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Monday Fulham Stuff - 05/04/21...

Started by WhiteJC, April 05, 2021, 08:07:54 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

WhiteJC

Results


Sunday
Southampton
3-2
Burnley
Newcastle
2-2
Spurs
Villa
3-1
Fulham
Man Utd 
2-1
Brighton

WhiteJC

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham


Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his first Fulham goal since 19 September

Fulham boss Scott Parker accused his players of not being "streetwise enough" as their relegation fears intensified after defeat at Aston Villa.

The Cottagers were on course to leapfrog Newcastle into 17th spot when Aleksandar Mitrovic pounced on an error by Tyrone Mings to fire the visitors ahead at Villa Park.

However, substitute Trezeguet scored twice as Villa hit three in the final 12 minutes to leave Fulham three points from a position of safety.

"At certain moments in the game, you have to understand where you are and what you need and we didn't manage that," said Parker.

"Sometimes you need to be horrible, play the game in the right territory. We were walking away with one point and then we were sloppy.

"It's a young team but we were naive and made silly mistakes. After the first goal, we dropped our intensity and it affected us too much and we weren't streetwise enough."

Fulham were good value for their lead before capitulating.

Mings, captaining Villa in Jack Grealish's absence, messed up attempting a back pass to Emiliano Martinez, allowing Mitrovic to sneak in, go round the goalkeeper and score.

However, Mings atoned for his error to provide the cross for Trezeguet to equalise with a first-time shot before the Egypt midfielder scored the second three minutes later from an assist by fellow substitute Keinan Davis.

England forward Ollie Watkins added the third from inside the six-yard area.

On the stroke of half-time, with the game at 0-0, Villa thought they had won a penalty when Watkins went down under Mario Lemina's challenge.

However, referee Andy Madley overruled himself after viewing a replay on the pitchside monitor.

Trezeguet inspires late Villa flourish

Without inspirational captain Grealish for the seventh straight game, Villa looked in a rut when they went behind just after the hour mark.

Dean Smith was hoping to welcome back Grealish from a shin injury but a setback in training on the eve of the game dashed the Villa manager's plans.

Villa have struggled without the England midfielder, winning just one of their previous six matches, and they looked on course for another disappointing result until Trezeguet was sent on shortly after Mitrovic put Fulham ahead.

He scored twice in the space of three minutes to turn the game on its head before playing a part in the third goal by laying it off to Bertrand Traore, who crossed for Watkins to score.

With a trip to Liverpool and a home game against Manchester City coming up, this was a welcome return to winning ways.

Having moved onto 44 points after 29 games - 18 more than they had at the same stage last season - Villa are just five points off a European spot.

They will hope to have Grealish back in time for next weekend's visit to Anfield but they at least proved against Fulham that they can win without their prized asset.

Huge blow for Fulham

With Newcastle again failing to win earlier on Sunday, this game represented Fulham's best chance yet of climbing out of the bottom three, where they have been anchored since 20 December 2020.

It appeared to be going to plan for the visitors when Mitrovic scored.

Elevated to the starting line-up after scoring five goals in three World Cup qualifiers for Serbia, the former Newcastle player justified his inclusion with his goal.

But Fulham, not for the first time this season, failed to see the game out, Villa scoring three times in the space of nine minutes to take the match away from them.

Only Southampton (18) and Brighton (17) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than Parker's side.

Three points from a position of safety with seven matches left, including a home game against Manchester United, as well as trips to Arsenal and Chelsea, Fulham are in big trouble.

Their last match of the season, at home to Newcastle on 23 May, already looks as if it could be highly significant, but Parker has to make sure Fulham are still in with a chance of staying up by then.



'The subs changed it for us' - what they said

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "It's a big win - a win full of character in the end. We believe we've got a quality squad.

"It was certainly a very good last 20 minutes or so. Sometimes you need players to make an impact from the bench and the three who came on certainly did that and lifted our performance.

"The subs changed the game for us. Trezeguet came on and did what I asked of him - made an impact. He has been a little unfortunate at times this season and I am really pleased for him."

Fulham boss Scott Parker: "I thought we were pretty solid for much of the game but the last 15 minutes I didn't like at all and it is something we will need to address.

"We need to be brutally honest, the last 15 minutes is not one we can brush under the carpet. If we do that again, we will not win football matches.

"The games are coming thick and fast with only seven remaining now."

