Thursday Fulham Stuff - 22/08/19...

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Results

Wednesday
Cardiff	2-1	Huddersfield
Charlton	1-1	Nottm Forest
Fulham	4-0	Millwall
Leeds	1-0	Brentford
Preston NE	3-1	Stoke
QPR	1-3	Swansea
West Brom	1-1	Reading

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Fulham 4-0 Millwall

Ivan Cavaleiro has scored three goals in four games for Fulham since his loan move from Wolves

Ivan Cavaleiro scored twice and Aleksandar Mitrovic netted his third goal in as many games as free-flowing Fulham demolished Millwall to register a third successive Championship victory.

Cavaleiro lashed a fine opener into the top corner for Fulham - who enjoyed a remarkable 84.5% possession - and later latched on to Tom Cairney's pass to round Bartosz Bialkowski for their fourth goal.

In between, the Wolves winger crossed for fellow loanee Anthony Knockaert, on loan from Brighton, to open his Fulham account with a stooping header.

Mitrovic scored Fulham's third from the penalty spot after being brought down by Bialkowski as the Cottagers brought Millwall's unbeaten start to the season to a resounding halt.

The scoreline did not flatter Scott Parker's side, who outmatched Millwall in every department and produced a real statement performance as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.

Before Cavaleiro opened the scoring, Mitrovic saw a header well saved by Bialkowski but after that Fulham were truly clinical with their finishing.

The Portugal winger, who scored Fulham's winner at Huddersfield on Friday, cut inside and past two men to fire home a brilliant opening goal and then set up the hosts' second on a plate for Knockaert.

Millwall, who had won two and drawn one of their opening three games, had their best spell early in the second half but former Fulham striker Matt Smith poked a weak effort straight at Marcus Bettinelli.

From there, Steven Sessegnon saw a cross deflected on to the bar before Mitrovic's spot-kick, won by his alertness in the box, and Cavaleiro rounded off the rout.

Fulham had lost their past 10 London league derbies - all in the top-flight last season - but put that miserable run to an end against the Lions who were the last side they beat in a capital clash in April 2018.

The Cottagers confirmed after the game that Portuguese striker Rui Fonte, who has scored just three goals in 29 appearances since joining Fulham in 2017, has rejoined former club Braga on a permanent transfer.

Fulham manager Scott Parker told BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It was good to watch for me at times. Everything we have worked on over the last 10 weeks since pre-season came to fruition.

"We sent a message to ourselves and credit to the players, because a lot of information has gone into them and they took everything on board and worked hard to get a performance like that.

"If there is one thing we are always talking about it is mentality and dealing with what this league brings. After last season when we got relegated, sometimes losing can become a habit.

"To start winning, momentum kicks on and that is very pleasing."

Millwall manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio London:

"It's not nice as a manager to say you deserved to get beat heavily but they were better than us, much better than us.

"We have been beaten by a very, very good side. On the money they have spent, they should be a Premier League side and I expect them to go on and win the league this year.

"We won't be the only team that comes here and gets done like that this season.

"We were far too passive in the first half but at 2-0 you still feel like you are in with a chance and for 10 minutes in the second half we were better than them. But the two clear-cut chances we had, we didn't score and then they go down the other end and get a penalty and the game's over."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49340157

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Head Coach press conference

Scott Parker was delighted to see the work done on the training pitch executed to perfection against Millwall.

The Lions came into the game above Fulham in the table, but Parker's side passed them off the park and ended up with a comprehensive 4-0 win.

"The most pleasing thing is all the hard work that has gone in over the past few weeks, and seeing your team execute it against a very good Millwall side, who have started the season pretty well," he said.

"Full credit to the players, who have been superb. The information that they've been given has been poured on them, but they've been so receptive and right behind the process.

"I felt it was comfortable tonight, in terms of the way we played. I felt we were in control of the game and that's the way I want us to play, dominating possession.

"In the second half we weathered the storm, Millwall put us under a little bit of pressure and then we got back into our rhythm. Momentum is with us and confidence is high, and long may that continue.

"We realise how difficult this league is, we need to dust ourselves off and enjoy tonight, but come 10am tomorrow when the lads are in for training at Motspur Park, then this game is done and we look forward to Forest on Saturday."

The front three of Aleksandar Mitrović, Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert brought the goals, and Parker is delighted with how they're clicking.

"It's so important," he said. "That's credit to the owners and Tony Khan who identified the mistakes we made last year in terms of recruitment and ticked boxes. You know what you're getting, you know what you've signed, and all the new boys have fitted in perfectly.

"Our whole framework, the way we play, our structure is based around those players. There's a lot of support around them and what the other boys do, and ultimately they're the ones that get headlines and score the goals, but there's a foundation behind them – the Cairneys, Johansens, Arters, Sessegnons."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/august/21/scott-parker-press-conference-millwall

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Lions suffer first defeat of the season

Our report from West London...

Millwall were defeated 4-0 by Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night at Craven Cottage.

Ivan Cavaleiro netted twice, either side of an Anthony Knockaert goal and a Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty to secure a comfortable victory for the West London side.

Lions boss Neil Harris made three changes from Saturday's win over Sheffield Wednesday at The Den, with Tom Bradshaw, Ryan Leonard and Jiri Skalak - for his first Championship start - replacing Matt Smith, Aiden O'Brien and the suspended Jed Wallace in the starting XI. Jayson Molumby stepped up to the bench.

The first half-chance of the evening went the way of Millwall, but in the third minute, after controlling Murray Wallace's throw, Ben Thompson's effort spun away from goal.

