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Sunday Fulham Stuff - 20/09/20...

Started by WhiteJC, September 19, 2020, 03:25:23 PM

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WhiteJC

Results



Saturday
Everon
5-2
West Brom
Leeds
4-3
Fulham
Man Utd
1-3
Palace
Arsenal
2-1
West Ham

WhiteJC

Leeds United 4-3 Fulham


Helder Costa is the second Portuguese to score for Leeds in the Premier League after Bruno Ribeiro.

Leeds came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Fulham in their first Premier League home game for 16 years.

Leeds' opening two Premier League games this season have seen 14 goals, the most in a top-flight side's opening two matches since Wolves in 1962-63.

After losing 4-3 at Liverpool on the opening weekend, this was the second week running that Marcelo Bielsa's side were involved a frenetic end-to-end affair.

Helder Costa's fifth-minute goal for the hosts sparked the contest into life, with his powerful close-range effort going in off the underside of the crossbar.

However, Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled the scores with a penalty after Robin Koch had fouled Joe Bryan.

Leeds were soon back in front though, with Poland midfielder Mateusz Klich stroking in a penalty after Bryan had fouled Patrick Bamford.

Bamford's placed effort just after the interval put Leeds firmly in charge and they looked to have sealed the win when Costa added a fourth from Bamford's cross.

But Bobby Decordova-Reid's low drive and Mitrovic's second goal of the day for the Cottagers set up a dramatic finale.

Good times return to Elland Road
Tony Blair was the UK prime minister and American TV sitcom Friends had just aired its final episode the last time Leeds featured in a Premier League fixture at home.

Yet Costa's thumping finish off the underside of the Fulham crossbar after five minutes was a perfect reminder that the good times have returned to Elland Road.

A narrow opening-day defeat at champions Liverpool illustrated the strides they have made under Argentine boss Bielsa.

But this time their adventurous attacking and energetic style were rewarded with all three points - although it was still a performance underscored by moments of naive defending.

Bamford and Costa in particular, excelled for the hosts leading from the front at every opportunity.

Costa's pace and trickery repeatedly occupied more than one visiting defender at a time as he constantly demanded the ball. Not only did that invaluably create space for his team-mates, he was at his clinical best scoring with both of this two shots resulting in goals.

Bamford's showing as Leeds' lone striker will also have pleased Bielsa. In a system that means the 27-year-old is likely to have to sacrifice himself at times, Bamford superbly created Costa's goal on the left.

And he showed a cool head to convert his only real chance of the game from Klich's pass.

Fulham pay for defensive lapses
While Fulham boss Scott Parker has already conceded his team are likely to lose more games than they win this term he will have been disappointed by the way they gifted Leeds their opening goal.

For the second week in succession his team conceded from a corner and were punished for a lapse in concentration and poor organisation.

Bryan's push on Bamford will also go down as a moment that was easily avoidable with the full-back and central defender Denis Odoi both caught out of position.

However, unlike their home defeat by Arsenal, Fulham did at least show the character to respond against a side that had beaten them 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last term.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's sleight of foot and drive in midfield helped to kick-start the comeback, as he brushed off recently capped England midfielder Kalvin Phillips to play in Decordova-Reid.

Former Lyon defender Kenny Tete also marked an impressive Premier League debut with a fine cross, from which Mitrovic scored his second of the game.

'This won't be a constant'- what they said
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "This won't be a constant all year. It is very difficult to maintain the efficiency [in front of goal] we have had in these first two games.

"The characteristics of our game is to create goalscoring opportunities. In these two games we have created very little but we have scored all our chances.

"We have had two very different games. Against Liverpool we tried to get close to a very big rival and today we tried to not be caught by Fulham. Both were very difficult games."

Fulham boss Scott Parker speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "There were a lot of encouraging things. You go 4-1 down away from home and they could really drop their heads. I didn't see that in my team. I saw a real character and determination.

"The biggest thought in my head is that you cannot give up goals that we have given up today. You can't expect to score four or five goals to win football matches in this league.

