Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 07/07/20...

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3 things we learnt about Fulham after 1-0 win over Birmingham City

Fulham eventually emerged victorious from their game with Birmingham City at the weekend as they won 1-0 against the Blues.

The Cottagers, as they so often do, dominated the ball but it looked as though it was going to be another case of a game where they controlled possession but didn't kill things off.

However, deep into stoppage time, substitute Josh Onomah finally broke the deadlock at the end of the game, and fans will be pleased to see they've stitched together two wins on the bounce at this stage of the season.

What did we learn about the Lilywhites in this one, then? We look at three things...

Onomah stakes his claim
Onomah hasn't been seen much since the restart, making sub appearances in the matches that he has played.

He was, though, becoming a key asset in midfield before the break and before his injury and the weekend's showing underlined why.

He was busy and eventually earned Fulham the three points when he came on, giving Scott Parker a nice selection headache for the remaining games in the league.

Flow without Mitrovic
That's two wins from two without Aleksandar Mitrovic in the side and though he's obviously one of the best strikers in the division, it's clear Fulham can cope without him.

There is an idea around that, when he's not playing, Fulham have to be more considered with their approach, rather than just relying on the Serb, and we've seen other players step up to ensure they've got over the line of late.

Reliance on late strike again
This is by no means the first time that Fulham have left it late to win a game this season and though such resilience and fight to the end will please Scott Parker, the Cottagers do need to kill games off more – and have needed to all year.

77% possession is a hugely impressive stat to come from the game but, once again, it almost counted for little bar the final few minutes.

Parker and co. need to find ways of finishing games off as, if they had done so more all season, they'd likely be in the top two.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-things-we-learnt-about-fulham-after-1-0-win-over-birmingham-city/

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Josh Onomah leaves it late as Fulham pick up vital win over Birmingham

Josh Onomah struck deep into added time to keep Fulham's automatic promotion hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Birmingham.

Scott Parker's side appeared set for frustration as they struggled to break down a Birmingham side now without a win in nine Sky Bet Championship matches.

But Onomah – on as a 60th-minute substitute – swept home from 12 yards to deliver the victory that moves them to within four points of second-placed West Brom.

Prior to that moment, the Cottagers had struggled to break Birmingham down with in-demand Blues teenager Jude Bellingham coming closest to breaking the deadlock.

The 17-year-old is a target for Manchester United but is believed to be close to sealing a move to Borussia Dortmund with the Bundesliga side reported to have offered a deal worth up to £30million.

And the youngster came close to scoring his fifth league goal of the season when an early header crashed against the Fulham crossbar.

Parker's side survived that scare but did not look capable of taking full advantage until they injected more tempo into the game after a disappointing first half.

Even then, when they did manage to find a way through the Birmingham defence, visiting keeper Lee Camp produced a succession of fine saves before he was finally beaten by Onomah.

The Cottagers had struggled to find their feet after the restart, suffering back-to-back defeats before the midweek win at QPR.

And it looked as though they would rue the continuing absence of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was serving the second game of a three-match ban.

In the absence of the leading scorer, Bobby Decordova-Reid led the Cottagers' attack but was unable to provide the same cutting edge.

There was a greater sense of urgency in Fulham's approach after the break as they dominated long periods of possession.

Ivan Cavaleiro got to the byline on the left hand side before pulling back, Anthony Knockaert failed to make a proper connection and the winger's shot was easily saved by Camp.

Camp again denied Knockaert before producing a superb double save from Joe Bryan and Decordova-Reid, but the keeper was powerless to prevent Onomah claiming the points after being set up by Harrison Reed.



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/josh-onomah-leaves-it-late-as-fulham-pick-up-vital-win-over-birmingham-1593879687000

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Why Fulham should target ex-Tottenham Hotspur man after QPR release

Fulham boss Scott Parker crossed paths with Grant Hall as players together at Tottenham Hotspur.

The defender is now a free agent having left London rivals QPR when his contract expired. Therefore, could the Cottagers hand him another opportunity in the Championship?

Hall, who is 28 years old, had spent five years on the books at QPR after joining them from Spurs. However, he will now have to weigh up his options.

He would be a decent option for Fulham, especially if they are still in the Championship next season. He is a player Parker knows well, is experienced at this level and would add more options and depth to their defensive department.

Hall made 30 appearances for the R's this term before the season was brought to a halt, chipping in with five goals from defence.

He started out with spells as a youngster at Lewes and Brighton and Hove Albion before Spurs signed him in 2012. He never made a senior appearance for the London club but did gain first-team experience out on loan at Swindon Town, Birmingham City and Blackpool.

Hall moved to QPR in 2015 after a successful trial and has been an important player for them in the second tier. He has played 130 games for the Hoops to date but has left now after the club failed to agree terms with him.