The home side began to apply pressure, however, and swung numerous crosses into the box, but the Millwall defence held firm. In the 13th minute, the opportunity for the home side to take the lead presented itself, but after Knockaert's cross found Mitrovic, the Serbian's header was tipped over the crossbar by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Just two minutes later, however, the scoring was opened as Cavaleiro was allowed to step inside and unleash an effort that gave Bialkowski no chance from just inside the penalty area.

The Lions had the chance to equalise just minutes later, but Jake Cooper headed Skalak's tempting free-kick over the bar.

With 32 minutes played The Whites doubled their lead as, after a slick passing move, Knockaert nodded home from around six yards out.

The manager opted to bring on Smith for Shaun Williams at half-time, and it was the striker who had The Lions' first attempt on goal of the second-half, but his low shot was gathered by Marcus Bettinelli. Millwall, for the first time in the game, then produced a spell of pressure on the Fulham goal, but after efforts from Mahlon Romeo and Bradshaw, Fulham's sheet remained clean.

Steven Sessegnon was then unfortunate not to further extend Fulham's lead on 52 minutes as his cross was deflected by Mahoney on to the crossbar, but The Whites had the chance to notch a third from the penalty spot after Mitrovic was brought down by the helpless Bialkowski - the Serb smashing the ball home.

Seven minutes later, it was four, as Tom Cairney's sublime pass was latched on to by Cavaleiro, who rounded Bialkowski to slot home.

Cavaleiro then looked for his hat-trick with 18 minutes remaining but found the arms of Bialkowski, before The Lions had the ball in the net through Bradshaw, but he - or Smith - was ruled to be offside from Murray Wallace's cross.

After two minutes of injury-time, referee Darren Bond blew his whistle on Millwall's first loss of the campaign - but there is a chance to put things right in just three days' time, as The Lions travel to Middlesbrough.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Mawson, Johansen, Mitrovic, Cairney (Decordova-Reid 69'), Ream, Arter (MacDonald 75'), Cavaleiro (Kamara 78'), Bryan, Knockaert, Sessegnon. Subs not used: Rodak, Le Marchand, Reed, Christie.

Scorer: Cavaleiro 15' 63', Knockaert 32', Mitrovic pen 56'

Booking: Mitrovic, Knockaert

Millwall: Bialkowski, M. Wallace, Cooper, Williams (Smith 46'), Thompson (Molumby 75'), Bradshaw, Romeo, Pearce, Leonard, Mahoney, Skalak (Ferguson 39'). Subs not used: Steele, Hutchinson, O'Brien, Bodvarsson.

Booking: Cooper

Referee: Darren Bond

Attendance: 17,066



https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/lions-suffer-first-defeat-of-the-season/

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Fulham 4 Millwall 0: Scott Parker's pass masters maul Lions in London derby drubbing

Millwall manager Neil Harris had said in the build-up to this match that Fulham were the best side in the Championship - and on this evidence he might be right.

Fulham made it three wins from three with victory over Millwall as Ivan Cavaliero scored twice and Aleksandar Mitrovic and Anthony Knockaert also found the net in what was a complete performance.

Summer signings Cavaliero and Knockaert started the scoring during a dominant first-half at Craven Cottage in which Scott Parker's side enjoyed 89 per cent of the possession.

The second-half proved to be more of the same with Mitrovic hammering home a penalty and Cavaliero getting his second of the night.

In Fulham's last game against Huddersfield, Cavaleiro had been the hero when he scored a brilliant winner 10 minutes from full-time.

And the winger picked up where he left off by scoring another sumptuous strike, cutting in from the left and smashing the ball past Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Białkowski.

It was no more than the hosts deserved after they had dominated possession in the first 15 minutes and gone close through Mitrovic's header.

Now all Fulham wanted was a second goal to show for their efforts and they duly got it in the 32nd minute as Cavaleiro turned provider when he crossed the ball for Knockaert to head home.

Millwall were on the ropes and the half-time whistle was a welcome reprieve for them after an opening 45 minutes where they had just 11 per cent possession.

After the break Fulham refused to take their foot off the gas, though, and within 18 minutes they had scored two more.

First Mitrovic won and scored a penalty, before Cavaliero got his second of the night by controlling Tom Cairney's brilliant dinked through-ball and rounding Białkowski to finish.

The goals completed a dream derby for Fulham, who lost all 10 of their clashes against London opponents last season.

Millwall, on the other hand, had little to show for their efforts and their night was summed up when Tom Bradshaw's 82nd minute header was ruled out for offside



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-vs-millwall-2019-result-scott-parker-pass-masters-london-derby-drubbing-a4218676.html

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Fulham 4 Millwall 0 – Lions suffer heavy defeat as expensively-assembled home team prove too slick

Millwall suffered their first defeat of the Championship season as Fulham underlined their automatic promotion aspirations by inflicting a heavy defeat at Craven Cottage.

Little expense has been spared in assembling Scott Parker's squad as they look for an instant return to the Premier League and their headline acts all came to the party on Wednesday night – Ivan Cavaleiro scoring once in each half with Anthony Knockaert and Aleksandar Mitrovic also netting.

Fulham's first-half  saw them complete 453 passes to Millwall's 34. By the end the visitors had totalled 115 passes, compared to 935 for the victors.

And while plenty of those were just shifting the play from side to side, they also possessed the quality time and again to cut open the Lions backline with the quality in their ranks.

Fulham's first goal on 15 minutes saw Cavaleiro score a replica of his winner at Huddersfield on Friday night. The on-loan Wolves man cut inside on his right foot – going away from Mahlon Romeo and Connor Mahoney – before thrashing a bullet of a strike past Bartosz Bialkowski.

Knockaert had his first goal for the home side since his loan move from Brighton on 32 minutes. The Whites switched play ruthlessly and slipped in Cavaleiro on the left of the box, he found the head of his fellow winger who stooped to put daylight between the two sides.

