Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 21/12/21...

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Results

Monday
Fulham	0-1	Sheff Utd

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Fulham 0-1 Sheffield United

Iliman Ndiaye won it for the visitors with a fine solo goal

Sheffield United continued their winning start to life under Paul Heckingbottom as Iliman Ndiaye's excellent solo goal gave them victory over stuttering Championship leaders Fulham.

Ndiaye broke from his own half before sliding an inch-perfect shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards in the first meaningful attack of the game.

The hosts, who had drawn their previous four games, dominated possession but struggled to really threaten the Blades goal for most of the match.

Championship top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic smashed an effort against the angle of the post and crossbar in time added on before Harry Wilson sent the rebound way off target as the visitors hung on for three points.

Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck came on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since collapsing on the pitch against Reading in November.

The Scotland international was given a great ovation by the travelling fans as he took to the field and he was able to help his side battle to a fourth successive victory and third straight under Heckingbottom.

The Blades opened the scoring in stunning fashion when 21-year-old Frenchman Ndiaye carried the ball from 20 yards inside his own half before slotting in a composed finish from the edge of the area.

Neeskens Kebano fired narrowly wide for the home side after a free-kick landed at his feet 10 yards out but that, along with some enterprising runs from Wilson, were rare bright spots in a first 45 minutes where Marco Silva's side saw plenty of the ball but looked short of cutting edge.

Mitrovic, who has now scored once in his past four appearances, headed over at the start of the second half as Fulham sought to find a way back into the game.

Blades full-back Jayden Bogle should have done better when he was played in down the right but he chose to cut inside and the chance went. Billy Sharp also smashed a shot high into the roof of the net only to have his strike ruled out for offside.

The hosts finally got behind the resolute Blades defence in time added on but Mitrovic thundered a fierce strike against the woodwork and Wales international Wilson could not keep the rebound on target.

Defeat ended their 11-match unbeaten run but they are now without a victory in their past five games and are just three points clear of third-placed Blackburn.

Tough times at the top
Halfway through the season Fulham and Bournemouth occupy the top two places in the Championship, as they have since 24 October.

However, both sides head into the second half of the campaign in poor recent form with no wins in their past 10 games combined.

As they have floundered Blackburn Rovers, beaten 7-0 at home by Fulham just last month, have surged up to to third off the back of five successive victories and are just one point off the Cherries.

West Brom are a further point and place behind, as the race to win automatic promotion to the Premier League no longer looks like the formality it had just a few weeks ago.

Fulham boss Marco Silva:

"It wasn't our best performance definitely. We had a lot of unforced errors tonight and didn't create the problems that we should have created for them.

"We try to perform better than our opponents but the main thing we should do is do it our way. Tonight we didn't do it our way.

"The main reason is clear for me. We did so many good things so far this season and we did the right things until now. This was a really bad evening, not because of the result but because of the way we played.

"We have to analyse it now and prepare the game against Birmingham on Boxing Day."

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom:

"You've not seen the best of Iliman yet. There is more to come. He showed with his goal that he's got tremendous ball control and the ability to keep the ball so close to him.

"He carries the ball at full speed. That got him away from people and then he had the confidence to take the shot on at full speed. I was also pleased with his work-rate tonight and his willingness to win the ball back.

"It's a brilliant result. At times I was getting frustrated by us giving the ball away but to win this way was a real big thing for us because we haven't looked like doing that. And to show that spirit.

"To beat the team at the top of the league away is a big thing."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59632510

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Post Sheffield United Press Conference

Marco Silva provided an honest assessment of his side's performance, as Fulham fell to a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Craven Cottage on Monday night.

The Whites pushed for an equaliser after Iliman Ndiaye first half strike but struggled to create chances against a strong and organised away side.

"We didn't perform at the level we should do, we only created one or two chances," said Fulham's Head Coach.

"They scored, and it was our fault because the balance wasn't good enough.

"After that, we didn't create. It was up to us to play with a different intensity, and this evening, we made unforced errors and seemed so nervous to play football. When it's like this it's difficult to perform well.

"If you're anxious, you're unable to do your job well. We've done so many good things so far, from the start until now.

"It wasn't a good game of football, in my opinion. I know what we should do to win, and that's to perform better than our opponents and play in our way. This evening we didn't perform in our way."

Fulham will be looking to bounce back on Boxing Day when they host Birmingham City.

"The players have my feedback," Silva continued.

"We'll analyse more in the next few days and the things we should improve for the next game.

