Sunday Fulham Stuff - 13/02/22...

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Results

Saturday
Huddersfield	0-0	Sheff Utd
Barnsley	1-0	QPR
Birmingham	3-0	Luton
Blackpool	1-2	Bournemouth
Hull	0-1	Fulham
M'borough	4-1	Derby
Millwall	2-1	Cardiff
Forest	2-2	Stoke
P'borough	0-1	Preston NE
Reading	2-3	Coventry

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Hull City 0-1 Fulham

Aleksandar Mitrovic has equalled the record for most league goals scored in a Championship season since the league rebranded in 2004

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 31st league goal of the season as Championship leaders Fulham strengthened their grip on top spot with a narrow win at Hull City.

The away side had the better of the play in the first half but it was the hosts who should have taken the lead when Marcus Forss slotted the ball wide after getting in on goal following a mix-up in the Whites defence.

Mitrovic headed home a cross from Liverpool loanee Neco Williams to put Marco Silva's men in front.

Hull stayed in it but never really looked like getting an equaliser and they have now lost three in a row.

Fulham are 11 points clear of third-placed Blackburn, who travel to West Brom on Monday.

The division's leading goalscorers were not at their fluent best in poor weather but did enough to claim another three points, their sixth win in their past seven league games.

Shota Arveladze has lost three of his four games in charge of the Tigers since replacing Grant McCann but they are 12 points clear of relegation danger and seem unlikely to get dragged into a battle at the bottom given the dreadful form of the teams below them.

Fulham are back in action next Saturday with a home game against in-form Huddersfield, while the Tigers will look to get back on track at Sheffield United on Tuesday.

Hull boss Shota Arveladze:

"If we would have got a point I believe everyone in the ground would have said that we deserved it.

"They are the best team in the league. We tried to stop them and to defend as a team and attack as a team, which left me very happy.

"I'm proud of the boys and I have to give them a lot of credit. The fans have seen a good football game when both teams tried to play nice, attractive football.

"There's a lot to take from this performance."

Fulham boss Marco Silva:

"We started really well and we pushed them back straight away - which was really important.

"I think we controlled most of the situations in the game. But after the first 15 minutes, the game became much more balanced.

"We changed some details at half-time, and then in the second half we started well again.

"We kept good aggression and that was one of the big things to see. I am really happy for the team.

"I'm really pleased for the players and the fans. It was a big win."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60268845

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Post-Hull Press Conference

Marco Silva spoke to the press after his side continued their unbeaten league run in 2022.

"A tough win like we expected. A tough place to play. Bad conditions – the weather, the pitch. We knew before the match that as the game went on, it would get worse and worse and worse.

"We started the game really well. We started the way we planned. We pushed them back straight away and we started to control the game there. We knew before the match they are really strong in counter-attacks and they can catch the other teams unbalanced. They are strong with their mobile players in their attack line with George Honeyman behind both creating a lot of problems as well. I think we controlled really well this type of situation during a big part of the match.

"We changed some details at half-time. It wasn't the moment to change many things because we did well in some moments in the first half. In the second half, we started well again. We had a good chance from a good delivery from Neco that Fabio almost scored and after, Kebano arrived a little bit but then after, a very good moment in our goal.

"It was a good delivery and a very good finish from Mitro. Looking overall at the match, I think we deserved the three points. We were the best team on the pitch, we deserved it and keeping a clean sheet was really important for us."

Aleksandar Mitrović scored his 31st goal of the season. A goal that means that bit more as it equals the Championship record, set only last season by Brentford's Ivan Toney.

"Mitro is a key player for us. Our frontline is having a fantastic season, like all the team is doing as well. Of course, Mitro has scored so many goals in one season in the middle of February and his impact must be huge.

"He's been a massive help for us. He's understanding everything that I'm asking of him, not just because he's in the right place to score but the way he links our game, the way he starts the press, the way he helps his teammates of course and seeing him 100 per cent involved in our philosophy like all the others. It is really important for us."

Alongside Mitro, Marco took the chance to applaud new signing Neco Williams after yet another impressive performance from right-back.

"He's had a few days with us. He's played three games in a row without much time to work in between the games. He's a clever boy, a boy with qualities and he has the right mindset too which is really important."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/february/12/post-hull-press-conference/

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Harris double fires Fulham U18s into semi finals

A second half brace from Luke Harris shocked Manchester City and sent Fulham's under 18s into the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup at Motspur Park this afternoon.