Millwall were unable to make the most of their free-kicks. One Jiri Skalak delivery looped off the head of Jake Cooper but that was about as good as it got for Neil Harris' men.

Skalak was forced off with an injury on 39 minutes, Shane Ferguson taking his place. The Czech Republic international was helped off the Craven Cottage pitch at half-time by two members of backroom staff – depleting the wide options with Jed Wallace only just starting his three-match suspension.

Harris made another change at the start of the second half with Matt Smith replacing Shaun Williams. And Millwall had their best period of pressure – even if it lasted just five minutes.

Smith almost instantly had a chance but could not get power in his shot and Marcus Bettinelli made a comfortable save. Romeo and Tom Bradshaw had shots blocked inside the box in another attack.

But Fulham settled after that and normal service resumed. Steven Sessegnon's shot clipped off the top of the bar.

And Millwall had no luck. Case in point? Harry Arter's shot was going wide but deflected kindly into the path of Mitrovic, who was brought down by Bartosz Bialkowski. The Serbian – booked along with Cooper for a first-half tangle – hammered emphatically home with 56 minutes played.

Cavaleiro rounded off the scoring. Tom Cairney looped the ball over the middle of the Millwall backline and the number 19 took the ball past Bialkowski and drove in.

Millwall thought they had a consolation on 82 minutes when Bradshaw headed in Murray Wallace's cross but the assistant's flag was up for offside.



https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/fulham-4-millwall-0-lions-suffer-heavy-defeat-as-expensively-assembled-home-team-prove-too-slick/

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Slick Fulham way too good for shadow-chasing Millwall

Fulham 4 Millwall 0

In playground terms, this was not fair sides.

It is, of course, way too early in the season to start drawing too many conclusions about one-off contests, but it will be a major surprise if Fulham do not finish above their south London rivals this season. That much we can say with confidence.

Scott Parker has much to prove as a fledgling boss but on the evidence of this game, at the very least, the Whites are well on the way to recreating the feelgood factor of the promotion season under Slavisa Jokanovic.

The dominance of possession which characterised their great charge to the Premier League two seasons ago was back. All the guile and confidence which had gone missing during a bruising season in the top flight came flooding back. They passed Millwall death and relished every moment of it.

But there will be far greater challenges than this in the months ahead for Fulham. The Lions have started the season punching above their weight and in Neil Harris have an impassioned fighter of their cause, who knows how to husband limited resources.

But, on this evidence at least, this Millwall side looks like it needs the home comforts of a seething Den to keep heads firmly above water.

This is perhaps a little unkind, because Fulham are one of the promotion favourites and Harris' men will not face too many better teams this season. They also surprised a good few teams the season before last and came so close to the play-offs with that bustling, no-nonsense style of theirs.

But this one really did look a lost cause for them very early on in the piece. Aleksandar Mitrovic forced Bartosz Bialkowski to tip over after getting on the end of an Anthony Knockaert cross to apply a looping, well-directed header.

Just two minutes later, a quarter of an hour gone, Tom Cairney found Ivan Cavaleiro in space on the left and he cut inside two defenders before rifling home. On 32 minutes, Knockaert netted with a stooping header after getting on the end of Cavaleiro's cut-back from the byline.

There it was in a nutshell – evidence that the Whites could be even more potent than when they went up. Less reliant on Mitrovic to finish off those pretty passages of dazzling passing.

Jake Cooper was booked after a tangle with the Serb, who was also booked in the incident. But it was as close as Millwall came to ruffling feathers.

Harris demanded his side get in Fulham faces far more after the break. The towering Matt Smith came on. It was to no avail. When Harry Arter's off-target shot landed at the feet of Mitrovic, Bialkowski panicked and felled the Serb. The subsequent penalty was duly dispatched.

And on 63 minutes, Cavaleiro bagged his second after getting on the end of a beautifully floated pass from Cairney to round the keeper and put away.

Fulham might have gone for more but did not need to. They have plenty of other defences to shred in the weeks ahead.



Fulham: Bettinelli – Sessegnon, Mawson, Ream, Bryan – Cairney (Reid 69), Arter (McDonald 75), Johansen – Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro (Kamara 79). Subs not used: Rodak, Le Marchand, Reed, Christie.

Millwall: Bialkowski – Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, Wallace – Mahoney, Leonard, Williams (Smith h/t), Skalak (Ferguson 39) – Thompson (Molumby 74) – Bradshaw. Subs not used: Steele, Hutchinson, O'Brien, Bodvarsson.



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/2019/08/21/Slick-Fulham-way-too-good-for-shadow-chasing-Millwall

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Fulham 4-0 Millwall: Hosts smash four past Millwall in London derby as Ivan Cavaleiro nets twice to send Scott Parker's side third in Championship

    Ivan Cavaleiro, Anthony Knockaert and Aleksandr Mitrovic were the goalscorers
    Scott Parker's side put on a stunning display to send message to rest of division
    The Cottagers look set to be in the Championship promotion mix this season

The Fulham rebuild off the pitch is being matched by what is happening on it.

From the ruins of relegation, Scott Parker has constructed a side primed for another Championship promotion push.

And his new-look team, playing in a new-look stadium with the Riverside Stand stripped of seats and ready for redevelopment, signalled their intent with a totally one-sided win against early-season surprise package Millwall.


Ivan Cavaleiro fires home the opening goal at Craven Cottage with a brilliant dipping effort


Aleksandr Mitrovic rounds off the scoring from the penalty spot to seal a resounding win


Fulham were dominant throughout and sent a message to the rest of the Championship

One of the harsh lessons Fulham would have learned from last season and their £100m-plus spree is the danger of gambling on players who don't know what they are getting into.

But boss Parker's approach to building this year's squad has focused on filling it with players who possess Championship and promotion-winning know-how.

