Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 05/08/20...

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Bryan Gets 9; Mitrovic And Kamara With 8 | Fulham Players Rated From Their Win Over Brentford

It was a hard-fought match played between Brentford and Fulham as the two vied to win the Championship Playoffs final. Both the teams started on a positive note and looked to make early inroads. However, as the game progressed, the pace and precision in both sides' attack seemed to die down. The game went into extra time as both Fulham and Brentford were unable to get any goal during the 90 minutes of play.

It was Joe Bryan whose clever free-kick opened the scoring for the Cottagers in the 105th minute. The left-back curled one from long range past the Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, who was standing out of position. He doubled his tally with another goal in the 118th minute to put the ball in the net after meeting a pinpoint pass from Aleksandar Mitrovic to end all hopes of promotion for Brentford. Thomas Frank's men pulled one back in the 123rd minute of the match, but it was too little too less for them.

It was enough for the Cottagers to win the crucial clash, which ensured that they will be playing in the top flight next season.

Here is how Scott Parker's men are rated from their win over the Bees in the Championship Playoffs final.
Marek Rodak 6

He had a rather quiet night in the Fulham goal and had to make a few regulation saves. Played his part well to guard the goal and ended the game on the winning side.
Denis Odoi 7

Replaced Cyrus Christie as the right-back as Scott Parker looked to go in with experience for the final. Had a good game as he defended well and went up the field on occasions to initiate the attack.
Michael Hector 6.5

Did a fantastic job as he guarded the goal against Brentford attack. Looked a little bit on the back foot in the second half. Earned a yellow card in the 98th minute.
Tim Ream 7

Had a fairly good game alongside Hector. Made some very important blocks and challenged the opposition forwards well to win back the ball.
Joe Bryan 9

Definitely the Man of the Match. Showed absolute precision while scoring both the goals and sealed a brilliant victory for the Cottagers to lead them to the Premier League.
Tom Cairney 7

It was a good performance from the captain as he made important interceptions and passed the ball well throughout the match.
Harrison Reed 7

Played good link up with the forwards and fed them with crucial through balls. Held the ball well in the midfield.
Josh Onomah 7.5

Kept getting into good positions to make the opposition defenders work hard. Had a few shots on goal as well.
Neeskens Kebano 6.5

Showed good composure in front of the goal in the first half, but lost it later.
Bobby Reid 7

Played good linkup with Aboubakar Kamara and had an impact on the game with his skills on the ball.
Aboubakar Kamara 8

Good game for the striker as he made Raya work on a few occasions, His physical presence caused woes for the opposition defenders as well.
Substitutes
Anthony Knockaert 7

Had a fairly good game after replacing Kebano in the 81st minute.
Aleksandar Mitrovic 8

Came on late to make a big impact. Provided the assist for Bryan's second goal.
Ivan Cavaleiro 5

Did not have enough time to show his skills. Was booked at the end of the match.
Maxime Le Marchand 5

Did well in his limited time on the pitch.
Cyrus Christie NA

Did not get much time on the pitch.



https://the4thofficial.net/2020/08/bryan-gets-9-mitrovic-and-kamara-with-8-fulham-players-rated-from-their-win-over-brentford/

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Championship Playoff Final : Onomah Shines As Fulham Win N79 Billion Match Vs

The next time Fulham play a league game in September, they will be a Premier League side courtesy of their hard-fought 2-1 win against Brentford in the Championship playoff final on Tuesday night at Wembley, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Today's game was dubbed the richest game in football, with the winner Fulham set to earn £135m (N79 billion in Nigerian currency) in additional revenue over the next three seasons, while Brentford would have collected £160m assuming they earned promotion via the playoffs for the first time in nine attempts.

Former Tottenham Hotspur starlet of Nigerian descent, Josh Onomah who joined the Cottagers on a permanent deal last summer, was named in the starting lineup and lasted 110 minutes on the pitch before he was substituted.

The 2017 England U20 World Cup-winning midfielder was the first Fulham player to test the Bees goalkeeper David Raya but saw his shot from distance saved by the Spaniard in the fourth minute.

And six minutes later, Onomah was almost presented an opening after a mix up at the back but Brentford cleared their lines and came close to breaking the deadlock again in the 17th minute but his shot was saved again.

The two London teams could not be separated at the end of ninety minutes so the final headed into extra-time.

Left-back Joe Bryan with a spectacular free-kick opened the scoring in the 105th minute, then sealed the win with a lovely right-footed finish in the 117th minute before Dalsgaard netted a consolation with almost the last kick of the game.

Onomah, 23, played thirteen games for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League before joining Fulham.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=36964

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Fulham back in Premiership

Fulham made an immediate return to the English Premier League as two extra-time goals from full-back Joe Bryan gave them a 2-1 win over Brentford in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.

Bryan opened the scoring near the end of the first period of extra time when he spotted Brentford goalkeeper David Raya out of position and anticipating a cross from his deep free-kick before cleverly driving the ball into the bottom corner.

The Spanish keeper was slow to react, once Bryan had opted to shoot, but the lead was a deserved one for Scott Parker's side, who had the better of what had been a cagey 90 minutes.

