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Sunday Fulham Stuff - 08/11/20...

Started by WhiteJC, November 07, 2020, 08:29:34 AM

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WhiteJC

Results



Saturday
Everton
1-3
Man Utd
Palace
4-1
Leeds
Chelsea
4-1
Sheff Utd
West Ham
1-0
Fulham

WhiteJC

#1
West Ham United 1-0 Fulham


Lukasz Fabianski was left waiting just to make the save from Ademola Lookman's poor penalty

Fulham's Ademola Lookman missed a Panenka-style penalty with the last kick of the game as West Ham clinched a dramatic victory with an injury-time winner of their own.

The game had looked on course to end goalless before Tomas Soucek drove home from substitute Said Benrahma's pass inside the box in the first minute of injury time.

But Fulham were awarded a 95th-minute penalty when Benrahma caught Tom Cairney and, after a check by the video assistant referee, the spot-kick was awarded.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had missed his previous penalty so Lookman stepped up but his chipped effort lacked any sort of power, leaving Lukasz Fabianski waiting to make an ultimately comfortable catch.

Lookman, who has been one of Fulham's better players so far this season, understandably looked devastated when the referee blew for full-time as the chance of what would have been a well-earned point slipped away.

Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had made a number of excellent saves to deny West Ham and put the visitors within minutes of a second successive clean sheet after claiming their first win of the season against West Brom last time out.

Areola, who is on loan from Paris St-Germain, kept out Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen inside the first 10 minutes and also pushed Cresswell's free-kick onto the bar early in the second half.

Fulham finished strongly and had good chances to take all three points themselves as Lookman and Bobby Decordova-Reid both drew saves out of Fabianski.

But just as they looked to leave West Ham with a point, Soucek's late winner and Lookman's poor penalty ensured it was the hosts who claimed their third win of the season.

Should the West Ham goal have stood?

Soucek's goal was in the 91st minute

To add to Fulham's frustrations, both managers were in agreement after the game that there were question marks over whether Soucek's goal should have even stood.

The contentious issue was that a ball into the box was aimed at Haller, who was in an offside position, but play continued and the ball was headed down to Benrahma by the Fulham defence to produce the assist for Soucek to strike.

"A tough call on Fulham for our goal because the offside rule is not a good rule. I would claim offside for that, but we get a goal from it," said West Ham boss David Moyes.

"None of us really know the offside rule now," said Fulham boss Scott Parker. "We've got VAR, every gadget and gimmick and there are so many things to look at nobody knows.

"He's (Haller) interfering with play, my defender can't leave it."

Defeat unfortunate for much-improved Fulham
Fulham had made a terrible start to the season that suggested they would be heading back to the Championship with a whimper, losing their first four games.

But in their last two matches there have been significant signs of improvement. They were good value for their win against West Brom and they withstood some early pressure in this game that previously might have seen them wilt.

After that, their defence was rarely troubled as a West Ham side missing the attacking spark of Michail Antonio struggled to make an impression in the final third.

Failing to take a point in such a cruel fashion will be difficult to take for Fulham fans but their overall display in the 90 minutes before then should provide encouragement for the future.

Hammers run continues - the stats
    West Ham are unbeaten in their last 11 home league games against Fulham (won seven, drawn four), with the Hammers currently on a four-game winning streak, their longest since a five-game run between September 1953 and September 1957.
    Fulham are winless in their last 17 Premier League London derbies (16 losses), with their current run of 13 consecutive defeats in such matches a top-flight record.
    Fulham have won just one of their last 25 Premier League games on the road in the Premier League, a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth in April 2019.
    West Ham manager David Moyes is unbeaten in his 14 Premier League home games against Fulham (W13 D1).
    Since scoring with two consecutive efforts in January 2019 against Brighton, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored with just three of his last 77 shots in the Premier League. He hasn't scored with any of his last 46 non-penalty shots with his right or left foot since a goal against Huddersfield Town in December 2018.
    West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has saved seven penalties since the start of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign; three more than any other goalkeeper.
    West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek's goal was West Ham's first 90th-minute winner since Javier Hernandez scored in a 4-3 thriller against Huddersfield Town in March 2019.

What next?
After the international break West Ham travel to Sheffield United on Sunday, 22 November (14:00 GMT) while Fulham host Everton on Saturday, 21 November (15:00 GMT).



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54758064

WhiteJC

#2
Parker's Post-West Ham press conference

Scott Parker's press conference was dominated by two key incidents from the narrow defeat to West Ham. The Hammers' opener, and the penalty miss.