The sixteen year-old starlet seized on a dreadful mistake from City goalkeeper Josh McNamara to give the hosts a lead their enterprising football deserved eleven minutes into the second half. In attempting to play out from the back, McNamara played a shocking ball straight to Harris who had the simplest of tasks to slot into the empty net. The Welsh under-18 international then settled the tie with nine minutes to play when he headed home a fine cross from Fulham's false nine, Imani Lanquedoc.

Ali Melloul's youngsters thoroughly deserved their victory over City, who have won the domestic double for the last two seasons. The new under-18 coach's tactical plan to beat arguably the country's best team at this age group worked perfectly, with Lanquedoc leading the line in place of the injured Ollie Sanderson and Terrell Works lining up on the left wing. Lanquedoc got plenty of early joy out of the City defence but he would have been disappointed to lash over from a promising position after eighteen minutes.

Devan Tanton drilled an effort over the bar four minutes later before loud penalty appeals were waved away after George Okkas' goalbound drive appeared to have been blocked by a City arm. The visitors struggled for their usual fluency in possession and Michael Allen in the Fulham goal was untested at half-time, but the hosts had failed to find the vital breakthrough.

That changed with McNamara's costly mistake and Fulham remained comfortable until a quarter of an hour from time. Allen saved well in quick succession to keep out long range efforts from Shea Charles and Mahamadou Susoho. The young Whites controlled proceedings with great composure and a lovely move extended their advantage as Harris ghosted into space in the area to glance Lanquedoc's inviting delivery beyond McNamara. The hosts might have made it three when Delano McCoy-Splatt produced some fancy footwork to create space in the box but the City goalkeeper eventually smothered his shot.

Susoho did strike the woodwork with a late strike but Fulham came through seven minutes of added time to move into the last four after a hugely impressive display.

FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Allen; Tanton (Benjamin 68), Parkes, Araujo, C. Robinson; Okkas, McCoy-Splatt (M. Parker 88); Olakigbe, Works (Gordon 63), Harris; Lanquedoc. Subs (not used): Borto, de Fougerolles.

BOOKED: Tanton.

GOALS: Harris (56, 81).

MANCHESTER CITY UNDER 18s (4-3-3): McNamara; Charles, Galvez (Smith 85), Alleyne (Barrington 87), Katongo; Susoho, Breckin, Hamilton (O'Reilly 45); Mebude, Borges, Dickson. Subs (not used): Adam, Murray-Jones.

BOOKED: Susoho, Borges, Charles.

REFEREE: L. Sandoe.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/harris-double-fires-fulham-u18s-into-semi-finals/

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City knocked out of Under-18s Premier League Cup by Fulham

City's hopes of a third successive Under-18s Premier League Cup were ended by Fulham as we were edged out in London.

After an uneventful first half, it was Fulham who got the breakthrough as Luke Harris put the hosts ahead 10 minutes into the second half.

As Ben Wilkinson's side pushed to get an equaliser, it was the home side that doubled their advantage through Harris again on the break which saw us fall to defeat and so exit the competition.

WHAT HAPPENED

Wilkinson's youngsters went into the game looking to progress in the competition that we had won for the past two seasons the Under-18s Premier League Cup had taken place – in 2019 and 2020.

Nerves got to the Young Blues in the first half, as the final pass and the precision of our shooting was not hitting the mark as both sides were level at the break.

The hosts got off to the better start after the break, as Luke Harris opened the scoring on 56 minutes for Fulham to leave us chasing the game.

Into the last 10 minutes of the game, City were pushing for the equaliser which left us exposed at the back.

And the Cottagers took full advantage as Harris grabbed his brace in the second half to end our hopes of winning the competition for a third successive time.

HOW WE LINED UP

Josh McNamara lined up between the posts, with Tom Galvez, Jadel Katongo, Max Alleyne and Shea Charles making up the defence.

Mo Susoho shielded the back four, with Kian Breckin and Micah Hamilton playing further ahead in the middle of the park.

Carlos Borges and Dire Mebude played in their wide forward positions, with Will Dickson as striker to make up the front three.