Bryan made sure of the victory with a second goal three minutes from the end of the second period of extra time, clipping home from close range after a burst forward down the left and quick exchange with substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Henrik Dalsgaard pulled a goal back for Brentford in the final seconds but there was no time for a recovery by the Bees, who were searching for a place in the top flight for the first time since 1947.

"I'm not the hero," said Bryan, as his team mates celebrated their swift return back to the Premier League a year after relegation -- an achievement worth around $267 million over three years for the west London club.

"Every single one of them boys, players, staff, supporters, everything's been with us all season, it's been absolutely unbelievable. We've been written off, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten times. I think I even read somewhere that we were supposed to be scared of them, but we took it to them we scored twice, they made it hard for us," added Bryan.

Leeds and West Bromwich Albion gained automatic promotion from the Championship, while Brentford had finished third and Fulham fourth.

Brentford had been hoping to return to the top flight of English football for the first time in 73 years.

-Reuters



https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/422790/fulham-back-in-premiership

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Fulham promoted: Defiant Joe Bryan and emotional Scott Parker revel in Wembley win over Brentford

Scott Parker's side beat Brentford 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley


Manager Scott Parker, right, with goalscorer Joe Bryan ( PA )

Fulham goal hero Joe Bryan insisted the Cottagers proved the doubters wrong after he fired them back to the Premier League on Tuesday night.

The defender scored a brilliant 35-yard free-kick and added a second late in extra-time as Scott Parker's side beat Brentford 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. It sent Fulham back to the Premier League at the first attempt after their relegation last year.

"I'm not the hero, every single one of them, fans and people around us who has been with us all season is," he told Sky Sports. "We've been written off five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 times, I think I read somewhere we were supposed to be scared of them.

"We took it to them, we scored twice, they made it hard for us but they're a good team and they've been playing really well. I can't believe we made it straight back up."

Cottagers captain Tom Cairney scored the winner when Fulham beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the 2018 final. They came fourth in the regular season and he insisted Parker's men always sat under the radar in the promotion race.

"I can't put it into words. It feels special. We got written off a bit this year, no one talked about us, they talked about Brentford and Leeds," he told Sky Sports. "It shows the spirit in the dressing room, not many teams bounce back up. I knew we had that performance in us, all season when we needed to win, we've done it when it mattered.

"Brentford are a great side, a pleasure to watch and these were the two best sides in the Championship play-off final."

The manager Parker added: "I feel emotional, the journey you go on – the ups and downs along the way, the disappointment. I'm the face which fronts it up but behind the scenes is a support network of people who keep you going. I feel for those who are not here and those who have supported me as the manager.

"I'm very proud of my team and what we've done."



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/fulham-joe-bryan-goals-scott-parker-playoff-final-promotion-a9654346.html

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Southampton fans respond with transfer message as Harrison Reed helps Fulham to promotion

Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed has impressed on loan at Fulham, who have been promoted back to the Premier League after beating Brentford at Wembley in the Championship play-off final

It has been a night to remember for Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed after helping Fulham to promotion back to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has impressed on loan at Fulham this season, becoming a key man for Scott Parker's side in the Championship as the west London side looked to try and secure promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, following relegation in 2018/19.

Fulham have done just that, having defeated west London rivals Brentford 2-1 after extra time at Wembley in the Championship play-off final, with Joe Bryan netting both goals for Parker's men.

Reed started the game and played the full 120 minutes at Wembley as Fulham sealed their place back in the Premier League, ending the Southampton man's season-long loan on a high.

Questions will now follow on what happens next for Reed, who admitted before the game at Wembley that he had not had spoken with Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, but that a conversation would be had around his future soon.

It is understood that as part of the season-long loan deal that was agreed between the two clubs last summer, the move could be made permanent at a later date, as stated when the loan switch was confirmed by Fulham last August.

But the Independent recently reported that the fee would be dependent on promotion, with Fulham now having to consider whether or not to try and make the move permanent ahead of their return to the top flight.

And some Southampton fans are clear on what they think Fulham's promotion means for Reed's future.

Reed recently spoke about his future, but insisted that his only focus was on helping Fulham get back to the Premier League.

They have now done that and the time will soon come for a decision over his future, with Hasenhuttl recently stating that Reed - like all other Southampton players out on loan - was being looked at and that each player's situation would be considered.

With Southampton facing the prospect of losing midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer amid transfer interest from Tottenham and other clubs, Reed may yet have a future role to play back with the Saints.

But after playing such an important role for Fulham and Parker, Reed could have a decision to make himself.




https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-fans-transfer-message-fulham-4395579

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Scott Parker warns against 'drastic changes' after Fulham's play-off win

    Manager urges owners not to repeat costly mistakes of 2018-19
    'Some clear errors were made last time'

Scott Parker has said Fulham must not repeat the same expensive mistakes after sealing an immediate return to the Premier League.

Parker acknowledged the club made errors in the buildup to relegation last year and admitted they cannot afford to again make "drastic changes" to prepare for the top flight. Superb goals by Joe Bryan earned Fulham an extra-time victory over west London rivals Brentford in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to secure promotion.

When Fulham were promoted in 2018, they splurged more than £100m but several big-money signings backfired.

"You can't build teams with drastic changes, drastic swings of players [coming in]," Parker said. "This team has been around myself now for the best part of 15 months and they have improved and improved and improved. I'm happy with where we are. We are going to need additions – we are going into the biggest league there is – but no real drastic changes.