"If you give up goals too easy you aren't going to win many. I just worry that a red bolt doesn't go off for us. We need to smell it [danger] and sense it in those moments that are crucial in games. Sometimes we are a bit too nice.

"I see an innocence about them not being streetwise. Overall there are a lot of positives but there was one negative which I realise is going to be the difference between us getting results or not."

Mitrovic's golden touch
    Leeds' opening two Premier League games have seen 14 goals this season (F7 A7), the most for a top-flight side's opening two matches since Wolves in 1962-63 (F12 A2).
    Since the start of last season, Fulham's Mitrovic has scored more league goals than any other player in England's top four tiers (28).
    The seven goals scored between Leeds and Fulham was the most in a Premier League game between two newly promoted teams since Wolves 4-3 Leicester in October 2003.
    After winning their first ever Premier League game in Yorkshire (1-0 v Leeds in April 2002), Fulham have lost their past eight top-flight trips to the county by an aggregate score of 6-22.
    With Bamford and Klich's goals vs Fulham, Leeds have had two different players each score in the opening two matchdays of a Premier League season for the first time.
    There have been four penalties in Leeds' first two Premier League games this season; the most in a team's first two games in a single campaign since Bolton in 2002-03 (also four).
    Costa's strike after five minutes is the earliest Leeds have scored a home Premier League goal since April 2003, when Mark Viduka scored after four minutes against Fulham.
    Costa became the 70th different player to score a Premier League goal for Leeds, and the second Portuguese to do so after Bruno Ribeiro.

What's next?
Leeds travel to Sheffield United for their next Premier League game on Sunday 27 September (12:00 BST).

Fulham host Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 23 September (19:00). They resume their Premier League duties when they welcome Aston Villa to Craven Cottage on Monday, 28 September (18:00).



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54127845

WhiteJC

Post-Leeds Press Conference


Scott Parker was frustrated by the goals that his Fulham side conceded in the 4-3 loss to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon.

An action-packed contest with seven goals scored, Fulham came up just short in their attempts to salvage a point away at Elland Road, after giving themselves a mountain to climb early in the second half.

Despite the 4-3 result, the Head Coach was heartened by the fighting spirit shown by his squad to almost snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. 

"Overall I am very frustrated," Parker stated. "You can't expect to score four or five goals to get something out of a game.

"We let ourselves get in that situation today.

"But there are positives from today. We showed some real quality in possession at times. We showed a real impetus and caused Leeds a lot of problems.

"On the flip side we gave away easy goals today and left ourselves a mountain to climb.

"It was an entertaining game and I think we were largely part of that. My team showed massive character.

"At 4-1 I think the floodgates could have opened. Maybe 18 months ago that would have been the case.

"The team kept on believing and never quit. But we left ourselves with a little bit too much to do.

"We need to improve.

"You cannot give goals up as easily as we have given them up today. That is vitally important for us to improve on.

"For me at times it not about training, it's about a mindset when it comes to defending. A bulb that goes off in your head when at certain moments in football matches there are critical moments.

"You have to be on high alert because in the Premier League at any given moment when you are nice and calm in possession the game can change.

"Of course there are individual mistakes and I understand but the biggest issue for me is at certain moments you need to show another side. That comes from deep in the belly, you need to have a sense about you.

"Sometimes we are too nice.

"Within a split second the ball can be in the back of the net.

Alphonse Areola made his league debut in the Fulham net following a strong outing midweek vs Ipswich Town.

The Head Coach felt the side and changes he made were the perfect complement to counteract a very unique Leeds United team.

"I made those changes because I felt I named the best team to win the football match," he said. "Obviously Alphonse (Areola) gave us a good presence today.

"This was a unique team we played against today. A man-for-man team that presses you all over the pitch.

"We needed ball carriers. We needed people who could break away all over the pitch. That is why I named the team we fielded today.

"But listen. The players who did not play today are vital and will play a vital part this year.

"As I showed last year I will make changes for matches that give us the best chance of winning."