WHAT IT MEANS

The result sees us knocked out of the Under-18s Premier League Cup after a fine run in the competition.

UP NEXT

We are back in action next Saturday when we face Burnley in the Under-18 Premier League.

Kick off is at 12pm (UK) and the game will be televised live on CITY+

News about Fulham v Man City

City inspired by Fulham Under-18 PL Cup challenge, says Wilkinson

Ben Wilkinson says City's Under-18s are excited by the challenge of Saturday's Under-18 Premier League quarter-final trip to Fulham. Read more.



https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/fulham-v-manchester-city-u18s-premier-league-u18-cup-63780265

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Battling Hull City edged out by Fulham as Aleksandar Mitrovic nets his 31st goal of the season

City put up a real fight against Marco Silva's men, but suffer a third straight defeat

Fulham's march back to Premier League took another step closer on Saturday with a 1-0 at struggling Hull City, but they were made to work hard for it.

Shota Arveladze's men, so poor at Derby County in midweek delivered a far more resilient display against a side destined to return to the top flight at the first attempt.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's second half header was all that separated the two sides – a player who cost Fulham almost as much as Acun Ilicali has paid to buy the east Yorkshire club.

This was a heartening display from City, it was one of graft, of heart and more akin to what we'd become accustomed to in recent weeks, and it should give hope for what look like tough away trips to Sheffield United and QPR in the next week.

In a bid to try and find a response to what was an awful Tuesday night at Derby County, Arveladze made three changes to his starting line-up.

Back came Richie Smallwood to skipper the side and Ryan Longman, while there was a full debut for Regan Slater in midfield, with the head coach reverting to a more traditional four at the back.

Marcus Forss kept his place up front with Longman and Keane Lewis-Potter in support, with Greg Docherty and Alfie Jones dropped to the bench, there was no place in the squad for Liam Walsh.

Slater was booked for clattering into Wilson in what was probably the stand-out moment of a first 20 minutes which belonged largely to the visitors.

Certainly in the opening stages, Fulham were peppering City's box with crosses and balls down the sides, but City managed to remain resolute and it allowed them to gain a foothold in the contest and spend a bit of time on the ball, and in Fulham territory.

Their solid and committed opening 20 minutes was almost undone, however, when a speculative ball over the top saw Ingram come rushing out, he got nowhere near it and Wilson, the ex-Tiger, rounded him with ease but could only fire over from an acute angle.

On the far side, there appeared to be a flashpoint in the stands with a supporter – term used in the loosest sense – escorted out, along with a young child, for throwing a beer bottle onto the pitch, in another act of senseless behaviour from morons blighting the game we love.

Ingram atoned for that error moments later when Mitrovic's ball caught City out, Wilson raced clear and with McLoughlin in pursuit, opted to go alone and force a smart stop from the City goalkeeper.

Wilson had Nico Williams up in support and should have squared it, but the home side were thankful he didn't.

City were well in this as the half wore on and started to enjoy a bit of possession in the middle of the park, with the pitch starting to cause one or two problems.

A sweeping move eventually saw Forss combine with Honeyman inside the area, but with the goal opening up, City's number 10 could only scuff an effort wide from 18-yards out.

Straight up the other end, Fulham's counter-attack saw Williams to get the by-line before pulling a ball back to Wilson at the back post to turn over.

City were being roared on by their supporters, and it was making a difference. They were ending the first half on the front foot, and with the visitors rattled.

The first objective of the second half was to not concede a minute-and-a-half into it, and Arveladze's men navigated that hurdle safely, though Ingram's save to deny Mitrovic after a cleverly worked free-kick helped that particular cause.

Unfortunately for City, their resistance lasted until two minutes shy of the hour when Mitrovic got a yard on Greaves at the near post to glance a fine header into the far corner and beyond Ingram.

With time ticking on, Arveladze made changes bringing off Forss and moments later Slater, bringing on Tyler Smith and Greg Docherty.

Mitrovic, who had frustrated with some of his off-the-ball antics, was taken off by Silva to huge boos from the home supporters.

As time ticked on, City were probing for a way back into it and Smallwood volleyed at Rodak, the Fulham stopper needing a second attempt to collect.

City were beaten again, but this was a performance which shows City can mix it with the best in this league, and one which should give them hope in the remaining weeks of the season.

