Sunday Fulham Stuff - 19/01/20...

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Results

Friday
Fulham	1-0	Middlesborough

Saturday
Birmingham	1-1	Cardiff
Derby	1-0	Hull
Millwall	2-0	Reading
Preston NE	2-1	Charlton
Sheff Wed	0-5	Blackburn
QPR	1-0	Leeds
Bristol City	1-0	Barnsley
Huddersfield	0-0	Brentford
Swansea	2-1	Wigan

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Fulham executed their Middlesbrough gameplan to perfection, says Scott Parker

Parker said his side showed two sides to their game against Boro


Fulham manager Scott Parker

Scott Parker said his Fulham team executed their Middlesbrough gameplan to perfection in the first half at Craven Cottage on Friday night.

Parker believes his dominant side should have been at least three goals up at half-time.

But praised his players for showing two sides to their game and displaying the grittiness needed to see out the win in the second period.

Anthony Knockaert fired Fulham ahead early on and the home side threatened to run riot against Boro, creating a host of chances.

Boro improved as the game went on but struggled to create clear cut openings of their own and the Cottagers deservedly picked up the points to close the gap on the top two.

Parker said: "In the first half we were fantastic in what we did, the way we played, the way we moved the ball everything we worked on in the week worked out, with Reid dropping deep and overloading them in the middle of the park.

"We were dynamic at times. We limited them. They didn't have a shot on target, but they put a lot of balls in the box.

"In the second half we had some big big chances to put the game to bed and it gets a bit edgy. But 3-0 at half-time and everyone says it's a fair reflection. The second half you're searching for a goal so you can take a deep breath. But we see the game out, a clean sheet and a good performance."

Parker was pleased to take advantage of the early kick-off and to close the gap on West Brom and Leeds ahead of their games.

He said: "It's good to play before, to put that pressure on. But the main aim for us is to focus on ourselves. We need to keep winning games and ultimately keep producing what we've done tonight. You've seen two sides to this team: in the first half we move the ball well and are dynamic, in the second half we're gritty and see the game out.

"The way we played, what the players did, how we looked in the first half was very pleasing."



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-executed-middlesbrough-gameplan-perfection-17590261

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 1-0 Middlesbrough: Cottagers end Boro six-game unbeaten streak
Middlesbrough played out a disappointing 1-0 defeat on Friday to Fulham.

Jonathan Woodgate's men looked out of sorts as the hosts ran them ragged for most periods of the game.

Woodgate made a change from the team that drew at home to Derby County with Rudy Gestede in for Ashley Fletcher.

This was a surprise given that Fletcher had scored in his last two away games.

Boro missed the work rate of Fletcher as Fulham showed their intent from the start of the game.

The Cottagers wasted no time in going ahead with Anthony Knockaert striking from close range after a low cross from Joe Bryan.

Boro failed to respond with Fulham continuing their domination by carving out opportunities. Only a mixture of good saves from Aynsley Pears, and poor finishing from the hosts kept the scoreline at 1-0 heading to the break.

The second half was more of the same with Boro struggling to get out of their own half.

Fulham thought they had gone 2-0 up after Odoi flicked a freekick from Ivan Cavaileiro, but it was ruled out for offside.

Woodgate made changes late in the game with a double switch involving Fletcher and Nmecha.

It took until the 85th minute for Boro to have their first shot on target with Marek Rodak tipping Paddy McNair's free-kick over the bar.

Boro pushed for a late equaliser, but Fulham hung on to secure the win.

The hosts move to third place, four points behind Leeds United while Middlesbrough remain 16th in the table.



https://www.oneboro.co.uk/boro-news/fulham-1-0-middlesbrough-cottagers-end-boro-six-game-unbeaten-streak-18120

[WhiteJC]

Five Thoughts: Fulham 1-0 Middlesbrough

Not really the return to SW6 that Djed Spence and Patrick Roberts were dreaming of, and that makes the victory all the sweeter. That's five wins in five from the weekend's early kick-offs and it's a damn long way for Middlesbrough's fan base to come for a 1-0 loss. Mock our home support when you barely get 10,000 at the Riverside? Guess you got what you deserved in the end. We never asked for clappers anyway.