Super-sub Trezeguet - the key stats

    Trezeguet is only the third Aston Villa substitute to score twice in a single Premier League match, after Julian Joachim, against Derby in September 2000, and Dwight Yorke, against Liverpool in May 1994.
    This was the first game in Premier League history in which every player in the starting line-ups for both sides was born after the first-ever Premier League game, played on 15 August, 1992.
    After 159 days without a goal for club and country (23 apps), Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored six goals in the past 12 days - with five goals in three games for Serbia, plus one for Fulham.
    Before his two goals against Fulham, which came just 160 seconds apart, Trezeguet had attempted more shots without scoring than any other player in this season's Premier League (29).

What's next?

While Aston Villa will hope to have Grealish back for next Saturday's league game at Liverpool (15:00 BST), Fulham are back in action on Friday when Wolves visit Craven Cottage (20:00).



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56553198

WhiteJC

Post-Aston Villa Press Conference

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Scott Parker lamented a lack of intensity in the last 15 minutes which cost the Whites dearly in a game where little split the two sides.

Fulham took the lead when Aleksandar Mitrović anticipated a defensive mistake, but three late goals earned Aston Villa the victory.

"I didn't think there was much in the game really," Parker said. "Both teams up until we scored the first goal huffed and puffed. But I thought we were pretty solid and always looked a threat.

"You get your nose in front at 1-0 and, I think it is fair to say, the first goal we conceded doesn't bother me too much. I understand that we can do better in those moments.

"But after the first goal it was poor from us really, we dropped our intensity, I felt like the emotion of that goal infected us too much. We weren't streetwise enough in those moments.

"For large parts today, I thought we were solid. The last 15 minutes I didn't like at all, it's something we need to address, and the players need to understand it."

The boss promised to be brutally honest with his players and that his side would learn from the difficult experience on Easter Sunday at Villa Park.

"The last 15 minutes you cannot brush under the carpet," he explained. "We cannot move on too quickly without addressing. That needs to be addressed and we'll address it first thing.

"We can withstand the pressure; we've withstood the pressure for large parts this year. We've been very good defensively. Sometimes, like in a boxing match, you need take a knee, a count and regroup a little bit and survive.

"We didn't have the mechanisms to do that today, that's what was disappointing, it affected us. Their goal at 1-1 affected us, at that point we are still in this game and you can't let the game transpire the way it did, and we'll learn from it.

"As always this year, when we have had bumps and a little adversity, we've come back. We've got another massive game [against Wolves] which we'll be ready for, prepared for, hopefully better."

Despite the defeat, Scott was pleased to see Mitrović amongst the goals and contributing to the team performance following a spell on international duty when he became Serbia's record scorer.

"I thought he was brilliant today," Parker said. "He's come off international duty with goals. Strikers, their main confidence source is goals.

"I'm very pleased with his all-round game. People will judge him for his goals, I judge him for his all round play, his work-ethic for the team, and I thought he was exceptional in that.

"The icing on the cake for him was his goal, it's just a shame it wasn't a goal which got us some points today."

Looking at the bigger picture, Parker promised that heads would not drop with a massive seven games ahead.

"We are right in it, we are right in this race," he stated. "We put ourselves in a very good position with how we've done, because of how well we've done this year in a short space of time, how well the group have taken on information and got better.

"With seven games to go we are right in with a fighting chance."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/april/Post-Aston-Villa-Press-Conference/


WhiteJC

Aston Villa vs Fulham player ratings as Aleksandar Mitrovic shows promise despite defeat

The Whites looked set to win until a disastrous final 10 minutes

Alphonse Areola

Showed complete ownership of his box despite not being tested by the home side's shooting untl the 75th minute. Could not do anything for Aston Villa's goals. 6.

Kenny Tete

Produced some impressive deliveries to find Aleksandar Mitrovic and Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the first half. 6.

Joachim Andersen

Cut out two early balls as Aston Villa looked to find Ollie Watkins immediately and was strong in the air most of the afternoon. Perhaps should have been more aware as Ollie Watkins slotted in late on. 6.

Tosin Adarabioyo

Was a little vulnerable when Villa's pressing was at his best and was more comfortable carrying the ball out than passing it. Took too long on the ball and was bullied off it by Keinan Davis in the build up to Villa's second. 4.

