyuchenko, who he is likely to face in Dublin, and was fortunate not to concede an early penalty when the Russian's shot hit his hand, the referee deciding it was not intentional.

The Dubliner was beaten in the air by Rafeal van der Vaart for Spur's first goal but did well to block the midfielder's shot shortly afterwards. Irish captain Robbie Keane was an unused substitute.

Marco Tardelli's recce to the Britannia Stadium, where Stoke faced Blackburn, turned out to be a wasted trip.

The Irish midfield partnership of Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews had been due to go head-to-head but Andrews was an unused substitute while Whelan was only introduced in the 90th minute as Stoke won 1-0.

Keith Fahey made a rare start for Birmingham against an Everton side with Seamus Coleman in their ranks. And it was the defender who will enjoy the bragging rights when the squad assembles as the Toffees recorded their first win of the season, ending Birmingham's 18-month home unbeaten run.

Kevin Doyle will have to wait for his first league goal of the season after Wolves were beaten 2-0 at Wigan. James McCarthy, overlooked by Trapattoni for the qualifying double-header, started for Wigan.

In the Championship, Treacy opened the scoring for Preston against Reading but the Royals earned a point when Ian Harte's corner was only half cleared and Jem Karacan fired home. Lawrence was also on the scoresheet, his late penalty enough to grab Portsmouth a point against Middlesbrough.

Darren O'Dea, who has already been ruled out of the Ireland squad, was in line to make a surprise appearance for Ipswich but suffered a recurrence of the knee injury he picked up during training with Ireland last month in the warm-up at Portman Road.

"Darren has been struggling with a knee problem since he went away with the last international squad," explained Ipswich manager Roy Keane after the 2-1 win over Leeds. "We thought we'd take a chance but as soon as he went out for the warm-up he said he was struggling."