Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 18/08/21...

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Results

Tuesday
Barnsley	0-1	Luton
Blackpool	0-1	Coventry
Huddersfield	1-0	Preston NE
Millwall	1-2	Fulham
Peterborough	2-2	Cardiff
Swansea	1-3	Stoke
Reading	2-3	Bristol City

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Millwall 1-2 Fulham

Fabio Carvalho made his league debut for Fulham against Chelsea in May

Fabio Carvalho set up one goal and scored the other as Fulham held off Millwall to cement their status as early league leaders.

The midfielder, 18, created Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener before putting the Whites 2-0 up inside eight minutes.

Carvalho should have increased his tally as Fulham dominated throughout with their slick passing and movement.

Benik Afobe headed his first Lions goal four minutes from time to set up a tense climax, but the visitors held on.

Millwall were opened up in the third minute by a swift counter-attack along the left flank and Carvalho galloped into the box, cutting the ball back for Mitrovic to tuck away first time at the near post.

Fulham doubled their advantage when Neeskens Kebano's pass split the home defence again and Carvalho timed his run perfectly, slamming the finish beyond the startled Bartosz Bialkowski.

Ivan Cavaleiro should have made it 3-0 when Carvalho picked him out with another incisive ball on the half-hour mark, but the Portuguese blazed his shot wide with only Bialkowski to beat.

The Lions goalkeeper thwarted Fulham with a double stop just after the restart, diving low to parry Mitrovic's drive and recovering quickly to block the follow-up from Carvalho.

The home side were indebted to crunching challenges by Daniel Ballard and Jake Cooper to deny Carvalho and prevent further damage, while Bialkowski was called into action again with saves from Kebano and Cavaleiro.

Millwall's former Fulham centre-forward Matt Smith, on as a second-half substitute, had few opportunities to create aerial pressure until the closing stages.

But Smith rose to head Murray Wallace's cross into the path of Afobe, who nodded home to ensure a nervy finish.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett said:
"I was disappointed with the two goals and, until about 75 minutes, the performance of the team. Fulham gave us a real lesson in movement, work-rate and quality - they're a fabulous side.

"At some point you have to force the issue. We tried to do that in a more direct way in the second half and make it more physical, but they make it really difficult for you to create any sort of momentum in attack.

"I thought we showed character in the latter stages of the game. Maybe it's the goal that gives you belief but I'd like to have seen a little of that belief when we conceded two early goals."

Fulham head coach Marco Silva said:
"I'm really pleased, not just because we won the game but because we showed character, personality and very good quality. The players are learning fast and doing what we're asking them.

"Of course we respect Millwall but we were the dominant team on the pitch and we created so many chances to score more.

"Last time we scored five (at Huddersfield) and we should have scored more than two but I'm really pleased with the way we controlled the game. Our opponents had maybe two shots, nothing more."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58154318

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Post-Millwall Press ConferenceSILVA

Three points were the most important thing for Marco Silva, though he acknowledged that it should have been by a greater scoreline.

Fulham defeated Millwall 2-1 on their own patch, but the result doesn't do justice to the level of dominance that was on display.

"Really pleased to see how we played, how we deserved the three points," he said. "We were the best team on the pitch since the first minute until the last.

"We were the dominant team, we dominated all game, we didn't even give them any chances to arrive in our box.

"We managed the game well with the ball, we created so many chances to have a different score. At 2-0 we had chances in the first and second half to score the third, the fourth, the fifth.

"Congratulations to our players for the way they played, the way they came here knowing how difficult it would be to play with this crowd, with this atmosphere.

"I asked them to show our quality, and we knew it would be a good test for us to show our character and personality as well, and we showed that."

In the dying stages, Matt Smith's wayward header cannoned off Benik Afobe to give Millwall an unlikely lifeline, but the Whites professionally saw things out.

"It's a good thing for me that we created so many chances," Silva explained. "Last game we scored five, but you cannot always score four and five.

"With just one goal you know the game is always open, the Championship is like that, and after a really unlucky goal that we conceded, they believed a little more, it gave them belief, but again we controlled the game well, and we deserved these three points."

Fabio Carvalho was an absolute menace all night, setting up Aleksandar Mitrović for the first before scoring our second, and his Head Coach was delighted with his contributions.

"He did fantastic," Silva stated. "But it's something he's been doing since pre-season. He started the competition well against Middlesbrough.

"It's not just him, I'm seeing the team playing better every single game. The team is being more consistent, not with so many up and downs.

"That is good for me, and also good for Fabio as well. It was a very good performance, first half fantastic, second half he even looked fresh at the end.

"Not just with the ball, he did fantastic work without the ball as well. Everything that we ask, he's doing.

"And he's learning. He's 18 years old, but he's a player that is showing very good things, and it's up to me to keep giving him the right information and working with him to keep him developing.

"But not just him, all the other players as well. It's important he keeps his feet on the floor because it's a long journey for him.

"He's had his first steps, but in the future there will be days not like this night, and he has to be able to answer in the right way."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/august/Post-Millwall-Press-Conference/

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Early strikes see Lions handed first defeat

A London derby at The Den...

Millwall were defeated 2-1 by Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday night at The Den.