"Nobody wins or loses anything in the middle of the season.

"We had a really bad evening, but we're more than capable to change the situation because we have the capability to do it."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/december/20/Post-Sheffield-united-press-conference/

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Fulham beaten at home by resurgent Blades

Fulham missed the opportunity to go five points clear at the top of the Championship as they suffered a defeat at Craven Cottage.

A fine, early strike by Iliman Ndiaye won the points for Sheffield United, with the Whites flattering to deceive throughout. Marco Silva's side have now gone five games without a win.

United, who have now won four matches in a row, took the lead after only three minutes.

The hosts inexplicably allowed Ndiaye to embark on a driving run from inside his own half before the midfielder eventually fired a superb left-footed shot low into the corner of the net.

Fulham took a long time to settle and eventually Aleksandar Mitrovic fastened on to a long ball by Kenny Tete before going close with a whipped effort from an angle.

Lacking fluency, Fulham uncharacteristically laboured for the majority of the first half, finding well-organised United a struggle to break down.

Neeskens Kebano hurriedly shot wide a couple of minutes before the interval when he should have easily hit the target.

Fulham head coach Silva sent on Tom Cairney for Jean Michael Seri at half-time in an attempt to freshen things up. But his team, who had drawn their previous four games, struggled to create chances.

Mitrovic managed to get a good sight of goal but his shot was easily saved by keeper Wes Foderingham. Forward

And Mitrovic lashed the ball against the bar from 12 yards out with a minute remaining – Fulham's best chance of an equaliser.

Fulham: Rodak, Robinson (Muniz 68), Ream, Adarabioyo, Tete, Reed, Seri (Cairney 46). Kebano, Carvalho (Decordova-Reid 60), Wilson, Mitrovic



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-beaten-at-home-by-resurgent-blades

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Off-colour Fulham lose their way against the Blades

Fulham (0) 0 

Sheffield United (1) 1 Ndiaye 3

Fulham missed a golden opportunity to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Championship as they slipped tamely to a first defeat in 12.

It was only their second home loss – the September reverse against Reading being the other – and they could have few complaints.

The performance was as bad as can be. The Whites fell behind to a brilliant individual goal from Iliman Ndiaye after just three minutes and then subjected their frustrated fans to a litany of misplaced passes, over-hit free-kicks, frittered possession and feeble crosses.

The Blades, who, like the Whites, are trying to find a way back to the top flight after going down last season, are only a mid-table outfit at present but they were visibly buoyed by their early lead and fought like tigers to hold on to what they had.

Fulham lacked composure and incisiveness in trying to alter the narrative, although thy came mightily close to salvaging their unbeaten record at the death when Aleksandar Mitrovic thudded a shot against the bar and Harry Wilson clipped the rebound just over.

What turned out to be the winner was a stunner.

Picking up the ball inside his own half, Ndiaye shrugged off the attentions of Jean Michael Seri before sidestepping Tim Ream and a back-tracking defence before hitting a perfect low left footer beyond Marek Rodak's right hand – just inside the post.

The uplift given to the Blades rocked the Whites and it was a while before they started to get their act together and we finally saw a flashing shot across the bows from Mitrovic.

Boss Marco Silva badly needed signs of an improvement and brought on Tom Cairney to try and add some science to a frenetic, error-strewn display.

But even the skipper struggled to make Fulham function as normal. Mitrovic came as close as anyone to resetting the scales with a low shot on the turn inside the box but it was no major issue for Wes Foderingham in the Blades goal.

He came even closer in injury time but a goal then would probably have been undeserved.

Fulham must now regroup for Birmingham City at the Cottage on Boxing Day when they will all of a sudden be anxious to end a sequence of five without a win.

Whites: (4-2-3-1) Rodak – Tete, Tosin, Ream, Robinson (Muniz 69) – Seri (Cairney h/t), Reed – Wilson, Carvalho (Decordova-Reid 61), Kebano – Mitrovic. Subs not used: Odoi, Chalobah, Muniz, Gazzaniga, Bryan

Blades: (3-4-2-1) Foderingham – Basham, Egan, Robinson – Bogle, Norwood, Hourihane (Fleck 76), Stevens – Gibbs-White (Berge h/t), Ndiaye (Osborn 78) – Sharp. Subs not used: Baldock, Burke, Freeman, Eastwood



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/off-colour-fulham-lose-their-way-against-the-blades

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Magical Ndiaye ends Fulham's unbeaten run

A brilliant individual goal from Iliman Ndiaye and diligent defending saw Sheffield United end Fulham's eleven match unbeaten run and claim a first league victory at Craven Cottage since 1985. Marco Silva's side were rocked by Ndiaye's superb strike in the third minute when he dribbled fifty yards to turn a home corner into the game's decisive moment, punishing the home defence for backing off him with a precise finish past Marek Rodak from 23 yards. It took Fulham 75 minutes to force a save from Wes Foderingham and had they equalised in stoppage time when Aleksandar Mitrovic rattled the woodwork – and Harry Wilson somehow sent the rebound over – it would have been harsh on Paul Heckingbottom's resilient side.