"Some clear errors were made last time and we will learn from that, we need to learn from that. We are going into the best league in the world, the best players, it's a brutal league and I realise the challenge ahead. I want to try and enjoy what we have done so far but we need to learn from those mistakes. What we're trying to build and ingrain in the players and this football club is some core foundations. If you're not building your club on concrete but sand, it will be that rollercoaster ride."

Bryan's goals earned Brentford a 2-0 advantage before Henrik Dalsgaard scored a consolation seconds before the final whistle. Bryan wrong-footed the Brentford goalkeeper David Raya with a superb free-kick from 35 yards before doubling his and Fulham's tally after rounding off a fine one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic, who entered as a substitute after returning from a hamstring injury.

"We did our due diligence on the goalkeeper," said Parker. "He [Raya] has got a very aggressive high starting position on free-kicks. We brought it up in a set-play meeting. I called Joe over because I felt when we brought Mitro [Mitrovic] on Joe was probably going to cross it in. I tried to bluff it a little bit and I told him to commit to it, to give it a real go and see what happens. He's executed it well. We tried this in the last game, and it went nowhere near the goal, but thankfully it has worked. My staff deserve full credit for that and the planning they did."

The Brentford head coach, Thomas Frank, insisted his players will return stronger for the new Championship season, which begins on 12 September. The Brentford owner, Matthew Benham, shared that sentiment, saying "we will be back in a few weeks to have another go in the new season".

Frank added: "We have gone from a mid-table club to a team who, in the league table, was the third-best team. We are very fine margins away from the Premier League, which is incredible for us."



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/04/scott-parker-warns-against-drastic-changes-after-fulham-seal-premier-league-return

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Brentford freeze as Fulham thrive on a night of contradictions

It seemed like the sort of game that would suit Brentford. Yet Fulham found those marginal gains to earn a Premier League place.

Thomas Frank didn't exactly duel with the media during his Sunday press conference, but he did clash with the culture. He answered all the usual questions about pressure, history and the occasion, from all the same people, all chasing the same headline. He met them with pragmatic answers, though, and bloodless responses to how his Brentford might cope at Wembley.

Yes, there would be nerves, he admitted, but the mission was simple enough.

    "Focus on your task. Focus on your job as a player. Focus on what you can do something about and then in the first ten minutes, make sure you run, fight and communicate."

The more sensible someone sounds, the more ridiculous football can sometimes make them look. Simple as Brentford's task was, they didn't come close to completing it. They didn't run, fight or communicate, and while this was never a match of any great quality, Fulham were still better than them in every department.

The game's prelude had pivoted around a false dichotomy and an unflattering comparison. Fulham aren't Brentford's binary twin. They're not Proper Football Man FC to these Moneyball Athletics, even if their recent recruiting history suggests otherwise. Nevertheless, with Scott Parker in the other technical area with his immaculate hair and credentials, and his perfect football accent, that was very much this final's dynamic.

It would be Frank's calm versus Parker's bulging neck muscles. Substance against bluster. Everything that really matters facing the arcane qualities that the traditionalists cling to fearfully.

And in the first half, it was all the things which weren't supposed to matter that seemed especially important. Fulham were quick into the game. They were more urgent with the ball and hassled a few early mistakes from a jittery defence. But for a couple of sharp saves from David Raya, they would probably have taken an early lead and would definitely have deserved to.

It was interesting, because an empty, echoing Wembley should have suited Brentford. They should be the ones who want the controlled environment. Again, that's the clumsy narrative at work. But the lack of outside interference, the sterile conditions – according to the Big Data cliché, that should have been ideal. Conversely, without any wind in their sails, Fulham should have just drifted aimlessly, waiting to be holed by that Benrahma-Watkins-Mbeumo trident.

But it was nothing like that. Truthfully, while Fulham pressed very well for the first hour, and battled to recover possession throughout, their energy didn't last and without Aleksandar Mitrovic, who wouldn't lumber on until stoppage time, they lacked the attacking focus to make their better possession count.

What Brentford lacked, who knows. They were a shadow of the side who had ripped Swansea apart and their game was littered with all sorts of inaccuracies. They were all heavy touches, muffed clearances and palpable tension, the very worst of what they had been again Barnsley and Stoke.

And together, that created something awful: For the final 30 minutes, the Championship play-off final reverted to type. It became a desperate, dour struggle – a crawl towards the cash. This fixture has been dreadful for decades now; in fact, the more crystallised its identity as 'football's richest game' becomes, the worse the spectacle seems to get.

Anyone seen Clive Mendonca? Fabian De Freitas? Paul Bodin? Not for about twenty years.

We did get Joe Bryan, though, and a wickedly disguised free-kick which flummoxed Raya and produced the goal which took Fulham back to the Premier League. It was the night's critical irony: Brentford with their loud, celebrated set-piece focus; Fulham with the set-piece goal.

And – ultimately – Fulham with the promotion. Bryan would score again, combining smartly with Mitrovic before running in on Raya, and Henrik Dalsgaard headed in a consolation as the season ticked towards midnight, but this seemed to be written – it felt inevitable that Fulham, who nobody talked about, and Parker, who everyone underestimates and dismisses, would find their own 1% against the club of marginal gains.