Aleksander Mitrovic and Fabio Carvalho's goals in the opening minutes of the game ensured that the three points would head to West London and hand The Lions a first defeat of the 2021/22 campaign, despite Benik Afobe's late consolation.

Gary Rowett made two changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, as Mahlon Romeo and Ryan Leonard came into the side at the expense of Danny McNamara and George Evans, who both dropped to the bench.

George Saville had the first opportunity of the game - which was blocked - but with three minutes on the clock, Fulham took the lead after Fabio Carvalho raced down the left-hand side and cut the ball back to Mitrovic, who had no qualms in slotting home for the opening goal of the game.

Five minutes later, it was two, as a through-ball allowed Carvalho to turn from provider into goalscorer and fire past Bartosz Bialkowski.

After that early double-blow, The Lions made attempts to get back into the game, but were met with a strong Fulham resistance - Scott Malone at the heart of most of the attacking, but to no avail.

At the other end, Neeskens Kebano looked to twist and turn past the Millwall back-line but the winger found his shot blocked by Jake Cooper, and whilst The Lions continued to advance into forward positions at the midway point of the half, their final ball was letting them down.

On the half-hour mark, Fulham were able to break with the ball at the feet of Ivan Cavaleiro, but with a chance to potentially put the game to bed at his mercy, the Fulham man flashed his shot wide of Bialkowski's near post.

Three minutes before the break, Kebano was able to shrug off the close attentions of Cooper and cross from a tight angle, but fortunately for The Lions, Leonard was situated in the right place to clear the danger. Cavrvalho then looked to double his tally in first-half stoppage-time, but his effort from the edge of the area was deflected wide.

Rowett moved to bring Matt Smith into proceedings at half-time, changing personnel as Leonard moved to right-back and Jed Wallace to right-wing, but it could - and perhaps should - have been Fulham to put the ball in the net early in the second 45, but an outstanding double-save from Bialkowski, first from Mitrovic and then from Carvalho, kept the score at 2-0.

There was another double block from The Lions, this time with 57 minutes on the clock, as after Ballard dallied in possession, not one, but two goal-bound efforts were heroically stopped by the diving bodies of the Millwall defence. Ballard then had to slide in and prevent Mitrovic from adding a third shortly after, poking the ball behind from inside the six-yard box.

Jed Wallace and Smith had wayward shots off target as the hour-mark came and went, with Cooper having to come to the rescue on 76 minutes as goalscorer Carvalho raced his way into the box - the defender with a big block to prevent Bialkowski being tested.

The Pole was tested with nine minutes to play as Cavaleiro twisted and turned inside the area before unleashing a vicious attempt towards goal that the stopper had to beat away, before The Lions' best chance of the game came on 82 minutes, but Smith nodded Murray Wallace's header inches over the bar.

With three minutes remaining, Afobe was able to get his first Lions goal as he turned Smith's header over Paulo Gazzaniga and into the net, with the striker then shooting straight at the stopper, before Cooper's header went over as a late rally proved to be not quite enough.

Millwall: Bialkowski, M. Wallace, Cooper, Kieftenbeld (Evans 79'), J. Wallace, Malone, Romeo (Smith 46'), Saville, Leonard (McNamara 79'), Afobe, Ballard. Subs not used: Long, Bradshaw, Pearce, B. Mitchell.

Scorer: Afobe 87'

Booking: Romeo, Malone, Evans, Cooper

Fulham: Gazzaniga, Tete, Kebano (Mawson 90'), Mitrovic, Ream, Adarabioyo, Cavaleiro (Bryan 85'), Seri, Onomah (Anguissa 46'), Carvalho, Robinson. Subs not used: Rodak, Odoi, Francois, Stansfield.

Scorer: Mitrovic 3', Carvalho 8'

Booking: Mitrovic, Gazzaniga

Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Attendance: 12,700



https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/early-strikes-see-lions-handed-first-defeat/

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Fabio Carvalho's golden display underpins another impressive awayday for leaders Fulham

Millwall (0) 1 Afobe 87

Fulham (2) 2 Mitrovic 5, Carvalho 8



A stunning first half from Fabio Carvalho paved the way for a second away win in three days for early league pace-setters Fulham.

The 18-year-old Portuguese-born midfielder has already shown a few glimpses of his obvious talent but took it to another level as he led the Lions a merry dance.

The youngster has pace to burn as well as a great touch and ability to size up potential openings and Gary Rowett's men did not know how to stop him. Mahlon Romeo was booked for trying to do it illegally. Jed Wallace perhaps should have been in the second half.

The game was only three minutes old when a lightning dart down the left to the byline had Millwall defenders trailing helplessly in his wake and his pull-back was duly dispatched from close range by Aleksander Mitrovic.

Five minutes later and the midfielder ghosted onto a defence-splitting pass from Neeskens Kebano before powering home past Bartosz Bialkowski to put the Whites in easy street.

It should have been at least three by the break as Fulham drove forward with pace, energy and silky touches which the hosts simply could not live with.

Josh Onomah and Jean Michael Seri were dominant in midfield alongside the young prodigy. Kebano danced around a struggling Jake Cooper and still fired at goal in spite of an ungainly grapple from the Lions skipper which might easily have led to a penalty.