Two past stalwarts of the English game – one a pioneer of his trade, the other a Real Madrid flop – exchanged unsavoury phrases in front of the temporary gantry and it was our former England international that claimed the spoils. Scott Parker cheffed up a strategical masterclass and got everything spot on, to be honest.

We're within touching distance of the automatic spots. Once upon a time, we were 13 points behind Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion but now the horizon's bright and plentiful. Fortunes can flip in an instance but while the getting's good, we've got to learn to love this league for all its drama, controversy and sheer excitement. Friday night delight is better by the Thames.

Countless Crumbled Chances
Fulham bolted from the traps and landed the game's defining blow in the 6th minute. Middlesbrough were completely overwhelmed by the Whites' intense policy and were carved wide open, spatchcocked, even, and could have trudged into the interval with a 6-goal deficit to relinquish. Parker's camp knitted together incisive sequences, rendering Woodgate's men inadequate but remarkably, though, the score line stayed as it was with the hosts spurning a catalogue of clear cut chances to widen the margin. Ivan Cavaleiro blazed over from an ideal angle within the 18-yard box, Joshua Onomah, unmarked, butted wide from a corner, the list goes on and we really should have been out of sight. Fulham may have been in the ascendancy, but the game could have taken a nasty turn for the worst as a result of our miscued efforts.

Boro, in fleeting spells, enlightened us to the threat they carry going forward and could have pulled level in the 30th minute after a freak deflection clattered the crossbar. This fluke jogged us back into reality, although if we dared to slip back into complacency, Boro were well equipped to punish if they were given a sniff. In the second half, Fulham's unbearable tempo lulled and Boro grew into a rhythm of their own, hemming Fulham back and constricting their grip and distinction. As we simply couldn't stick it away (not blaming the linesman for his judgement in Denis Odoi's glancing header), the game tumbled into an extremely nervy affair in the closing stages as Boro probed for an equaliser.

Clenched fists, jaws and butt cheeks, Fulham's faithful glimpsed on as both set-ups traded jabs and combinations with moments to spare. Just like it was when Stoke City came to town, the Whites' clung on to the slender gap they had between 3 points and 1. Fulham dispatched 17 shots, 6 being registered on target and despite the fact we snubbed multiple opportunities, we didn't seem to miss Aleksandar Mitrovic's enterprise up top. The Serb quality checks every instance that enters the final third but free-flowing, penetrative, verified football remained compatible to our system, even without a main focal point to construct from.

Anthony's Astonishing Application
What an exceptional outing Anthony Knockaert had terrorising the right flank. Marcus Tavernier was held hostage by the fiery Frenchman and every blade of grass was examined in the process. With Mitro' out of contention for a few weeks, it's now imperative that every offensive component stands up to make their presence and significance known and the 28-year-old grafted tirelessly to reign supreme. I'm not necessarily Knockaert's biggest fanboy, but he was my personal Man of the Match without question.

Knockaert violated the touchline, bobbing and weaving into advantageous areas and it wasn't very long before he was rewarded for his actions. Lurking just yards from the target, Knockaert's killer instinct kicked in and Fulham were rightfully in front. Always on the hunt for an opening to beset Boro, the energetic winger was relentless, stampeding at Boro's back four, forcing them to rush and abort. His individual work-rate was wholly essential as it encouraged his offensive teammates to follow his purposeful example.

Busting a gut to prise possession back if he'd initially lost out, initiating counters without hesitancy, Knockaert was a non-stop model for resourceful energy. I've never seen him work harder. His defensive impulse was also commendable. Doubling up with Odoi, the right channel was fairly watertight and, at the flick of the switch, Fulham could defuse Boro's overhanging impetus. His temperament is still an issue for me, he can talk himself into trouble with a single stroke of petulance, but if he channels his energy positively, he's a massive asset to our cause, and he proved his worth and importance on Friday evening, yet again. Game changer, match winner, passion merchant. In that order, if you please.

Hailing Heroic Hector
There's a definite correlation between Michael Hector's involvement and three consecutive victories. Just for the record, that's now also two clean sheets in a row so, in light of this promising revelation, we've got to hand the authoritative centre-half some bona fide credit. It's the very least he deserves after restraining Rudy Gestede so effortlessly. We forget that Hector is heavily versed at this level but, alongside an older head in Tim Ream, I think we've found our ideal centre-half pairing.