Three of them - two-goal Ivan Cavaleiro and fellow loan addition Anthony Knockaert plus retained talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic were the scorers as Fulham's season gained further momentum with a third successive win.

Parker said: 'The most pleasing thing as a coach is, after all the work of the last 10 weeks, seeing your team execute. That's three wins on the bounce and momentum is with us.

'Credit to the owner, to Tony Khan who identified the mistakes we made last year in terms of recruitment. We've signed players and we know what we're getting. They've fitted in really well.'

Millwall boss Neil Harris said: 'They were magnificent. Their fans will be thinking 'what are we doing in this division, we should be in the Premier League.'

Fulham have got their passing swagger back after an ill-fated top-flight campaign and simply set about underlining why Harris claimed it would be a 'travesty' if they don't gain automatic promotion.


Anthony Knockaert made it 2-0 to Fulham with a fine header from close range


The winger was a threat throughout and appears to be a sound piece of summer business


Fulham boss Scott Parker refused to get carried away by Fulham's impressive victory

Some of their play and dominance brought back memories of the slick football they played to win promotion under Slavisa Jokanovic.

Their 84.5 per cent possession and 934 completed passes are the highest recorded in the Championship since Opta started collecting full stats on the division in 2013.

'Wow,' Parker said. 'That is pleasing and how we want to play.'

Millwall only managed to keep Fulham at bay for 15 minutes and can't say they were not warned when the opener came.

On Friday Cavaleiro cut in from the left to bend Fulham's winner against Huddersfield into the top corner.

That strike must have been left out of Millwall's pre-match analysis, the way they allowed him to repeat the trick with ease before firing Fulham into a 15th minute lead last night.

Fulham were soon playing 'ole' football which was epitomised by the 26-pass move involving every Fulham player that ended with Knockaert heading in the hosts' second.

Millwall's comeback hopes were killed off in the 56th minute when Mitrovic rammed in his third goal in three games from the spot after being brought down by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Cavaleiro then raced onto a perfectly-weighted pass from Tom Cairney, who also set up the opener, and rounded Bialkowski to score his second, give Fulham the margin of victory their dominance deserved and their biggest ever win over their London rivals.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7380723/Fulham-4-0-Millwall-Ivan-Cavaleiro-double-new-look-Cottagers-romp-victory.html

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Ivan Cavaleiro double leads ruthless Fulham's romp against Millwall

Fulham's Ivan Cavaleiro opens the scoring against Millwall in the Championship game at Craven Cottage. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

This was the night Fulham bared their teeth back in the Championship. Their front three had always felt the envy of the division but in running amok so ruthlessly to dismantle a normally robust Millwall team they reminded fellow contenders of their pedigree. There may be no living with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro at this level.

The trio all scored in a lopsided contest with Fulham completing 934 passes and enjoyed 89% possession in the first half. To have clawed that back closer to 85% by the end – "Is that all?" said Millwall's Neil Harris, jokingly – felt like a minor triumph for the crestfallen visitors but the passes figure still represented a record since Opta began collating such data in the second tier in 2013.

Scott Parker was thrilled by his team's domination, orchestrated masterfully by Thomas Cairney, but will have taken most heart from the bite that set them apart. The signings of Cavaleiro and Knockaert will prove masterstrokes.

"We knew what we were getting from the players we've signed," he said. "It doesn't guarantee you success but you limit the risk. That's credit to the owner and to Tony Khan who identified the mistakes we made last year in terms of recruitment. We ticked boxes this year."

Perhaps Millwall could have been more tenacious – they are usually a team capable of weathering storms and still prospering – but this was an uncharacteristically timid display. They watched Fulham ping their passes, dropping ever deeper until a visiting full-back was inevitably isolated and bypassed by a slippery winger. Matt Smith's arrival briefly offered some respite but this was an insipid performance that courted disaster.

Fulham's front three will trouble better opposition than Millwall. Cavaleiro forced them ahead with a goal as eye-catching as his winner at Huddersfield last week. The Portuguese was permitted too much space by Mahlon Romeo before darting back across the box past Connor Mahoney's tentative challenge. Once he had squeezed out sufficient space, he whipped a shot emphatically beyond Bartosz Bialkowski.

The Wolves loanee would add a second, collecting another beautifully weighted Cairney pass to round the goalkeeper. In between, and not to be outdone, Knockaert had emerged through the clutter in the six-yard box to nod in Cavaleiro's centre. There were 26 passes in the buildup to the Frenchman's goal, the move involving all 11 players, with Millwall left dizzy by the paceFulham moved the ball.

The only surprise was that Mitrovic had to wait so long before scoring. He was tripped by Bialkowski after a heavy touch at Harry Arter's dragged shot, with the penalty battered in with glee.

"Their fans must be thinking: 'What are we doing in this division? We should be in the Premier League,'" Harris said. On this evidence Fulham's stay will be brief.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/aug/21/fulham-millwall-championship-match-report

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Report: Fulham 4 Millwall 0 - Lions outclassed at the Cottage


PA

Millwall's undefeated start to the season was ended as they were outclassed 4-0 by a slick Fulham side at Craven Cottage.

First half goals from on-loan signings Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockhaert gave Scott Parker's side a deserved lead at the break before an Aleksander Miktrovic penalty and a second Cavaleiro effort sent the Lions back to The Den with their tails between their legs.

Tipped for promotion, Fulham finished the game with 85% possession and secured three points that they never looked like relinquishing after Wolves man Cavaleiros's opener on 15 minutes.

Neil Harris, buoyed by recent results and a new found energy at the club, will have no complaints about the result knowing there'll be few teams better than Fulham this season.

A heavily fancied Fulham side dominated from the off, but it wasn't until the 13th minute before their first real effort.