"It's so raw and my emotions are disappointment and anger," he admitted. "Ade [Lookman] is a young player and you make mistakes; you need to learn by those. That's where Ade is tonight.  Anyone can miss a penalty but if you decide to take a penalty like that it needs to hit the back of the net. He needs to understand that, he's been fantastic since he's been here."

Parker doesn't doubt the young winger will come back stronger following the spot-kick, trusting in the strong character he sees before him.

"The character in him will need to dust himself down and learn from tonight and not hide. Ade's made a mistake tonight: not because he's missed the penalty but when you take a penalty like that in that moment of the game you put yourself on show.

"He'll bounce back well; I know he will. He's an unbelievable character. A great pro who wants to learn. The team will get around him, we move on. It's a young team with young players who are learning. We need to learn fast and keep improving."

The 40-year-old called for clarity on the offside rulings of the game. Sebastien Haller had appeared to ghost into an offside position in the build-up to the opener. A ruling Parker addressed.

"There's two talking points tonight," he continued. "The first is the penalty miss. The other is the first goal. Haller is in an offside position. My centre half has had to react and head the ball. We have every gadget in the game. VAR, offside, I'm not sure many people know the exact offside rule. I played the game for a long time; I am now a coach who coaches a backline to catch people offside.

"I understand if Haller is 20-yards away from my defender and not influenced him. But my defender cannot take the risk of leaving the ball and hoping the flag comes. Haller is offside. The goal comes from that. We probably need a bit of clarity. Two weeks ago, we had to change the rule on handball because we were having to tearing up textbooks on how to defend. That's how offside is going. I don't understand how Haller isn't interfering with play."

The international break now intervenes into Fulham's season with Everton providing the next test. The Head Coach saluted how far his side have come in such a short space of time.

"At the start of the season we had some tough results. After deadline day there has been some continuity with lots of improvement. The fine margins of football were there tonight. I'm impressed with where we're going and there's still lots to improve on. We'll go to the training ground, work on errors and keep on pushing and working harder."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/november/Parker-s-Post-West-Ham-press conference/


WhiteJC

Nottingham Forest: Fans blast Anthony Knockaert after Wycombe win

During Nottingham Forest's 2-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at the City Ground today, many Forest supporters have voiced their discontent with the current showings of loan signing Anthony Knockaert after his performance this afternoon.

Knockaert, who put pen to paper on a deal until the new year, not long after signing for Fulham in a £10.5 million move, hasn't impressed supporters with his displays since arriving.

Now, after his performance against Wycombe, a match which gifted Lamouchi's men a much needed win as they seek to climb the Championship table, many Forest fans have flocked to have their say over the Frenchman.

Find all of their best verdicts from Twitter down below, as supporters lambasted the French winger as 'pathetic' and 'underwhelming', questioning why the club even signed him.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/nottingham-forest-news/nottingham-forest-fans-blast-anthony-knockaert-after-wycombe-win/

WhiteJC

Lookman's horror penalty at the death allows West Ham to scrape home at Fulham's expense

West Ham 1 Fulham 0

Tomas Soucek popped up to ram home a 90th minute winner for the Hammers in the battle of east v west.

But it needed a disastrous Panenka penalty attempt in injury time by Ademola Lookman to ensure that West Ham took all three points.

The Whites were looking good for a point until a chip from the right was headed back into danger by Whites defender Joachim Andersen and it fell perfectly for sub Said Benrahma – making his home debut for the Clarets – to set up Soucek.

Yet Fulham could, and should, have saved themselves after a VAR check correctly showed that Tom Cairney had been clipped by a clumsy Benrahma, with the game in its final seconds.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's recent missed spot kick at Sheffield United meant he stepped down from the task of levelling it, but Lookman will wish that he had not. 

The winger had played well again but seemed to be caught in two minds as he ran up for his kick. It was so feeble and so slow that Lukasz Fabianski had time to make a cup of tea before it reached him.

The Hammers started off like a fire-cracker in the first half but soon fizzled out as Fulham wrestled possession and largely stifled the home side's ambitions.

The Whites did not make enough danger in the opposition penalty area to merit a win but their organisation and calm work with the ball was arguably worth a second away point of the season.

Yet it was not to be.

Alphonse Areola had to make three saves in the opening passages of play – first to deny Arthur Masuaku, who almost converted a square pass from Fablo Fornals. 

From the rebound, Aaron Cresswell thundered a drive straight at the on-loan keeper, who threw his arms to deflect the ball away.

And moments later and it was Jarrod Bowen testing the PSG stopper's alertness, while, from the resulting corner, Sebastian Haller rattled his crossbar with a header.

But that was a so good as it got for the Hammers in that first half as Fulham found their sea legs. Cairney's precision was the focal point of some tidy build-ups but it was the zest of Lookman which really threatened to unlock the door.