Fulham should now move for him now on a free transfer to boost their defence.



https://the72.co.uk/177973/why-fulham-should-target-ex-tottenham-hotspur-man-after-qpr-release/

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2 shots, 76% pass success: The man who changed the game for Fulham v Birmingham

Fulham left it late, but eventually won out against Birmingham City at the weekend in the Sky Bet Championship as they earned another three points in the race for promotion.

With Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion also winning, the Cottagers still have a bit to do if they want to get into the top two but, even so, at least they did not drop any points.

And that, in no small part, was down to Josh Onomah who came on at the 60-minute mark and, in the 38 minutes after, injected some life into the game, scoring late in stoppage time to secure the three points.

Here, we breakdown his key stats from the match:

Onomah has been limited to sub appearances since the restart but before the break and his injury he was enjoying a decent spell for Fulham.

Indeed, this performance suggests he's getting back to those levels and perhaps Scott Parker will look to start him next time out.

Evidently, he was eager to make an impression with two shots during the game from his midfield position, whilst he also won duels both in the air and on the ground.

He'd perhaps like his passing to have been a bit more accurate but that in itself shows he was willing to take some risks on the ball, with much of Fulham's performance once again full of possession but also wastefulness.

Whether he's done enough to start next time out remains to be seen, then, but you certainly couldn't have asked for much more from him.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-shots-76-pass-success-the-man-who-changed-the-game-for-fulham-v-birmingham/

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Talking Points: Birmingham City

We look at five points of discussion that arose from Fulham's dramatic late win over Birmingham City on Saturday.

1. Top quality winner

There was so much to admire about our winning goal. There appeared to be little danger for Birmingham City when Bobby De Cordova-Reid had the ball out wide, but a quick jinking run saw him get away from his man and into space. Meanwhile, Harrison Reed has sensed exactly what his teammate is going to do, and has burst forward to give him the perfect option. The final piece of the jigsaw was Josh Onomah who held his position in the box, allowing him to expertly sweep home Reed's cutback.

2. Never give up

Onomah's goal at the death epitomised the desire we've seen from the squad this season to keep fighting until the bitter end. That was the 12th goal scored by a Fulham player in the 80th minute onwards this season.

3. Second half response

Whatever Scott Parker said to his team at half-time, it definitely worked. After a sluggish opening 45 minutes in which Fulham registered just two efforts on goal, a second half onslaught yielded 13 more. Lee Camp had to be on good form to keep out Onomah, De Cordova-Reid and Joe Bryan, but thankfully the final shot of the afternoon did find the back of the net to secure a deserved three points for the Whites.

4. Limbs potential

While we are constantly missing having the Fulham faithful at matches, there are key moments when you really wish they'd been there to witness it. Onomah's strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time was one. When your team has been knocking on the door but it looks as though time is running out, and you then you snatch victory at the death... There aren't manner sweeter feelings, and the scenes in the Hammersmith End would have been fantastic.

5. Test of credentials

Fulham now embark on what could be a defining three-game period, as we face a trio of top-six sides in just eight days. First up is a trip to those closest to us in the table, fourth placed Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, before we welcome a resurgent Cardiff City to Craven Cottage for a televised encounter on Friday. We then have the opportunity to close the gap on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns next week.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/july/06/talking-points-birmingham-city

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Fulham come to life at the last

I'm sure I wouldn't have been the only one in a foul mood had Saturday's dreary date with Birmingham City ended goalless. Such a stalemate would have added to the impression that Scott Parker's side are running of ideas as we enter the home straight. Funny how one moment changes things. A win is wonderful no matter how it arrives but there's something even sweeter about victories earned with virtually the last kick.

But, once again, Fulham were far from impressive. Birmingham should really have scored at least once in the first half thanks to a comical cavalcade of defensive errors as Michael Hector's less than impressive restart continues. It wasn't even as if we rode our luck. Dominant in possession, Fulham's toothless football in the final third left Lee Camp scandalously underemployed for long periods. It took until the 65th minute for home side to register a shot on target – and by then Birmingham were already happy to settle for a point.

Pep Clotet's side gradually relinquished any attacking ambition. He withdrew the talented teenager Jude Bellingham, who could have had a hat trick in the first half, on the hour for the more defensively minded Maikel Kieftenbeld and replaced winger Jeremie Bela with Wes Harding, a right back. Even if the arrival of Lukas Jutkiewicz, a regular scourge of the Whites, sent a shiver down Fulham spines, the sight of the visitors retreating into a low defensive block, trying to shore things up with Harlee Dean coming on as a late substitute and switching to five at the park, signalled their true intentions.