Was it that simple? No. Parker is smart and diligent. In person, he's an impressive and charismatic man. But so much of football is about optics and angles, that it was hard not to see this as another night when the game was just in a very contrary mood.



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-championship-play-off-final-promotion-brentford-freeze

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'I didn't run for 13 days... I shouldn't be on the pitch': Aleksandar Mitrovic says he was only half-fit with 'hamstring still hurting' when he came off the bench to help Fulham to Premier League promotion with win against Brentford

    Fulham beat Brentford 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley
    Joe Bryan scored twice in extra-time to give the Cottagers a pivotal victory
    The Whites' injured striker Aleksandar Mitrovic started the game from the bench
    Mitrovic claimed he could not run for two weeks before the final but still played

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic admitted he has not been able to run for nearly two weeks but still helped his side to Premier League promotion in the play-off final.

Mitrovic's side beat west London rivals Brentford 2-1 at Wembley, with both of Fulham's goals coming when the Serbian forward was on the field.

The half-fit 25-year-old missed both legs of the play-off semi-final against Cardiff with a hamstring injury and it kept bothering him as he started the final from the bench before coming on in the second-half to help his team to victory.


Aleksandar Mitrovic said he shouldn't have been on the pitch for Fulham's play-off final win


The Serbian started the game on the bench at Wembley but came on to inspire a victory

Speaking about his injury to Sky Sports after the game, Mitrovic said: 'It was really hard to be honest, I should not even be on the pitch.

'I'm probably half way through my recovery and my hamstring's still hurting. But we made the decision and sometimes in life you have to take a risk.

'I'm really happy we took this risk and I'm happy for team and the manager. I think we deserved this.'

The Serbian has been one of Fulham's key players this season, scoring 26 goals in their promotion season.


The half-injured Mitrovic came on in the second-half when the scores were level at 0-0

He would have been a guaranteed starter if he was fully fit but went into detail about the pain he has been feeling in the past couple of weeks.

Mitrovic added: 'To be honest, I didn't run for almost 13 days, no training at all, just gym.

'I tried to walk three times a day and double my therapy just to get fit to the best I could.

'I'm still not fit, I'm probably one week or 10 days from starting training normally. But this is unbelievable what we achieved today, I'm very happy for my team-mates, especially.

'We worked so hard, it's been a whole year since the season started in pre-season. It's been a really long year.'


Fulham went on to beat Brentford 2-1 in extra-time to earn Premier League promotion

It's a double cause for celebration for the striker, who picked up the Championship Golden Boot Award having been involved in a tussle at the top of the goalscoring charts with Brentford's Ollie Watkins all season.

Mitrovic was keen to downplay the achievement though and was quick to reveal he was indebted to his team-mates for supplying the service to him.

On the Golden Boot Award, he said: 'It's about the team though. If the team plays well I score goals. This is a team that plays really well, the tactics we play really suit me.

'If the team gives me the ball, I score goals. My Golden Boot means the team worked really well together with me.'


There was more reason to celebrate for Mitrovic (left), who won the league's Golden Boot

Now promotion has been achieved, the target for Fulham is to stay in the top-flight and right the wrongs of last season, which saw them relegated from England's highest division.

Ahead of their Premier League return, the forward says Fulham need to rest and recover before they start planning further ahead.

Mitrovic said: 'We've been here before, we're here again. The feeling is amazing. Now a big season coming, for the whole of Fulham Football Club and for me as well.

'We need to take a real rest, recover. But we should be proud, we've taken this club back to where it should be.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8593815/Fulham-striker-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-claimed-half-fit-win-against-Brentford.html

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Fulham promoted to Premier League: Scott Parker says club will 'learn lessons' from 2018-19

Scott Parker has led Fulham back to the Premier League after a one-season absence

Scott Parker is confident that Fulham will learn the lessons of their Premier League failure in 2018-19 after securing a return to the top flight.

Fulham won promotion from the second tier via the play-offs two years ago but, after an expensive recruitment drive, went down after only one season.

Parker led Fulham back to the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Brentford in Tuesday's play-off final at Wembley.

"There were some clear errors made last time," said the ex-England midfielder.

"We will learn from that. We need to learn from that.

"We're going into the best league in the world, the best players, the best teams... it's a brutal league and I realise the challenge ahead.

"What we're trying to build and what we're trying to engrain in these players, in this football club, is some core foundations.

"Sometimes those core foundations get you far in life. You can have as much talent as you want but, if you're not building your football club on concrete and you're building it on sand, then in the end it will be the rollercoaster ride.

"I hope we can grow gradually. It's going to be tough but, if we can't, we have core foundations that we always fall back on."

Fulham spent more than £100m on new players after beating Aston Villa in the 2018 play-off final, but they struggled throughout the following season and were relegated with five games left to play.

Slavisa Jokanovic, Premier League-winner Claudio Ranieri and Parker - as caretaker - all had spells in charge but could not save Fulham from the drop.

'Give it a go and let's see what happens'
In his first full season at the helm at Craven Cottage, Parker led Fulham to fourth place in the Championship and eventually promotion, with left-back Joe Bryan scoring twice in extra-time in the final against their west London neighbours.