And on the half hour, Carvalho played a simple ball through to Ivan Cavaleiro, who raced for goal from half way but thumped the chance wide.

Carvalho might have had a second goal at the start of the second half, following up a Mitrovic shot that had been parried by Bialkowski. 

He also had a shot blocked on the line after Frank Anguissa – on for an injured Onomah at the break and equally impressive - had carved the Lions apart again down the right byline. Then he rolled a ball out for Kebano to smash into the side-netting. Away fans chanted his name in appreciation throughout.

Matt Smith came on for the hosts and headed powerfully just over, and with three minutes to go, his flicked header was nodded over the line by Benik Afobe to set up a grandstand finish.

The final score may have been close in the end, but in truth, this was as one-sided a contest as they come. And at times it carried the whiff of swagger we saw in the Tigana promotion team of 2001. These are very early days but the signs are very promising for the Whites.

Lions: (3-5-2) Bialkowski – Ballard, M Wallace, Cooper – Romeo (Smith h/t), Leonard (McNamara 80), Saville, Kieftenbeld (Evans 80), Malone – Afobe, J Wallace. Subs not used: Long, Bradshaw, Pearce, Mitchel

Whites: (4-5-1) Gazzaniga – Tete, Tosin, Ream, Robinson – Seri, Onomah (Anguissa h/t), Kebano (Mawson 90), Carvalho, Cavaleiro (Bryan 86) – Mitrovic. Subs not used: Rodak, Odoi, Francois, Stansfield

Attendance: 12,700



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/fabio-carvalho-s-golden-display-underpins-another-impressive-awayday-for-fulham

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Millwall 1-2 Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic and starlet Fabio Carvalho on target to seal victory at The Den and keep the Cottagers flying under new boss Marco Silva... despite late consolation from Benik Afobe

    Fulham picked up their second victory of the season after easing past Millwall
    Aleksandar Mitrovic handed the visitors the lead after tucking home a cut-back
    Their advantage was soon doubled when Fabio Carvalho fired in the near post
    Marco Silva's team created plenty of chances in a dominant display at The Den
    They were almost made to pay when Benik Afobe hauled one back on 87 minutes

For all the tens of millions invested in assembling a squad of talent from around the continent, the new prince of Fulham is a kid plucked from the dizzying heights of Balham FC.

Remember the name: Fabio Carvalho, the 18-year-old midfielder who notched a goal and assist to go with a dazzling display as Marco Silva's Fulham schooled Millwall at The Den.

Born in Lisbon, Carvalho moved to England aged 11 and, after a few years in Fulham's youth setup, it is now him lighting up this league for the Cottagers, more so than the £20m-plus buys Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jean-Michael Seri or Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.


Fulham continued their good start to life under Marco Silva by beating Millwall at The Den


Aleksandar Mitrovic (right) opened the scoring after three minutes with a cool, composed shot

The match began as a large section of Millwall supporters embarrassingly insisted on booing the knee taken by Fulham players, but their jeers were drowned out within minutes as the away end toasted an early goal.

Indeed, it took just three minutes for Fulham to break through, as Carvalho danced through a string of static defenders before teeing up Mitrovic for an easy finish from close range.

It was a second strike of the season for the Serbian, who flattered to deceive in the Premier League last term, notching just three goals after 27 in the Cottagers' last promotion campaign.

MATCH FACTS


Millwall (3-4-1-2): Bialkowski; Ballard, Wallace, Cooper; Romeo (Smith 46), Leonard (McNamara 81), Kieftenbeld (Evans 81), Malone; Saville; Wallace, Afobe

Subs not used: Long, Bradshaw, Pearce, Mitchell

Goals: Afobe 87

Booked: Romeo, Malone

Manager: Gary Rowett

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Onomah (Anguissa 46), Seri; Kebano, Carvalho, Cavaleiro (Bryan 86); Mitrovic

Subs not used: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson, Francois, Stansfield

Goals: Mitrovic 3, Carvalho 8

Manager: Marco Silva

So perhaps Mitrovic falls into the bracket of forwards not quite at Premier League level. But all that matters for Silva and Co is that he is certainly a stellar striker at this level.

He has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and this Fulham side seem to create chances at will. A perfect recipe for success.

Just five minutes went by before they doubled their lead and, in truth, put this game to bed. Neeskens Kebano strode through and slid in Carvalho who drilled a shot past Bartosz Bialkowski at his near post.

'Carvalho is showing great maturity for his age,' said boss Silva. 'He came early to England and he is growing up quicker than others. You can see his has talent.'


Starlet Fabio Carvalho stole the spotlight and capped off his superb display with a second goal

Some teenagers who break through show talent in glimpses but 18-year-old Carvalho had a real grip on this game. His goal was taken with class after a smart run off the ball to evade two defenders and create space.

He continued to terrorise the Millwall defence and should have had at least one more goal, but for the steely goalkeeper Bialkowski.

'On Saturday we scored five (at Huddersfield), today we scored two away from home and created so many chances - I am so pleased,' added Silva.


Carvalho wheeled away to celebrate Fulham doubling their lead within the first 10 minutes


Fulham remained unbeaten under Silva and have picked up two wins so far in the new season

Gary Rowett's Millwall are often correctly cited as overachievers at this level but this felt like a match of men against boys, until Benik Afobe pulled one back late on.