Ola Aina

Solid outing at left back for the 24-year-old overall. Would have been good to see him offering more going forward but often shackled by Scott Parker's orders. 6.

Harrison Reed

Not quite hitting his usual highs at Villa Park as the home side did a lot of the midfield running the in the first half. Couldn't find the target with a couple of strikes from range. 6.

Mario Lemina

Made his presence felt from the first whistle but sometimes a bit to ragged and often looked on the verge of fouling. Lucky not to give away a penalty at the end of the first half. 5.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Fulham's most divisive player, produced another display that included moments that may leave the casual fan purring while the Whites support may accuse of him being too ponderous once again. Almost put through Aleksandar Mitrovic with a clever ball and produced a number of driving runs. 6.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid

Showed is impressive ability to find pockets of space between midfield and defence that few other Fulham players can. Unerring work-rate as he filled at right wing-back when out the Cottagers were out of possession. 7.

Ademola Lookman

Produced some wicked deliveries from set pieces but was forced off in the very early stages of the second period with a knock. 6.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Serbian looked much lighter and more mobile than he has on previous Fulham outings. Probably the most engaged a Fulham striker has been over the course of 90 minutes this year. The personification of composure when he pounced on Tyrone Ming's awful pass back to Emi Martinez. 7.

Substitutes

Ivan Cavaleiro: Offered a reuglar outlet on the left side when he replaced Lookman. Provided a few nice interchanges but nothing more. 6.

Josh Onomah: Struggled to make his presence felt in the short time he was on the pitch.

Josh Maja: Limited impact as Villa saw out the game.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/aston-villa-fulham-player-ratings-20320352

WhiteJC

'This is a big problem' - Ex-Crystal Palace striker on injury suffered by Fulham's key player Lookman

Fulham missed a chance to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone after they surrendered a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Easter Sunday.

Manager Scott Parker handed starts to three players of Nigerian descent in Ola Aina, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ademola Lookman, with the Chelsea academy product passed fit to make his 27th appearance of the season after he was an unused substitute in the AFCON qualifier vs Lesotho.

For a moment Fulham were out of the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference, as Aleksandar Mitrovic tapped into an empty net after pouncing on a defensive error by Tyrone Mings just past the hour mark.

Goals from Trezeguet (2) and Ollie Watkins turned things around for Aston Villa.

Fulham are sweating over the fitness of Lookman before their next match, the RB Leipzig loanee was subbed off injured in place of Ivan Cavaleiro in the 47th minute.

The Super Eagles hopeful has been Fulham's most decisive player in the Premier League, with a goal involvement of eight (4 goals, 4 assists).

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison reckons that Fulham would find it difficult coping with the potential absence of the 2017 U20 World Cup winner.

"This is a big problem. If Ademola Lookman has to go off - even though he's been quiet so far, he's so key for them. You hope it's nothing serious. A huge blow," Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Nigerian duo Josh Onomah and Josh Maja came on for Mario Lemina and Ruben Loftus-Cheek respectively in the 83rd minute.

Fulham will hope to bounce back when they tackle Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage on Friday, April 9.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=39473

WhiteJC

Fulham stays in EPL's bottom 3 after 3-1 loss at Aston Villa

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Trezeguet came off the bench to score two goals in three minutes as Aston Villa rallied late for a 3-1 win over Fulham to leave the beaten visitors in the Premier League´s relegation zone on Sunday.

Fulham looked on course to climb out of the bottom three at the expense of Newcastle when Aleksandar Mitrovic continued his scoring form from the international break, netted in the 61st minute after pouncing on an under-hit back pass by Tyrone Mings.

Mings made amends by crossing for Trezeguet to turn in the equalizer in the 78th and the winger doubled his tally by volleying in a cross from substitute Keinan Davis, who had dispossessed Tosin Adarabioyo.

Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround in the 87th as Villa managed to win without captain and star midfielder Jack Grealish, who felt discomfort in the team´s final training session before the game to prevent him returning from a shin injury.

With Newcastle drawing 2-2 with Tottenham earlier Sunday, Fulham would have jumped out of the bottom three with a win. Instead, the London club fell three points behind Newcastle and has played one game more.

Mitrovic scored five goals in three games for Serbia over the international break. It was his first league goal for Fulham since his double against Leeds in September.


Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic, right, gets past Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to score the opening goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 4, 2021.(Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP)


Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic, 3rd left, celebrates with team mates after scoring his side's opening goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday April 4, 2021. (Nick Potts/Pool via AP)




https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-9435345/Fulham-stays-EPLs-bottom-3-3-1-loss-Aston-Villa.html


WhiteJC

Fulham squander survival lifeline at Villa

This may well be Fulham's most damaging defeat of the season. Tantalisingly, a spot above the relegation zone appeared in their grasp after Aleksandar Mitrovic punished a horrific mistake by Tyrone Mings to put them in front at Villa Park, but Scott Parker's side couldn't hold on. Instead, they crumbled. Two goals in space of three minutes from substitute Trezeguet turned the contest on its head before Ollie Watkins completed the comeback from close range.

The faces at full-time said it all. Dean Smith's Villa charges were delirious – but Fulham looked shellshocked. They had been comfortably in control when Mitrovic brought his outstanding international form back to the domestic arena and, although there was more than an element of fortune about the way the ball fell for him, the visitors thoroughly merited their second half lead. The Whites had been the more adventurous of the two sides – and it took Villa nearly seventy minutes to muster a shot on target.

That's what made the turnaround so surprising. Villa had flickered with Bertrand Traore briefly coming to the fore, but the away defence had kept Watkins – a scorer on his international debut with England – particularly quiet and looked on course for a crucial away win. It was Mings himself who sparked the Villa comeback, galloping down the left flank and picking out Trezeguet on the edge of the box with a low cross that the Egyptian guided into the bottom corner with real precision.

Just three minutes later, Villa were in front. An error from the usually reliable Tosin Adarabioyo saw Keinan Davis seize possession from the Fulham centre back in a dangerous position. The forward surged down the right flank and produced a deep cross that Trezeguet gleefully forced home at the far post. Adarabioyo booted the loose ball away in anger – knowing just how cruical that lapse might prove in such a tight relegation battle – and Fulham heads dropped.

Any hopes of a rousing revival were extinguished when Watkins tapped home a third from close range after Traore had tricked his way past Ola Aina and you sense it will take all of Parker's powers as a motivator now to lift his troops for the run-in. Staying up is certainly not beyond Fulham, but they keep making it even more difficult.

The away side had begun brightly, with Mitrovic underlining his rediscovered confidence by testing Emiliano Martinez with a low snapshot from just outside the box. Bobby Decordova-Reid might have done better than direct a header wide of goal from an excellent Kenny Tete cross, before Mitrovic's vociferous appeals for a penalty when he was pulled down by Mings were waved away. The Serbian was certainly Fulham's talisman, seeing a left-footed effort palmed aside by Martinez after a surging run from Ruben Loftus-Cheek threatened to open Villa up.

The hosts gradually got into the contest but found Fulham's well-drilled midfield particularly difficult to play through. Watkins was anonymous, save for a heavy touch in the second minute that prevented him from converting a devilish cross from Matty Cash. Though they enjoyed more possession as the half went on, it would have been a tragedy if Villa had gone in front at the break. That nearly happened when Andy Madley penalised Mario Lemina's challenge on Watkins on the stroke of half-time but, after consultation with the pitchside monitor, the referee overturned his decision, deciding that the Fulham midfielder had made contact with the ball.

Fulham's plans for the second half were disrupted within two minutes of the restart when Ademola Lookman was forced off injured after clashing with Cash. Ivan Cavaleiro came on and the second period followed a similar pattern. Fulham were purposeful in possession – but you could sense the tension was playing a key role too. They were only too grateful to profit from a terrible mistake by Mings, who underhit a routine backpass to Martinez badly, allowing Mitrovic to nip in, round the goalkeeper and stroke his first Premier League goal in some 22 matches into the empty net.

The visitors initially showed little sign of sitting on their lead, with Harrison Reed bending an effort wide from just outside the box after Villa had been caught trying to play out from the back. But Villa began to throw numbers forward – and after Smith sent on Davis to join Watkins in attack – the Fulham rearguard dropped decidedly deeper. The decisive Villa goals came in a rush, with Trezeguet's well-struck first swiftly followed by a poacher's finish at the far post. The substitute's first goals of the campaign felt like a hammer blow for Fulham, who are now three points behind Newcastle in seventeenth place.

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Targett, Mings, Konsa; Douglas Luiz (Ramsey 74), Sanson (Davis 67); Traore, El-Ghazi, McGinn; Watkins. Subs (not used): Heaton, Engles, Taylor, Nakamba, Barkley, El-Mohamady.