Bryan's first goal was a 40-yard free-kick which caught out Brentford goalkeeper David Raya at his near post.


Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was caught out by a long-range free-kick from Joe Bryan (not in picture)

Parker, 39, said: "We did our due diligence on the keeper and the keeper's got a very aggressive, high starting position from wide free-kicks.

"We brought it up in a set-play meeting and spoke to Joe and Harrison Reed, who would have been on the opposite side.

"I just felt when we brought Aleksandar Mitrovic on, Joe was going to cross the ball, because obviously one of Mitro's big attributes is heading, so I called him over.

"I didn't want to let on to Brentford's bench, so I tried to bluff it a little bit. I just said to Joe: 'Listen, I want you to go for it. I want you to commit to it. I want you to really give it a go and let's see what happens'.

"Thankfully, it's gone in. He's got an unbelievable left foot."

'The sun will rise again tomorrow'
Brentford, who have not played in the top flight since 1947, have now had nine unsuccessful play-off campaigns in their history without winning promotion.

They narrowly missed out on two fronts this season; victory in either of their final two league matches would have been enough to send them up automatically ahead of West Bromwich Albion, but the Bees rounded off their campaign with losses to Stoke and Barnsley.

After his side's extra-time defeat at Wembley, head coach Thomas Frank said: "The sun will rise again tomorrow. It is not the end of the world. Of course I'll be very sad tonight and disappointed, but that's the way it is.

"I just know, in football and life, you need to be strong because there will be situations that do not go the way you wanted. You need to show resilience.

"If you want to achieve something big you need to be able to bounce back from setbacks, and I know we are coming back even stronger next season, I'm 100% sure of that."

Failure to reach the Premier League is sure to bring questions about the futures of some of Brentford's star players, such as top scorer Ollie Watkins and winger Said Benrahma, who have excelled at Championship level this season.

Asked if he is confident of keeping his squad together next season, when Brentford will move into a new stadium, Frank replied: "It's not my biggest concern right now.

"The reason why I'm most down at this moment in time is mainly for the fans, for all the people who have been at the club for many, many years, they deserve so much to be in the Premier League.

"And I also care about, and believe so much, in this group of players, and I'm very disappointed that we're not going to have the opportunity to attack the Premier League.

"Nobody knows what it going to happen tomorrow. I just know one thing: we'll have a very, very strong side going in to the Championship next season."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53659417

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Bryan brace sends Fulham back up

If you had to nominate a man to bag the brace at Wembley to secure Fulham's return to the Premier League at the first attempt, nobody would have picked Joe Bryan. The likeable left back has had his critics since enduring a difficult start at Craven Cottage, but he wrote his name into Fulham folklore with a tremendously inventive free-kick that broke the deadlock deep into the first period of extra-time and, incredulously, followed that with a beautifully predatory finish that put the biggest game in English football beyond the bookies' favourites, Brentford.

It was Bryan's first double in senior football and it highlighted his attacking prowess, which it is a pivotal part of the modern game. Bryan's first goal owed much to Scott Parker's preparation – with the Fulham backroom staff noting that David Raya often straying high off his line at defensive free-kicks. After Raya had almost been embarrassed by a fluffed clearance way out of his penalty area, Christian Nørgaard's professional foul on Josh Onomah presented Fulham with a set piece on the left flank 35 yards out. Noone expected Bryan to go for goal, least of all Raya who was stationed in the middle of his goal, but after a touchline discussion with Parker, the former Bristol City full-back bent a cheeky finish in at the near post.

The one-goal cushion, something Fulham have turned protecting into an art form this season, allowed Parker to switch to his favoured back five to soak up the inevitable Brentford pressure. He sent on Maxime Le Marchand and Cyrus Christie to shore up Fulham's advantage, but the Whites actually looked the far more likely scorers. It was fitting that Aleksandar Mitrovic, who stepped off the substitutes' bench to test his hamstring during extra time, laid on the assist with a gorgeous one-two on the edge of the box. Bryan kept his cool to slide home the second to kill the contest – capping a glorious move that started with a long kick from Marek Rodak that found Ivan Cavaleiro on the left flank. Tom Cairney, excellent from a deeper position all evening, released the onrushing Bryan who surged onto a cushioned lay-off from Mitrovic and slotted home his second.

That made Brentford's last hurrah at the death when Henrik Daalsgard headed home from eight yards in the final minute of stoppage time almost academic. Fulham's fortitude and Parker's tactical acumen, derided at times by the armchair critics in his first full season in management, was rewarded as his side produced a defensive masterclass in shutting down one of the divsion's most potent attacking outfits. They restricted Brentford's much-vaunted three-man attack to a single shot on target – Rodak smothering Ollie Watkins' close-range effort in the second half – making a mockery of Emiliano Marcondes' pre-match suggestion that Fulham feared facing their local rivals on the big stage.

If anything, it was Brentford who suffered from the early stage fright. They struggled to cope with Josh Onomah's athleticism at the top of the Fulham midfield, whilst Bobby Decordova-Reid's ceaseless running dragged their centre halves right across the midfield. Onomah, a revelation in the second half of this the longest of seasons, started brightly – drawing a smart save from Raya in the fourth minute before the Brentford goalkeeper almost handed Fulham the lead with two casual clearances that put his team in trouble.