'We were beaten by a far better side - they gave us a bit of a lesson,' said Rowett.

He is spot on. It's very early days but it seems Silva is putting a golden touch on this Fulham side.

They are top of the pile and it seems hard to see anyone else there come May.


Ivan Cavaleiro looked to dance his way beyond two players as Fulham eased into cruise control



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9902713/Millwall-1-2-Fulham-Aleksandar-Mitrovic-Fabio-Carvalho-strike-seal-victory.html

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Carvalho shines as Fulham beat Millwall

A Fabio Carvalho-inspired Fulham chalked up a second away win in as many games as Millwall were dominated at The Den.

Marco Silva once again named record £27m signing Jean Michael Seri in the heart of midfield but it was the 18-year-old Portuguese-born Carvalho that stole the show with a fabulous performance that saw him torment the Lions from the opening whistle.

Fulham raced into a 2-0 lead after just eight minutes with Carvalho setting up the opener for Aleksandar Mitrovic with a storming run down the left wing to silence the home crowd with the first attack of the game.

The young playmaker then doubled his side's advantage with an emphatic finish after running untracked into the Millwall box to latch onto Neeskens Kebano's through ball and hammer it past Bartosz Bialkowski.

Fulham, with Carvalho at the heart of everything, created chance after chance but were unable to add a third goal.

Ivan Cavaleiro missed a glorious opportunity on the stroke of halftime when he blasted wide after being picked out by a beautifully-weighted Carvalho pass that split the Lions' shell-shocked defence.

Carvalho almost scored his second just after the restart with a shot from close range that was clawed away by Bialkowski after the Polish stopper initially kept out Mitrovic.

He was denied once again by a last-ditch block in the six-yard box by Daniel Ballard as the Whites tried to kill off the game.

Millwall offered little threat in attack up until the 87th minute when Matt Smith's header bounced off Banik Afobe and looped over Paulo Gazzaniga to set up a nervous finish which saw the former striker head just over the bar deep in injury time.

Fulham: Gazzaniga, Tete, Robinson, Ream, Adarabioyo, Onomah (Anguissa 45), Seri, Kebano (Mawson 85), Carvalho, Cavaleiro (Bryan 80), Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson, Francois, Stansfield.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/carvalho-stars-as-fulham-beat-millwall

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Classy Carvalho crafts Fulham victory

Given the dominant nature of Fulham's first half display at the New Den, they really shouldn't have been hanging on after Benik Afobe's freak first goal for Millwall offered the hosts hope of an unlikely revival. Marco Silva's side carried on from their sparkling showing at Huddersfield – brushing aside the absence of a couple of key players – to storm into a two-goal lead within eight minutes. Their catalyst was the classy Fabio Carvalho, the talented teenager who led Gary Rowett's side a merry dance, streaking away from Millwall defenders to create the first for Aleskandar Mitrovic and rolling into a composed finish after racing onto Neeskens Kebano's through ball to double the lead.

Carvalho has always been highly rated at Motspur Park since Fulham were alerted to his brilliant displays at Balham by a coach who happened to hold a season ticket at Craven Cottage. The Lisbon-born but London-moulded midfielder didn't look out of place when he enlivened an already relegated Fulham side at the tail end of the Premier League season and the highest compliment you can pay him is that he has ensured that Silva has yet to miss the majesty of captain Tom Cairney in the number ten role. The need to tie him down to a contract beyond the end of the season becomes more urgent with each devastating display.

He showed a serious burst of pace to fashion Fulham's opener – surging onto a pass down the left flank from Antonee Robinson and leaving Millwall defenders trailing in his wake as he advanced along the byline before teeing up Aleksandar Mitrovic for his second goal in four days. The Serbian's sidefooted finish from close range was more conventional than the way he broke his duck in Yorkshire – but the end result was exactly the same.

The visitors eased into a two-goal lead five minutes later. Neeskens Kebano, recalled after Bobby Decordova-Reid picked up a minor injury in the lead up to this game, sauntered into far too much space from the right and measured a perfect through ball for Carvalho. The youngster barely had to break stride after his clever run between the Millwall centre halves and surprised Bartosz Bialkowski at his near post with a clinical finish.

The only surprise by half time was that Fulham hadn't entirely killed off the contest. Their spellbinding passages of football were reminiscent of the Tigana and Jokanovic sides that utterly dominated the division, but they couldn't add a third despite being in complete command. The lively Kebano twisted and turned but saw a shot well blocked by Jake Cooper and when Carvalho led a lightning break from the back, Ivan Cavaleiro somehow failed to find the corner from the left angle of the penalty area. Both Kebano and Carvalho were denied by desperate bits of defending as Silva's side finished in the ascendancy.

Rowett changed things around at half time – sending on former Fulham forward Matt Smith in a tacit admission that he had got his approach badly wrong – but the visitors still looked the more likely to score. Millwall were indebted to Bialkowski for a brilliant double save at the start of the second period – the Polish goalkeeper clawed away a Mitrovic volley and then blocked Carvalho's follow-up. Daniel Ballard, who shone like a beacon at the heart of the home side's stretched defence, did superbly to deny Carvalho with the goal gaping and then threw himself in front of Mitrovic to prevent the Serbian from scoring – clattering his own goalkeeper in the process.