Hull City (4-2-3-1): Matt Ingram; Lewie Coyle, Sean McLoughlin, Jacob Greaves, Brandon Fleming; Richie Smallwood (C), Regan Slater (Greg Docherty 75'); Ryan Longman (George Moncur 80'), George Honeyman, Keane Lewis-Potter; Marcus Forss (Tyler Smith 71').

Subs Not Used: Harvey Cartwright, Callum Elder, Alfie Jones, Di'Shon Bernard.



https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/hull-city-fulham-aleksandar-mitrovic-6645475

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Mitrovic makes the difference

Aleksandar Mitrovic nodded in his 31st goal of the season – to equal Ivan Toney's Championship record – and secure a hard-fought Fulham win at Hull City this afternoon. The Serbian striker's glancing header from a fine Nico Williams cross settled a contest that the league leaders dominated but failed to kill off. In tricky conditions and on a dreadful playing surface, Marco Silva's side were left hanging on against their spirited hosts but this slender success showed they have the stomach for a fight to go alongside their usual style.

Shota Arveladze hasn't been able to follow up the sparkling win over Swansea that started his reign on Humberside but his charges – still uncomfortably close to the drop zone – made life difficult for the free-scoring Londoners. The Georgian switched from a back three to pack the midfield and Fulham failed to find their usual fluency, not helped by a pitch that cut off horribly. A wasteful Harry Wilson spurned the visitors' best first half chances, first firing over after latching onto Tosin Adarabioyo's through ball and rounding Matt Ingram before shooting straight at the goalkeeper when released by Mitrovic with the free Fabio Carvalho screaming for a square ball. On another day, the Welsh international could have been celebrating a first half hat-trick rather berating his finishing after lashing Carvalho's cut back over the crossbar at the back post.

Hull hardly had a kick for the first twenty minutes but gradually began to warm to their task. Williams made a superb sliding challenge to halt a dangerous run from the on-loan Brentford forward Marcus Forss and then dived in to divert George Honeyman's shot away from goal, even though the referee erroneously gave a goalkick. The biggest opening of the half arrived at the feet of Forss when Tim Ream slammed a clearance into the legs of Antonee Robinson. Marek Rodak dashed from his line to no avail, but the Finn fired off target with the goal gaping.

That represented a real let off for Fulham, who ended the first half ponderously as a few blood and thunder tackles flew in. They resumed after the break with more intensity and another threatening cross for Williams bounced off both Carvalho and Kebano without either being able to provide a telling touch. Mitrovic did connect with a Cairney free-kick, but Ingram grabbed hold of his shot. There was a sign of the danger Hull posed on the break, provided by the quick thinking of Kean Lewis-Potter who robbed Williams and raced in on goal, only for Rodak to push away the shot.

Carvalho was then thwarted by Ingram after Wilson had stolen the ball from Lewie Coyle and you wondered if this was going to be a frustrating afternoon for Fulham. Right on cue, Williams – who looked lively all afternoon as an attacking outlet – motored along the right wing and clipped an early cross between the Hull centre backs. Mitrovic effortlessly glanced a great header into the bottom corner, before celebrating in front of a section of the home support who had barracked him in the first half.

Fulham threatened to take a stranglehold on the contest as Wilson and Williams continued their telepathic connection down the right, but Hull grew in belief as they threw numbers forward in search of an equaliser. Ream halted a threatening run from Jacob Greaves before Rodak juggled with a Richard Smallwood shot but the hosts couldn't conjure up another chance in four minutes of stoppage time. Bobby Decordova-Reid delivered an attack-ending foul right out of Stefan Johansen's playbook as Silva's side continued their unbeaten start to the calendar year.

HULL CITY (4-4-1-1): Ingram; Coyle, Fleming, McLoughlin, Greaves; Smallwood, Slater (Docherty 75), Longman (Moncur 80), Lewis-Potter; Honeyman; Forss (Smith 72). Subs (not used): Cartwright, Bernard, Jones, Elder.

BOOKED: Slater, Fleming.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Williams, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream; Chalobah, Cairney (Reed 76); Wilson (Decordova-Reid 76), Kebano, Carvalho; Mitrovic (Muniz 80). Subs (not used): Gazzaniga, Hector, Bryan, Seri.

