Sunday Fulham Stuff - 15/08/21...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Saturday
Peterborough	2-1	Derby
Barnsley	1-0	Coventry
Birmingham	0-0	Stoke
Blackpool	0-2	Cardiff
Huddersfield	1-5	Fulham
Hull	2-1	QPR
Middlesborough	2-1	Bristol City
Millwall	1-1	Rovers
Forest	1-2	Bournemouth
Reading	2-1	Preston NE
West Brom	3-2	Luton
Swansea	0-0	Sheff Utd

[WhiteJC]

Huddersfield 1-5 Fulham

Substitute Ivan Cavaleiro scored seconds after coming on and added a second deep into injury time to put the seal on the win

Marco Silva enjoyed his first victory as Fulham boss as his side thrashed Huddersfield to move top of the early season Championship table.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the opener before Josh Onomah made it two with a bundled close-range finish.

Matty Pearson reduced the gap but Fabio Carvalho responded immediately to make it 3-1 at the break.

Fulham comfortably handled Harry Wilson's red card and Ivan Cavaleiro scored twice late on to seal the win.

The Cottagers were almost ahead inside 90 seconds when Onomah got a shot away from 20 yards which looked to be curling in, until Ryan Schofield saved at full-stretch.

But Schofield blotted his copybook after nine minutes when he made a mess of a clearance, sending it straight to Mitrovic, who was left with a simple finish.

They doubled the advantage after 37 minutes through a scruffy goal, as Onomah bundled the ball home following a corner.

Huddersfield had been second best but found a way back into the game when Pearson rose highest to nod home a Sorba Thomas cross at the far post, four minutes before the break.

But the Terriers couldn't hold on until half-time, conceding almost straight from the kick-off, as Carvalho was left unmarked to slot Bobby Decordova-Reid's pass under Schofield from close-range.

Fulham were in cruise control when Wales international Wilson kicked out in retaliation to a late challenge from Levi Colwill, which earned the £12m summer signing from Liverpool a straight red card.

But Huddersfield were unable to take advantage of the extra man and conceded a fourth when Cavaleiro scored seconds after replacing Carvalho with 13 minutes remaining.

Cavaleiro made it five in injury time to compound Huddersfield's misery and show that Fulham are intent on securing an immediate return to the Premier League.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva:

"We were the better team and deserved the three points. We didn't get what we deserved last week, but we did this week. We prepared well and controlled the game well. There are plenty of positives.

"They like to press high but we beat the pressure well and the players enjoyed it. We handled it well after the red card. The goal after the red card was a perfect response.

"I didn't see the red card but we have to keep our emotional balance, especially for the stronger creative players we have. They are suffering tackles every time and should be more protected, you have to protect these type of players."

Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio Leeds:

"In the first minutes of the game we were competing well, winning second balls, I didn't feel that any team was dominating.

"We had the chance to score from a corner and immediately after, in a situation we need to avoid, we concede a goal which made us lose confidence. It was a strange goal and we didn't defend well when we conceded the second one.

"After that, the dynamic of the game is more complicated. When we concede five goals it means we need to improve in defence but when I analyse the goals there are more things we need to improve. We conceded two goals that we were in the perfect condition to avoid."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124645

[WhiteJC]

Marco's Huddersfield Reaction

Marco Silva was satisfied after a good day at the office away to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

Aleksandar Mitrović, Josh Onomah, Fabio Carvalho and Ivan Cavaleiro (2) were all on target as a first win under the new regime was secured in style at the John Smith's Stadium.

"We deserved to win the three points, we were the best team on the pitch again, as well as last week," our Head Coach said.

"Unfortunately then we didn't score more goals, but this afternoon we got five. We had some luck with the first one, but we had clear chances to score more and more.

"At the end it was a fair result, we were the best team, the players did well and it was a good performance for ourselves.

"We were against a good side who we knew liked to play out from the back. We took some advantage and our pressure was good from the first minute of the match.

"We took many positives, not just because we got the result and scored five goals, but some things we saw on the pitch.

"It's a good feeling for us. You need to win matches to give yourself confidence."