Despite another set-back in Fulham's return to the Premier League, Parker has complete faith his side will keep their heads held high.

"There is massive hope," Parker insisted. "There is always hope.

"This team will fight all year. We will do everything in our power to try and make this year successful.

"We all realise the challenges. We are in the best league in the World.

"We won't let these defeats cripple us. We will come back fighting again. We are going to have to learn quickly.

"We are going to have to try new things. We have to learn quickly what this league is about.

"We were down 4-1 against a team who had the Champions on the run last week. We battled back.

'I thought for large parts we were dominating. But we need to know we can't be weak in the defensive half like we were today.

"I have an unbelievable group here. A group that want to learn and improve and we will.

"I have no doubt we will come out of this stronger and I have no doubt we will improve."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/september/Post-Leeds-Press-Conference/


WhiteJC

Fulham fightback falls short as Leeds edge seven-goal thriller at Elland Road

A spirited Fulham fell to a second successive Premier League defeat in a seven-goal thriller against fellow promoted side Leeds at Elland Road.

The Cottagers looked down and out at 4-1 down but showed real grit and determination to launch a stunning comeback, which fell marginally short as last season's Championship champions claimed their first Premier League points with a 4-3 win.

Fulham showed plenty of attacking intent, but their defence once again proved problematic, with seven goals now shipped in their opening two games.

Captain Tom Cairney dropped out of the side that lost 3-0 to Arsenal on the opening day, while Aleksandar Mitrovic started up top. Meanwhile, Liam Cooper returned to the heart of the Leeds defence but Pablo Hernandez suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Rodrigo handed a first Premier League start.

Leeds looked highly impressive in a narrow 4-3 defeat to Liverpool on the opening day and it took them just four minutes to take the lead, Helder Costa collecting Cooper's flick-on from a corner before lashing in a thumping volley off the bar.

Fulham were provided a route back into the game by a thoughtless challenge from new signing Robin Koch, who caught play-off hero Joe Bryan in the box to give away his second penalty in as many games, which Mitrovic dispatched with ease.

The home side found themselves behind once before half-time, however, as Bryan nudged Patrick Bamford in the back to give away another penalty, which Mateusz Klich coolly slotted home.

Leeds were three up within five minutes of the second half as Klich played a stunning defence-splitting pass through to Bamford, who opened his body and passed the ball past Alphonse Areola for his second league goal of the season.

Costa then looked to have put the game beyond doubt with another scintillating strike, latching onto Bamford's pinpoint cut-back following a lung-bursting run down the left by the striker.

Fulham bounced back with two goals in 10 minutes, however. Bobby Decordova-Reid sent a low strike squirming underneath Meslier before Mitrovic added his second of the game with a towering header.

Scott Parker's side were unable to find an equaliser, with defeat leaving them in 19th place. Leeds momentarily move into the top half of the table after back-to-back results of 4-3.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-leeds-match-report-premier-league-elland-road-a4551351.html

WhiteJC

Fulham lose at Leeds despite second-half fightback

Leeds 4 Fulham 3


Fulham were punished for some ominously woeful defending but almost rescued a point in a seven-goal thriller at Elland Road.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored twice, brought them level with a first-half penalty, but their defensive frailties left them 4-1 down before a stirring fightback. Bobby De Cordova-Reid also scored for the visitors.

Those defensive frailties resulted in their most recent stint in the top flight lasting just one season.

They have conceded a total of seven goals in their first two league games of the new campaign and it will be another immediate return to the Championship unless they tighten up at the back.

But at the other end of the pitch, Fulham showed their quality and had Leeds worried in the later stages.

Leeds, promoted along with Fulham last season, went ahead after just five minutes, when Helder Costa was left unmarked to control Kalvin Phillips' corner and fire in off the bar.

Mitrovic equalised from the spot 11 minutes before half-time following Robin Koch's foul on Joe Bryan.

But Bryan himself then gave away a penalty, enabling Leeds to regain the lead before the interval – Mateusz Klich tucked away the spot-kick after Fulham's left-back had pushed Patrick Bamford.