He tormented the home defence with his sharp turns and darts into the box, almost paving the way for Mitrovic – who perhaps came closest when nodding a Cairney cross just off target.

It was not a contest blessed with chances galore but the Whites could feel much happier with the way things were going, heading into the break, even if they had failed to land a shot on target.

The Hammers had to improve, and they did. 

Cresswell crashed a free-kick against the top of the crossbar – Areola getting his fingertips to it – after Harrison Reed's blind turn on the edge of the box to clear danger caught Tomas Soucek. Then a Bowen drive flew inches off target after ricocheting off Tosin Adarabioyo.

But it was still a game that remained in the balance. Lookman won a free-kick that he fired straight at Lukasz Fabianski and Booy Reid also made space to fire low at the Hammers keeper.

It all pointed to stalemate until the crazy finale, which went very much the Hammers' way.

West Ham: Fabianski – Balbuena, Ogbonna (Diop 63), Cresswell – Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Masuaku – Bowen (Lanzini 72), Haller, Fornals (Benrahma 72). Subs not used: Randolph, Yarmolenko, Snodgrass, Fredericks

Fulham: Areola – Aina, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Robinson – Auguissa (Cavaleiro 90), Reed – Decordova-Reid (Loftus-Cheek 83), Cairney, Lookman – Mitrovic. Subs not used: Rodak, Hector, Kebano, Ream, Bryan



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/lookman-s-horror-penalty-at-the-death-allows-west-ham-to-scrape-home-at-fulham-s-expense

WhiteJC

Fulham lose at West Ham after injury-time drama

West Ham scored an injury-time winner before Ademola Lookman abysmally missed a penalty with the final kick of what turned out to be a dramatic London derby.

Tomas Souček netted after being set up by former Brentford star Said Benrahma.

Benrahma then conceded a spot-kick by fouling Tom Cairney – a decision made after referee Rob Jones checked the pitchside monitor.

But Lookman's attempt at a Panenka penalty ended in embarrassment.

He barely made contact with the ball and it was gathered by keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

In an otherwise resolute display from the Whites, the home side peppered the Fulham goal in the opening stages, with Alphonse Areola beating away efforts from Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell.

Areola then palmed over a deflected Jarrod Bowen volley from the edge of the box before Sebastian Haller headed off the top of the crossbar from the ensuing corner.

Fulham, buoyed by their assured victory over West Brom on Monday night, gradually settled into the game.

Save for a few errant balls, some neat exchanges in midfield and plenty of pressure down the left wing led to Aleksandar Mitrović almost opening the scoring midway through the first half, but the Serb headed wide from an Antonee Robinson cross.

It was a similar story in the second period, which West Ham began more brightly too, as Areola was called into action again when he tipped Cresswell's free-kick onto the bar five minutes after the restart.

But an organised Whites defence meant that little else separated the two sides through much of the match.

Lookman and Bobby Decordova-Reid had their chances, forcing saves from Fabianski in quick succession, with former Benrahma sent on to try and break the deadlock for the Hammers.

And he did just that in the dying minutes, drawing another superb double save from Areola from the tightest of angles, before teeing up Souček to slot in from 12 yards.

He almost had his good work undone when he brought down Cairney in the box with seconds left, but Lookman's blunder meant Fulham left with nothing.

Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Reed, Anguissa (Cavaleiro 90+3), Decordova-Reid (Loftus-Cheek 83), Cairney, Lookman, Mitrović



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/football-fulham-lose-after-injury-time-drama


WhiteJC

Soucek's late strike earns West Ham win as Lookman fluffs Fulham penalty


Tomas Soucek scores in added time to put West Ham 1-0 up against Fulham, before Ademola Lookman's late penalty blunder. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/EPA

This was a good game until the 90th minute and an exceptional one thereafter. Still 0-0 going into four added minutes, West Ham had time to score a well-worked goal, concede a poor penalty and then watch as Ademola Lookman took a truly awful penalty to blow Fulham's chance of a point with the last kick of the match.

West Ham move up to 11th with the win, courtesy of Tomas Soucek's slammed sidefoot finish from a Said Benrahma cutback. The new Hammers signing, making his home debut, then nipped at the toe of Tom Cairney in the box with just seconds remaining of the game. After a long interaction with VAR a spot kick was awarded and Lookman stepped up to take. He chipped a Panenka so bad that it barely had enough power to bounce off the chest of Lukasz Fabianski. There were cheers and laughter, even in an empty stadium.