BOOKED: Douglas Luiz.

GOALS: Trezeguet (78, 81), Watkins (87).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Tete, Aina, Adarabioyo, Andersen; Lemina (Onomah 83), Reed; Lookman (Cavaleiro 47), Decordova-Reid, Loftus-Cheek (Maja 83); Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Fabri, Ream, Kongolo, Robinson, Bryan, Anguissa.

BOOKED: Andersen, Decordova-Reid.

GOAL: Mitrovic (61).

REFEREE: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).

VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/04/fulham-squander-survival-lifeline-at-villa/

WhiteJC

Parker can't contain dismay after 'naive' and 'sloppy' Fulham capitulation

Fulham manager Scott Parker couldn't hide his frustration after claiming "you can lose matches but there are ways to do that and I wasn't pleased with this one."

Fulham spurned the chance to lift themselves out of the relegation zone after a match that promised so much ultimately ended in defeat. Aleksandar Mitrovic capitalised on a Tyrone Mings blunder to put the Cottagers ahead.

But a late Trezeguet-inspired blitz would produce three unanswered goals as Fulham were powerless to prevent the contest slipping away.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Parker said: "It's a difficult one to be honest. We had a poor 15 minutes after we got our noses in front.

"I am disappointed with the way it goes. They got into the game at 1-1 and they were easy goals, silly goals. That has let us down.

"I have got half an idea how that happened. At certain moments in the game you have to understand where you are and what you need and we didn't manage that. Sometimes you need to be horrible, play the game in the right territory. There are two sides to every football match.

"We were walking away with one point with 15 minutes to go and then we were sloppy. It's a young team but we were naive and made silly mistakes. Where we are in the season and as a team you have to eradicate them.

"You can lose matches but there are ways to do that and I wasn't pleased with this one.

"It's easy to pick the players up. We were in an unbelievable position, this is a bump on the road. We have proven that we can respond and regroup all season.

"We will be brutally honest with ourselves, we were not good enough for 15 minutes but there are seven games left and everything to play for."



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/parker-cant-contain-dismay-fulham-capitulation

WhiteJC

Scott Parker: Fulham made 'naive and silly mistakes' during Aston Villa defeat


Fulham had led, but left Villa Park with no points / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Fulham boss Scott Parker says his side made "naive and silly mistakes" as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Parker's side had looked on course to claim all three points at Villa Park after Aleksandar Mitrovic put them ahead in the 61st minute.

But Fulham then conceded three goals in the final 12 minutes as Trezeguet struck twice and Ollie Watkins also scored.

The defeat means Fulham stay 18th in the Premier League andthree points off Newcastle in 17th, who also have a game in hand.

"We managed the game in certain moments, but there needs to be something a little bit more in those moments and we lacked that today," said Parker.

"It is a young team and we understand that, but there were some naive and silly mistakes really.

"At this moment, where we are in the season and where we are as a team, you need to eradicate them.

"Overall, I am disappointed with the loss. I always say you can lose football matches, of course you can, but there's a way to lose matches and I wasn't pleased with the way we lost today.

"They got themselves back in the game at 1-1 and they were just easy goals really, silly goals. And that's let us down today to be honest with you, so that's disappointing."

One positive for Parker was the performance of Mitrovic, who capped off a good display with his first goal for Fulham since September.

"He was on the scoresheet, it's just a real shame his goal hasn't got us something," Parker added.

"I thought his all-round play was very good. Like I always say, centre forwards live and die on their goals.

"His finish was clean and very good, so he did very well today. It's been clear for us this year that we've struggled at that end of the pitch.

"I am pleased that Mitro is that person that's going to help us."




https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-vs-aston-villa-scott-parker-reaction-b927855.html


WhiteJC

Verdict: Sickening Fulham defeat will give Parker sleepless nights

Aleksandar Mitrovic's third goal of the season was but a fleeting fancy Fulham would finally escape the relegation places.

The gift that was a poor pass back from Tyrone Mings was gratefully gobbled up by Mitro.

But then Whites eased off the throttle.

Aston Villa sensed their chance and were given more than a helping hand to a 3-1 win: the second time this season they've hit three against Scott Parker's side.

A massive blow, because Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a fine game until he made way for Josh Maja near the end.

He looked a yard quicker than recent games, and his drive showed his commitment to the cause.