It was crying out for a killer Tom Cairney pass but even though Fulham upped the ante as time ticked away, it would be a stretch to say anyone saw Josh Onomah's late, late winner coming. Five minutes into stoppage, the sharpest move of the match finally prized open Birmingham's defence. Bobby Decordova-Reid showed a sense of adventure, skipping away from two defenders on the right and feeding Harrison Reid's late run. The Southampton loanee spotted the run of his fellow midfielder rather than going for goal himself and Onomah swept home smartly. Camp, who had produced a superb double save to deny Joe Bryan and Decordova-Reid minutes earlier, had no chance.

There were some subtle alterations to Parker's tactics, even if the overwhelming feeling was that possession for possession's sake got us nowhere. Tom Cairney was often Fulham's widest left midfielder as Ivan Cavaleiro occupied more of a wide striker role. Harry Arter was frequently the furthest man forward, with Decordova-Reid appearing to take the idea of a false nine literally. This did cause issues in connecting defence and attack, which led to Denis Odoi's first half booking, when neither Reed or any of the back four had a passing option in sight with twenty yards between the ball carrier and another white shirt.

However, it was somewhat refreshing to see some positional flexibility to a Fulham side that has been quite predictable. The holder will hold, TC will be centre left and the opposite central midfielder will be the same. The wingers will come inside in possession and the full backs overlap. It was quite apt that the winner came courtesy of some actual movement, Bobby floated right to collect the ball drawing Birmingham players out of position, Harrison Reed saw the space and moved into it whilst Josh Onomah looked like prime Frank Lampard sweeping home.

Parker should incorporate the dynamism of forward runners into his patterns of play when Aleksandar Mitrovic returns from suspension. Our talisman is far more formidable when the angles of attack are multiplied and he has company in the penalty area. Rather than pumping aimless crosses in his direction, let's get midfielders joining him in the box – there's untapped scoring potential in our side – and, who knows, a low ball on floor might do the trick as well from time to time.

I've moaned a lot recently, and nobody can say we played well on Saturday, with our penchant for possession cancelled out by Birmingham's increasing willingness to accept a point as they looked to secure safety. But there were some encouraging signs with Ivan Cavaleiro making more in behind his full back and, even if the final ball didn't always come off, the variety will ask questions of the opposition defence as opposed to everything being ahead of them.

Back-to-back wins should help boost the confidence around the Cottage as Fulham head into five games against some of the Championship's in-form sides. Tuesday's trip to Nottingham Forest, who stymied us successfully back in August, will tell us a lot about whether Fulham have recovered from the hammer blows of those defeats by Brentford and Leeds. Another victory and a play-off place should be secured.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/07/fulham-come-to-life-at-the-last/

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'It's been an indescribable journey so far... I just can't wait to show what I can do': Harvey Elliott signs his first professional Liverpool contract with 17-year-old wonderkid set for increased role next season for Jurgen Klopp's champions

    Harvey Elliott, 17, signed his first professional contract at champions Liverpool
    He moved to Anfield from Fulham last summer and has made eight appearances
    Elliott has expressed sheer delight with his journey after putting pen to paper
    Jurgen Klopp hailed Elliott's attitude and enthusiasm when reacting to the news

Teenage sensation Harvey Elliott has penned his first professional contract at Liverpool.

The 17-year-old midfielder moved to Anfield from Fulham last summer and has impressed in his eight senior outings across all competitions this season.

Elliott has revealed his sheer delight with his meteoric progression at the club - and boss Jurgen Klopp also reserved particular praise when reacting to the announcement.


Teenage sensation Harvey Elliott has penned his first professional contract at Liverpool


The 17-year-old moved to Anfield from Fulham last summer and has made eight appearances

With Liverpool having already wrapped up the Premier League title, Klopp has afforded opportunities to several youngsters. He introduced Elliott as a second-half substitute during the 4-0 win against Crystal Palace.     

And the youngster's willingness to develop with the newly-crowned champions and wait patiently for first-team opportunities has been duly rewarded with the deal.

He told Liverpool's official website: 'I think since the first day I've walked in, it's been an indescribable journey so far.

'I think now to top it off with my first professional contract is a dream come true for me and my family.

'I'm excited to see what the future holds and I'm just excited to give everything to the club and the fans.'

Elliott also fondly recalled his Anfield debut against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last-16 tie in October, and admitted the experience had been a touching one.

'I think when I stepped out on the Anfield pitch when I played Arsenal, I think it was an emotional thing for me,' he added.

'To obviously be watching the players and to be playing them with them, honestly it's a dream come true.

'To be in and around the fans as well, to hear them singing You'll Never Walk Alone when you're stepping out on the pitch, it did bring a tear to my eye.

'I just can't wait to give everything back to them and just to show them what I can do.'

Liverpool have not announced the length of the professional deal, however, which Elliott had been eligible to sign since his 17th birthday in April.

Klopp highlighted Elliott's endearing cheekiness, and added: 'I think the public maybe doesn't know the real Harvey yet and part of that is because we have looked to shield and protect him.