Mitrovic's header forcing a fine save from Bartosz Bialkowski who tipped over.

The respite was brief as the next wave of attack resulted in Cavaleiro firing home from the edge of the box after ghosting past Mahlon Romeo and Conor Mahoney with ease, not the defending you've come to expect from a watertight Lions outfit this season.

With the home side looking comfortable 'ole's' started after 25 minutes.

After 32 minutes the 'ole's' turned to cheers as Knockhaert, on-loan from Brighton, doubled the lead.

Shortly after picking up a needless yellow for running 30-yards to remonstrate with the referee, the on-loan Brighton man burst into the box to glance Cavaleiro's cross past a despairing Bialkowksi.

The celebration looked one more of frustration than jubilation from the Frenchman, not that the majority of those in Craven Cottage cared.

Well beaten in the opening half, Harris turned to former Fulham man Matt Smith to change the course of the relentless white tide.

It seemed to work, with the new aerial threat causing Fulham issues.

No sooner had the Lions looked to get some sort of momentum, Mitrovic settled the tie as a contest on 56 minutes.

Finding himself on-side from a deflected Harry Arter effort, the Serbian was up-ended by Bialkowski who made no protest.

Mitrovic obliged with the spot kick.

Resigned to defeat, a tiring Millwall conceded a fourth six minutes later.

Cavaleiro expertly controlling Cairney's long ball, beating the off-side trap and rounding Bialkowski.

With the tie over, Tom Bradshaw thought he netted a late consolation for Harris's men only to see his header ruled out for off-side.

The points stayed in West London, when in truth, they never looked like leaving.

Harris will look to his trip to Middlesbrough on the weekend to bounce back.

Key Player:

Ivan Cavaleiro showed his class. If Wolves can let a player of his calibre go out on loan, they must be feeling confident this season. Two perfectly taken goals and endless running, he wasn't so much the difference, but the star in Fulham's stellar squad.

Key Moment:

Ivan Cavaleiro's strike on 15 minutes put an end to Neil Harris's game plan. Millwall would have to attack. They tried, but such was Fulham's precision and hi-tempo play, the Lions couldn't get out of their own half.

Attendance: 17,066

Teams:

Fulham: Bettinelli, Sessegnon, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Cairney (De Cordova-Reid 69'), Arter (McDonald 76'), Johansen, Cavaleiro, Knockhaert, Mitrovic

Subs: Rodak, McDonald, De Cordova-Reid, Le Marchand, Reed, Christie, Kamara

Millwall: Bialkowksi, Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, Wallace, Williams (Smith 46'), Leonard, Thompson (Mulumby 75'), Mahoney, Skalak (Ferguson 38'), Bradshaw

Subs: Steele, Hutchinson, Smith, Ferguson, Mulumby, O'Brien, Dadi-Bodvarsson



https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/17852351.report-fulham-4-millwall-0---lions-outclassed-cottage/

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 Fulham 4-0 Millwall: Ivan Cavaleiro strikes twice in comfortable win
Ivan Cavaleiro (2), Anthony Knockaert and an Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty earns Fulham all three points

Ivan Cavaleiro struck twice as Fulham eased their way to a one-sided 4-0 victory over Millwall at Craven Cottage.

The Portugal winger, signed on a season-long loan from Wolves, followed up his superb match-winning strike at Huddersfield last Friday with two outstanding finishes.

Anthony Knockaert, another of Scott Parker's summer signings, and Aleksandar Mitrovic were also on target as the Cottagers registered a third successive win and brought Millwall's unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship to a halt.


Ivan Cavaleiro scored twice for Fulham

Neil Harris' side had earned praise for the way they had started the campaign but they never looked like getting anything from a game dominated by the home side.

Fulham's front three of Knockaert, Cavaleiro and Mitrovic quickly showed they were capable of stretching the Millwall defence.

Millwall 'keeper Bartosz Bialkowski had to be alert to tip a Mitrovic header over the bar after the striker had been picked out by a testing Knockaert cross from the Fulham left.

Two minutes later, though, the 'keeper could do little to prevent Cavaleiro from establishing Fulham's 15th-minute lead.

With Knockaert having switched back to the right, the Portuguese was positioned to receive Tom Cairney's pass on the left side of the Millwall box.

The Portugal winger cut inside onto his right foot, drifting past Millwall right-back Mahlon Romeo and winger Connor Mahoney, before unleashing a dipping shot that Bialkowski had little chance of stopping.


Anthony Knockaert also struck for Fulham

From that moment there was little doubt about the final outcome with Parker's side dominating possession and it came as no surprise when they added a 32nd-minute second.

On this occasion Cavaleiro turned provider, delivering a left-wing cross that Knockaert stooped to turn home with a brave header as Millwall centre-back Jake Copper attempted to clear.

Harris introduced former Fulham striker Matt Smith from the bench at half-time in an attempt to fire up his side.

The change almost had the desired effect when the forward was presented with a clear sight of goal following Tom Bradshaw's deflected shot but placed his effort too close to 'keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Any hope Millwall might have had of forcing their way back into the game disappeared when Mitrovic scored from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Bialkowski as he attempted to make his way past the keeper in the 56th minute.

Cavaleiro confirmed his outstanding start to life at his new club with his second in the 63rd minute when he rounded Bialkowski after being sent clear by a superb chipped pass by Cairney.

A miserable night for Millwall was made complete when Tom Bradshaw's 82nd-minute header was ruled out for offside.

The managers
Scott Parker: "The most pleasing thing is all the work that has gone in over the last 10 weeks you finally see your team execute against a good Millwall side who have started their season well. Full credit goes to the players who have been superb.

"Momentum is with us. We are winning football matches, that's three on the bounce now, and confidence is high and long may that continue. This league is relentless. Tonight is good of course but four games in we have a long way to go. This has been a good night but come tomorrow we work it away."