The loss of Ademola Lookman to an injury straight after half-time hardly helped, but it had nothing to do with the sudden turnaround from 1-0 up to 3-1 down.

The Villa equaliser saw Fulham's usually able defence sucked into the cross like schoolboys.

The ball was cut back by Mings, of all players, to leave Trezeguet the freedom of the box to lash home and into the corner.

But the second goal?

You have to feel sorry for Tosin.

The young defender was caught in possession, and although he's had a great first season, he was also part of the blunder that let in Burnley for the equaliser in February.

If nothing else, he's learned that a pair of nanosecond indecisions has cost his side two points at least.

The third goal from Ollie Watkins, when frankly the game had gone, was down to a Fulham defence that simply switched off.

It was equally criminal, but understandable having watched their lead surrendered in just three minutes.

First half let-off
Fulham looked as if they had got away with an early blunder.

Not so Super Mario Lemina had been blown up for a clumsy fouls before he put Fulham hearts in their mouths.

Staring into the middle distance with seconds to go of the first half and the ball at his feet five yards from his own goal was dumb.

The midfielder got away with it when his toe was deemed ahead of Watkins' that ruled out the original penalty award.

Last seconds of the half? Put your laces through it, Mario!

I make that 3-1 to Fulham on contentious VAR calls. Parker wants rid of the technology; not so fast boss, for a while it looked as if was getting you out of jail.

Parker has predicted the next thing to go in football will be shinguards.

In fact, he supposes the tackle, as we know it, will be history in the next few years.

Judging by the two early yellow cards, he might be right.

Douglas Luiz's trip on Loftus-Cheek was clumsy – nothing more.

But the shouldering off the ball by Joachim Andersen on John McGinn was a debatable even as a foul – never mind a card.

It's getting to the stage where a harsh breath on an opponent gets you a foul

Note Bertrand Traore's pathetic fall to the ground after 64 minutes when he threw the ball away and should have been booked.

But unless it's shirt grabbing in the box, which is never punished, then it's a foul every other brush of an arm.

New-look Fulham
Parker also reckoned his was an "evolving" side this week.

You can say that again!

Only four of the team that started in the 3-0 home defeat to Villa in September remained for the return fixture: Alphonse Areola, Mitrovic, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Kenny Tete, in case you wondered.

He also claims it would have taken time to get that side acclimatised to the "massive" difference of Championship and Premier League.

Time, the boss, clearly didn't have.

One wonders about the fates of Michael Hector, Joe Bryan, Tim Ream and Denis Odoi, since reduced to bit parts?

If you were them, and wanting to stay with the club, maybe the best way forward is to again star in the second tier?

Time is running out for the favoured starters to get themselves out of jail.

If you surrender a lead for the 15th time this season, and have to depend on a dreadful mistake for a goal, it's difficult to know where you go from here.

This defeat is going to keep Mr Parker awake for a few nights.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/verdict-sickening-fulham-defeat-will-give-parker-sleepless-nights

WhiteJC


Cottage Talk Full Time: Fulham Take Another Step Towards Relegation

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

This is our initial reaction show to Fulham's 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. Max and Russ shared their views on why it fell apart for Fulham.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2021/4/4/22366962/cottage-talk-full-time-fulham-take-another-step-towards-relegation

WhiteJC

Scott Parker bemoans 'silly goals' in 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa as Aleksandar Mitrovic admits players are 'angry with themselves' after letting 1-0 lead slip... but Fulham boss insists there will be more 'bumps in the road' in Premier League relegation battle

    Scott Parker bemoaned the silly goals his side conceded against Aston Villa
    Fulham were 1-0 ahead in the second half but went on to lose the game 3-1 
    Aleksandr Mitrovic admitted the players were angry with themselves
    Parker insisted there will be more bumps in the road as they look to stay up

Scott Parker insisted there will be more 'bumps in the road' after Fulham's hopes of Premier League survival took a battering at Aston Villa.

Parker's side led through Aleksander Mitrovic's goal just past the hour mark but they found themselves behind as Trezeguet netted in the 78th and 81st minutes after a defensive lapse from Tosin Adarabioyo.

Ollie Watkins then added a third before the full-time to leave Fulham three points adrift of safety with seven games to play. While Parker said it will be 'easy' to pick his players up after the defeat, he bemoaned the 'silly goals' they conceded at Villa Park.