This was supposed to be the night when Fulham welcomed back one of their old heroes, but the Blades had sacked Slavisa Jokanovic following a slow start to the season. The Serbian had masterminded Fulham's first climb from the Championship back to the top flight so the warmest appreciation was reserved for Ollie Norwood, a part of that play-off winning side from 2018, who turned in a composed display at the heart of United's midfield. The former Fulham man had a bit part in the goal, hammering a clearance away from his own penalty area before Ndiaye surged away from Jean Michael Seri and took advantage of hesistancy from Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo to place a finish past Rodak after advancing into shooting territory.

Heckingbottom, handed a four-year contract last month with a brief to make the most of the Blades' brightest young talent, devised the perfect gameplan for nullifying the league leaders. Fulham had been faltering before this fixture – with a run of four underwhelming draws having hinted at a drop in standards – but they had no answer to the visitors' subtle switch of system that saw Ndiaye paired with Billy Sharp up front. The two strikers pressed relentlessly from the front and Morgan Gibbs-White, enjoying a excellent loan spell from Wolves, drifted in dangerous pockets of space before he was forced off injured at half time.

Fulham were alarmingly flat for much of a contest that seemed to pass their key players by. Mitrovic missed the clearest chance of the first period, dragging a shot wide after he had raced onto a raking ball from Kenny Tete, but Silva's side lacked penetration or urgency. The Serbian striker had just two touches in the penalty area throughout a first half where Fulham had more than two-thirds of possession. Their wingers were anonymous and teenage talent Fabio Carvalho was substituted shortly after half time as he struggled to make any impression on proceedings.

Indeed, the home side's frustrating even was summed up by the way Wilson weaved his way into the penalty area having cut in from the right flank and lost his footing as he beat Jaden Bogle and lined up a shot. Kebano saw a shot scrambled off the line by Jack Robinson after Adarabioyo had headed a free-kick back across goal, but former Fulham academy graduate Wes Foderingham had a far easier return to Craven Cottage than he might have envisaged. He was booked just before the break for delaying the taking of a goal kick but the Blades certainly hadn't come to put men behind the ball.

Norwood almost capitalised on a weak punch from Rodak right at the end of the first half and the Blades continued to pose serious problems on the break. Substitute Sander Berge's lovely pass gave Jaden Bogle a sight of goal but the wing back's decision to take another touch instead of shooting allowed Kenny Tete to slide in and avert the danger. Sharp thought he had scored a clinching second, but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag after he had fired Ndiaye's cut back high into the net. Fulham continued to the enjoy the majority of the ball, with Tom Cairney having come on for Seri at half time, but struggled to find space between the away side's three centre backs.

The hosts threatened a grandstand finish with fifteen minutes left. Mitrovic cracked a low shot straight at Foderingham after Reed had headed on a poor clearance but neither the Serbian, who had earlier headed over a floated Kebano cross, or Rodrigo Muniz – sent on in place of the below par Antonee Robinson – unduly worried an assured Blades back line. Heckingbottom's heroes managed proceedings pretty well before they had a huge slice of slick in the first minute of added time. Mitrovic dribbled his way past a succession of green shirts before lifting a shot against the frame of the goal on the search and Wilson volleyed wastefully over when it seemed simpler to convert the follow-up.

A stupefied Silva threw his hands skywards – knowing that Fulham had fluffed another glorious opportunity to extend their advantage at the top of the Championship to five points. The glorious unpredictability of England's second tier had struck again. Far from being invincible, Fulham suddenly look fragile. It is Sheffield United who are upwardly mobile at present: a fourth consecutive victory puts the Blades only three points off the play-off positions.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, A. Robinson (Muniz 69), Adarabioyo, Ream; Reed, Seri (Cairney 45); Wilson, Kebano, Carvalho (Decordova-Reid 61); Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Gazzaniga, Odoi, Bryan, Chalobah.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-4-1-2): Foderingham; J. Robinson, Basham, Egan; Bogle, Stevens, Norwood, Hourihane (Fleck 76); Gibbs-White (Berge 45); Ndiaye (Osborn 78), Sharp. Subs (not used): Eastwood, Baldock, Freeman, Burke.