Neil Harris: "I thought they were magnificent tonight. Certainly the best performance I have seen probably since Wolves got 100 points a couple of years ago to go up. Fulham fans will watch tonight and wonder 'what are we doing in this league, we should be in the Premier League'.

"As good as Fulham were, I am burning inside and am disappointed. We gave the ball back to them too cheaply. But I won't judge my players on this performance against Fulham."



https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-millwall/report/409391

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Rampant Fulham thrash Millwall to earn third straight win

Fulham 4 Millwall 0

Ivan Cavaleiro's scintillating performance helped Fulham thrash London rivals Millwall and earn a third consecutive Championship win.

The promotion favourites took the lead 15 minutes in when the Wolves loanee cut inside from the wing and hit an unstoppable strike.

He then teed up the second after another free-flowing move, whipping in a cross for Anthony Knockaert to nod home on 32 minutes.

The home side were totally dominant, ending the match with 85% possession, and extended their lead in the second half when Aleksandar Mitrovic scored from the penalty after he was clipped in the box by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

But Mitrovic's third goal in three games was not the end of the scoring, with Tom Cairney's immaculate pass releasing Cavaleiro for the fourth.

Millwall's chances were limited, with one falling to former Fulham striker Matt Smith whose tame shot at goal was easily held by goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.

The Lions also thought they had grabbed a consolation goal when Tom Bradshaw nodded home from a cross, only for it to be ruled offside.

Fulham, who move up to third in the table, host Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Sessegnon, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Cairney [De Cordova-Reid 76], Arter [McDonald 75], Johansen, Knockaert, Cavaleiro [Kamara 79], Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Rodak, Christie, Le Marchand, Reed.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/rampant-fulham-thrash-millwall-to-earn-third-straight-win

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Ivan Cavaleiro at the double as Fulham thrash Millwall

Ivan Cavaleiro struck twice as Fulham eased their way to a one-sided 4-0 victory over Millwall at Craven Cottage.

The Portugal winger, signed on a season-long loan from Wolves, followed up his superb match-winning strike at Huddersfield last Friday with two outstanding finishes.

Anthony Knockaert, another of Scott Parker's summer signings, and Aleksandar Mitrovic were also on target as the Cottagers registered a third successive win and brought Millwall's unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship to a halt.

Neil Harris' side had earned praise for the way they had started the campaign but they never looked like getting anything from a game dominated by the home side.

Fulham's front three of Knockaert, Cavaleiro and Mitrovic quickly showed they were capable of stretching the Millwall defence.

And Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski had to be alert to tip a Mitrovic header over the bar after the striker had been picked out by a testing Knockaert cross from the Fulham left.

Two minutes later, though, the keeper could do little to prevent Cavaleiro from establishing Fulham's 15th-minute lead.

With Knockaert having switched back to the right, the Portuguese was positioned to receive Tom Cairney's pass on the left side of the Millwall box.

The Portugal winger cut inside onto his right foot, drifting past Millwall right-back Mahlon Romeo and winger Connor Mahoney, before unleashing a dipping shot that Bialkowski had little chance of stopping.

From that moment there was little doubt about the final outcome with Parker's side dominating possession and it came as no surprise when they added a 32nd-minute second.

On this occasion Cavaleiro turned provider, delivering a left-wing cross that Knockaert stooped to turn home with a brave header as Millwall centre-back Jake Copper attempted to clear.

Harris introduced former Fulham striker Matt Smith from the bench at half-time in an attempt to fire up his side.

The change almost had the desired effect when the forward was presented with a clear sight of goal following Tom Bradshaw's deflected shot but placed his effort too close to keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Any hope Millwall might have had of forcing their way back into the game disappeared when Mitrovic scored from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Bialkowski as he attempted to make his way past the keeper in the 56th minute.

And Cavaleiro confirmed his outstanding start to life at his new club with his second in the 63rd minute when he rounded Bialkowski after being sent clear by a superb chipped pass by Cairney.

A miserable night for Millwall was made complete when Tom Bradshaw's 82nd-minute header was ruled out for offside.



Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ivan-cavaleiro-double-fulham-thrash-millwall#kPL74ckJCUD9ccFW.99

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Millwall manager Neil Harris: "I won't judge my players on tonight's performance and result against a top Fulham side"

Neil Harris said that Fulham are the best team he has seen in the Championship since Wolves in 2017/2018 – but won't judge his players on tonight given the quality that Scott Parker's team possess.

A goal in each half from Ivan Cavaleiro plus a first-half header from Anthony Knockaert and a second-half penalty from Aleksandar Mitrovic condemned Millwall to their first defeat of the season – their heaviest in any competition since losing 5-1 at Peterborough United in August 2016.

Fulham, who are one of the favourites for promotion, enjoyed 84.5 per cent possession, the most by any side in the Championship since Opta began full collection of the second-tier in 2013/2014 and made an extraordinary 934 successful passes at Craven Cottage.

"Firstly, congratulations to Fulham. I thought they were magnificent tonight, certainly the best performance I have seen since Wolves got 100 point a couple of years ago top go up," the Lions boss said. "I think Fulham fans will watch tonight and think what are we doing in this division, we should be in the Premier League. That is down to them.

"But as good as they were, I think we gave them a leg up at times. Not so much the goals we conceded, but the lead up to the goals. When they cut through us, no problem with that. We could have defended slightly better, the last two really hurt me because we gave the ball back cheaply. We got punished and in previous games we have given it away we haven't been punished. And that is the quality of the level.

"What I have just said to the group is, as much as I am calm about it – I am burning inside and disappointed – but I won't judge my players on tonight's performance and result against a top Fulham side because we don't get up there when we win and we won't get down there when we are beat 4-0 by Fulham because there will be a lot of teams that come here and get beat 4-0 like we did.