It is tempting to read too much into this result and so let's do that. West Ham's recent run of exemplary form has come from sticking it to the big boys. Standing tall, playing tough and sticking to a plan. Against Fulham, for long stretches, it looked like something else was required as the visitors – boosted by their first win of the season on Monday night – played with confidence and more verve than their opponents.

In the end, however, West Ham did find that little extra, when David Moyes brought on Benrahma with around 20 minutes of the match remaining. He replaced Pablo Fornals, who has technical ability, but not the x-factor with the ball at his feet that the Algerian showed for so long with Brentford.

Benrahma jinked his way into the area to force a double save with minutes of normal time remaining. Then when the Hammers were given one last opportunity to play their way through the spaces of a retreating Fulham defence, Benrahma found the right touches to let Soucek apply the finish.

Moyes expressed solidarity with his opposite number after Scott Parker complained about the lack of an offside call against Sébastien Haller in the buildup to the goal

"If I was Scott Parker I'd be really disappointed. I think the whole offside rule, where they're delaying the flag, it's a terrible rule," he said.


Lukasz Fabianski saves Ademola Lookman's underhit penalty deep into stoppage time. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/Reuters

Despite criticising his team's play, however, Moyes was pleased with a victory that could teach an important lesson in resilience.

"We stuck at it tonight and got the result," he said. "We were given a task to win in a different way, we tried but didn't pass or cross the ball well enough, our build-up was slower than we would have liked and they're all things we have to improve. Let's hope this is not the flaky West Ham of old."

For Fulham there were lessons in that dreadful final moment too. Lookman was as bright a light as any in white on the night, but his ability is not always matched by his decision making. This was a charge that could be levelled at others in the team too, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa a case in point. Both players have the qualities to be valuable weapons in Fulham's fight against relegation but to make that reality that may need to take a leaf out of the pared-back, efficient West Ham that narrowly edged them out here.

"The boy has made a mistake, that's clear," said Parker of Lookman. "You can miss a penalty, but you can't miss a penalty like that. He knows that. When you're young you have to learn quick.

"At the moment it's so raw, my emotions are of disappointment, and anger a bit. Addy is a young player and he's been fantastic since he's been here. He's got to learn from tonight, but he's not going to hide from that. I've not got an issue with missing a penalty, but when you decide to take it like that you put yourself right on show."

West Ham had started brightly and could have taken the lead when Jarrod Bowen's deflected strike hit the Fulham crossbar but the visitors improved in the second half before the late drama left them agonised and empty-handed.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/nov/07/west-ham-sheffield-united-premier-league-match-report

WhiteJC


West Ham 1-0 Fulham: Ademola Lookman misses last-minute penalty

Highlights and report as Ademola Lookman misses last-minute penalty with terrible Panenka attempt; Tomas Soucek had scored minutes earlier for the Hammers; Premier League game had looked destined for a draw heading into injury time

Ademola Lookman had a terrible attempted Panenka penalty saved in the last minute as Fulham slipped to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham.

The game came to life in injury time as Tomas Soucek fired home but Fulham were given a reprieve in their last attack when VAR awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Tom Cairney.

After Aleksandar Mitrovic had missed their previous penalty at Sheffield United, the responsibly was taken by Lookman but his weak, chipped penalty was read by Lukas Fabianski.

Lookman was inconsolable at the full-time whistle as his team put in a determined showing but left without any points.

David Moyes' men did create the better openings with Sebastien Haller and Aaron Cresswell hitting the crossbar but all-in-all it was a limp performance from the hosts.

Player Ratings

West Ham: Fabianski (7), Coufal (6), Balbuena (6), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (7), Masuaku (6), Rice (6), Soucek (6), Fornals (6), Bowen (6), Haller (6)

Subs: Benrahma (6), Lanzini (6), Diop (6)

Fulham: Areola (8), Aina (6), Adarabioyo (7), Andersen (7), Robinson (7), Reed (6), Anguissa (7), Cairney (7), Decordova-Reid (6), Mitrovic (6), Lookman (4)

Subs: Loftus-Cheek (6)

Man of the match: Alphonse Areola

How Lookman's duff left Fulham pointless
Fulham had not won any of their last 16 London derbies in the Premier League, losing 15, so they had owed something to their fans watching on from home. However, it was the Hammers that started with all the bite and incisive play that should have yielded the opening goal.

Arthur Masuaku was denied at the back post by Alphonse Areola who then had to show his shot-stopping skills to deny a thunderous effort from Cresswell from hitting the net.

Team news
David Moyes kept the same XI that were narrowly defeated at Liverpool. That meant Said Benrahma's wait for a full debut went on.

Scott Parker made one change from Fulham's impressive team performance at West Brom with Mario Lemina ruled out so Harrison Reed played in front of the back four.