Aerially dominant, the 27-year-old rebuffed Boro's hopeless long balls and on the floor, his perceptive acumen enabled him to arrest the ball from the laces of Boro's advancing attackers. Brushing Gestede in the penalty area, Boro were aggrieved that they weren't awarded a spot kick although there was nothing in it. The Jamaica international's presence alone was enough to subdue the Benin representative, and that is by no means an easy task to overcome. Ruthless in close contention battles, Hector was comfortable enough to allow the ball to skip out of play, shielding Roberts, Tavernier and Gestede with an unconditional jurisdiction.

Fulham's matchday XI requires leadership and with Kevin McDonald and Big Hec' on the same pitch, the Whites were well-drilled, vigilant and ready to the highest degree. Establishing a fundamental understanding, KMac and Hector patrolled the quadrant between the midfield and the back four scrupulously, reviewing Boro's approach with a fine tooth comb in order to protect Fulham's accessible spine. Two natural-born leaders, operating in unison to hold us together. If one barked orders, the other reaffirmed and, as a result, the Whites conducted themselves excellently. Hector takes no prisoners and now he's embedded himself into Parker's plans, Fulham's rearguard is a much safer place to practise your profession.

Beholding Bryan's Benefit
I've tried, but I can't imagine a world without Joe Bryan supplying the goods from the left in a Fulham shirt. His drilled assist is exactly why he must remain at the Cottage for the remainder of the campaign and beyond, for that matter. Spence couldn't cope as the Whites overloaded the final third along his respective flank and Bryan, shimmying from the Fulham youth product, fired across the 6-yard box, zipping the ball within a narrow corridor for Knockaert to prod home. Absolute precision, exclusively crucial to our welfare.

There's still lingering doubts shadowing his underlying defensive capability and awareness somewhat, but he's such a beneficial device to have in wider reaches. Inclined to support continuously, Bryan interlinked with Cav' systematically, luring Spence and Jonny Howson out of position. This forged openings within Boro's back three and, whilst Bryan's a provider by custom, he also managed to muddy Aynsley Pears' gloves from the edge of the box with a considered right-footed effort in the 69th minute. Wrong peg, bro.

We have Cav' and Knockaert on hand to bamboozle, Bryan's prime objective is to cater for the strike force. Terence Kongolo is, by trade a left sided centre-half that is capable of deputising at left-back if needed, but we wouldn't get the same forward-thinking effect from the Dutch international. Odoi can play anywhere across the back but that qualification is actually a burden. One week he could be on the right, the next at centre-half, the Belgian doesn't have factory position anymore. What's that? Maxime Le Marchand? There's the door. Bryan is one of a kind.

Onomah's Officially Outstanding
I've seen the light. Now I'm starting to see what Parker does in Onomah. Persistence has paid off for the young midfielder and he's genuinely buttoned down an undisputed starting place. I, for one, hadn't been very fair in my critique of the 22-year-old upon his emergence to first-team football but he's redeemed himself in my estimation. It's official, Onomah is an outstanding member of the team, exemplifying the difference between ruin and restoration of self-belief.

The former Tottenham Hotspur hotshot's box-to-box application kept Fulham's midfield department ticking. Pursuing George Saville and Adam Clayton, Onomah made life a toilsome chore for Boro in the middle and, if he'd been surpassed, he snapped back to stricken their progress through the centre. Onomah voyaged from one end to the other and was a relevant cog in our midfield machine. He could have also bagged a few goals for himself as well, if he'd steadied himself properly, but he wasn't a passive bystander, he was integral, right up until he was replaced by Harry Arter in the 79th minute.

For a big guy, Onomah's grace and poise on the ball is wonderfully deceptive. Boro attempted to dislodge possession, but there's voltage in those wiry legs of his. It seemed as though Clayton and Saville had him sussed but out of nowhere, Onomah would morph into Patrick Vieira, circa 2001/2002, with the agility of Jack Wilshere against Barcelona, the 2011 edition. Twisting out of tight pockets and offloading possession intelligently, the new-found regista was the innovative inspiration we needed to wreak havoc beside Tom Cairney. At first glimpse, he cut a scrawny, fragile figure and faded out of proceedings without a whimper, a scapegoat for abuse. Now, he's a man of prominence, initiative and he relishes coldhearted confrontations on a weekly basis. Top stuff, Josh!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2020-01-18-five-thoughts-fulham-1-0-middlesbrough/

[WhiteJC]

'Absolutely immense' – Plenty of Fulham fans react to defender's performance against Middlesbrough

Fulham fans have heaped praise on defender Michael Hector after they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Friday evening in the Championship.