"They caused us the most problems as a team – other than probably Tottenham in the FA Cup quarter-finals – that I have faced during my time in charge."



https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/millwall-manager-neil-harris-i-wont-judge-my-players-on-tonights-performance-and-result-against-a-top-fulham-side/

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Fonte Departs

The Club can confirm that Rui Fonte has today joined Sporting Clube de Braga on a permanent transfer.

The Portuguese forward spent the most part of last season on loan at Lille Olympique Sporting Club who finished second in Ligue 1.

We'd all like to wish Rui all the best in the future and thank him for his services at Fulham. 



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/august/21/fonte-departs

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Ivan Cavaleiro lifts Fulham to third with thumping of Millwall

Ivan Cavaleiro fires home Fulham's opening goal in their trouncing of Millwall Credit:  Getty Images

Fulham 4 Millwall 0

Scott Parker's Fulham side demonstrated why they are strongly fancied to make an immediate return to the Premier League with a comprehensive defeat of a Millwall side who arrived at Craven Cottage unbeaten in their opening four games.

Ivan Cavaleiro, signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, followed up his outstanding effort in last Friday's victory at Huddersfield Town with two more fine finishes, setting Parker's side on course for victory in the 15th minute before wrapping up the win just after the hour.

In between, Anthony Knockaert headed his first goal for the club since his arrival from Brighton to establish a two-goal half-time lead and Aleksandar Mitrovic struck from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Fulham's dominance was summed up the fact they enjoyed 84.5 per cent possession. "The most pleasing thing is that, all the work you've put in over the last 10 weeks, you see your team executing against a good Millwall side," Parker said.

Acknowledging the contribution of Cavaleiro, Knockaert and his other summer recruits, Parker added: "That's credit to the owner, to Tony Khan who identified the mistakes we made last year in terms of recruitment, and ticked boxes this year. We've signed players and we know what we're getting. It doesn't guarantee you success, but you limit the risk. They've fitted in really well."

Neil Harris, the Millwall manager, admitted his side were well beaten. "That's the best performance I've seen since Wolves got 100 points a couple of years ago to go up," he said. "The fans must be thinking: 'What are we doing in this division? We should be in the Premier League'.

"We gave the ball back to them cheaply. We were punished. We have to be better than that at this level. I won't judge my players against a top Fulham side."

Match details

Fulham (4-3-3):Bettinelli; Sessegnon, Mawson, Ream, Bryan; Cairney (Decordova-Reid 69), Arter (McDonald 75), Johansen; Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro (Kamara 79).
Substitutes not used: Rodak (g), Le Marchand, Reed, Christie.
Booked: Mitrovic, Knockaert.
Millwall (4-4-1-1): Bialkowski; Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, M Wallace; Mahoney, Williams (Smith 45), Leonard, Skalak (Ferguson 39); Thompson (Molumby 75); Bradshaw.
Substitutes not used: Steele (g), Hutchinson, O'Brien, Bodvarsson.
Booked: Cooper.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/21/ivan-cavaleiro-lifts-fulham-third-thumping-millwall/

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REPORT: Fulham 4-0 Millwall

MILLWALL were outclassed at Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening and suffered their first defeat of the season as Fulham strengthened their title credentials with a 4-0 win.

Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert's first-half goals were added to after the break by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Cavaleiro again as Millwall had little answer to a relentlessly attacking Fulham side.

The Cottagers dominated possession and had the first real chance in the 13th minute when Bart Bialkowski was at full stretch to tip Mitrovic's header from Knockaert's left-wing cross over the bar.

Scott Parker's side were ahead two minutes later when Tom Cairney found Cavaleiro in space in the box and he cut back inside on his right foot past Mahlon Romeo and Connor Mahoney before firing high past Bialkowski.

Mitrovic and Jake Cooper were both yellow-carded after a clash in midfield and Knockaert followed the pair into the book after he had words with referee Darren Bond after not getting a free-kick he thought he had deserved.

Knockaert was celebrating in the 32nd minute after darting into the six-yard box from the right wing to head home Cavaleiro's cross.

It got worse five minutes later when Jiri Skalak limped off with Shane Ferguson coming on for him.

Matt Smith came on at half-time for Shaun Williams and had a chance in the 47th minute when Tom Bradshaw's shot deflected to him, but Marcus Bettinelli saved low to his left.

Romeo and Bradshaw then saw shots blocked by Joe Bryan and Alfie Mawson as the Lions made a much better start to the second half.

At the other end Steven Sessegnon's cross looped off Mahoney and onto the crossbar but shortly after that escape Fulham had a penalty when Bialkowski took down Mitrovic, and the striker blasted home from the spot.

Fulham only had to wait six minutes for their fourth, and Cavaleiro had his second from Cairney's pass.

Fulham's width and wingers destroy Lions – backed up by midfield masterclass 

Millwall would have known all about Cavaleiro's threat but it's another thing stopping it. He had scored a similar goal at Huddersfield and perhaps the disappointment here when he cut back inside was that there was still space for him to shoot from 12 yards.

Fulham's second goal was brilliantly constructed. They worked the ball from side to side in such tight spaces around the Lions' penalty area. Eventually Cairney, again, spotted the space and Cavaleiro's left-footed cross was headed in by Knockaert after 26 passes.

It wasn't just the wingers' quality, it was Fulham's overall control and the precision of their play, exemplified by Cairney. By half-time they had completed 442 successful passes to Millwall's 34. The hosts' possession was close to 90 per cent. That had dropped to 85 per cent by the final whistle, still the highest in any game in the Championship since Opta began gathering statistics in the 2013-14 season.