This was a cagey affair that lacked the bite of what is usually a tempestuous derby, although strong challenges from Harrison Reid and Cairney were punished by bookings from a lenient Martin Atkinson. Cairney crafted another opening for Onomah with a beautiful slide-rule pass down the side of the Brentford defence and the midfielder's angled drive looked destined for the far corner had Raya not pushed it clear with a firm right hand.

Bryan Mbeumo was largely anonymous all evening but he had Brentford's best sights of goal in the first period. A looping header was easily fielded by Rodak before Michael Hector produced another perfect piece of defending, stretching out a leg at just the right time to prevent Mbeumo from touching home Mathias Jensen's cross at the near post.

Although Brentford saw much more of the ball in the second half, Fulham still fashioned the clearer openings. Kebano ruffled the side netting with another free-kick and the Congolese winger, who had made a miraculous recovery to start the final after coming off against Cardiff with a hamstring strain, dug out a delicious cross for Decordova-Reid, who probably should have tested Raya from thirteen yards out. Rodak pushed a rising drive from Watkins over the bar from the edge of the box whilst, at the other end, Reid and Onomah sent speculative shots over from distance.

Mitrovic and Anthony Knockaert were introduced in stoppage time at the end of normal time and a tight contest grew even more tense in extra time. Hector, immense at the back once again, instinctively snuffed out the danger when substitute Sergi Canos, a regular scourge of Fulham down the years, sought to link with Watkins in the box – and the Championship's second top scorer could only screw a shot wide. Kamara, a willing runner all night, blasted an effort straight at the goalkeeper after seizing on another weak Raya clearance – and you wondered whether the stalemate would ever be broken.

Bryan's brilliant double settled matters with all the assurance of a seasoned goalscorer. His audacious first will live long in the memory – and caught Brentford like a bolt from the blue. The second, a classic counter-attacking goal, made a nervy last few minutes all the more tolerable. They might have made it three but Knockaert delayed releasing Cavaleiro a fraction too long, allowing Raya to race off his line. It wouldn't be Fulham without a wobble, which came when Daalgard forced home a header and grabbled with Rodak for the loose ball, but it came so late as not to prove terminal. Parker, the recipient of heavy criticism from sections of the fanbase this term, deserves fulsome praise for righting a horribly listing ship and returning the Whites to the top flight at the first time of asking. Not too bad for a rookie.

BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Raya; Dalsgaard, Henry (Fosu 105), Pinnock, Jansson; Jensen (Dervisoglu 105), Nørgaard, Dasilva (Canos 83); Mbeumo (Marcondes 61), Benrahma, Watkins. Subs (not used): Daniels, Jeanvier, Rasmussen, Zamburek, Valencia.

BOOKED: Jensen, Nørgaard.

GOAL: Dalsgaard (120).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Odoi (Christie 110), Bryan, Hector; Ream; Reed, Cairney; Kebano (Knockaert 81), Kamara (Cavaleiro 105), Onomah (Le Marchand 110); Decordova-Reid (Mitrovic 90). Subs (not used): Bettinelli, S. Sessegnon, McDonald, Johansen.

BOOKED: Reed, Cairney, Hector, Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro, Rodak.

GOALS: Bryan (105, 117).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/08/bryan-brace-sends-fulham-back-up/

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Emotional Parker says Fulham's promotion is his 'proudest moment'

Scott Parker described Fulham's promotion as his proudest moment in football.

The former England international was clearly emotional after Joe Bryan's two goals in extra time clinched victory over Brentford in the all west London Championship play-off final.

There were bumps along the way, but Parker has succeeded in his mission to get Fulham back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

He thanked his family and backroom staff as well as his players.

"It's my proudest moment by a long way," he said.

"I'm proud of my players and proud of my team – I've seen the team grow along a journey which has been tough this year.

"I'm the one that goes and fronts it up and the players are the same.

"But underneath it all there's a support mechanism. I'm speaking about my family and closest friends.

"At times this year it's been difficult – very tough. I couldn't do what I've done for the last year – there were times I definitely would have broke – without them.

"And I've got an amazing staff and an amazing network around me that make me feel strong when I'm at my weakest.

"That's why I'm emotional and proud. I hope this is something for all those people that makes them realise it was worth it."

Parker admitted that he will "need a break" before preparing for life back in the top flight.

And he insisted lessons would be learned from last season's relegation.

"For the last year it's been a whirlwind and I've been engrossed in one sole focus, which was to try to get this football club back in the Premier League," he said.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-emotional-parker-says-fulhams-promotion-is-his-proudest-moment

[WhiteJC]

Fulham provide a perfect chance for Chelsea loans and sales as they look to bring in experience

Fulham were promoted to the Premier League last night in the final fixture of the 19/20 season in England.

That provides an interesting return to the Premier League from the perspective of Chelsea's loan department.

A promoted Fulham, with a former Chelsea player in charge in the form of Scott Parker, provides an excellent potential landing spot for any players pushed out by new arrivals at Stamford Bridge.

At the current rate, it looks like a midfielder and, central defender and a left back, possibly a goalkeeper, will be forced out of the first team and likely need a loan if they can't be sold.

That's to say nothing of the returning loanees from this season, and another crop of talented young players of the production line. Where can Ethan Ampadu get Premier League minutes, one might ponder.