'But he is such a nice, polite, humble boy – who is appreciative of the talent and opportunity he has – and just loves football. He loves the game first and foremost, would play every minute of every day if he could – and he loves this club also and that's a nice mixture.'

The highly-rated starlet may feature again for Liverpool in their next clash against Brighton on Wednesday.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8494755/Harvey-Elliott-signs-professional-contract-Liverpool.html

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Board Election – Results

We would like to thank all our members who participated in the recent Board Election, whether as candidates, nominators, seconders or voters.

The nominations period was open from Thursday 28th May to Thursday 1The nominations period was open from Thursday 28th May to Thursday 11th June, with the subsequent election taking place between Thursday 18th June and Thursday 2nd July. We're very grateful to our Independent Scrutineer Jonathan Cope who oversaw the process.

Jonathan has now reviewed and confirmed the election results in his Independent Scrutineer's report. We are pleased to announce that, with a strong turnout of 49%, the following members have been elected to the Trust board:
Three election cycle terms

    Derek Brewer
    Gerry Pimm
    Simon Duke
    Farrell Monk

Two election cycle term

    Owen Smith

Commiserations to Peter Grinham and Les O'Gorman who were not successful this time in what turned out to be a very close election.

Derek, Gerry, Simon, Farrell and Owen join the other seven members of the board who were not standing for election in this cycle. Formal board positions will be agreed at the July board meeting and announced in due course.

Thank you for your continued support of the Fulham Supporters' Trust.

Tom Greatrex
Chair



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2020/07/board-election-results/

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Fulham need a plan B for their promotion push – and it can't just centre around Aleksandar Mitrovic

Before the Championship restart, Fulham had eyes firmly fixed on automatic promotion, sitting third and within touching distance of the top two.

But after just two wins from the last five, including back-to-back defeats to promotion rivals Brentford and Leeds, the Cottagers are fourth and realistically contemplating a Play-Off place.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's three game suspension for an elbow incident during the 3-0 loss to Leeds has further compounded their misery, with it becoming abundantly clear how much they rely on the Serbian front man.

Before his suspension, Mitrovic had the highest share of any team's goals in the Championship, scoring an incredible 44.2% of Fulham's total this season.

Over-dependence on one player is both unusual and risky for a team vying for promotion and against Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City it became apparent Fulham needed a Plan B in Mitrovic's absence.

But how could Fulham boss Scott Parker add another dimension to the Cottagers attacking impetus with or without Mitrovic in the future?

Reid through the middle – but it needs time
Perhaps the most obvious answer is to utilise Bobby Reid as a central striker with Anthony Knockaert and Ivan Cavaleiro on the wings.

It was the front three Parker opted for in the opening two games without his top scorer and although there was some unfamiliarity in the set-up there were glimpses of promise.

During his time at Bristol City, Reid was deployed as either a second striker or attacking midfielder, dropping off to provide a passing option for midfielders both centrally and in wide areas.

Against QPR, Reid's movement occasionally drew an opposition defender out of position or left space in the box for an onrushing midfielder to attack despite the Hoops frustratingly suffocating the midfield when Fulham had the ball.

It was a similar case for Fulham's 96th minute winner against Birmingham but these sequences were few and far between with Fulham struggling to find an attacking focal point without the physicality of Mitrovic.

Too often in both games they struggled to move the ball forward and create chances despite enjoying the majority of possession and were instead reduced to shots from outside the box and long diagonal balls from the back which rarely reached the front three.

Opportunity knocks for Anthony
Fulham's most threatening passage of play in this system comes when the ball is switched to the opposite flank, allowing the winger or full-back on that side to cut in and expose the gaps in the opposition defence as they shuffle back across.

This is where the dribbling abilities of Knockaert or Cavaleiro are best suited – running towards back-peddling defenders to either fashion a shooting or crossing situation.

As the team with the second-highest average possession in the league, overlapping full-backs are a custom in Fulham's build-up play – particularly with Joe Bryan's seven assists from left back this season.

On a few occasions in the past two games, Knockaert found himself unmarked in the box after good play from Cavaleiro and Reid but the final ball was never executed.

It shows that even though this front three failed to register a goal or an assist in both of the last two games, there were still enough slick interplay to give Parker encouragement going forward.

The return of Aboubakar Kamara
One man who has already proved he can step into Mitrovic's shoes is Aboubakar Kamara, scoring twice to clinch victory over QPR following the Serbian's yellow card suspension back in November.

As he returns to full fitness, the 25-year-old's involvement would not be as much of a digression from Fulham's normal style of play as using Reid up front, providing more of a physical presence both aerially and in behind the defence.

Similarly, his goal threat makes for impressive reading – scoring or making an assist every 112 minutes this campaign, the highest in the side.