From the subsequent corner, Haller rose highest but his powerful header clipped the bar and to safety. It looked like it could be a long night for Fulham at that point, but they settled into the game with Cairney pulling the strings just behind Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Cairney flashed an effort across goal that had no takers on 18 minutes while Mitrovic couldn't take advantage of a free header at the back-post moments later.

Jarrod Bowen was the next player to fluff a headed chance, guiding his almost behind him from only about 10 yards after a good ball in from Cresswell.

Like the start of the first half, West Ham came out after the break with an increased tempo to their play and Cresswell curled a majestic free-kick from the edge of the box back off the crossbar.

Pablo Fornals scuffed a shot wide before Hammers boss Moyes turned to Said Benrahma from the bench for the final 25 minutes.

His impact was minimal though as Fulham enjoyed their best spell of the second period as Fabianski dealt with a Lookman shot, and moments later the Pole got down sharply to deny Bobby Decordova-Reid.

West Ham's spark was lacking but they got the all-important opener with the clock into injury-time as Benrahma rolled the ball into Soucek's path and he fired home.

Fulham threw caution to the wind in the closing minutes and Cairney drew a foul off Benrahma that was originally missed by referee Rob Jones but spotted by VAR.

Lookman stepped up but fluffed his lines in extraordinary fashion to let West Ham off the hook and leave his manager livid on the touchline.

Parker: Lookman needs to learn

Fulham manager Scott Parker:

"My emotions are one of disappointment, anger a little bit. He's a young player and when you are young you make mistakes. And you need to learn from them. That's where Ade is tonight.

"Anyone can miss a penalty but if you decide to take a penalty like that you need to hit the back of the net. He needs to understand that. He's been fantastic since he's been here - we'll see the character of him now as he'll need to dust himself down. He needs to learn.

"If you miss a penalty like that, you put yourself right on show. He understands that, he's disappointed more than anyone.

"He'll bounce back, he's an unbelievable character and professional."

Analysis: Why didn't Mitrovic take penalty?
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:

After 92 minutes of mundane football, the injury-time in West Ham's clash with Fulham made up for it.

It was football at it's madcap best. Soucek looked to have stolen the points for West Ham but an overturned VAR penalty decision allowed Fulham one last kick to bag what would have been a deserved draw. Now, I don't need to spend time analysing or directing more attention towards the poor chap Lookman - he did wrong, he knows it.

But wasn't it a little strange that Mitrovic wasn't taking the penalty? Yes, he missed one at Sheffield United but Parker confirmed in his post-match press conference that the Serb striker was still the first-choice taker but was "injured" when it came to stepping up - with a hamstring problem to blame. Would an injury of that kind stop an Alan Shearer or a Harry Kane in the same situation? I'd think not. Perhaps Mitrovic scoring with just three of his last 77 shots in the Premier League had something more to do with it than a tight hammy.

Opta stats
    West Ham are unbeaten in their last 11 home league games against Fulham (W7 D4), with the Hammers currently on a four-game winning streak, their longest since a five-game run between September 1953 and September 1957.
    West Ham manager David Moyes is unbeaten in his 14 Premier League home games against Fulham (W13 D1).
    Since scoring with two consecutive efforts in January 2019 against Brighton, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored with just three of his last 77 shots in the Premier League. He hasn't scored with any of his last 46 non-penalty shots with his right or left foot, since a goal against Huddersfield Town in December 2018.
    West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has saved seven penalties since the start of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign; three more than any other goalkeeper.

What's next?

West Ham return to action after the international break with a trip to Sheffield United on Sunday November 22, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 2pm. Fulham host Everton on Saturday November 21 at 3pm.




https://www.skysports.com/football/west-ham-vs-fulham/report/428916

WhiteJC

Last-gasp penalty miss is another Hammer blow for struggling Fulham

Ademola Lookman missed a late penalty for Fulham as West Ham secured a 1-0 win at the London Stadium.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN FLUFFED a Panenka-style penalty with the last kick of the match as Tomas Soucek's stoppage-time goal earned West Ham a 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Lookman will not want to look at this match again after blowing the chance to rescue a point after his tame spot-kick was saved.

Sebastien Haller and Aleksandar Mitrovic had fired blanks again as a tepid encounter was drifting towards a goalless draw.

But the match exploded into life in stoppage time when Czech midfielder Soucek finished clinically after he was set up by £25million new boy Said Benrahma.

Benrahma then had an impact at the other end when he was adjudged to have tripped Tom Cairney in the penalty area – referee Robert Jones consulting the pitchside monitor before pointing to the spot.

But with the last kick of the game, Lookman chipped his penalty into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski.