Some of the passages of play from the Whites were absolutely gorgeous, and Silva was pleased to see a lot of hard work transpire on the pitch.

"You have an idea, and the players are buying that idea," he explained. "It's not just my ideas, it's Fulham Football Club's idea.

"They are buying that idea, they believe that it gives us more chances to win football matches. In the meantime, we are enjoying what we are doing.

"But it's the Championship, sometimes you see the quality we saw this afternoon.

"Those moments come from desire, commitment, and you have to have all these things in the same package for us to be stronger and stronger."

A straight red card for Harry Wilson with 20 minutes to play could have given Huddersfield a jolt in the arm, but instead it was a brace from substitute Cavaleiro that wrapped things up for Silva's men.

It's a resilience which went down well with the Gaffer.

"We had some good challenges today," he said. "After 2-0, they scored but then straight away we scored the third goal.

"After the red card, of course we made some changes to create a different shape on the pitch.

"We had some fast players to the side; Bobby right and Ivan on the left, and more power with Frank Anguissa inside with Seri.

"We scored two more goals after we took a risk to play more and put more players against their backline.

"If you have a good shape and keep the organisation in our team then good moments can come on the counter attack."

Mitrović's opener had more than a touch of fortune about it, but his all round performance was fantastic, linking the play and holding up the ball, culminating in a fine assist for Cavaleiro's fifth.

"It's important," Silva replied when asked about our number nine getting off the mark. "He needs this type of performance to boost his confidence, which is normal after the last match, which was disappointing for all the players because we were the best team on the pitch against Middlesbrough.

"Mitro felt better [today], we spoke during the week, I want to leave all this pressure behind him that he has to score all these goals in a game.

"He scored once but he had lots of good moments, he helped the team and he did good work in the side. That's the most important thing for me.

"The goals for our strikers and wingers will come naturally with our style of play."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/august/Marco-s-Huddersfield-Reaction/

[WhiteJC]

Olakigbe brace beats Spurs

Two second half strikes from winger Michael Olakigbe secured a convincing win over Tottenham for Fulham's under 18s as Steve Wigley's side started the season in fine style at Motspur Park.

A new-look home side made the perfect start, having survived an early spell of Spurs possession, when Ollie Sanderson curled home a fine opening goal in the top corner with just six minutes played. A beautiful ball from Stefan Parkes freed Devan Tanton down the right flank but the marauding full back's cross had a little too much pace for Jaylan Wildbore in the centre.

American goalkeeper Alex Borto made two smart saves to preserve Fulham's advantage – pushing a low drive from Rio Kyerematen around the post and then denying the Tottenham midfielder brilliantly in an one-on-one situation. Olakigbe's pace was causing serious problems for the visitors and the winger could count himself unfortunate not to have doubled the lead when he shot straight at Adam Hayton after stealing possession from Max McKnight.

There was a touch of fortune about Fulham's second, which arrived just after the half hour mark. Delano McCcoy-Splatt located Imani Lanquedoc with a precise pass and the attacking midfielder's deflected finish ended up into the far corner – with Hayton having no chance.

Spurs came roaring back in a lively second period that saw sixteen year-old Jamie Donley drill home a penalty to reduce their arrears eight minutes after the interval. The dangerous Williams had been pushed to the ground for a clear spot-kick. Olakigbe quickly re-established Fulham's two goal lead with a thumping finish off the underside of the crossbar after excellent approach play from Lanquedoc, but the away side set up a nervy finale when Jaden Williams tucked in from close range to finish off a flowing move down the left flank.

Fulham survived a strong penalty appeal for handball with a quarter of an hour to play and Donley drove a follow-up over the bar as the ball dropped his way in the area. The young Whites eventually made sure of the points with six minutes to play, courtesy of another impressive Olakigbe strike. The lively left winger found the far corner from an acute angle to cap another eye-catching individual performance.

FULHAM U18s (4-2-3-1): Borto; Tanton (Antonsson 45), Araujo, C. Robinson, Parkes; Okkas (Caton 80), McCoy-Splatt; Wildbore, Lanquedoc, Olakigbe; Sanderson (Works 60). Subs (not used): de Fougerolles, Trialist.