Heading in to the Friday night fixture, Fulham knew that a win would put firm pressure on top two West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United.

Scott Parker's side have been in excellent form this season and they now move up to third with the victory, sealing an impressive 14th win in 28 games.

The hosts dominated the possession right from the get go and Anthony Knockaert's sixth minute strike proved enough for them to seal victory.

Boro had some good moments of play during the game, but they struggled to create clear chances, with the Cottagers resolute at the back – inspired by Hector.

The 27-year-old has only been able to play since January and it's fair to say the fans are delighted with the impact he is making. Here's some of the reaction to his display...



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/absolutely-immense-plenty-of-fulham-fans-react-to-defenders-performance-against-middlesbrough/

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Charlton boss Lee Bowyer wants bodies in before Fulham – and reveals unusual offer has come in for Lyle Taylor

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer says he needs signings through the door as soon as possible to arrest his side's slide – and also revealed that the club had received a "ridiculous" bid for striker Lyle Taylor.

The Addicks boss saw his injury-ravaged side slip to a third defeat in four as they were beaten 2-1 at Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.

New club owners East Street Investments will need to help bolster Bowyer's squad, and had a bid accepted for Peterborough's Marcus Maddison last week – although they club have been unable to agree terms with the midfielder.

Bowyer knows that he needs reinforcements and would prefer to see some before Wednesday's rearranged home game with Fulham.

"We need to [get players in before Fulham]," said the Addicks boss.

"We need to bring bodies in, that's obvious. I know it, Steve Gallen knows it and the chairman knows it. The sooner, the better for me. The sooner we start bringing bodies in the better because we need help.

"Not just for myself, that players. They need help. They know it. Everyone can see what's happening. A bit of help and a few more players coming back and then we'll give ourselves a better chance.

"We've given targets, the players that we want to bring in, and the sooner we start bringing players in the better."

The Charlton chief was also asked if he would need to let striker Lyle Taylor go in order to raise funds for use in the transfer market – and admitted that a club had come in this week with an unusual offer for his talisman.

"I hope [we won't sell him]," he explained.

"Someone came in with a silly offer on Friday. That was player for player, there was no money involved. It was a ridiculous offer.

"This is something that is out of my hands. I'm not the money person. I'm not controlling that side of things. All I can control is that we keep working hard and trying to win games."



https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-wants-bodies-in-before-fulham-and-reveals-unusual-offer-has-come-in-for-lyle-taylor/

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Hector hits the ground running

I'll admit to feeling somewhat skeptical when it was reported that Fulham had paid fractionally under £8m for the services of Michael Hector from Chelsea. The prospect of dropping a defender, who had been short of any serious match practice for six months, into the heat of a Championship promotion push when the Whites had little margin for error if they wanted to challenge for the top two positions seemed somewhat high risk. The Jamaican international might me wince a little with an error on his debut that allowed Aston Villa back into the FA Cup tie, but since then he has hardly put a foot wrong.

Hector does have recent pedigree at this level. He finished last season in outstanding form for Sheffield Wednesday and was reportedly close to moving to Hillsborough on a permanent basis. Fulham's defensive issues have been well documented this season, with all too familiar lapses undermining Scott Parker's laudable aim of returning to the top flight by playing progressive and pretty football. It was a bold call to offer a new signing the chance to tighten things up at the back and the results have been immediate. Fulham had kept two clean sheets in ten games before his arrival and have now managed two on the bounce.

Last night's victory over Middlesbrough illustrated his importance. He was commanding from the off, organising the defence in a manner that one might have expected Alfie Mawson to do. It was arguably Hector's aerial aptitude that meant the visitors had little joy in front of goal. The new signing won everything in the air against Rudy Gestede, clearing his lines effectively over and over again, and was impressive on the floor as well – no more so than when he timed a late tackle to perfection inside the penalty area as precious seconds ticked away. This was the dominant performance of a man with hundreds of club appearances under his belt, not somebody making only a third start.