To accommodate Kamara, Parker could sacrifice Harry Arter in central midfield to revert to a front two of Reid and Kamara in either a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 formation with the tenacity and defensive assurance of Harrison Reed complementing Tom Cairney or Josh Onomah in a double-pivot.

This partnership would be akin to Reid's with Famara Diedhiou during his Bristol City days, Reid dropping off as a second striker to collect on the half-turn and linking up with Kamara.

Parker needs to be brave
Although Fulham only have one more game to endure without Mitrovic, the suspension has highlighted how far they have yet to go in retaining their attacking threat in his absence.

Teams reliant on just one outlet are typically the easiest to thwart and although it is credit to Mitrovic's effectiveness it has made Fulham too one-dimensional at times.

Arguably Parker has enough attacking quality within his squad to add something new to Fulham's game but with the season at the hectic business end, it is more a question of whether he has the time, patience or indeed courage to do so.



https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2020/07/06/fulham-need-a-plan-b-for-their-promotion-push-and-it-cant-just-centre-around-aleksandar-mitrovic/

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Nottingham Forest Take on Fulham in Top Six Clash

Nottingham Forest welcome Fulham to the City Ground in the Championship with both sides looking to solidify their top-six spot.

Nottingham Forest Take on Fulham in Top Six Clash
Nottingham Forest Aiming to Make Amends for Weekend Disappointment

Sabri Lamouchi's men come into this one sitting in fifth place and have a seven-point cushion between them and Derby County in 7th.

But the gap could have been a whole lot bigger after their clash with their fiercest rivals at the weekend. Joe Lolley's 11th-minute strike cancelled out by a 97th-minute equaliser by Chris Martin.

It is the second consecutive away game that Forest have conceded in second-half stoppage time, and has all but ended their faint chances of gatecrashing the top two.

But there were positives to take from their draw in East Midlands derby. They are still unbeaten since the season restart, and only need three more wins to guarantee a place in the play-offs.

Fulham Aiming to Make Three Consecutive Wins
The away side sit just two points ahead of their opponents in fourth position.

They also experienced late drama at the weekend, Josh Onamah scored a 95th-minute winner to secure all three points over Birmingham City at Craven Cottage.

Like Forest, only three more wins would secure their place in the play-offs.

Match Facts
Forest came out on top in their previous meeting back in August. Lewis Grabban scored a brace in that fixture.

Grabban is the home side's top scorer. A goal this evening would take him onto 20 for the season.

A win for Fulham would take them five points clear of Forest, while a win for the Reds would leapfrog them over their opponents into fourth.

Team News
Nottingham Forest will have a full squad available for this match.

Fulham will have four players out, however. Terence Kongolo and Aboubakar Kamara are out with injuries, while Alfie Mawson is not match fit.

Aleksander Mitrovic has 23 goals this season, but he will not be available as he carries out his suspension following an elbow on Ben White in their 3-0 defeat at Leeds United.

Prediction
With Fulham without a recognised goalscorer in Mitrović, it raises the question of who will be the man to put the ball in the net. 1-0, 1-1 and 1-2 have been their most familiar scoreline in 19/20.

But it should be mentioned that Forest's have 1-1 nine times, which is their most frequent result this season. 1-0 is their most common scoreline in games they've won (six times).

There's not much to separate these two sides. That's in terms of League position, points total, goals for and goals against, and in truth, we cannot call it. It feels like it's going to be a tight game, with one goal to potentially separate them.

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Fulham



https://lastwordonfootball.com/2020/07/07/nottingham-forest-take-on-fulham-in-top-six-clash/

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Onomah starts: How we expect Fulham to line-up v Nottm Forest tonight

Fourth meets fifth in the Sky Bet Championship tonight as Fulham travel to Nottingham Forest in a huge game at the top of the second tier.

Both sides still have hopes of making the top two this season but, for at least one of them, dropping points will likely see them fall short in that particular race.

This could, of course, be a dress rehearsal for a play-off game at the end of the campaign, though, with both sides looking like they've got more than enough to make the top six in the final weeks.

A big game for both, then, and here we're looking at the Fulham XI Scott Parker might decide to name:

It'd be no surprise to see Joe Bryan back in the side and looking to cause issues on the left for Forest, whilst Denis Odoi might shift over to the right and be that bit more defensive than Cyrus Christie.

In midfield, Josh Onomah changed the game at the weekend against Birmingham City and could deserve a starting place at the expense of Harry Arter, with Harrison Reed and Tom Cairney joining him in the middle.

Aleksandar Mitrovic remains suspended and so it could be the attacking trio we saw last time out that plays here, with Bobby Reid down the middle and Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert on the flanks.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/onomah-starts-how-we-expect-fulham-to-line-up-v-nottm-forest-tonight/

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Fully focused on Fulham

Ryan Yates said the Nottingham Forest squad are fully focused on getting a result against promotion rivals Fulham at The City Ground.