BOOKED: Foderingham, J. Robinson, Bogle.

GOAL: Ndiaye (3).

REFEREE: James Linington (Newport).

ATTENDANCE: 17,308.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/magical-ndiaye-ends-fulhams-unbeaten-run/

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Albion PL2 2 Fulham PL2 4

Albion's PL2 side suffered just their fourth league defeat of the season against Fulham on Monday evening at the New Bucks Head.

Mo Faal and Jamie Andrews had levelled the scores going in at the break, but the away side proved too strong as they ended the young Baggies' unbeaten home record in Telford.

It didn't take Albion's front three long to combine on the night as Owen Windsor, Faal and lastly Reyes Cleary combined for a shot on target in the opening seconds. And it was only Cottagers stopper George Wickens who prevented them seizing the initiative, diving low to stop Cleary netting another goal on home soil.

But Fulham's position in the league table showed when they had their first opportunity, pouncing on an unfortunate deflection off Aurio Teixeira to give Kieron Bowie a sight of goal. Despite rounding Baggies keeper Alex Palmer, the Fulham forward was off balance and smashed his chance wide.

After withstanding some strong pressure from the visitors, Faal had a great chance to punish them following great link-up down the left wing. Fellows and Cleary combined to put a cross onto the unmarked target man's head, but stopper Wickens was there to claw it out.

Albion were soon made to pay, though, and there was nothing Palmer between the sticks could do to save it, as midfielder Adrion Pajaziti volleyed an unstoppable effort into the far corner to give Fulham a deserved lead.

Boss Richard Beale was demanding a response from his side and got one when a fantastic driven pass from Jamie Andrews sent Tom Fellows into the box, and if not for a recovering Cottagers defender hooking the ball off the line, the hosts would've been level.

But they soon were when terrific hold-up play from Cleary allowed him to square the ball on a plate for Faal, who squeezed home the equaliser past Wickens.

And in the space of four hectic minutes, the visitors both regained and lost the lead again. Sonny Hilton pounced on a defensive mistake to make it 2-1, before Cleary won a spot-kick for Beale's men.

A spin and burst of pace forced a Cottagers defender to haul the dangerous attacker down, and Andrews remained cool to level the contest once again going in at the halfway mark.

The second 45 had a lot to live up to but with both sides hunting a decisive goal, chances were scarce.

Like in the first half, though, Fulham would be the ones to strike first as Ollie O'Neill finished off a sweeping move by guding a low shot into the bottom corner to restore the away side's advantage.

Minutes later, they added another when O'Neill netted his second from an identical scenario, presenting the Baggies with a tough test to overcome at 4-2 down heading into the final 15 minutes.

And it proved too much for Albion's youngsters as they fell to just a fourth defeat in the Premier League 2 Division 2.

Albion: Palmer; Williams, Taylor, Ashworth; Ingram, Teixeira, Andrews, Fellows; Faal (Okoka 63), Cleary, Windsor (R.Richards 63).

Substitutes: Cisse, Joshua.



https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-pl2-2-fulham-pl2-4

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'Bad evening' for Fulham, Silva admits

Marco Silva admitted it was a "bad evening" after watching his Fulham side lose at home to Sheffield United.

The 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage consigned the Whites, who remain top of the Championship, to their fifth successive game without a win. Fulham have not won since 20 November, with four draws and a loss.

They struggled to create clear-cut chances against the Blades, who have now won four games in a row, with an Aleksandar Mitrovic shot against the crossbar in the final minute the closest they came to rescuing a point.

Silva now has to address Fulham's lack of urgency before their next game, at home to Birmingham City on Boxing Day.

"We were not at the level we should be," said head coach Silva.

"It is important to talk about this evening and, of course, overall, if you want to look at chances, we didn't make enough and left the best one to the last minute.

"Our balance was not good enough. It was up to us to play with intensity. We made a lot of unforced errors and were nervous and it was difficult for us to perform well."

However, Silva insisted that his anxious team can reassert themselves.

"I know what we should do to win football matches," he added.

"It is about playing our way. I will analyse this with my players in the next few days and see the many things we can improve for the next game.