GOALS: Sanderson (8), Lanquedoc (33), Olakigbe (56, 84).

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR U18s (5-3-2): Hayton; McKnight (Bryan-Waugh 58), Linton, Hackett, Dorrington, Cassanova; Kyerematen, Owen (Bloxham 74), Torraj (Mathurin 53); Donley; Williams. Subs (not used): Krasniqi, Haysman, Bloxham.

GOAL: Donley (pen 53), Williams (60).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/olakigbe-brace-beats-spurs/

[WhiteJC]

Ipswich Town agree fee for Accrington Stanley ace Cameron Burgess

Ipswich Town are closing in on a deal for Accrington Stanley defender Cameron Burgess, according to reports.

Ipswich Town boss Paul Cook labelled himself as a demolition man at the start of the summer window, and he has definitely lived up to that title.

14 players have made their way through the doors at Portman Road, while another 16 have headed in the opposite direction.

Now, the East Anglian Daily Times has said a 15th addition is close, with a deal for Accrington Stanley defender Cameron Burgess agreed.

It is said that the former Fulham defender's talks over a move to Ipswich Town are advanced, with the hope being that a deal can be done after reaching an agreement over a transfer fee.

Burgess only joined Stanley last summer, but he could be set for a move away after playing a starring role for John Coleman's side last season.

Across all competitions, the former Australian youth international played 52 times, netting six goals and providing four assists in the process.

Burgess' career to date

After moving from Australia to England in 2012, Burgess has spent the vast majority of his career to date in the EFL.

The 25-year-old made his way through Fulham's youth academy, playing 17 times for their U23s and even notching up four appearances for their senior side.

However, much of his time on the books at Craven Cottage was spent out on loan. Burgess endured temporary stints with Ross County, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic and Bury before leaving to join Scunthorpe United permanently. He also spent time on loan with Salford City during the 2019/20 campaign.



https://the72.co.uk/245117/ipswich-town-agree-fee-for-accrington-stanley-ace-cameron-burgess/

[WhiteJC]

Huddersfield Town show they have learned nothing as old problems add up to thrashing to Fulham

This was always going to be a hugely challenging game for Carlos Corberan's side but there are few positives to take out of a 1-5 defeat that exposed all their issues

It's not the defeat that hurts here: it's the nature of it. Huddersfield Town were defeated by Fulham because they have apparently learned nothing from last season.

The returning crowd could have stomached a brave, battling loss to a side tipped for promotion this season, but to concede three thoroughly avoidable goals thanks to a catalogue of different types of error - plus four and five as they chased the game - leaves them questioning if this side are capable of better.

Ryan Schofield was clearly majorly at fault for the first goal and at least partly culpable for the second, but he was not at all helped by a ludicrous Sorba Thomas backpass for the first and some woefully naive defending for the third, with three players chasing after the ball and leaving a man completely free to apply a simple finish.

Throw in that Fulham had a goal questionably disallowed – as did Huddersfield Town, it has to be said – and that Harry Wilson missed an open net, and Town could have had few complaints if they had gone in at the break 2-5 down. The boos that broke out at the break were justified.

Head coach Carlos Corberan has refused to set a points or position target for this season, instead setting the benchmark as being competitive in every game, regardless who they might be facing.

The entire purpose of their early summer recruitment was to add depth to the squad and ensure their performances could not slide as far as this, so even against top-class opposition for this division, for them to sink to the depth of the second half of last season once again – and at home, no less – is a major cause for concern.

Town's season is not going to be decided by their results against the top six or eight sides in the division, but they have to be better than this.

The unfortunate fact is that Schofield does not look ready to compete at this level – not as long as his confidence is as clearly broken as it is. Covid absentee Lee Nicholls will surely get a chance to displace him when cleared to return, but even that change and the return of key players Pipa, Lewis O'Brien and Harry Toffolo will not fill fans with confidence that results will get back on track any time soon.

The second half was better, but in reality Fulham only had to hold Town at arm's length, and with no real cutting edge either in midfield or up front they were easily able to do that, even after being quite rightly reduced to ten men for Harry Wilson's retaliatory kick on Levi Colwill – who was the Terriers' lone bright spark on the day.