The Reds conceded late against Derby on the weekend to draw at Pride Park and Yates said the team have quickly put that behind them to look at the next challenge.

He said: "It felt like a loss, it was so disappointing. For 95 minutes we stuck to the plan, it was perfect. We nullified them, they barely had any chances but we are disappointed not to put the game to bed. But that is football and we focus on Fulham.

"We have the confidence that if we turn up and we perform, we can beat anyone. We were straight back on the training pitch, recovering and focused on the game.

"You can't really look back too much, you have to focus on the next one. We haven't got time to think about it, we have to go again."

Fulham have been around the play-off positions all season and Yates is well aware of the threats they pose, but is confident that the attacking players in red can produce the goods to gain all three points.

He said: "They are a really good team as it shows in the league table. They have really good individuals and we know how good they are going forward.

"If we can stop their attacking players and get our match winners on the ball as much as possible then I am sure we will get the right result."



https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/july/ryan-yates-pre-fulham/

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Sky Sports expert issues prediction as Nottingham Forest gear up for Fulham clash

Nottingham Forest will be eager to return to winning ways tonight as they prepare to take on promotion rivals Fulham at the City Ground.

The Reds were unable to hold onto all three points against arch rivals Derby County at the weekend, with the Rams netting a 97th minute equaliser through Chris Martin to salvage a late point in a 1-1 draw.

Sabri Lamouchi will be urging his side to return to winning ways tonight, then, as top-six rivals Fulham travel to the East Midlands.

Fulham sit one place and two points above Forest in fourth, and will be full of confidence after scoring a stoppage time winner against Birmingham City on Saturday.

Scott Parker's side sit seven points off second place, therefore a win tonight is their last chance to really push for the top-two, otherwise the season will likely culminate in a top-six finish for the London club.

It promises to be a hugely competitive fixture at the City Ground, so what does Sky Sports' David Prutton think? He has predicted an entertaining 2-2 draw...

He said: "Nottingham Forest will have been so frustrated with the way they threw away that win late on at Derby on Saturday. They were so much in control of that game before that last-minute slip.

"Fulham have scraped a couple of wins in their last two games, coming from behind against QPR then sneaking past Birmingham. Seven off the pace with five games to go is a big gap to make up, but all they can do is keep winning until it is mathematically impossible. I do, however, think this will be a draw."

The Verdict

A lot is at stake for both clubs tonight, and both really need a win if they are to make one last push for the automatic promotion places.

Forest have been impressive since the season's restart and don't look like losing, and a win could all-but confirm their place in the play-offs.

Without Aleksandar Mitrovic, I personally feel that Fulham are there for the taking, and I would back a home win for the Reds.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sky-sports-expert-issues-prediction-as-nottingham-forest-gear-up-for-fulham-clash/

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Match preview: Forest vs Fulham in association with Football Index

Check out all you need to know ahead of Nottingham Forest's match against Fulham at The City Ground in the match preview, in association with Football Index.

Nottingham Forest are back at The City Ground as they face fellow play-off hopefuls Fulham in a key clash at the top of the Championship table (kick-off 5pm).

The Reds have made an unbeaten start to the restart and will look to bounce back after conceding late against Derby on the weekend and continue their push to cement a top-six spot.

Fulham came back from the break with two defeats against Brentford and Leeds but have responded with back-to-back wins against QPR and Birmingham to keep their promotion push going.

Team news

Sabri Lamouchi has no injury concerns for the match against The Cottagers with a full squad to choose from. Click here to check out the team news in full for both teams.

From the opposition

Fulham manager Scott Parker is looking for his side to continue their winning run as they keep fighting for promotion, after they secured back-to-back wins ahead of their trip to The City Ground.

He said: "Our main focus is to win games and we've got tough ones coming up.

"I think whether you're playing top, mid table or bottom, every game will be huge. These are ones we need to prepare for and try and get on a good run. Back-to-back wins are huge.

"After three months without being around my players, I knew the ones coming back in the best physical nick would perform. This week was our 20th session contact wise.

"We've done all we can. It's been a quick turnaround, but I'm pleased. We lost 2-0 and 3-0 against Brentford and Leeds and we didn't deserve that.

"We've deserved these two wins and we need to keep going."

Fulham's last five

D - Bristol City 1-1 Fulham (07/03/20)
L - Fulham 0-2 Brentford (20/06/20)
L - Leeds 3-0 Fulham (27/06/20)
W - QPR 1-2 Fulham (30/06/20)
W - Fulham 1-0 Birmingham (04/06/20)

Coverage

Tuesday night's match will be live on Sky Sports but Nottingham Forest season card holders who have a code can also watch the clash with Fulham live on iFollow Forest.