Bamford was allowed to drift between defenders Kenny Tete and Michael Hector to collect Klich's pass and make it 3-1 early in the second half.

With Fulham all over the place, Bamford cut the ball back for Costa to fire home and at that point Leeds were in total control.

However, Fulham rallied and De Cordova-Reid scored soon after coming on as a substitute before Mitrovic gave them real hope.

Cordova-Reid applied the finish after being teed up by Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

And after Mitrovic headed in Tete's right-wing cross, Fulham almost equalised when Neeskens Kebano's shot hit the post.

Fulham: Areola, Tete, Hector, Odoi, Bryan, Reed, Anguissa, Onomah (Kebano 59), Cavaleiro, Kamara (De Cordova-Reid 59), Mitrovic



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-leeds-united-v-fulham-report-200932

WhiteJC

Leeds United vs Fulham player ratings: Anguissa provides hope as Mitrovic & Areola left isolated

The Cottagers fell to a 4-3 defeat

Alphonse Areola

Produced a few good saves and had some authority when coming to meet the ball. Too often left to face shots where the striker had too much time. 6

Kenny Tete

Struggled to quite click with the team but showed plenty of potential with his runs. Perhaps drawn to the ball on occasion leaving his side exposed. Great pressure to force Jack Harrison to shoot wide late on. 5.

Michael Hector

Some impressive balls upfield when he played them but was part of a defence that offered those striking too much time. Good challenge on Costa in the last 10. 3.

Denis Odoi

Less assured than on the opening day but looked to progress the ball forward albeit clumsily at times. Struggled as a unit with Hector. 4.

Joe Bryan

Mixed from set pieces in the first half but earned the penalty well. Didn't look like he would get the ball but forces himself there ahead of Robin Kock to get clipped, though he had just kicked the ball out. Gave away a penalty at a crucial time. Battled defensively well in the dying minutes of the game. 5

Andre-Frank Zambo Aguissa

Battled well to provide the assist to Bobby De Cardova-Reid and one was of few to play consistently well. Looks Premier League class when in full flow but just needed to get involved more during the first half. 7

Harrison Reed

Struggled to make an impact outside of some wayward shots. 4.

Josh Onomah

Plenty of running but not always impactful. Could hold the ball well when he had progressed up the pitch but lacked creativity. 5.

Aboubakar Kamara

Didn't really get involved in the game before being substituted. 4.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Made his presence felt a won some soft free kicks against the Leeds but was often quite isolated. Made no mistake from the spot with a powerful strike. Battled to earn his second goal. 7.

Ivan Cavaleiro

Gave ball away easily but did manage to find gaps when few others could. Simply too ponderous however. 4.

Subs

Neeskens Kebano - lively presence when he entered the fray and managed to hit the post. 5.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid - Looked like someone who could play in between Leeds' midfield and defensive lines and got what could have been a crucial goal for Fulham. 6.

Mario Lemina - Looked good running with the ball and displayed a range of passing. Nearly set Fulham through when he last the ball after receiving a poor pass from Odoi. 6.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/leeds-united-vs-fulham-player-18963278


WhiteJC

Bamford stars as Leeds edge Fulham

Forward scores one and is involved in two more goals for thrilling 4-3 victory in battle of promoted sides at Elland Road

Patrick Bamford scored one goal and was involved in two more as Leeds United edged past Fulham 4-3 at Elland Road for their first win upon returning to the Premier League.

Helder Costa opened the scoring for Leeds in the fifth minute with an emphatic finish.

Fulham's equaliser came when Robin Koch fouled Joe Bryan, allowing Aleksandar Mitrovic to convert from the spot on 34 minutes.

But then Bryan conceded a spot-kick himself, pushing Bamford, and Mateusz Klich scored four minutes before half-time.

Leeds made it 3-1 five minutes after the break, Bamford collecting Klich's pass to finish.

Bamford turned provider on 57 minutes, crossing to Costa who fired in his second. But Fulham substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid made it 4-2 shortly after coming on.