The passion and determination is clearly there in this side, who never stopped running and never stopped fighting to try and salvage something from what increasingly became a lost cause.

That offers a tiny shred of light, but there is too little quality, too little tactical creativity and too little bite in the attack. Fulham's and and fifth goals, scored on the counter as Town pushed forward, were partly scored because of that: if you don't offer anything of your own, there is only one way the next goal is going to go.

Our intention was to try and reserve judgement until after we see what they can do against more beatable opposition at home to Preston on Tuesday night but we cannot in good conscience call for fans to be patient. This is a side that has outright won three of its last 21 games, and those winless games include encounters with League One opposition.

Two games into the season is far too early to discount their chances of coming good, but things are only going to get more difficult now the Galpharm Groan has set back in and the fans are growing increasingly restless.

The clock was already ticking before the season even started, and now these players and this head coach are approaching added time. Town assert that they are committed to this project, and we want to believe in it too, but all the signs at the moment are that it is just not working.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/huddersfield-town-show-learned-nothing-21313466

[WhiteJC]

Fluent Fulham put five past Huddersfield

Marco Silva might have been disappointed with his first taste of the Championship as Fulham were pegged back by Middlesbrough on Sunday, but his side more than made up for it with a sparkling showing in west Yorkshire this afternoon as they put five past Huddersfield. There were a couple of comical goals – Aleksandar Mitrovic's first of the season owed move to some calamitous goalkeeping than his own predatory instincts and there was even a touch of fortune about Josh Onomah's close range header that doubled the lead – but Fulham looked like a side totally transformed in the final third.

The visitors didn't look like losing their lead after promising midfielder Fabio Carvalho flawlessly finished off a fine counter-attack just before half time and even made light of the controversial dismissal of Harry Wilson, with substitute Ivan Cavaleiro add two terrific finishes to make the scoreline even more overwhelming. It was a miserable return to the dugout for Terriers' boss Carlos Coberan, whose Covid-ravaged side battled hard in the first half, but had no answer to Fulham's fluent approach play.

It might have been different had Huddersfield not had an early goal chalked off for a very contentious offside. Onomah had drawn an excellent early save from Ryan Schofield, who endured an afternoon to forget in the home goal, but the hosts soon created an opening of their own as Sorba Thomas cut a ball back for Duane Holmes and Paulo Gazzaniga palmed the American's effort aside. Fulham failed to deal with the ensuing corner and Matty Pearson blasted home – only for the home celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag. It looked like the visitors had definitely got away with one.

There was more good fortune for Fulham as they went ahead through one of the scrappiest goals Mitrovic will ever claim in the ninth minute. Thomas' decision to float a pass all the way back to his goalkeeper from the halfway line looked ill-advised, but Schofield's attempts to save a corner were shambolic. He succeeded in miscuing a clearance straight to Mitrovic, with the ball bouncing back into an unguarded net off the Serbian striker's body – and possibly his arm – as he slipped during to put the goalkeeper under pressure. The goal stood and Mitrovic, who had looked a little off the pace against Middlesbrough, was off the mark in the most unconventional fashion.

Mitrovic passed up a glorious opportunity to double the lead just two minutes later. He exploited some nervousness in the home defence to latch onto a Tosin Adarabioyo header, but having raced clear lashed his finish straight at Schofield with the whole goal to aim at. The hulking striker's movement was certainly causing Huddersfield problems. He had a second goal chalked off midway through the first half when he headed home a fine Wilson cross but was adjudged offside.

Fulham were playing some lovely football in the final third with Wilson and Carvalho particularly prominent. The Welsh winger should have made it two instead of screwing a simple finish wide from close range after Carvalho had burst away from the Huddersfield defence – but the Whites weren't rueing that glaring miss for too long. Bobby Decordova-Reid, recalled in place of Neeskens Kebano, flicked on a Wilson corner and Onomah's cute header trickled under Schofield to give Fulham some breathing space.