Season card holders who have selected option 1 from the refund options will be able to watch all The Reds' remaining games free of charge on iFollow Forest. For more information, please click here.

For only £2.50, you can purchase a match pass to listen to the action live with commentary from BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.

To purchase a match pass, simply visit nottinghamforest.co.uk/ifollow/subscribe, scroll down to the match passes section and click 'Purchase Now' next to the Fulham fixture.

There will also be full match coverage available via the club's official social media channels and in the Match Centre.

Referee

Robert Jones is the referee in charge of tonight's game, overseeing his fifth Forest game of the season. He has taken charge of the 1-1 draw with Leeds, the home defeat against Cardiff, the 0-0 draw against QPR and the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday after the restart.

Overall, he has refereed 30 games so far in 2019-20, showing 99 yellow cards and no red cards.

Other fixtures

Tuesday

Brentford vs Charlton (6pm)
Luton vs Barnsley (6pm)
Reading vs Huddersfield (6pm)
Cardiff vs Blackburn (7.45pm)

Wednesday

Millwall vs Middlesbrough (3pm)
West Brom vs Derby (5pm)
Birmingham vs Swansea (6pm)
Bristol City vs Hull (6pm)
Wigan vs QPR (6pm)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Preston (7.45pm)

Thursday

Leeds vs Stoke (5pm)



https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/july/match-preview-forest-vs-fulham-in-association-with-football-index/

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Cottage Talk Post Match Show: Fulham Beat Birmingham City

Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

In this episode, Yannis and Max go through the 1-0 victory for Fulham against Birmingham City. They discuss all of the key moments, and at the end they share their prediction for the next match against Nottingham Forest.


Lastly, you can listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2020/7/7/21315757/cottage-talk-post-match-show-fulham-beat-birmingham-city

[WhiteJC]

'Threw away' - Pundit makes Nottingham Forest v Fulham prediction

The former Reds midfielder has been looking ahead to this evening's Sky Bet Championship showdown at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest will be looking to boost their Sky Bet Championship promotion hopes when they take on Fulham later.

With five games left to play, the Reds are fifth in the table two points and one place behind their West London rivals.

Sabri Lamouchi's men are nine points adrift of an automatic promotion spot but have a seven-point cushion inside the play-off zone.

Forest will be looking to brush aside the disappointment of conceding a last-gasp equaliser against Derby County at the weekend.

Fulham, meanwhile, scored a late winner as they beat Birmingham City 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Reds face Scott Parker's side at the City Ground this evening (5pm kick-off).

Sky Sports EFL pundit David Prutton expects a close encounter - and is predicting a 2-2 draw.

"Nottingham Forest will have been so frustrated with the way they threw away that win late on at Derby on Saturday," said the former Reds midfielder.

"They were so much in control of that game before that last-minute slip.

"Fulham have scraped a couple of wins in their last two games, coming from behind against QPR then sneaking past Birmingham.

"Seven off the pace with five games to go is a big gap to make up, but all they can do is keep winning until it is mathematically impossible.

"I do, however, think this will be a draw."



https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-fulham-sky-prutton-4301126

[WhiteJC]

The Sean Davis Column

I thought we could consider ourselves highly unfortunate to not take anything from the Brentford and Leeds games. It was the first two matches back so you never knew how things were going to pan out and unfortunately for us they didn't go our way. There were key moments that went against us in both matches. We now just have to keep grinding these wins out by hook or by crook so that if there is a slip up by one of the teams above us then we're in the best position to capitalise. All we can do is focus on ourselves and get as many points on the board as possible.

Some fans might have feared the worst at QPR when we found ourselves losing inside a minute. But to come back and win that game shows massive character. We could have easily felt sorry for ourselves conceding that early after how our first two games had gone. I've never questioned the hunger in the team. Considering the circumstances at QPR, to come back and get the win was very impressive, and it could be a vital moment for us.

That character from the team was evident against Birmingham City on Saturday, too. To be in a side that's doing all the attacking without making a breakthrough, it is hard to maintain the belief that you will score. I watched the Man City game on Sunday and they battered Southampton for more or less the whole game, with no success. It just shows that even the best teams can have one of those days.

The main thing for us, though, was that we kept our heads up and kept probing for the winner that our play deserved. To score that late winner and come away with those three points at this stage of the season is fantastic. It was a nice moment for Josh Onomah as he'd had a bit of injury trouble prior to lockdown. He scored the winner against Leeds earlier in the season as well, so he's already made some decent memories for himself at the Hammy End. It will also be pleasing for Scott that his substitutions are having an impact on the matches.

Nothing's lost at the moment and the team will be encouraged by the last two results. Hopefully the lads will have taken plenty of confidence from two wins. They've blown the cobwebs off now. We just need to focus on each game as it comes, I know that's such a cliché in football, but in the current circumstances it's so important. This stage of the season is going to come down to character and grinding out results. We've got enough quality and experience in this squad to achieve what Scott and the Club and all the players want to achieve, and that's Premier League football next season. The players will think they can get automatic promotion until it's no longer possible. Whatever happens, we've got enough talent in the squad, and the right manager behind us, to get promoted.