Millwall weren't even getting the little breaks they so desperately needed. When Harry Arter mis-hit a low shot the ball went straight to Mitrovic's feet. He reacted quickly to go past Bialkowski who dived in late.

With 10 minutes left Bradshaw headed Murray Wallace's cross into the net, but the striker had strayed offside.

Fulham's ridiculous strength in depth emphasises gulf in Championship

The Cottagers tumbled out of the Premier League after one season, millions of pound notes frittering around the trapdoor behind them.

They had two players who cost over £20million in their side and experienced internationals on their bench. And one of their substitutes, Bobby Reid, cost Cardiff £10million.

But that's a theme Millwall are used to now in a division where even Reading, relegation-haunted last season, can make an expensive late surge in the transfer market.

Despite last season's problems, Millwall weren't really outclassed to the same extent as this in any game. You probably have to go back to the 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham in March 2017 for the last time that happened.

Cairney was magnificent. His chip over the top for Cavaleiro was matched for quality by the winger's two touches to take him past Bialkowski and the covering defenders before he rolled in the fourth.

Skalak starts in league for first time since November – but injury strikes

Skalak was in the side in place of Jed Wallace, who was suspended. It was Skalak's first league start since last November against Brentford and just his fifth for the Lions in the Championship since he joined from Brighton in the summer of 2018.

With Millwall seeing so little of the ball Skalak had had few chances to make an impression. One shot deflected into the arms of Bettinelli. It seemed to be a soft-tissue injury when he limped off and Millwall are set to be without two wingers for the trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Harris changes side and formation

Millwall showed three changes from the 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, with Ryan Leonard, Skalak and Bradshaw replacing Aiden O'Brien, the suspended Wallace and Smith.

Thompson played off Bradshaw and dropped back in against Fulham's midfield three. But little Millwall tried worked against a side that will do similar damage, you suspect, against plenty of Championship teams here this season.

Maybe the only positive for Millwall from the game was the quality shown by Jayson Molumby after he came on for Thompson for his league debut. He gives the impression he could be in the first team sooner rather than later.

Millwall: 4-4-1-1: Bialkowski; Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, M Wallace; Mahoney, Leonard, Williams, Skalak (Ferguson, 39); Thompson (Molumby, 75); Bradshaw.

Subs: Steele, Hutchinson, O'Brien, Bodvarsson.



https://www.newsatden.co.uk/72831-report-fulham-4-0-millwall

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Parker: Momentum is with Fulham after fine start

Fulham boss Scott Parker says he is pleased with the way his players have bought into his vision after a strong start to the Championship season.

The Whites ran riot at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, demolishing Millwall 4-0 to notch their third Championship win in a row as each of his attacking trio got on the scoresheet.

And with 85% possession — the highest any team has posted in the Championship since records began in 2013 — Parker is glad to see his philosophy being delivered on the pitch in style.

"The most pleasing thing is seeing your team execute all the work that's gone into the past 10 weeks in pre-season against a very good Millwall side, who have started the season pretty well," he said.

"Full credit to the players. They've been superb. From the start of pre-season, the information they've been given at times has been pored upon, but they've been so receptive, right behind the process.

"Ultimately, the only way you can perform like that is due to that fact. That's the most pleasing thing for me. Momentum is with us, we're winning football matches and confidence is high. Long may that continue."

Fulham are a point behind Leeds and Swansea at the top of the Championship table, with attention quickly turning to another match at home to Nottingham Forest in less than 72 hours.

Parker added: "We realise how difficult this league is. We need to dust ourselves off, enjoy tonight, and come 10am tomorrow when the lads are back in at Motspur Park, we look forward to Forest on Saturday."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/parker-momentum-is-with-fulham-after-fine-start

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Parker praises hard work put in by Fulham players after big win

Scott Parker said his Fulham side's comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Millwall was their reward for the work done in pre-season on and off the pitch.

Parker's side enjoyed more than 80 per cent possession at Craven Cottage and wrapped up the win with goals from Ivan Cavaleiro, who scored twice, Anthony Knockaert and an Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty.

And after following an opening weekend defeat with three successive victories, Parker insisted his side's season was beginning to take shape.

The Fulham manager said: "The most pleasing thing is all the work that has gone in over the last 10 weeks you finally see your team execute against a good Millwall side who have started their season well.

"Full credit goes to the players who have been superb.

"Momentum is with us. We are winning football matches, that's three on the bounce now, and confidence is high and long may that continue.

"This league is relentless. Tonight is good of course but four games in we have a long way to go. This has been a good night but come tomorrow we work it away."

Cavaleiro, signed from Wolves, former Brighton winger Knockaert and Mitrovic formed an impressive strikeforce and Parker praised the efforts of Fulham's owners for the summer recruitment.

He said: "It's so important to bring in those type of players. That's credit to the owners who identified the mistakes we made last year in terms of recruitment.

"We have signed players who tick boxes and who you know what you are getting.

"You limit the risk and they have fitted in really well. All the new boys have fitted in superbly."

Cavaleiro put Fulham ahead in the 15th minute before fellow summer recruit Knockaert headed a 32nd minute second.

Mitrovic scored from the spot after being brought down by keeper Bartosz Bialkowski in the 56th minute before Cavaleiro added his second seven minutes later.

Millwall manager Neil Harris admitted his side had been well beaten.

He said: "I thought they were magnificent tonight. Certainly the best performance I have seen probably since Wolves got 100 points a couple of years ago to go up.

"Fulham fans will watch tonight and wonder 'what are we doing in this league, we should be in the Premier League'.

"As good as Fulham were, I am burning inside and am disappointed. We gave the ball back to them too cheaply. But I won't judge my players on this performance against Fulham."



Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/parker-praises-hard-work-put-fulham-players-after-big-win#ysOCFPFzdopBlo3x.99