BOOKED: Decordova-Reid.

GOAL: Mitrovic (57).

REFEREE: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

ATTENDANCE: 13,022.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/mitrovic-makes-the-difference/

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Mitrovic strikes again as Fulham win at Hull

Aleksandar Mitrovic's 31st league goal of the season took Championship leaders Fulham a step closer to a return to the top flight.

Hull caused the Whites some problems and on-loan Brentford striker Marcus Forss missed a good chance for them in the first half.

But Fulham took control when Neco Williams did superbly on the flank and crossed for Mitrovic to head home.

It meant Mitrovic equalled the record Championship goal tally for a season set by Brentford's Ivan Toney last year.

The win put Fulham 11 points clear of third-placed Blackburn.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/mitrovic-strikes-again-as-fulham-win-at-hull

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Silva: Fulham showed 'winning mentality'

Marco Silva was delighted that Fulham demonstrated their 'winning mentality' with a narrow win at Hull City this afternoon in treacherous conditions.

The league leaders were made to work hard by a determined Hull side and they had to wait until just before the hour mark for Aleksandar Mitrovic to break the deadlock – the in-form Serbian forward scoring his 31st goal of the season, to draw level with Ivan Toney's Championship record mark.

The Fulham boss shared his pleasure at extending his side's unbeaten run on the road to eight matches with FFCTV after the final whistle:

"Another three points – really important again. I have to congratulate the boys again. It was a tough match, a tough pitch, like we expected. We knew that it was important for us to start quickly in the game and we did. I think in the first 15 minutes we did really well, we pushed them back. We didn't give a chance for them to counter attack. Unfortunately, we didn't score and they started to believe. They have pace in their attack line and they are quite direct. They caused us problems.

We had three big chances in the first chance with Harry – where we could score. We didn't lose our focus, we kept calm in the game and we started well in the second half. We scored an important goal – a very good delivery from Neco [Williams] and a fantastic finish from Mitro. We controlled the game well until the end of the match. Keeping the clean sheet was important for us as well.

I'm really happy. It was always tough come here in this weather, with this pitch as well. They wanted to react to the two defeats they had in the last two games. I'm really pleased for our players. These type of games show their winning mentality. I asked them for it before the match and they proved again they've got it."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/silva-fulham-showed-winning-mentality/

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Ream revels in consecutive clean sheets

Tim Ream is particularly pleased that free-scoring Fulham have tightened up at the back as the league leaders registered a second successive clean sheet in a tight win at Hull City this afternoon.

The American centre back told FFCTV that narrow wins like the one Marco Silva's side ground out in East Yorkshire are the hallmark of promotion contenders.

"Sometimes those feel better than the 7-0s and the 6-2s. At times, we had to dig in – especially towards the end. We leave here with three points, Mitro has another goal to add to his tally and we keep it rolling. We stuck to our game and tried to do what we what regularly do. Conditions not perfect, but it doesn't matter.

We've been talking about getting back to clean sheets: two on the bounce now, two in a week. Good times and we're happy with that. We said at half-time, if we keep a clean sheet, we'll win the game. The entire team were defending together, attacking together and we've come away with the result."

Ream lavished praise on Fulham's matchwinners: goalscorer extraordinaire Aleskandar Mitrovic, whose second half header clinched the three points, and new signing Neco Williams, who provided the cross for the winner.

"Do we even need to talk about him [Mitrovic] any more? Wow. It's just the way he scores goals. That header is not an easy header and he's able to put it on frame. It's just incredible. He's so confident in and around the box, hopefully that continues and we continue in the position that we're in. Neco's settled in great, he understands the way we want to play. We tell everyone to feed Mitro and he will do good things for us. Neco, credit to him has bought right into it and has settled in very well.

The 34 year-old admitted that Fulham's unbeaten run saw the turn of the year had not been talked about in the dressing room – with the focus remaining on the next fixture in isolation. He feels that strict concentration on the next test is crucial in keeping the squad grounded.

"We've not actually discussed within the squad that we're unbeaten in 2022. We're trying to take each game at a time, take three points and stay top of the league. That comes from the work that people don't see on a day in, day out basis on the training ground and everything that goes into the peformances. It's been a fantastic start and one we're going to look to continue on."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/ream-revels-in-consecutive-clean-sheets/

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Fossey scores first senior goal

Fulham full back Marlon Fossey scored his first senior goal and made another as Bolton Wanderers came from behind to claim a dramatic victory at Oxford United this afternoon.