It was such an awful effort that Fabianski, who had begun to dive to his right, actually had time to get back up and make the save.

It was a dramatic end to what had otherwise been a terrible match, and certainly not worth the £14.95 price tag that the broadcasters were charging for the late kick-off.

A fast start from the hosts saw birthday boy Arthur Masuaku force a near-post save from Alphonse Areola, with the Fulham goalkeeper also dealing with Aaron Cresswell's follow-up.

Jarrod Bowen's fierce volley took a deflection and was superbly tipped over by Areola before, from the corner, Haller's header clipped the crossbar.

Mitrovic's chances came midway through the first half but he failed to get enough on Harrison Reed's cross at the far post and and then planted a free header wide.

Fulham boss Scott Parker, a distinguished player for West Ham between 2007-11, turned away in frustration when Cairney's low cross fizzed across goal with no one able to provide the finishing touch.

After the break, Areola made another stunning save, getting a fingertip onto Cresswell's free-kick to touch it onto the crossbar.

Pablo Fornals scuffed a shot wide before Hammers boss David Moyes turned to Benrahma from the bench for the final 25 minutes.

The Algeria forward scored twice against Fulham for the Bees in the Carabao Cup last month, but this time when his first chance arrived Areola blocked the shot at his near post.

By contrast Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski had not had a save to make until he held Lookman' shot, and moments later the Pole got down sharply to deny Bobby Decordova-Reid.

When Benrahma rolled the ball into Soucek's path in stoppage time, it looked like West Ham had secured the points.

As it turned out they had, but not before Lookman came up with a contender for the worst Premier League penalty ever.




https://www.the42.ie/west-ham-fulham-5259680-Nov2020/


WhiteJC

West Ham beat Fulham after late drama

Tomas Soucek's stoppage-time goal followed by Ademola Lookman penalty miss

A stoppage-time strike from Tomas Soucek and a dramatic late penalty miss by Ademola Lookman helped West Ham United edge a 1-0 win over Fulham at London Stadium.

In an entertaining first half, West Ham came closest to scoring when Sebastien Haller's seventh-minute header hit the bar.

The hosts were again denied by the woodwork when Aaron Cresswell's free-kick clipped the crossbar five minutes after half-time.

A minute into time added on, Soucek converted Said Benrahma's pass to break the deadlock.

But Lookman had the chance to level from the spot with the last kick of the match following a foul by Benrahma on Tom Cairney.

Lookman's scuffed attempt at a chip was comfortably held by Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham go 11th with 11 points, while Fulham remain 17th on four points.

See: West Ham report | Fulham report

Budweiser King of the Match: Aaron Cresswell (WHU)
Next fixtures

West Ham: 22 Nov v Sheff Utd (A)
Fulham: 21 Nov v Everton (H)



https://www.premierleague.com/news/1885290

WhiteJC

Parker angry after Lookman's blunders costs Fulham

Fulham boss Scott Parker admitted his anger at Ademole Lookman for an abysmal penalty miss against West Ham.

Parker's side were beaten 1-0 at the London Stadium, where Tomas Souček scored in injury time and Lookman made a total mess of his spot-kick in the final seconds.

Lookman's attempt at a Panenka penalty ended in embarrassment.

He barely made contact with the ball and it was gathered by keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

"My emotion is one of disappointment – anger a little bit," said Parker.

"Ade's a young player and when you're young you make mistakes and you have to learn from them. That's where Ade is now.

"Anyone can miss a penalty but if you decide to take a penalty like that then it needs to hit the back of the net.

"He needs to understand that. It was disappointing. But Ade has been fantastic since he's been here."

Lookman has impressed since joining Fulham and Parker insisted he has no doubt the winger will respond positively to his awful error.

Parker said: "The character of him will be (shown) now. Dust himself down. He needs to learn from what happened tonight.

"He'll bounce back well. I know he will. He's an unbelievable character and a great professional who wants to learn."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/parker-admits-anger-towards-lookman-after-dire-penalty-miss

WhiteJC

Lookman's spot of bother costs Fulham dear

Fulham's faltering start to the Premier League season had garnered some momentum following their first win on Monday, but it all ebbed away in a ridiculous end to their London derby at West Ham this evening. Having defended resolutely for ninety minutes, a lack of communication between Joachim Andersen and Ola Aina allowed Thomas Soucek to fire the hosts in front in injury time. When all hope appeared lost, salvation came in the form of a penalty, awarded for Said Benrahma's felling of Tom Cairney as every Fulham player crowded the box in search of an unlikely equaliser. Aleksandar Mitrovic was demoted from spot-kick duty, having missed one at Sheffield United last month, but Ademola Lookman's bright start to his Fulham career could be a mere footnote after his pitiful Paneka attempt barely reached the goalline, allowing Lukasz Fabianki the simplest of saves.