Mitrovic headed in his second while Neeskens Kebano struck a post, but Fulham could not find an equaliser for their first point of the season.

King of the Match Patrick Bamford
Next fixtures

Leeds: 27 Sep v Sheffield Utd (A)
Fulham: 28 Sep v Aston Villa (H)



https://www.premierleague.com/news/1834177

WhiteJC

Fulham fightback falls short

You have to feel for Scott Parker. Reacting to a dismal defensive display against Arsenal on the opening day, he picked a new goalkeeper and reshuffled his back four to no great effect as Fulham's defensive disasters continued this afternoon at Elland Road. The Londoners shipped four to Marcelo Bielsa's men – with three of them the sort of gift-wrapped presents you'd associate more with Christmas than the start of a Premier League campaign – making their failure to sign a centre back during the summer all more the mystifying. Parker could console himself with the fact that his team turned a contest they looked well beyond them at 4-1 into a seven-goal thriller, but such naïve defending already looks worryingly reminiscent of Fulham's 2018/2019 top flight campaign.

It took just six minutes for Leeds, seeking their first Premier League win in sixteen years, to go in front. A needlessly conceded corner was haplessly defended. Kenny Tete, brought in for a debut on the strength of his adventure from right back at Ipswich in midweek, lost his man, Harrsion Reed and Michael Hector made a hash of clearing Jack Harrison's delivery and Helder Costa crashed an emphatic finish in off the crossbar. Even when the Whites had been giving a helping hand of their own, with another senseless tackle from Robin Koch affording Aleksandar Mitrovic the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, they pressed the self destruct button again. Joe Bryan, who had won Fulham's penalty, pushed Patrick Bamford in the back and Mateusz Klich restored Leeds' lead just when the visitors were becoming assured in possession and looking like they were getting on top.

Any words of encouragement Parker offered at the interval were swiftly rendered meaningless as Leeds ruthlessly exploited more amateurish defending to take a firm grip on the contest. Klich threaded a searching through ball between Hector and Tete for Bamford, whose measured finish was a mark of his new-found confidence after a brilliant goal at Anfield last week. Alphonse Areola shook his head mournfully, but worse was to come. Hector inexplicably stepped up to try and win a header on the halfway line and when he failed Bamford burst away from Odoi before rolling an inviting cut back that Costa clinically converted the edge of the box.

With more than half an hour to go, and Leeds leading 4-1, the prognosis looked bleak for Fulham. Parker shuffled his pack sending on Bobby Decordova-Reid and Neeskens Kebano and, to their great credit, his side remained both ambitious and determined. Nothing typified that more than the display of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, derided as an expensive flop during his last taste of Premier League and fresh from a fabulous season in Spain. Anguissa's consistent winning of the ball in high areas unnerved Leeds throughout and he produced a peach of a pass to send Decordova-Reid through on goal, with the Jamaican forward firing a fine finish through Illan Meslier.

If that appeared to be just a consolation, alarm bells would have been ringing on the Leeds bench five minutes later. Ivan Cavaleiro and Tete combined well down the right before the Dutch international floated an enticing cross into the six-yard. Meslier came and got nowhere near it, with Mitrovic outjumping Liam Cooper to head home his second of the contest. From nowhere, Fulham were very much alive. Kebano almost capped an incredible comeback two minutes later when his low shot from the left surprised the Leeds goalkeeper and came back off the near post.

In contrast to the end-to-end stuff that came before, the denouement was frustrating tame for Fulham. They didn't do enough to threaten a clearly nervous home side in the final ten minutes – but ultimately they were once again the architects of their own downfall. Parker spoke about the need to bring in centre backs during his pre-match press conference on Thursday, but how much damage will have been done by the time a signing is completed? Swapping Tim Ream for Odoi had little noticeable impact and, for as long as there is that fragility at the heart of Fulham's defence, Parker's success in overhauling the club's mentality over the past year will be fatally undermined.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): Meslier; Ayling, Dallas, Koch, Cooper; Phillips; Klich, Costa, Harrison; Bamford (Alioski 70), Roberts (Roberts 45). Subs (not used): Caprile, Struijk, Shackleton, Bogusz, Poveda.