Silva's sides have proven susceptible at set plays in the past and that was Huddersfield's immediate route back into a contest that was threatening to disappear away from them. Pearson buried a Thomas corner with a commanding header, but either he or centre back partner Naby Sarr could have nodded it beyond Gazzaniga such was the paucity of Fulham's marking. The helter-skelter nature of the Championship was summed up by the way Silva's side delivered an instant riposte. Onomah drove deep into Huddersfield territory and found Decordova-Reid in the area, the Jamaican's fancy footwork outwitted a couple of defenders and created the space for Carvalho to restore Fulham's two goal cushion with a measured finish.

It might have been four in stoppage time when Kenny Tete did superbly to find Mitrovic in the area, but the Serbian declined the chance to shoot and Schofield kept out a Wilson drive. The game was a little less stretched at the start of the second half, although both sides were still committed to going forward. Decordova-Reid drifted inside from the left but saw his shot comfortably gathered by Schofield, whilst Thomas fashioned a chance for Josh Koroma at the other end but Gazzaniga made a routine stop.

Some of the interchanges between Fulham's front line were sublime and Silva's charges went close to adding a fourth midway through the second half. Onomah, who has really taken to his adventurous midfield role in the opening weeks of the season, drove towards the edge of the box and slipped in Carvalho. The youngster was denied by Schofield only for Wilson to whack the follow up against the crossbar.

A competitive contest had threatened to turn fractious for a while as referee Dean Whitestone failed to punish some overzealous challenges. Wilson paid the price for kicking out at Levi Colwill after he had been crudely cut down by a late tackle, although the decision appeared very harsh to the naked eye. Fulham had a little over twenty minutes to survive with ten men, but there was little thought of sitting on their lead. Silva sent on Ivan Cavaleiro and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and his compatriot had extended the lead within seconds – deftly dinking a finish over Schofield after being released by another outstanding through ball from Decordova-Reid.

Cavaleiro added a fabulous fifth in the fifth minute of stoppage time after being brilliantly found by Mitrovic. The former Wolves winger worked the angle for a lovely left-footed finish into the bottom corner wonderfully – dummying his way past Pearson and Sarr – to round off an astonishing away day.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (4-2-3-1): Schofield; Turton, Colwill, Pearson, Sarr; Hogg, Vallejo (High 45); Koroma, Thomas, Holmes (Rhodes 67); Ward (Campbell 45). Subs (not used): Bilokapic, Pipa, Lees, Brown.

BOOKED: Colwill.

GOAL: Pearson (41).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Tete, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream; Seri (Francois 86), Onomah (Anguissa 77); Wilson, Decordova-Reid, Carvalho (Cavaleiro 77), Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Mawson, Bryan, Kebano.

BOOKED: Decordova-Reid.

SENT OFF: Wilson (71).

GOALS: Mitrovic (9), Onomah (37), Carvalho (43), Cavaleiro (78, 90+6).

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

ATTENDANCE: 15,126.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/fluent-fulham-put-five-past-huddersfield/

[WhiteJC]

Silva salutes superb Fulham display

Marco Silva was delighted with his first win as Fulham manager after the Whites produced the complete away performance to beat Huddersfield 5-1 this afternoon.

The Portuguese head coach told his post-match press conference that his side thoroughly merited the four-goal winning margin after dominating the contest at the St. John Smith's Stadium. He was particularly pleased with the way Fulham took control of the game after suffering a late setback against Middlesbrough last weekend:

"We were the better team and deserved the three points. We didn't get what we deserved last week, but we did this week. We were the best team on the pitch. We had the chances today and got five goals. The first goal was a lucky one but we had clear chances after that to score more and more.

"It was a fair result at the end and the players performed well. We prepared well for the game and controlled the game well. There are plenty of positives. They like to press high but we beat the pressure well and the players enjoyed it. We handled it well after the red card. The goal after the red card was a perfect response."

Silva refused to condemn Harry Wilson after the Welsh winger was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Huddersfield's Levi Colwell.

"I didn't see the red card but we have to keep our emotional balance, especially for the stronger creative players we have. They are suffering tackles every time and should be more protected, you have to protect these type of players.