Cooper slid in to deny Carvalho a second after excellent link-up play between Robinson and Cavaleiro down the left and Bialkowski beat away a venomous drive from the former Wolves winger as Fulham found the third goal ever so elusive. The danger of their two-goal lead was underlined when Smith headed a marvellous cross from Scott Malone fractionally over. The former Fulham front man did have a telling part to play in proceedings when his header bounced off Afobe and looped in over Paulo Gazzaniga to give Millwall hope of a miraculous comeback.

The New Den roared their approval and the Lions almost managed it. Afobe shot straight at Gazzaniga with Fulham's defence suddenly all at sea when a bit more composure might have delivered a late leveller. Cooper had an even clearer chance deep into stoppage time after Gazzaniga had made a madcap dash to try and claim Jed Wallace's cross but the centre back's header flew over. It was a heartstopping end for Fulham, whose early fluency should have carried them well clear of such late drama.

MILLWALL (5-3-2): Bialkowski; Romeo (Smith 45), Malone, Ballard, M. Wallace, Cooper; Leonard (McNamara 79), Kieftenbeld (Evans 79), Saville; J. Wallace, Afobe. Subs (not used): Long, Pearce, B. Mitchell, Bradshaw.

BOOKED: Romeo, Malone, Evans, Cooper.

GOAL: Afobe (87).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Tete, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream; Seri, Onomah (Anguissa 45); Cavaleiro (Bryan 85), Kebano (Mawson 90+1), Carvalho, Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Odoi, Francois, Stansfield.

BOOKED: Mitrovic, Gazzaniga.

GOALS: Mitrovic (3), Carvalho (8).

REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham).

ATTENDANCE: 12,700.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/classy-carvalho-crafts-fulham-victory/

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Silva hails 'fantastic' Carvalho after Fulham win

Fulham boss Marco Silva hailed the performance of young playmaker Fabio Carvalho after his magnificent performance in the 2-1 win over Millwall.

The 18-year-old set up the opening goal for Aleksandar Mitrovic and scored the second in a match the Whites dominated but were unable to kill off before Millwall scored three minutes from time to set up a nervy finish at The Den.

"We dominated all the game, we didn't give them chances in our box and and created enough chances to score a third, a fourth or a fifth," Silva said.

"You know it will be very difficult to play Millwall with this crowd and how they played but our asked them to show our quality, character and quality – and congratulations to our players.

"Carvalho was fantastic. It is something he has been doing since pre-season.

"He started well against Boro, but it is not just him. I see the team playing better achieving better things and becoming more confident and consistent.

"But he was fantastic in the second half, he was fresh, and it wasn't just with the ball as well, he did everything we asked him to do, but he is 18 and still learning as a player.

"It is up to me to give him the right information and important for him to keep his feet on the floor as it is long journey for him."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-hails-fantastic-carvalho-after-fulham-see-off-millwall

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Transfer News: Southampton interested in Tosin Adarabioyo

Southampton are reportedly interested in signing Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo before the summer transfer window slams shut.

According to a report from the Express, Southampton are lining up a summer raid on EFL Championship outfit Fulham for the signing of 23-year-old defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 23-year-old came through the youth ranks at Manchester City but managed just eight senior appearances for the Premier League champions. After loan spells away at West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, Adarabioyo signed for Fulham in the summer last year and has since become a regular fixture in the side.

Adarabioyo, along with loanee Joachim Andersen, was one of Fulham's better performers last season even though it ended with them getting relegated from the Premier League. However, the 23-year-old could be set for a swift return back to the top-flight, with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United being linked with a move.

Now, Southampton, too, have entered the fray for the signing of the former England youth international as per the aforementioned report. The Saints have seen a few key players like Danny Ings, Ryan Bertrand and Jannik Vestergaard leave the club this summer, leaving manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in search of reinforcements.

The departure of Ings has been addressed by the signing of Adam Armstrong as well as the loan acquisition of Armando Broja from Chelsea, while Romain Perraud has arrived to fill the vacancy at left-back. Now, Southampton are on the lookout for a centre-back to replace Vestergaard who had been a key member of the setup under Hasenhuttl.

Adarabioyo, to that end, has emerged as a viable option for the south coast outfit to bolster their defensive ranks. At 23, the Englishman fits the age profile of players that Southampton are looking to recruit, while he also has a release clause worth just £10 million, which makes him well within their reach in the current transfer market.

Southampton, however, might have to battle newly promoted Premier League outfit Norwich City for Adarabioyo's signing. The Canaries are prioritising a move for a new centre-back currently and have the 23-year-old former Manchester City starlet on their radars. So, if the Saints want to land him from Fulham, they will need to act quickly or they face the risk of losing out to Norwich.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2021/08/18/transfer-news-southampton-interested-in-tosin-adarabioyo/

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Millwall 1-2 Fulham: Fabio Carvalho stars as Championship leaders triumph in London derby

Fulham remain top of the early season Championship standings after holding on to make it back-to-back wins in a London derby at Millwall.