There will be tougher tests to come and it is far to say that Boro only belatedly threatened to get in behind Fulham once Ashley Fletcher came off the bench with ten minutes to play. Hector's assuredness is encouraging, though, if only because the type of victories he has inspired – accurately described as 'gritty' by Parker – are just the sort of successes required if the Whites are to make the top two this term. The new man's distribution doesn't look out of place in a side that looks to dominate possession, either, and so composed was his display you could make a case for him rivalling goalscorer Anthony Knockaert for the man of the match award.

The addition of Hector and Terence Kongolo, who watched from the Cottage balcony only a matter of hours after completing his loan move from Huddersfield, so early in the January transfer window gives Parker the sort of strength in depth defensively that he had been lacking to do that. His side can more easily switch to three centre halves – something the Fulham boss has used as a tactical tweak later on in games regularly this season – and, in the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic, will need to be more miserly in front of Marek Rodak in any case. There's a long way to go, but the man already dubbed 'Virgil van Mike' has already played in part in putting Fulham right back in the automatic promotion picture.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/01/hector-hits-the-ground-running/

[WhiteJC]

Strength of Parker's squad showing as Fulham look to emulate class of '18

Scott Parker underlined the importance of squad depth after Fulham's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage on Friday night.

Following a busy but successful Christmas period, Fulham have notched three consecutive wins, including progression to the FA Cup fourth round. In these recent games, Parker has shown a willingness to rotate his team selection, bringing Kevin McDonald back to the starting XI and introducing new signing Michael Hector to the defence.

"Everyone's got a part to play, " Parker said. "There are players who have played a lot of football and aren't in the team. Cyrus Christie has come off the back of a run of games, Kevin McDonald has done the same."

With injuries cropping up throughout the past month, the head coach has been able to rely on a resurgent Josh Onomah and the return of Harry Arter to account for the absence of captain Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed.

The previous weekend's victory away at Hull came with the blemish of an ankle injury to top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović, too. With Aboubakar Kamara also missing, Parker was faced with a new conundrum against Middlesborough, but adapted well by utilising Bobby Decordova-Reid in a false nine role, flanked by Ivan Cavaleiro and goalscorer Anthony Knockaert.

And seasoned midfielder Stefan Johansen was brought off the bench to add more grit in midfield, leaving Parker pleased with the Norwegian's contribution.

He added: "You keep to the formula of working hard, coming in everyday and grafting. Everyone is going to be needed and Stefan comes on, sees the game out and shows his quality.

"With Bobby dropping down and overloading them in the middle of the park, everything we worked on in the week worked well."

The additions of defender Terence Kongolo from Huddersfield and goalkeeper Jordan Archer have bolstered Parker's options as the January transfer window reaches its latter stages, following the signings of Hector and Ivan Cavaleiro on permanent deals.

Recalling Fulham's Wembley-bound team of 2017/18, when loan signings such as Mitrović, Oliver Norwood and Matt Targett embellished the side with Premier League quality, Parker is running the gamut of the squad as he aims for automatic promotion.

A balance of established stars and loanees, each with something to prove, might do the trick.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/strength-of-parkers-squad-showing-as-fulham-look-to-emulate-class-of-18

[WhiteJC]

Michael Gray names the Championship rival striker Leeds United 'need'

Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic is the striker Leeds United need, says Michael Gray.

Michael Gray has stated on Twitter that Leeds United need Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Gray, who had two loan spells at Leeds from Blackburn Rovers, made the comment while responded to a post on Twitter.

Proven Championship goalscorer

Mitrovic may have had a mixed period in the Premier League, but the Serbia international is a proven striker at the Championship level.

According to WhoScored, the former Newcastle United striker has scored 18 goals and provided one assist in 26 Championship appearances for the Cottagers so far this season.

During the second half of the 2017-18 campaign, the Serbia international scored 12 goals and provided one assist in 20 Championship games for Fulham, according to WhoScored.

Back in 2016-17, Mitrovic made 11 starts and 14 substitute appearances in the Championship for Newcastle, scoring four goals and providing six assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

Need for a striker

Leeds's recent results and performances have underlined the need for Marcelo Bielsa's side to sign a striker in the January transfer window, as they simply cannot rely on Patrick Bamford to deliver the goods all the time.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/01/19/michael-gray-names-the-championship-rival-striker-leeds-united-n/