Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 22/02/22...

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D'Auria-Henry: We're still hungry for wins

Luciano D'Auria-Henry says Fulham's under 23s are still desperate to keep their fine form going despite being seventeen points clear at the top of the table.

The Whites travel to Newcastle United this evening for their first league fixture in more than a fortnight. Full back D'Auria-Henry told Fulham's official website that there was no prospect of any complacency creeping in:

"Confidence in the group is always high and so is the desire to win, especially under a manager like Steve Wigley! We're all working as hard as possible and I think that's transferring onto the pitch. We've got a very competitive squad which I think also makes an impact."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/dauria-henry-were-still-hungry-for-wins/

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Preview: Fulham vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

Fulham play host to Peterborough United on Wednesday evening looking to extend their six-point advantage at the top of the Championship table.

Meanwhile, Posh make the trip to Craven Cottage having parted company with Darren Ferguson, a consequence of their defeat at relegation rivals Derby County.

Match preview
While Marco Silva and his Fulham players would have respected Huddersfield Town ahead of Saturday's fixture, they would not have envisaged suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat to their fellow promotion-chasing side.

The Cottagers halved the deficit after finding themselves two goals down at the break, but it was not enough to stop their seven-match league unbeaten run coming to an end.

On a positive note, Fulham start the week still sitting six points clear of Bournemouth and 10 points ahead of third-placed Blackburn Rovers, but Silva will know that he requires an instant response from his players.

Despite possessing the best home record in the division, Fulham have now suffered two defeats in their last six outings at their West London base.

Having made a return to the starting lineup, Bobby Decordova-Reid scored his third goal in four outings, more than half of his tally for the entire season.

Opponents Peterborough find themselves in all sorts of disarray both on and off the pitch with Ferguson departing as manager after a nine-game winless streak in the league.

With the owners said to have "reluctantly accepted his resignation", the search is now on for a successor, one which will likely stretch past this fixture.

Nevertheless, the club's first-team squad must stay focused on the job in hand after Saturday's defeat at Derby left them five points adrift of safety.

There will be those who will argue that this game represents something of a free pass, but Posh can ill-afford a heavy defeat on top of a goal difference which already stands at minus 38.

That said, Peterborough have lost 14 of their 16 away games this season, conceding as many as 43 goals.

Fulham Championship form:

    W    W    D    W    W    L

Fulham form (all competitions):

    W    D    L    W    W    L

Peterborough United Championship form:

    D    L    L    L    D    L

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

    L    W    L    L    D    L


Team News
Silva could take the opportunity to freshen up his Fulham side with several players pushing for a chance in the starting lineup.

Harrison Reed, Neeskens Kebano and Ivan Cavaleiro may come into the team, with Tom Cairney, Fabio Carvalho and Harry Wilson all at risk of being handed a rest.

Kenny Tete and Jean Michael Seri are also alternatives for Silva as he takes a hectic schedule into consideration.

Peterborough will be without defender Hayden Coulson after his dismissal at Pride Park, putting Bali Mumba in line for a recall.

Jonson Clarke-Harris is an option in the final third, but Posh are unlikely to make many changes from the team which started at Derby.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Williams, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Chalobah; Cavaleiro, Reid, Kebano; Mitrovic

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Benda; Thompson, Knight, Kent, Mumba; Brown, Fuchs, Norburn; Ward, Clarke-Harris, Grant

We say: Fulham 4-0 Peterborough United

Regardless of the goings on at both clubs over the weekend, this is still first versus 23rd. With complacency also not a factor in the Fulham ranks, expect the home side to power their way to a dominant win in the capital.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/preview/preview-fulham-vs-peterborough-prediction-team-news-lineups_478715.html?cQx=NN&newsnow

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West Ham United: Irons eyeing move for Tosin Adarabioyo

West Ham and David Moyes will be eyeing a move for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

The Lowdown: Fantastic form
Since arriving at Craven Cottage in 2020, the 24-year-old has gone from strength to strength, making a name for himself in the English second tier.

The defender has played a pivotal part in Fulham's emphatic Championship-leading campaign. He has missed just one match whilst available, having played the full 90 minutes in 26 of his 27 league appearances.

Adarabioyo leads Marco Silva's squad for clearances, averaging 3.7 per game in the Championship (via WhoScored). This illustrates his importance to the current Fulham side, who have only conceded 28 goals this season, in stark contrast to their sensational 79 goals scored.

The Latest: West Ham eyeing Adarabioyo
A report from Claret & Hugh in recent days claimed that Moyes is likely to make a move for the 6 foot 5 Fulham defender in the summer, having already tried to secure his signature in January. The report added that the Cottagers have placed a £22m price tag on the centre-back, and 'talks are set to get underway' between Adarabioyo's management and the Hammers.

O'Rourke has weighed in on the situation, claiming that Moyes will be monitoring Adarabioyo closely. Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said:

"Yeah, in January, they were after a centre-back but were not able to bring in the targets that David Moyes wanted, so I'm sure Tosin Adarabioyo, who's done well at Fulham, has Premier League experience from last season with Fulham, will be somebody that will be on his radar."

The Verdict: Good addition for the Irons
A graduate of the Manchester City academy, Adarabioyo undertook a number of loan moves before arriving in west London.

Whilst at Blackburn Rovers, former team-mate Darragh Lenihan hailed the 24-year-old as a "brilliant" player who "has all the attributes to play for Manchester City".

Despite Adarabioyo not making it at the Etihad Stadium, City manager Pep Guardiola made sure to praise the defender before his side faced Fulham last year, proclaiming: "He's a guy from the academy. Finally, he took his position in the Premier League and we are more than delighted the level he's showing. He deserves it, he's an exceptional person and a good footballer."