Scott Parker bemoaned the 'silly' goals his side conceded in their 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa


Fulham took the lead on the hour mark but Trezeguet scored twice in three minutes to put Villa 2-1 ahead


'(It was) a  poor 15 minutes from us. The game ebbed and flowed until our goal. I'm disappointed with the way it goes. It's easy, silly goals that have let us down today,' Parker said.

'I've got half an idea (what went wrong). At certain moments you need to understand where you are as a team and we didn't manage that situation well. At certain times you need a grit, you need an understanding, you need to be horrible.

'It's clear to see the way I want my team to play but there's always two sides to a football match. At one point we were walking away with a point here and we were sloppy at those moments.


Three points would have taken Fulham out of the bottom three but the remain 18th in the table

'We managed the game at certain moments but there needs to be something more at some moments. It's a young team but there was naive, silly mistakes at certain moments. You can lose football matches but there's a way to lose football matches.

'Easy (to pick the team up after this). Disappointment today. We put ourselves in an unbelivable position, there's always going to be bumps and this is a bump. How we react to these times is going to define our season. We've had many bumps. That's no different when we get up tomorrow and we get in tomorrow.

'Ultimately there's seven games left and everything to play for. There'll be more bumps but I also believe we'll have good ones as well.'

Mitrovic scored his first goal since September to put Fulham ahead and admitted the players were 'angry' with the way they let the game get away from them.


Aleksandr Mitrovic admitted the players were angry with themselves for letting their slead slip after his first goal since September put them ahead

'(We're) really sad, disappointed and angry with ourselves. We had good 60 minutes and we score a goal and normally this season we defend really well but today some mistakes and two goals in 15 minutes.

'There is no time to cry a lot, we have to dust ourselves, keep going and keep believing. We have to learn from this.

'Seven games left so lot to play. We are three points from the place we want to be and we play in the Premier League and against every team we can win, there is a lot of things to be positive about. This was not the right result tonight but still lots of points to play for.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9435479/Fulham-boss-Scott-Parker-bemoans-silly-goals-3-1-defeat-Aston-Villa.html


WhiteJC

Every word Scott Parker said on Ademola Lookman injury, Aleksandar Mitrovic and the coach home

The Fulham boss was disappointed with the final 15 minutes at Villa Park

Did the Villa equaliser rattle your players?

I think that is fair to say. I didn't think there was much in the game. Both teams, up until we scored the first goal, huffed and puffed. I thought we were pretty solid and always looked a threat. You get your nose in front, and then the first goal doesn't bother me too much, I understand we can do better in those moments.

After the first goal it was poor from us. We dropped our mentality, our intensity, the emotion of that goal effected us too much. We weren't streetwise enough in them moments. You go into that mode in this division, you're not going to be succussful and you can be two or three-one down before you know it.

For large parts I thought we looked a very good side, last fifteen minutes I didn't like at all and it's something we need to address and the players understand it.

How do you begin to address that?

We need to work, we need to be brutally honest, we need to understand exactly what I'm talking about. Things like the last fifteen minutes, you can't brush under the carpet. Sometimes in football, there are certain things that happen with games coming thick and fast, you want to move onto the next one. The last 15 minutes there isn't something we can't try to address because if the mindset is that and the team perform like that I know we won't win football matches. We'll address that first thing and from there as always when we've had bumps, we've come back.

Is there a mental aspect where they can't withstand the pressure?

We can withstand the pressure. We've withstood the pressure for large parts this year, we've been very good defensively. There's definitely a mental side. This is a team that are desperate to win football matches, a honest bunch of players desperate to do well in this league and I just felt the emotion of the game when they scored - it took a big hit for us. Like in a boxing match sometimes you need to take a knee, regroup and survive and we didn't have the mechanisms to do that today. At that point we're still in the game and you can't let the game transpire like it did after 1-1. That is disappointing and it's something we'll learn.

Where does it leave you in the relegation battle?

We're right in it, right in this race. We've put ourselves in a very good position because of how well we've done this year in a short space of time. How well the group having taken on the information and understood the flaws and got better. With seven games to go we're right in with a fighting chance.

What did you make of Aleksandar Mitrovic's performance?