Marco Silva's side - hoping to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt this term - looked poised to run amok at The Den on Tuesday night, with teenage midfielder Fabio Carvalho teeing up Aleksandar Mitrovic before netting himself to give the visitors a 2-0 lead with only eight minutes on the clock.

However, Fulham - who thrashed Huddersfield 5-1 on Saturday after opening their latest second-tier campaign with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage - could not quite kill the game off despite numerous chances and were given a late scare when Benik Afobe made it only a one-goal deficit for Millwall with a header four minutes from time.

Both sides were met by raucous support from all four stands, but some spectators were still making their way to their seats when Mitrovic had Fulham up and running.

As proved the case all night, the pace and movement of the three players in behind the Serb - Neeskens Kebano, Carvalho and Ivan Cavaleiro - was too much for a beleaguered Millwall defence, with the outstanding Carvalho teeing up Mitrovic for the opener.

The 18-year-old raced down the left-hand side before smartly cutting back for his centre forward on the edge of the six-yard box. Mitrovic prodded home with a smart poke past Bartosz Bialkowski, and it was not long before he was beaten again.

Carvalho was the beneficiary this time, his perfectly timed run in behind the Millwall defence matched by Kebano's expertly weighted through ball.

Bialkowski might have done more to close down the playmaker's space, and could only watch as Carvalho smashed it inside his near post.

The Lions never got going. Scott Malone and Afobe both worked tirelessly to give their side a foothold, but Millwall's final ball was poor.

Their captain Jake Cooper was lucky to escape sanction when he pulled back Kebano right on the edge of the box, the Fulham player staying on his feet no doubt helping the defender's cause.

Fulham should have got their third moments later, Carvalho again at the heart of it.

Picking up the ball in his own half, he unselfishly released Cavaleiro cross-field, with the Portugese having plenty of time and space to pick his spot. Bialkowski again stayed rooted to his line, but Cavaleiro could only smash it into the advertising hoardings.

Mitrovic scooped over the bar and Carvalho curled just wide before the break as Fulham sought to put the game to bed, and the home supporters booed their team off at half-time.

Mitrovic and Carvalho both drew smart reaction saves from Bialkowski after the break, with the latter then seeing an effort cleared off the line.

Matt Smith's cushioned header in the final stages was tucked home by Afobe to set up a frantic final few minutes, but Fulham held on.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.




https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/millwall-vs-fulham-fc-result-championship-2021-fabio-carvalho-b951120.html

[WhiteJC]

Au revoir, Aboubakar

So, Aboubakar Kamara's time at Craven Cottage has come to an end. The mercurial forward has finally completed a move to Greek Super League side Aris Thessaloniki for a reported £3m. To say, the French-Mauritian striker has had a colourful period with the club would be something of an understatement. Signed with great fanfare, Kamara certainly contributed to the Whites' two Championship promotions but I could never quite shake the feeling that he could have been something seriously special had he developed on the raw physical attributes he honed at Amiens.

When I first moved into university in the lull between England and Wales' first and second lockdowns, a non-Fulham supporting flatmate asked me to introduce them to our squad as we watched the first game of the season. I'm not sure if I was being charitable or unkind to Kamara in responding as follows: "I don't know whether he is brilliant or terrible. He's like a rapidly moving wardrobe, no one can stop him. On the one hand, the defenders don't know what he is going to do next, which can be exhilarating to watch. However, it often feels like he too doesn't know exactly what he is going to do next."

One of his final passages of play in a Fulham shirt against Middlesbrough summed Kamara up for me. Sent in on search of a late winner after the disappointment of Marc Bola's second half equaliser, Kamara had the perfect opportunity to put his searing pace to good use on the counter attack. But he explicably elected to turn into traffic and underhit an attempted pass to Aleksandar Mitrovic. Suddenly, a very presentable chance had evaporated – and the look on Mitrovic's face said it all.

There are other examples – such as his last-gasp miss at Birmingham in 2019/2020 still vivid in my own mind – but Kamara did provide a fair few moments of magic. He turned a game that looked well beyond Fulham right around with a brilliant brace at Hull City and played a similar role in two comebacks against Ipswich Town and QPR, when he led the line in place of the suspended Mitrovic brilliantly. But for many the events that will define Kamara's Craven Cottage career occurred during Fulham's excruciating relegation from the top flight in 2018/2019.

The first cracks appeared in the final days of 2018, during one of only three wins under Claudio Ranieri. Mitrovic won the Whites a penalty ten minutes from time in a pivotal basement battle against Huddersfield but Kamara, the club's top scorer at the time, wrestled the ball from the Serb striker's arms and refused his teammates' pleas to return it. His tame spot-kick was saved – and although Mitrovic spared his blushes with a memorable stoppage time winner – Ranieri memorably told a post-match television interview that he was so angry with Kamara that he 'wanted to kill him'.

The situation escalated off the field in the weeks afterwards. Mitrovic, who had given a far kinder answer to Kamara's predicament by recalling his own penalty woes in a similar incident earlier in his own career at Newcastle, was less than impressed by Kamara's incessant chattering during a yoga session and told him to 'shut up'. The press gleefully reported the subsequent 'violent altercation' between the pair. In late January, Kamara was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and criminal damage at Motspur Park after attempting to discuss his future with the Fulham hierarchy and was shipped out to Yeni Malatyaspor on loan.