In the meantime you still have to keep your emotional balance. The performance was good and it is always pleasing to win so emphatically. They put us under some pressure in the opening few minutes but we looked comfortable after that."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/silva-salutes-superb-fulham-display/

[WhiteJC]

Away Day Diaries – Huddersfield Town

What a day. I'm just back to the house after a trip to Huddersfield were Fulham showed the Championship that they mean business under Marco Silva. My last game was our trip to the Etihad in the FA Cup at the start of 2020, so it was nearly emotional watching the boys march onto the pitch before kick-off.

Last season was just so awful. I think it was worse because we had to watch from home, gaping into our TV screens at empty, soulless stadiums, knowing that there was nothing we could do to try and give our team something to feed off. Players like Mitrovic are built for crowd interaction, and already we can see a big improvement in his play. I'm not saying that we went down last year because of no crowds, I'm just saying that it might not have been quite so embarrassing. Last season was poor for so many reasons but now, under a new manager, we seem to have been given the kiss of life.

Being on the concourse, taking in the sights and sounds of live football is fantastic. Making your way to your seat, being surrounded by the people you haven't seen in over 18 months was heart-warming. Watching Fulham be utterly ruthless away from home was exhilarating.

After two games in the Championship no one has a 100% record. It's a sign that no team will find it easy, but if we play like we did today every week, we can expect big things from this team. Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. Huddersfield were hopeless. That first goal was an absolute comedy show and we aren't going to get many gifts like that throughout the season. But it was our response to moments of a Huddersfield fightback that has impressed me most today. Firstly, when they scored their goal, it would have been very Fulhamish to allow them to get on top. Even though we were dominating before that, a goal can be all it takes to swing the momentum but instead we went straight up the other end and restored our two goal lead. Lovely build up play, and clinical finishing from Fabio Carvalho who has looked brilliant in the handful of games he has played since the end of last season. Then, when Harry Wilson was given his marching orders, again we could have seen a Huddersfield fightback. Last season we would have seen some sort of defensive change at that point. Hold what you have and all that, which so often resulted in us surrendering points, but Silva clearly doesn't have the same coaching book that Scott Parker had been working from. Changes were made, but Cavaleiro was brought on to stretch the game, something he did within seconds, chipping over the Huddersfield keeper for our fourth of the day. And he bagged the fifth as well with another composed finish that we didn't see enough of last season.

An incredibly satisfying day were Silva's Fulham lay down a marker. It was wonderful to witness and it feels amazing that football and the fans have finally been reunited.

#COYW




https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/away-day-diaries-huddersfield-town/

[WhiteJC]

Huddersfield 1-5 Fulham: Ivan Cavaleiro's double ensures Marco Silva's men top the Championship table after thumping win as Cottagers survive Harry Wilson red card

    Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic gave the Cottagers the lead in Yorkshire
    Josh Onomah then added a second before Matty Pearson pulled one back 
    Fabio Carvalho struck just before the interval to give Fulham a 3-1 lead 
    Harry Wilson was sent off in the second half but Ivan Cavaleiro netted a brace

It remains very early days, but Fulham served up the kind of performance which had them looking every inch promotion material.

Their teamwork was peerless, their conviction unshakeable as they reduced hapless Huddersfield to so much rubble in front of their disbelieving and, ultimately, angry supporters.

Healing the scars of last season's relegation from the Premier League will take some doing, but Marco Silva is promising to write a new chapter after taking over from Scott Parker.


Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after putting Fulham 1-0 up at the John Smith's Stadium

Parker jumped ship for Bournemouth during the summer, yet on this evidence the Cottagers appear a decent bet to make an instant return to the top flight under Silva.

They purred ominously in West Yorkshire and, had they added several more goals to their tally, nobody in the home stands could have complained.

Bobby Decordova-Reid produced three assists and Silva beamed: 'We deserved the three points and were the best team on the pitch again.

'Unfortunately we didn't get what we deserved last week [against Middlesbrough], despite having chances.


Fabio Carvalho (left) celebrates after his goal put Fulham 3-1 up shortly before half time

'This afternoon we scored five. We had some luck with the first goal but we had three or four clear chances to score more.