As ever, with Fulham, it is the hope that kills you. Lookman looked crestfallen after his ill-judged attempt to outwit the West Ham goalkeeper that meant Scott Parker's side lost a game they were very much in until the very end. In a season where scrapping for your lives is the order of the day, coughing up four points through two failures from twelve yards is unforgiveable. Mitrovic might have skied his Bramall Lane effort, but the Serbian was surely a better option to take such a high pressure kick?

On such moments can campaigns turn. A furious Parker was already upset that West Ham's goal had been allowed to stand, arguing that Sebastian Haller was in an offside position when Vladimir Coufal crossed into the box. Andersen, otherwise excellent at the heart of a much more durable Fulham defence, made a hash of a header he might have left, allowing Benrahma to square for Soucek, who had strolled into the box criminally untracked, to drive a low finish past Alphonse Areola.

The visitors had steadied themselves after West Ham had made a fast start and were good value to take something from an even, and intriguing contest. Areola made a smart pair of saves in quick succession to deny Arthur Musuaka from close range and Aaron Creswell from further out after Jarrod Bowen had dispossessed Antonee Robinson. The Fulham goalkeeper made an even better reaction save to tip over a Bowen volley that had deflected off Mitrovic, before Haller headed a presentable opportunity from one of a host of early corners against the crossbar.

Fulham gradually found their poise and pretty passing patterns, but Mitrovic wasn't quite sharp enough to exploit a pair of probing balls from Tom Cairney and Robinson, who combined effectively with Lookman down the left. He steered a header wide with Fulham's best chance before the break and berated himself for not doing better after pulling away from Creswell to reach a looping Cairney cross.

The Whites had to endure another early spell of prolonged West Ham pressure after the restart. Areola got the feintest of touches to a venomous Creswell free-kick, even if the referee gave a goalkick. There was another fortunate escape when Bowen pulled the trigger from the edge of the box – this time a wicked deflection left the Fulham keeper stranded but the ball dropped wide of goal.

But, as in the first period, Fulham roused themselves and fashioned a pair of chances to grab a late winner. Lookman lashed an indirect free-kick from the edge of the box straight at Fabianski before a smart break saw Bobby Decordova-Reid's angled drive test the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper again. Benrahma and Lanzini were given just under twenty minutes to find a winner, with the Algerian international twice denied by Areola at his near post when a cut-back looked a more profitable option. Fulham fluffed a great chance to find a winner themselves when a lightning counter-attack offered Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa the chance to steal in at the back post, but the Cameroon midfielder opted against taking on the first team shot.

At that point, the game looked set to peter out into a tame draw that would have represented a creditable return to one of his former clubs for Parker, but the stoppage time drama means the Fulham boss has another big job on his hands to lift his charges ahead of a tricky fun of fixtures following the international break.

WEST HAM UNITED (3-4-3): Fabianski; Balbuena, Ogbonna (Diop 63), Cresswell; Coufal, Masuaku, Soucek, Rice; Bowen (Lanzini 72), Fornals (Benrahma 72), Haller. Subs (not used): Randolph, Fredericks, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko.

BOOKED: Ogbonna, Diop.

GOAL: Soucek (90+1).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, Robinson, Andersen, Adarabioyo; Reed, Anguissa (Cavaleiro 90+4); Cairney, Decordova-Reid (Loftus-Cheek 82), Lookman; Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Ream, Bryan, Hector, Kebano, Cavaleiro.

BOOKED: Mitrovic, Loftus-Cheek.

REFEREE: Rob Jones (Cheshire).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/11/lookmans-spot-of-bother-costs-fulham-dear/


WhiteJC

#12
'The worst penalty ever!': Ademola Lookman is panned for dreadful last-minute Panenka miss in defeat at West Ham... as furious boss Scott Parker says 'You take a penalty like that, it HAS to hit the back of the net'

    Ademola Lookman missed a penalty with the last kick of the game at West Ham
    The Fulham wideman wasted the chance to make it 1-1 in embarrassing fashion
    Fans roundly mocked Lookman and Cottagers manager Scott Parker was furious
    The pitiful Panenka penalty cost Fulham a precious point in the Premier League

Fulham winger Ademola Lookman has been ridiculed by fans and blasted by boss Scott Parker after spurning a last-gasp penalty at West Ham in the Premier League.

Lookman looked likely to earn the Cottagers a point when he stepped up to take a penalty six minutes into additional time at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski could scarcely believe his luck as Lookman's impudent Panenka effort - a penalty chipped down the middle and into the net - backfired spectacularly.