BOOKED: Klich.

GOALS: Costa (6, 57), Klich (pen 41), Bamford (50).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Tete, Bryan, Hector, Odoi; Reed (Lemina 70), Anguissa; Kamara (Kebano 58), Cavaleiro, Onomah (Decordova-Reid 58); Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Ream, Cairney, Knockaert.

BOOKED: Tete, Mitrovic.

GOALS: Mitrovic (pen 34, 67), Decordova-Reid (62).

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/09/fulham-fightback-falls-short/

WhiteJC

Parker pans poor defending

Scott Parker was bitterly disappointed with the defensive errors that ultimately cost Fulham dear in their defeat at Leeds United this afternoon.

The Whites went down 4-3 at Elland Road with more calamitous defending to blame for several of the hosts' goals. A frustrated Fulham boss told his post-match press conference:

Overall I am very frustrated. You can't expect to score four or five goals to get something out of a game. You cannot give goals up as easily as we have given them up today. That is vitally important for us to improve on. For me at times it not about training, it's about a mindset when it comes to defending. A bulb that goes off in your head when at certain moments in football matches there are critical moments.

You have to be on high alert because in the Premier League at any given moment when you are nice and calm in possession the game can change. Of course there are individual mistakes and I understand but the biggest issue for me is at certain moments you need to show another side. That comes from deep in the belly, you need to have a sense about you. Sometimes we are too nice. Within a split second the ball can be in the back of the net.

Parker did praise his side's resolve as they battled back from 4-1 to almost complete an improbable comeback in the closing stages.

But there are positives from today. We showed some real quality in possession at times. We showed a real impetus and caused Leeds a lot of problems. It was an entertaining game and I think we were largely part of that. My team showed massive character. At 4-1 I think the floodgates could have opened. Maybe 18 months ago that would have been the case. The team kept on believing and never quit. But we left ourselves with a little bit too much to do.

Parker explained his four changes from the defeat by Arsenal as being designed to try and deal with the particular qualities of today's opposition.

This was a unique team we played against today. A man-for-man team that presses you all over the pitch. We needed ball carriers. We needed people who could break away all over the pitch. That is why I named the team we fielded today. But listen. The players who did not play today are vital and will play a vital part this year. As I showed last year I will make changes for matches that give us the best chance of winning.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/09/parker-pans-poor-defending/


WhiteJC

Every word Scott Parker said on Fulham's issue, a transfer warning & Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

The Cottagers boss was adamant his team could improve but they might need help to do it

Yeah I mean frustrated, overall, you can't expect to score four or five goals to get something out of the game and that's what we've had to do today. Positives, yeah of course, in possession at times I thought we had real impetus and caused Leeds a lot of problems.

On the flip side, you give away easy goals like we give away, you give yourself a mountain to climb. It's literally straight after the game and my biggest thought is exactly that. We need to improve there for sure.

I think there were positives - it was an entertaining game and I think we were largely to do with that. My team showed character. At 4-1 the floodgates could have opened and maybe 18 months ago that would have been the case. I saw a team that carried on believing but we probably gave ourselves too much to do

Seven goals in first two games, that can't carry on?

No not at all. We all realise that. You can't give goal as easy as what we're giving them up. It's vitally important for us to do. For me at times this is not about a training, showing certain aspects, work all week, it's about a mindset when it comes to defending. A bulb that goes off in your head when you need to understand certain moments in football matches are critical - where you have to be on high alert because in the Premier League at any given moment where you're nice and relaxed mode and putting them under pressure - if you can't change that and be aggressive and sense that danger you're going to struggle.

That's what we need to improve on. Of course there are individual mistakes but the biggest issue for me is understanding that certain moment you need to show another side and it comes from deep in the belly. At times we're too nice, we don't recognise that we can't go from in possession to within split send the balls in the net through something you don't see coming.

Team changes? Is Areola number one now?