Players like Thomas Kalas, Lucas Piazon and Gael Kakuta have spent time on loan down the road in recent seasons, and it gives the players a chance to stay based near the Blues, potentially under close inspection from the manager.

So keep an eye on the Whites – we might see some business done this summer.



https://www.chelsea-news.co/2020/08/fulham-provide-perfect-chance-chelsea-loans-sales-look-bring-experience/

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk Full Time: Fulham Are Back In The Premier League

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

In this episode, we shared our initial reactions to Fulham's 2-1 victory in the Championship Final!


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2020/8/5/21354903/cottage-talk-full-time-fulham-are-back-in-the-premier-league

[WhiteJC]

 How Scott Parker took Fulham back to the Premier League at the first time of asking
Liam Rosenior on Scott Parker: "We spoke from the beginning and half-time, he was very pragmatic tonight and that's a sign of a top-level manager"

Scott Parker led Fulham back to the Premier League at the first time of asking - with a tactical masterclass to beat the Championship's top scorers in the play-off final.

An unusually compact Fulham sealed promotion in the play-off final thanks to a pair of strikes from Joe Bryan - the first crafted by Parker himself - as free-scoring Brentford were kept unusually quiet by the Cottagers' defence in a 2-1 defeat at Wembley.

A visibly emotional Parker spoke to Sky Sports after full-time, and explained how Bryan's opening goal - a long-range free-kick which caught out David Raya at his near post - had been crafted, as well as how Fulham switched from their usual 4-3-3 to successfully frustrate Brentford.

He said: "The opening goal was planned. We looked at Raya's positioning from free-kicks, he's very aggressive. I called Joe over before the free-kick to try to make out we were doing some tactical thing, let's move it over, but I told him to keep an eye on his positioning, and commit to the shot. He did it, and it worked.

"We did it in the last game and it went nowhere near the goal - tonight, thankfully, it's worked. My staff deserve full credit for that.

"The tactics were to be defensively solid, match the triangles up on the sides, we knew the front three are dangerous, and when they got to the sides of the pitch we had to commit men over there and match up. You find a lot of Brentford's goals come from the sides of the pitch.

"We've worked on being really diligent, in terms of winger, full-back, holding midfield player, and we wanted to get Bobby Decordova-Reid inside and create numbers in and around the middle of the park. I thought that worked really well, we had control first half, we were brave, second half we lost it a little bit, but I thought we still had a bit about us. It worked really well tonight.

"The facts are, the reality is, you can't really enjoy it. You win a football match and by the time you get to Saturday night, having a beer or a Chinese, you're already thinking about Monday morning, the next game. We live in a world and a profession where you win a game, you lose the next one and you're deemed a failure.

"You realise you have to always be at the top and always planning. Not for me, I hope that after tomorrow I can just sit down with the family, my wife and kids who have been on egg shells for the last year probably, and they get their husband and dad back who does the things I want to do really."

'Parker has signs of top-level manager'

Former Fulham defender and now Derby first-team coach Liam Rosenior told Sky Sports Parker's tactical adaption had shown his quality as a manager, at the end of his first full season in the job since taking over from Claudio Ranieri in February 2019.



He said: "On the night, I think Scott Parker got his tactics spot on. We spoke from the beginning and half-time, he was very pragmatic tonight and that's a sign of a top-level manager. He knew the strengths of Brentford, he said to Joe Bryan about the goalkeeper's position.

"It's one thing to have a player shooting from 45 yards, it's another thing doing it. But full credit to him and the rest of the squad. We're sat in the stands at an empty Wembley, every single player on the bench, that wasn't in the squad was screaming, encouraging their team-mates.

"When you're a manager, who can bring that spirit to a football club, I think Scott Parker's done a fantastic job."

Smith: How Fulham won it

Dean Smith, who was promoted as play-off final winners with Aston Villa last season having previously managed Brentford, told Sky Sports Fulham's joy had come from stopping the service to their deadly front three of Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbeumo - who had scored 59 league goals between them this season.

"They stopped Brentford at source, pretty much," he said. "They stopped the balls into Said Benrahma. He was quiet, Ollie Watkins was quiet, and Bryan Mbeumo came off. He just made sure Brentford couldn't be as potent as they would like to be.

"They stayed really compact, neither team really went and pressed too high, but they just made the middle of the pitch really compact and looked to go round them.



"There weren't many big chances throughout the game for either team. The goalkeeper's made a bit of a mistake for the goal, trying to read the cross, but it's a bit of excellence from Joe Bryan for both and sometimes it takes that bit of brilliance.

"Tonight was a different kind of performance. They've given Brentford the respect they deserve and played a different way today. Scott Parker's right though, they were still brave on the ball, played through Brentford a few times and got it into Josh Onomah.

"He's got a way he wants to play, but he wasn't scared to change it defensively. Without the ball they were excellent, with some great passages of play.

"If you open it up, there's a lot of goals in that Brentford team, so I think it suited Fulham tonight.

"The first feeling will be relief [for Fulham]. That's what you're trying to do, right from the start, get promoted. They'll be elated after that. It's a fantastic achievement. To come down, it's tough because you have to change a losing mentality around. The job Scott Parker has done is tremendous."