Fulham's Ademola Lookman has endured humiliation after missing a penalty against West Ham


The home side were overjoyed with relief after Lookman gifted Lukasz Fabianski a simple save


The abysmal attempt drifted harmlessly into the grateful Fabianski's arms and proved to be the last kick of the match as West Ham won after a farcical finish.

One stunned fan questioned whether the shocking spot kick was the worst penalty of all time.

'And in the 97th minute,' they boggled. 'What is he thinking?'

Another asked: 'Who takes a penalty this way with the last kick of the game? A kick that should have earned a point.'


The 96th-minute fiasco was a disaster for Fulham who could have earned a useful away point


An understandably distraught Lookman was consoled by his stunned teammates afterwards


Others cruelly joked that Lookman would be shunned at Fulham's training ground on Monday and compared his fiasco to successful Panenka penalties taken by the likes of Spain legend Sergio Ramos and Argentina icon Lionel Messi.

Fulham boss Scott Parker was understandably infuriated, having expected his side to equalise and earn a precious point minutes after West Ham's opener.

Parker admitted: 'I think at the moment it's so raw. My emotions are one of disappointment, anger a little bit.

'I'm not going to shirk away from the penalty miss. I'm angry and he is as well.

'You just can't miss a penalty like that. If you take one like that, you have to score.

'He knows that. When you're young, you have to learn quickly. The boy has made a mistake, that's clear.

'He's disappointed, and rightly so. Everyone can miss penalties, of course - but in a certain way.

'This is football, growing as an individual - and we'll learn from this. 

"Ade has been fantastic since he's been here. He needs to learn from what happened tonight.

'[It's] not because he's missed a penalty but because he's taken one like that - and at that point in the game. He's put himself on show.

"He'll bounce back. He's an unbelievable character who's made a bit of a mistake."



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8925195/Ademola-Lookman-panned-dreadful-minute-Panenka-miss-defeat-West-Ham.html

WhiteJC

Aleksandar Mitrovic: Scotland fully aware of Serbia's danger man
He may not be firing on all cylinders with his club, but Scotland know Aleksandar Mitrovic is a huge danger man when they face Serbia on Thursday.

The Fulham striker has only scored twice in seven matches this season for the Cottagers, but the 26-year-old is an assassin when he represents his country. He has scored 36 goals in 59 appearances – that seven more than the whole Scotland squad combined. So when Steve Clarke's men face the Serbians in Belgrade in the Euro 2020 play-off final, they know exactly what they are dealing with.

"I was with him at Newcastle for a year," recalled Scotland centre-half Grant Hanley, who is back in the squad due to renewed good form with Norwich. "His record speaks for itself. He's proved throughout his career that he has the quality to score goals wherever he plays. That's what happens when you play at this level, you come up against players of this quality. It's nothing new for the lads and I am sure homework will be done and we will be ready for it.

"Everybody knows what Mitro is like. He's aggressive and he's a handful. Whatever centre-half he comes up against normally find themselves in a battle.

"Thinking back he probably never played as much as he would have liked to and I don't think that is through any fault of his own.

"I think he would have liked to but [Ayoze] Perez scored however many goals that year if you remember? But whenever Mitro was involved he scored goals and that is sort of his record wherever he played."
Stopping the supply lines

Manager Clarke is fully aware of Mitrovic's threat. The Scots boss admits he wasn't too surprised when Serbia ousted Norway in the semi-finals last month and will try to cut the supply line to Serbia's talisman.

"Serbia is a quality team," said Clarke. "People will say they were surprised to see them beat Norway, but I wasn't one of them.

"I felt the Serbs, the way they play, the Norway game would suit them. That's how it turned out. They were terrific on the night.

"They've got some key players, a really good squad. The boy Mitrovic as a striker – his goal record in international football is phenomenal.

"He's a great player in the 18-yard box and a handful outside too. He's scored a hell of a number of goals so we'll have to keep an eye on him and limit his supply.

"Those supply lines would be mainly through Tadic and if he's playing, he's a player we'd have to control.

"Whoever they pick in central midfield, they'll be very competent and good at their job.

"They have two good wing-backs and experience at the back in Kolarov who has almost 100 caps.

"So they're a top team. They didn't qualify out of their group but they had Portugal and Ukraine who are very strong.

"That's why they're in the play-off final against us and it'll be a tough game."

If Mitrovic does score, it won't because Scotland aren't prepared for him. Snuff him out, though, and half the battle of Belgrade will be won.



https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/international/aleksandar-mitrovic-scotland-fully-aware-serbias-danger-man-3028516