I thought he was brilliant today. Obviously come off international duty with goals and strikers, their main confidence source is goals. I think you see that. Very pleased with his all round game. Mitro and everyone else will judge him for his goals. I will judge him for his general play and his work ethic for the team and I thought he was exceptional in that. The icing on the cake was his finish and his goal which was massive. It's just a shame it wasn't a goal that got us some points today.

How is Ademola Lookman doing?

Looks a bit of a hamstring strain, so I'm not sure how bad that is and we'll have to assess that tomorrow.

Could lack of experience be a disadvantage, do you need mor experience?

I feel like there's a team here wanting to learn quick and that's what we're going to have to do and we've done that very well this year. You can always look at it when you get near the wire and analyse the mistakes. Top players learn from their mistakes and learn from them. We didn''t do that well enough today, we didn't manage the game well enough and we need to improve on that.

Is the impact of the game defined by the response?

I think it's clear the last 15 minutes wasn't good enough. You won't win football matches in the way we responded to the first goal at 1-1. There's an innocence to it, I don't think there's anything other than that. The players need to understand that. I need to explain to them exactly how I see that last 15 minutes.

This is not something you can do on a training field, it's something that comes from within a bit more. When you're desperate and desperate to get points your emotion is so high, when it gets dented it then becomes so low. You need to stay middle of the road and we didn't manage to do that when they equalised. It was a real hammerblow. As the game transpired we struggled from that moment.

I need to explain exactly what I mean, I played football for 20 years, I know exactly what I mean. It's now my job to get that across so they understand where I'm coming from. This is a feeling, a nouse, a streetwise-ness, which sometimes this year we've fallen short. It's a work in progress and hopefully the players like they all have done this year, taken it all on board and wanted to get better and hopefully that will be the case today.

Were Villa's changes more proactive?

They brought on two players and they've brought energy to the game and scored a couple of goals so that's how it works. You can look at it both ways.

You can look at me, have we reacted to those substitutions quick enough?
You could also look at the players and think are we flagging a little bit?

Or you can look at the team, individually and work out was it the subs or was it our actions, our emotions, how we managed the game that was the problem. We'll work that out on the coach journey home and get a clearer picture. I know where I feel the game was lost today. My experiences and understanding and how I felt for the last 15 minutes was what I was talking about.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/ademola-lookman-injury-aleksandar-mitrovic-20321383

WhiteJC

Carlton Palmer: Fulham ace Anguissa suits Bielsa style of play at Leeds United

Ex-Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer claims Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa would suit Marcelo Bielsa's style of play if he heads to Elland Road in the summer.

Last month, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay claimed "extremely talented" Anguissa, 25, is a player who he'd want to see the Whites sign from relegation-threatened Fulham [Phil Hay Show].

The Cameroon international has played 31 times in all competitions for Fulham this season, impressing for the 18th-placed London club despite their perilous position in the Premier League standings.

Palmer now claims Anguissa would be someone who would suit Bielsa's ethos at Elland Road but even if Fulham are relegated, the former England international cannot see the Cottagers being in any rush to sell their players.

"I think he could play the Leeds style because Bielsa has a very distinctive style that he plays, and the one thing you've got to do is be mobile. You've got to be able to get around the football pitch and he can do that," Palmer told FootballFanCast in response to Hay's claim.

"It'll be interesting to see because I don't think, obviously unless the player wants to leave, financially, I don't think Fulham will need to let any of the players go should they get relegated."

Hard sell for Leeds?

Anguissa plays in a central or holding midfield role so if Leeds were to sign him from Fulham in the summer, they would have to convince him he'd get enough game-time.

Kalvin Phillips, as long as he and Bielsa are in West Yorkshire, is going to start every game he's available for in the defensive midfield spot and Anguissa will know that if the Whites come calling.

Leeds do need reinforcements to their central midfield position ahead of next season if they want to build on what they've already achieved under Bielsa.

Mateusz Klich has shown signs that he could struggle in the Premier League next season while there are doubts about the futures of Tyler Roberts and Pablo Hernandez and Adam Forsaw has missed almost two full seasons due to injury.

Anguissa would be great to have but we just don't see him accepting that a move to Leeds would be the best move for his career if Fulham go down.

The £67,000-a-week midfielder [Spotrac] has shown his Premier League quality at Craven Cottage so he might want to wait and see if someone who needs a starting central midfielder will come in for him.



https://motleedsnews.com/transfers/carlton-palmer-fulham-ace-anguissa-suits-bielsa-style-of-play-at-leeds-united/