Will I accept us getting promoted via the Play-Offs? Yes. Do I want that? No. But it is what it is. If it does end up being Play-Offs, we've got that experience of the 'all or nothing' scenario, so that will hopefully hold us in good stead. This is the Championship, though, and much stranger things have happened than overturning a seven point deficit!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/july/07/the-sean-davis-column

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Slaven Bilic makes pressure admission over Leeds United and West Brom
WEST BROM boss Slaven Bilic says the pressure on his Baggies side and front-runners Leeds United will only get bigger in the build-up to the season's conclusion.

Leeds and West Brom continue to lead the way in the Championship's two automatic promotion places but third-placed Brentford are just five points behind the Baggies and six behind the Whites having won five games in a row and without conceding a goal.

With five games left, Fulham are two points further back in fourth with the Cottagers two points ahead of fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.

As part of a full set of mid-week games, Forest and Fulham will now lock horns at The City Ground for a Tuesday 5pm kick-off before Brentford take on sixth-bottom Charlton Athletic at Griffin Park one hour later.

West Brom will then face play-offs chasing Derby County at The Hawthorns in a Wednesday 5pm kick-off with Leeds last to go when Marcelo Bielsa's side take on relegation-batling Stoke City at Elland Road at 5pm on Thursday.

"The pressure is on us and Leeds," said Bilic.

"The teams who are below us, Brentford, Fulham and Forest, are doing well but they are hoping.

"We have to cope with the pressure. We wouldn't swap with them and we have to cope with it. The pressure will only get bigger. It doesn't mean we would swap with them.

"We have to continue being brave and relax in a positive way."



https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/slaven-bilic-makes-pressure-admission-over-leeds-united-and-west-brom-2906044

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Wigan Athletic appeal against points deduction as staff are made redundant

Wigan Athletic won the FA Cup in 2013 - the same year in which they most recently played in the Premier League

Wigan Athletic administrator Gerald Krasner has said the club have appealed against their 12-point deduction for going into administration.

The Football League said the punishment would apply this season if Wigan avoided finishing in the bottom three.

"The only grounds we have for this is 'force majeure'. My reading of it is, that applied to anything outside what we could have expected," said Krasner.

"This situation was totally unexpected, so we believe this case applies."

Force majeure events are usually defined as certain acts, events or circumstances beyond the control of the involved parties, such as natural disasters, war or a pandemic.

Krasner confirmed 75 support staff were made redundant on Monday and that senior club executives have agreed to work for nothing until the situation is resolved.

He also said all furloughed staff were being paid in full on Tuesday, with the first-team squad getting 20% of their salaries.

BBC Sport understands the staff being laid off include some who work with manager Paul Cook on the recruitment side of the club.

Krasner also revealed he has now sent out 50 non-disclosure agreements and that final offers for the club should be made by 21 July.

"That shows the level of initial interest," he added. "From expressions of interest we have received, we would normally expect between three and five concrete bids."

The Latics were placed in administration on 1 July, just weeks after the club changed Hong Kong-based owners.

Wigan are due to play QPR at the DW Stadium on Wednesday knowing their Championship future is now under severe threat.

A 12-point penalty would send them to the bottom of the table. Wigan, who are 16th, are six points above the relegation zone with five games to play.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53318930

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Shahid Khan is still interested in buying Wembley, talkSPORT host Jim White has been told.

Back in 2018, the Fulham owner made his interest in the national stadium known before withdrawing from the 'divisive' move.

Khan was willing to pay £600million for the arena, with the Football Association retaining the Club Wembley hospitality rights, which it valued at £250m to £300m.

At the time, FA chief executive Martin Glenn said it was an 'opportunity to unleash an unprecedented amount of investment into community football' rather 'selling the soul of the game.'

Talk of the possible purchase had died down since the initial discussions, though rumours of a sale have now resurfaced as the FA face financial losses due to coronavirus with 124 redundancies being made.

And on Tuesday morning, talkSPORT host Jim revealed that the the Jacksonville Jaguars owner is considering reigniting his interest in Wembley.

"Overnight, Shahid Khan's people got in touch," revealed Jim.

"If the FA is unified in its support of private ownership of Wembley then Shahid Khan might be open to revisiting the potential purchase.

"It's not over yet, he might be back in for it."

Khan is believed to have a positive relationship with the FA, who he appreciates for taking his offer under serious consideration two years ago.



https://talksport.com/football/727402/premier-league-sports-news-live-shahid-khan-wembley-wigan-warrios-wigan-athletic-tottenham-kane-ings/