Scott Parker opted to reintegrate him into the senior squad upon Kamara's return from Turkey, but he never successfully nailed down a spot in the starting line-up. Now, the time has come to say goodbye to the colourful forward – whose eccentric social media posts and eye-catching fashion tastes certainly enlivened our Fulham existence. 'The beast, as Aris have dubbed him, heads off to Greece to start a new adventure soon to be replaced in SW6 by Brazilian youngster, Rodrigo Muniz.

It's fair to say that Kamara's time with Fulham divided the fanbase. What are your thoughts on his Craven Cottage career?




https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/au-revoir-aboubakar/

[WhiteJC]

Kamara Departs

The Club can confirm that Aboubakar Kamara has joined Greek Super League side Aris Thessaloniki on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.

After arriving in London in the summer of 2017, Kamara was a part of two successful promotion campaigns with Fulham, starting each of our Play-Off Final victories at Wembley.

He departs having scored 17 goals in 94 appearances.

We would like to thank Abou for all his efforts during his four years at the Club, and wish him all the best during the next stage of his career in Greece.

Tony Khan said: "I'm grateful to Abou for his service to Fulham since his arrival in 2017. He made valuable contributions over the years, and he started for us at Wembley in both of our Play-Off Final wins in 2018 and 2020.

"I expect that he'll excel for his new team during the next chapter of his career in Greece, and all of us at Fulham wish him all the best, and we thank him for his time at the Club. Good luck Abou!"

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/august/Kamara-Departs/

[WhiteJC]

Kamara completes Aris transfer

Fulham forward Aboubakar Kamara has finally completed his £3m transfer to Greek Super League side Aris.

The 26 year-old has signed a four year contract to become Aris' club record signing after protracted negotiations between the Thessaloniki-based outfit and Fulham throughout the summer. Kamara made a brief substitute appearance as the Whites chased a winner at the end of their Championship opener against Middlesbrough earlier this month but was not in new coach Marco Silva's long-term plans.

The move to Greece brings to an end Kamara's colourful four year stay at Craven Cottage. Signed from Amiens for £5m in 2017, he scored seventeen goals in 92 appearances for Fulham, playing a key part in the club's two promotions from the Championship, but struggled to hold down a regular spot in the starting line-up. The Mauritanian international sparked Claudio Ranieri's fury when he refused to hand over a crucial spot-kick to regular taker Aleksandar Mitrovic and saw his effort saved. Kamara later fought with the Serbian striker during a yoga session and was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and criminal damage at Motspur Park after assaulting a security guard as he attempted to discuss his future with the Fulham hierarchy.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/kamara-completes-aris-transfer/

[WhiteJC]

Sources: Attacker turns down lucrative Middlesbrough offer to agree Fulham move

Rodrigo Muniz is on his way to Fulham to add to their attacking ranks this summer transfer window, and Football League World can reveal exclusively he turned down a better offer from Middlesbrough to sign with the Cottagers.

The men from SW6 will be pretty content with their start to the Sky Bet Championship season, with a draw against Boro followed up by a heavy victory at Huddersfield Town at the weekend.

Despite the five goals they scored, though, there's been a feeling that Fulham needed to add further to their options in the final third and that's what they're doing with Muniz coming in.

The young striker was also of interest to Middlesbrough this summer, too, and Football League World can reveal exclusively that the Teessiders actually made a bigger offer to him than the one that Fulham made, but the attacker's preference was to head to the London club rather than to the Riverside Stadium.

It's now seemingly a matter of time before he becomes a Fulham player, then, and Cottagers fans will be hoping that he can push Aleksandar Mitrovic all the way for a starting spot in the side and really add to their attacking ranks this season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sources-attacker-turns-down-lucrative-middlesbrough-offer-to-agree-fulham-move/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham booed while taking knee at Millwall, Gary Rowett urges authorities to 'find a better way to unify people'

Fulham's players booed while performing the anti-racism gesture; Millwall manager Gary Rowett: "We need help to find a more positive way of making some form of action"; Sky pundit Jobi McAnuff: "What you can do as the figurehead is condemn it in the strongest possible terms"

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has called on football "to find a better way to unify people" than taking the knee after Fulham's players were booed while making the gesture at The Den.

Fulham's players knelt ahead of the Championship match, while Millwall's chose to stand ahead of kick-off - some with a fist in the air as a show of solidarity.

Boos were heard while the players performed the gesture and Rowett believes football's authorities need to find a "more positive way" of tackling the issue of racism and discrimination.

"If you look up and down the country, there are so many football clubs that do such good work in their communities around equality and anti-racism," Rowett said after the match, which ended in a 2-1 win for Fulham.

"What we need at the moment is, we need the authorities to help clubs out and find a better way to unify people.

"I don't want to comment on individual people's decisions to do that, but we need to find a way to unify people and at the moment 20 seconds, 30 seconds in a game is causing such a rift and divide in football.

"Football is a great spectacle, we're all privileged to be part of it. It has the power to help communities and help do some really good work behind the scenes. It's not just our football club, it's a lot of clubs doing that, but we need help to find a more positive way of making some form of action."