Parker's change in philosophy

Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam at Wembley:

Scott Parker had a philosophy and a system and it did not seem likely he would compromise his principles to try and overcome a Brentford side that had bettered them twice this season.

How wrong we were. For starters, the more defensively-minded Denis Odoi was selected over Cyrus Christie at right-back, and he fielded a high-pressing hard-working front three of Aboubakar Kamara, Neeskens Kebano and Bobby Decordova-Reid.

The Fulham boss even played a huge role in their all-important opening goal, tipping off Joe Bryan to seek out the bottom corner knowing that David Raya positions himself high off his line.

A Brentford side that had scored more goals than any other in the Championship this season were limited to just four shots on target in 120 minutes, and they failed to really trouble Marek Rodak until Henrik Dalsgaard bundled in a late consolation.

Brentford may feel a little aggrieved a couple of potential red card shouts against Harrison Reed and Tom Cairney in each half resulted only in yellows, but overall it would be impossible to deny it was a well-earned win for Fulham.

What's next?

The 2020/21 Premier League and Championship seasons will begin on the weekend of Saturday, September 12. Here are all the key dates for the next campaign.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/33694/12042661/how-scott-parker-took-fulham-back-to-the-premier-league-at-the-first-time-of-asking

[WhiteJC]

Parker: Promotion is 'my proudest moment'

An emotional Scott Parker described Fulham's play-off victory over local rivals Brentford as his 'proudest moment'.

The former Fulham captain, in his first job in senior management, has achieved what few thought possible and returned the Whites to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Parker, who appeared to be in tears after the final whistle, spoke movingly to Sky Sports about the emotional rollercoaster of being a football manager and just how impressed he has been with the resilience of the squad he has nurtured at Craven Cottage.

It's my proudest moment by a long way. I'm proud of my players and proud of my team – I've seen the team grow along a journey which has been tough this year. I'm the one that goes and fronts it up and the players are the same.

But underneath it all there's a support mechanism. I'm speaking about my family and closest friends. At times this year it's been difficult – very tough. I couldn't do what I've done for the last year – there were times I definitely would have broke – without them.

And I've got an amazing staff and an amazing network around me that make me feel strong when I'm at my weakest. That's why I'm emotional and proud. I hope this is something for all those people that makes them realise it was worth it.

Parker admitted that Joe Bryan's audacious opener – a 35-yard free-kick that surprised David Raya at his near post – was a pre-planned move that he urged the full back to try in a brief touchline discussion before the set piece was taken.

We did our due diligence on the goalkeeper. He has got a very aggressive high starting position on free-kicks. We brought it up in a set-play meeting. I called Joe over because I felt when we brought Mitro on Joe was probably going to cross it in. I tried to bluff it a little bit and I told him to commit to it, to give it a real go and see what happens. He's executed it well. We tried this in the last game, and it went nowhere near the goal, but thankfully it has worked. My staff deserve full credit for that and the planning they did.

He also assured Fulham fans that wholesale changes would not be the order of the day after the Whites secured promotion – a change in approach after Fulham's free-spending two summers ago disrupted the heart of the side that had gone up and resulted in a rather gutless capitulation in the top flight.

You can't build teams with drastic changes, drastic swings of players. This team has been around myself now for the best part of 15 months and they have improved and improved and improved. I'm happy with where we are. We are going to need additions – we are going into the biggest league there is – but no real drastic changes.

Some clear errors were made last time and we will learn from that, we need to learn from that. We are going into the best league in the world, the best players, it's a brutal league and I realise the challenge ahead. I want to try and enjoy what we have done so far but we need to learn from those mistakes. What we're trying to build and ingrain in the players and this football club is some core foundations. If you're not building your club on concrete but sand, it will be that rollercoaster ride.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/08/parker-promotion-is-my-proudest-moment/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham beat Brentford to reach Premier League promised land

LONDON

Fulham beat Brentford 2-1 in the Championship play-off final on Tuesday to return to the Premier League after a single season in the English second tier.

Defender Joe Bryan struck twice in extra time after the two London sides were locked at 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes at Wembley.

Henrik Dalsgaard scored a late consolation for Brentford.

Full-back Bryan broke the deadlock for Fulham in the 105th minute when he caught out Brentford goalkeeper David Raya with a free-kick from the left side which was 35 yards out.

While Raya and everyone else expected a cross, Bryan curled the ball into the near post to break the deadlock.

Bryan wrapped up the victory for Fulham with three minutes of extra-time left when he grabbed his second of the night.

The left-back swapped passes with Aleksandar Mitrovic and stroked past Raya from inside the area to give Fulham boss Scott Parker the biggest win of his short managerial career.

Promotion was confirmed for Fulham, but only after Henrik Dalsgaard had pulled one back for Brentford in the 124th minute.

He headed home after Christian Norgaard had knocked a free-kick across the face of goal.

"I'm not the hero, every single one of them, fans and people around us who have been with us all season is," Bryan told Sky Sports.

"We've been written off five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 times I think I read somewhere we were supposed to be scared of them.

"We took it to them, we scored twice, they made it hard for us but they're a good team and they've been playing really well.

"I can't believe we made it straight back up."



https://japantoday.com/category/sports/fulham-beat-brentford-to-reach-premier-league-promised-land