I made the changes toay because I felt that was the best team to win the football match. Alphonse has come in and gave us a good presence today. This is a unique team we're playing against. A man for man team all over the pitch, you need ball carriers people who can break away so that was the reason I made the change.

The players you've mentioned who are not playing toady are going to play a vital part this year. I always pick my teams, like last year, players should see that. I pick the team what I think is best to win the game.

Good character in the squad - hope?

Of course, there's massive hope. That will always be there. This team will fight all year and will do everything in our power to try and make this year successful. We realise the challenges, we all do but we realise we're in the bes tleague in the world. We can't let defeats cripple us, we'll come back fighting again, we'll learn from this because we have to. We're going to have to quickly try and improve things with different personal or us in terms of the way we have to understand what this league is about.

Some massive positives like I said. 4-1 this game against a team we saw last week give Liverpool a real tough game. I thought for large parts we were well in this game, I thought we had a lot of domination but we have to know we can't be weak in the other side of the football match.

Can nastiness be taught? Is that difficult to impose?

You're 100% right. It's easy setting out tactics, putting drills on, giving up that information. What is hard sometimes is trying to give something which I'm talking about. That's my job to get that across to the team, that's my job to try and give them exactly what I'm talking about.

Of course that's a big challenge for me and that's a big challenge for all of us. I've got an unbelievable group here, I see that at 4-1. Boys who are wanting to learn, and boys who are wanting improve but this is more deep than a video clip or analysed session. Like anything when you're trying to improve certan aspects of people and your team - this is about personality and trying to put a stamp on us as a team.

Last year we had battles with this and what youve seen today is a vast improvement on where we were a year ago the difference is in this division the margin for error is a lot les.s. Like last year I have no doubt we'll come out the other side and improve and come stronger from it.

Progress with defensive recruits?

There's not been anything of late, in the last week or so which has given me reason to think that I realise we have strength in this team in certain areas. Defensively at times we need to improve and we probably need some help in that. Everyone's trying their hardest to do that and we'll keep trying to push, keep trying to bring people in because I think we realise that's where we need to improve.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, played well, was he ok at the end?

He got some cramp at the end. It was touch and go whether I started him today because he's not had as much work as some of the others. he was exceptional today, I thought he was a driving force, everything I talk about when I talk about character and real determination, Frank put his hand up today and showed that. He's going to play a massive part, he's a fantastic player and he'll need to drag some with him as well.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/every-word-scott-parker-said-18964614

WhiteJC

Decordova-Reid salutes Fulham's spirit

Bobby Decordova-Reid was frustrated that Fulham couldn't pull off an improbable comeback at Elland Road and pick up a point against Leeds – but believes the fightback from 4-1 shows his side have serious spirit.

The Jamaican international came off the bench to breathe new life into Scott Parker's side – quickly scoring his first goal of the season to spark a Fulham revival. He told Fulham FCTV after the final whistle:

We didn't give up. We've got a never-say-die attitude and we need to carry that on into games and maybe not give us that moment to climb next time.

Decordova-Reid's influence as a second half substitute might have been fuelled by a desire to show Parker what he is capable of. The former Bristol City forward felt a responsibility to try and lift his team-mates after Leeds' two early goals in the second period.

You've just got to try and affect the game. It's a team game at the end of the day and you have to be counted when you come on. I just tried to come on and give a bit of energy and lift the lads. It's nice to get a goal. I just want to keep on getting in areas and be in positions to get a goal. If we do that, keep working hard as a team, I think we'll be okay.

It's tough. They're a team that runs a lot and you need to match their intensity. I think we've done that at certain points in the game and other times we probably could have done it better. We gave it our all and we tried to fight to the end.

Decordova-Reid is no doubt that Fulham will need to tighten up but is confident that they can improve to be competitive in the Premier League.

At the end of the day, we can't need to score five goals to win a game. Three goals should be enough. We'll work on it as a team, as a whole and hopefully we'll get better at it. We've got to scrap for every single point, every single goal. As a collective we're going to do that – and hopefully



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