Millwall stopped taking a knee ahead of matches last season after the act was booed by some of the club's supporters before a game against Derby County.

Instead, Millwall opted to conduct their own campaign against racism and inequality before games, asking each opposing team to join them in linking arms and displaying an anti-racism banner.

Former Leyton Orient player-manager Jobi McAnuff says he is disappointed that Rowett did not condemn the fans who booed ahead of kick-off on Tuesday.

"I don't think we can be any clearer in terms of the messaging behind taking a knee and what it represents. It's the fight against racism and discrimination. It's that simple," McAnuff told Sky Sports.

"When somebody decides to make a racist tweet or shout racist abuse at somebody, that's a decision. These fans at this football club are making a decision to boo the players taking a knee.

"For me, there's no other explanation anymore other than they're opposing equality and that's as simple as it is.

"Yes, you're the manager of a football club and might say you can't control what a fan does when they come in. But what you can do as the figurehead is condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

"That is what I would have liked to have seen. That is why I'm disappointed."

Sky Sports News has contacted Millwall for comment.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11735/12384222/fulham-booed-while-taking-knee-at-millwall-gary-rowett-urges-authorities-to-find-a-better-way-to-unify-people

[WhiteJC]

The Data Zone: Fulham win hard-fought game against Millwall

Fulham were victorious away to Millwall in the Championship on Tuesday. Despite a 2-0 lead by the second half the match was far from over, and the second half saw Millwall mounting a worthy challenge to Fulham's lead but Fulham were able to hang on till the end and win the match 2-1.

The visiting team Fulham started best and were already 0-1 up early in the game. After only 3 minutes Aleksandar Mitrovic netted, with an assist from Fabio Carvalho.

The team increased the lead to 0-2 early in the match when Fabio Carvalho made his mark as he scored, with an assist by Neeskens Kebano, in the 8th minute.

The goal that reduced the score to 1-2 came in the final minutes, when Benik Afobe scored a goal for Millwall, with an assist by Matt Smith. But Millwall ran out of steam. This brought the final score to 1-2.

The result means the fourth game in a row without a win for Millwall.

Millwall have three points after four games, while Fulham have seven points from three games.

Both teams play again on Saturday, as Millwall host Cardiff at Cardiff City Stadium and Fulham host Hull.

https://soccity.net/the-data-zone-fulham-win-hard-fought-game-against-millwall

[WhiteJC]

Mitrovic delighted with derby win

Aleksandar Mitrovic was delighted with what he described as 'a complete performance' after Fulham maintained their unbeaten start to the season by beating Millwall 2-1 tonight.

The Serbian striker got Marco Silva's side off to the perfect start at the New Den tonight – slotting home the opening goal after just three minutes following fine work from Fabio Carvalho. But Mitrovic admitted to FFCTV that he felt the Whites should have killed off the contest much earlier – and avoided a frantic finale when they were hanging on after Benik Afobe threatened to spark an unexpected Millwall comeback:

"Yeah. You feel like in the Championship if you don't kill the game, something will happen from a corner, a throw in or a foul or something. In the end, we showed character. Maybe we should have finished the game earlier but it is a good away win and a good performance. We were really good on the ball and, in the last ten minutes, we showed that we can defend well as a team.

"We were in total control at 2-0 and we needed one more goal to kill the game. In the Championship, anything can happen in two minutes. Tonight, they showed that one goal can change everything. It was important that we held on. We were head to beat and I want to keep going, recovery in the next two days and prepare for the next one.

Mitrovic was pleased to add another goal to his freakish opener at Huddersfield at the weekend and is clearly relishing leading the line under Marco Silva after a frustrating season in the Premier League last year, when he was often overlooked by former manager Scott Parker.

"Every striker loves scoring goals. I love it. It was a nice goal – a great assist from Fab and a good finish as well. It was nice to get two goals in two games. The most important thing is that we won two games in a row and we are still undefeated this season. We have to keep this momentum going and we have to prepare for a tough game against Hull."

Fulham's number nine had fulsome praise for Carvalho, who added an excellent individual goal to his earlier assist, after another outstanding display belied the teenager's tender age.

"He's a really nice guy, an amazing player and a guy who always wants to learn. He listens a lot and he is improving every day. He will be better and better for playing with great players. He will be a top player – if he isn't already. I think as time goes on and we get to know each other more and more, we will do better and better. I know what he thinks, how he is going to move and I know a bit about what he is doing."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/08/mitrovic-delighted-with-derby-win/

[WhiteJC]

Cottage Talk Full Time: Fulham Dominate The Play But Hold On For The 2-1 Victory

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

Russ Goldman shared his initial throughts right after the match of the 2-1 Fulham victory against Millwall. He also shared many comments from the Fulham supporters during the show.


You can also listen to the show by following this link...
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2021/8/17/22629738/cottage-talk-full-time-fulham-dominate-the-play-but-hold-on-for-the-2-1-victory

[G_Gribby]

Results

Tuesday
Barnsley	0-1	Luton
Blackpool	0-10	Coventry
Huddersfield	1-0	Preston NE
Millwall	1-2	Fulham
Peterborough	2-2	Cardiff
Swansea	1-3	Stoke
Reading	2-3	Bristol City

Well done by Coventry!
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