"We have different types of games (in the Championship). It is difficult for us to analyse all aspects of the game right now but if you are anxious doing your job you cannot do your best.

"We have to do the basics, not lose so many passes and go again. It was a bad evening but we have done many good things so far this season."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/bad-evening-for-fulham-silva-admits

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O'Neill brace beats the Baggies

A second half brace from Ollie O'Neill saw Fulham's under 23s beat West Brom 4-2 at the New Bucks Head tonight and extend their lead at the top of the PL2 Second Division to a commanding eleven points.

The young Baggies side had been unbeaten in Telford all season and earned a share of the spoils at half time courtesy of a fine strike from Mo Faal and Jamie Andrews' penalty after Adrion Pajaziti and Sonny Hilton had twice put Steve Wigley's visitors in front. It was Republic of Ireland under-21 international O'Neill who turned the game decisively in Fulham's favour in the final quarter. The classy midfielder fired a low finish into the corner to complete a flowing move and five minutes later drove in a second to settle matters.

Albion had began brightly with Reyes Cleary tested George Wickens inside the first minute and the Fulham goalkeeper was called upon again to deny Cleary with a diving stop. At the other end, the visitors almost scored with their first opportunity when Kieron Bowie took advantage of a fortunate ricochet off Aurio Teixeira to round Alex Palmer but the Scottish striker lost his balance and missed the target altogether.

Wickens then made a fine sprawling save to keep out Faal's header after brilliant play by Fellows and Cleary along the Albion left and the visitors quickly made West Brom pay. Pajaziti's piledriver from distance after a half cleared corner was unstoppable – it screamed past Palmer and into the far corner to give the Londoners the lead. Tom Fellows almost equalised for the Baggies after being played in by Andrews but Charlie Robinson did brilliantly to clear off his own line.

They did draw level six minutes before the break when classical hold up play saw Cleary create the simplest of openings for Faal, who beat Wickens from close range with a modicum of fuss. In a crazy finale to the first half, Fulham regained and lost the lead in the space of sixty seconds. In-form Sonny Hilton pounced on a defensive mistake to fire the young Whites ahead but Cleary cleverly won a spot-kick from the hosts' very next attack, which was emphatically converted by Andrews.

The second period was an altogether more cagey affair as both teams probed patiently for an opening. Eighteen year-old O'Neill, who has really come into his own under Wigley's tutelage this season, eventually broke through the Baggies defence to ensure Fulham build up a healthy cushion at the top of the table heading into Christmas.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION UNDER 23s (3-4-3): Palmer; Williams, Ashworth, Taylor; Ingram, Fellows, Teixeira, Andrews; Windsor (R. Richards 63), Faal (Okoko 63), Cleary. Subs (not used): Ciise, Joshua.

GOAL: Faal (39), Andrews (pen 42).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Wickens; S. Sessegnon (D'Auria-Henry 33), Larkeche (Page 80), C. Robinson, Odutayo; Francois, Pajaziti; Hilton, O'Neill, Dibley-Dias; Bowie (Tiehi 88). Subs (not used): Allen, Bowat.

BOOKED: D'Auria-Henry.

GOAL: Pajaziti (19), Hilton (40), O'Neill (69, 74).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/oneill-brace-beats-the-baggies/

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Silva slates shocking showing

Marco Silva admitted Fulham were well short of the level required as Sheffield United under their eleven match unbeaten run at Craven Cottage tonight.

The Whites were stunned by a superb solo goal from Iliman Ndiaye after just three minutes of the contest but struggled to create chances throughout. Silva was honest in his assessment of a desperately disappointing display, telling his post-match press conference:

"We didn't perform at the level we should do, we only created one or two chance. They scored, and it was our fault because the balance wasn't good enough. After that, we didn't create. It was up to us to play with a different intensity, and this evening, we made unforced errors and seemed so nervous to play football. When it's like this it's difficult to perform well. If you're anxious, you're unable to do your job well. We've done so many good things so far, from the start until now.

It wasn't a good game of football, in my opinion. I know what we should do to win, and that's to perform better than our opponents and play in our way. This evening we didn't perform in our way. The players have my feedback."

Silva and Fulham will seek to return to winning ways against Birmingham City on Boxing Day.

"We'll analyse more in the next few days and the things we should improve for the next game. Nobody wins or loses anything in the middle of the season. We had a really bad evening, but we're more than capable to change the situation because we have the capability to do it."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/12/silva-slates-shocking-showing/