'In the end it was a fair result and the players did well. We controlled the game against a team who like to press really high.'

A crowd of 15,126 turned up hoping to see signs of progress from the Carlos Corberan era, with the Spaniard having taken over last summer after two years working under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds.

Corberan's side flirted with relegation last season and they were booed off at half-time and again at the final whistle here.


Fulham were given a second half scare as Harry Wilson was given his marching orders


But Ivan Cavaleiro went on to score a brace as the Cottagers stormed to a 5-1 victory

Credit to Fulham, of course. They were simply too strong and too vibrant in every department as they went top of the Championship.

When £12million summer signing Harry Wilson was sent off in the 73rd minute for kicking out at Levi Colwill, the visitors simply moved through the gears and scored twice more through substitute Ivan Cavaleiro.

There will be greater challenges for Fulham. There has to be. It cannot be this easy.

But the manner in which they systematically took control of the match after Huddersfield had an early goal disallowed – Matty Pearson rifled home before an offside flag was raised – will fill Silva with much confidence.

In the ninth minute, Town goalkeeper Ryan Schofield's attempted clearance bizarrely rebounded off Aleksandar Mitrovic and into the net for the opening goal.

Josh Onomah nodded in a second from close range but Pearson headed home for Huddersfield before Fabio Carvalho rifled in a low shot to make it 3-1 at the break.

Mitrovic had another goal disallowed and also fired straight at Schofield when he should have scored.

After the break, Wilson, signed from Liverpool, hit the crossbar from 20 yards before being fouled by Colwill and then kicking out at him, sparking a melee between both sets of players.

Colwill was booked for the initial challenge and Wilson saw red for his reaction, with Silva saying of the incident: 'I haven't seen it again yet, but we have to keep our emotional balance really strong.

'These type of players should be more protected because they are suffering these kind of tackles all the time. If we don't protect them, who will?'

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Fulham substitute Cavaleiro produced two fine finishes in the final quarter to leave Corberan devastated.

He admitted: 'Where went wrong? Many things.

'We need to analyse and be self-critical because I'm focused on finding solutions to the situation.'

Tuesday's visit of Preston has taken on added importance for Corberan, while the prospect of star midfielder Lewis O'Brien being sold to Leeds or Crystal Palace remains a possibility.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9894073/Huddersfield-1-5-Fulham-Marco-Silvas-Championship.html

[WhiteJC]

Aleksandar Mitrović's goal for Fulham v Huddersfield is so comical it's gone viral



Fulham moved to the top of the Championship table after dismantling Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.

Aleksandar Mitrović, Josh Onomah, Fabio Carvalho and Ivan Cavaleiro (2) were all on the scoresheet as the west London club ran out 5-1 winners.

Fulham's first goal, scored by Mitrovic, came in the utmost bizarre circumstances.

A Huddersfield player, for some unknown reason, decided to play a 40-yard back-pass to his goalkeeper.

Ryan Schofield controlled the ball but, with Mitrovic approaching, he paniced and scuffed his clearance.

Mitrovic was well placed and had the easy task of putting the ball in the back of the net but he slipped at the vital moment.

Fortunately for him, the ball cannoned off his knee and towards the Huddersfield goal.

Schofield attempted to get back in time to stop the ball going in but he was unable to do so.

It was a truly bizarre goal and you can watch it below:

🤣🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😅🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣🤣😅😂😅😅😅😅😂😅😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣
 pic.twitter.com/mptbTWw1VG

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) August 14, 2021

How ridiculous is that?!

Mitrovic actually had the audacity to wheel away and celebrate the goal as if he scored a 30-yard screamer.

To top it all off, the goal probably shouldn't have stood anyway as the ball appeared to go out when Schofield attempted to clear it.

Fulham's boss, Marco Silva, was happy with Mitrovic's performance in his side's easy win.

"It's important," Silva told Fulham's official website. "He needs this type of performance to boost his confidence, which is normal after the last match, which was disappointing for all the players because we were the best team on the pitch against Middlesbrough.



https://www.givemesport.com/1737793-aleksandar-mitrovics-goal-for-fulham-v-huddersfield-is-so-comical-its-gone-viral