The American defender, making a big impression during his loan spell, lashed in a leveller from twelve yards to bring Bolton back to 2-2 during an extraordinary first half. The attacking right back produced a brilliant assist in the closing stages with a low cross for in-form forward Amadou Bakayoko to grab the winner.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/fossey-scores-first-senior-goal/

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 Aleksandar Mitrovic rallies Fulham with record 31 goals in Championship
Serbian forward now shares Sky Bet Championship goal scoring record

Aleksandar Mitrovic rallied Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday, scoring the winning goal against Hull City.

The Serbian forward has 31 goals in 30 games and is tied with Sky Bet Championship goal scoring record holder, Ivan Toney of Brentford, who scored 31 goals in 45 games last season.

Mitrovic, 27, joined Fulham from Newcastle in 2018 and has 84 goals and 18 assists in 161 games for the English club.

Separately, he scored 44 goals in 69 caps for the Serbian National Team.

Fulham, which was relegated to the Sky Bet Championship last season, currently is atop the Championship standings with 64 points in 30 games.



https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/aleksandar-mitrovic-rallies-fulham-with-record-31-goals-in-championship/2501222

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Williams hits the ground running

It proved pretty pertinent when Marco Silva described Denis Odoi as being a 'different' profile to the type of right back he was looking for at Fulham. The Belgian veteran served as a dependable deputy for the injured Kenny Tete but his deadline day departure for Club Brugges perhaps wasn't as big a shock as the Cottagers' head coach made out. Likeable and loyal, Odoi isn't the archetypal modern full back or a flier like Ryan Fredericks, who helped the Whites reach the top flight back in 2018. His return home allowed Fulham to seal a late loan for Liverpool's Neco Williams, which is quickly bearing fruit.

The Welsh international could easily have been created in central casting for Silva. The 20 year-old busts a gut to get to the byline, befitting his years as a winger in youth football, possesses a devilish delivery, rapid acceleration and has forged a fantastic understanding with Harry Wilson for club and country. He has real pedigree – having played every minute of Wales' run to the second round of the European Championships last summer – but needed first-team football that simply wasn't in the offing at Anfield with Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of him.

Williams came through what was always going to be a tough baptism of fire at the home of the English champions on debut in the FA Cup and his offensive qualities were always more likely to be on show against Millwall than Manchester City. As well as several clever combinations with Wilson along the right flank, Williams marked his Craven Cottage bow with an assist as he produced a peach of a cross for Aleksandar Mitrovic's opener. The Serbian certainly appreciated the service – making a beeline for the new man on his way to celebrating in front of the visiting fans.

You felt the in-form forward might have been salivating at the thought of further sensational supply in the weeks to come. Lo and behold, Williams – who looked the most likely source of a goalscoring opportunity in a fairly forgettable first half – sent over a gem of a ball from right eleven minutes after half time. Mitrovic made a tricky glancing header look laughably straightforward but the quality of the cross was quite something. Williams' sense of adventure was encapsulated by the fact that his first thought on latching onto Antonee Robinson's switch of play was to gallop forward and whip in an early delivery: it ended up catching out Hull's otherwise excellent centre halves.

Williams' immediate impact has been timely with the injury-ravaged Tete sidelined again with the groin problem he picked up trying to score against Stoke. The Dutch international resumed training at Motspur Park towards the end of last week but he can't be certain of returning to Silva's starting line-up given the loanee's lightning start. The Wrexham lad's link ups with Wilson, honed for years at Melwood and then with Wales, are seamless enough to add a new dimension to Fulham's already frightening attack. It isn't as if the league leaders need more threats in the final third, but Silva will take it.

Tim Ream's post-match interview on Humberside confirmed that Williams had slotted into the squad serenely. It is always easier to fit into a successful side but Williams already seems like one of the shrewdest additions of the season. Three matches constitutes the smallest of sample sizes but you can't quibble with two assists in as many matches. Might Williams will be the makeweight in the Liverpool's anticipated attempt to return for Fabio Carvalho in the summer? We'll just have to watch this space.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/williams-hits-the-ground-running/