With all of this high praise, this suggests that West Ham could have an exceptional defender on their hands – if Fulham are willing to sell him to their fellow London club in the summer.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/west-ham-eyeing-tosin-adarabioyo-transfer/

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3 Fulham youngsters to watch out for in 2022
Fulham are currently enjoying a fantastic Championship campaign and find themselves top of the league by six points. They are also 10 points within the automatic promotion spots with games in hand.

As well as the first-team performing, the U23s are also on the verge of earning promotion to the top division. Manager Steve Wigley has a wide range of young talented players and his side are top of the Premier League 2 by 17 points.

With the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and French forward Moussa Dembélé coming through the academy, Marco Silva could be keen to give some more youth players a chance.

With that in mind, we take a look at three Fulham youngsters to watch out for in 2022...

Jay Stansfield
At 19 years of age, Stansfield has been scoring goals for fun and has flirted with opportunities in the first team. The striker has scored four goals in seven games for the U23s with injuries influencing his game time. Stansfield enjoyed a fantastic campaign for the U18s in the 2019/20 season where he scored 22 goals in 14 games.

Following his great form, he made short cameos in January 2020 with debuts in the FA Cup and Championship. Since then, he has only made two further appearances. He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Cup win against Birmingham City this season. Having been an unused substitute a couple times this season, Stansfield will be keen to get more game time.

Sonny Hilton
The attacking minded midfielder is enjoying his best season in a Fulham shirt. Hilton has seven goals and seven assists in his 18 games and has been a reason why the 23's are performing so well. Last season he spent time in Finland with second division side Turun Palloseura. He made 11 appearances and saw his side finish third.

Having just turned 21, Hilton is still yet to appear in the first team, but with the way he is performing for the 23's it is only a matter of time before Silva gives him a chance.

Adrion Pajaziti
Pajaziti is enjoying his second season with the U23s. The central midfielder has featured 16 times this season and has given Fulham a solid base to build from. Pajaziti made his debut for the club in the second round of the EFL Cup against Birmingham City and completed the full 90 minutes.

Now 19, he recently made his debut for Kosovo U21s and has won two caps for them. With only one appearance in the first team, we could see more of Pajaziti come the end of the season.



https://the72.co.uk/263303/3-fulham-youngsters-to-watch-out-for-in-2022/

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Duff takes first steps in management

There's no doubt that Damien Duff's move into management has given the League of Ireland a real boost. The former Fulham winger reversed course having initially turned down the chance to take over at Shelbourne and has thrown himself into the task of reviving the fortunes of the Drumcondra outfit – even if he admits the first task is to keep them in the top flight.

Duff's probably given more interviews in the past week that during the entirety of his playing career. The Athletic's piece last week featured an outline of his personality, whilst the Guardian's Barry Glendenning observes a man who is already fully immersed in almost every activity at his new club. Duff is honest enough to admit his shortcomings – but insists he wants to be at Shelbourne long-term. His reign might have begun with a 3-0 defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic, but Duff's passion for the project seems infectious.

Duff, who was something of a revelation in his time as a pundit with RTE, hopes that he has given the press enough soundbites for a while as he prepares to quietly get on with the job. We wish him all the very best.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/duff-takes-first-steps-in-management/

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Harris hits hat trick as Fulham U23s score six at Newcastle

Sixteen year-old midfielder Luke Harris continued his sensational season with an astonishing hat trick inside eleven minutes as Fulham's under 23s won 6-1 at Newcastle this evening.

The Welsh youth international stabbed home from close range in the second minute after Sonny Hilton's corner had been headed against the bar by Kieron Bowie. Harris then doubled Fulham's lead almost instantly when he accelerated away from the Newcastle's defence after being released by Ziyad Larkeche and calmly rolled a low finish past Will Brown. The gifted number ten completed his hat trick with another poacher's finish at the far post from Hilton's floated corner. Harris now has ten goals in eighteen appearances for both of Fulham's academy sides this term.

The league leaders added a fourth on twenty minutes when Scottish forward Kieron Bowie lashed a lovely cross from French full back Ziyard Larkeche high into the net. The rest of the first half was rather tame by comparison with an electric opening. Newcastle's best chance to get back in the contest came the way of Michael Ndiweni, who latched onto a lovely ball from Jay Turner-Cooke but his curler was easily claimed by Alex Borton in the Fulham goal.

Newcastle made two changes at half time, with goalkeeper Jake Turner replacing Brown after his torrid first 45 minutes, but Fulham added a fifth just three minutes into the second period. Jay Stansfield extended the visitors' lead with a low drive that went in off the post after United had failed to clear a loose ball in their own penalty area. It got far worse for the hosts when Joe Oliver tripped Harris in the box and Sonny Hilton just about beat Turner from the spot.

Charlie Wiggett headed home a consolation from a corner – but this was a fabulous display from Steve Wigley's side. The all-conquering Fulham under 23s, now twenty points clear at the top of the table, could clinch promotion against Aston Villa on Friday win a win at Motspur Park.

NEWCASTLE UNITED UNDER 23s (5-3-2): Brown (Turner 45); Oliver, Scott, Brockwell, Wiggett, Cross (Vilca 81); Carlyon, Sangare (A. Wilson 45), Ndiweni; Turner-Cooke, Stephenson. Subs (not used): Barrett, Thompson.

BOOKED: Brockwell

GOAL: Wiggett (64).

FULHAM UNDER 23s (4-2-3-1): Borto; D'Auria-Henry, Larkeche (Bowat 78), C. Robinson (Ameyaw 83), Odutayo; Francois, Pajaziti; Hilton, Bowie (Page 74), Harris; Stansfield. Subs (not used): J. Schwarzer.

GOALS: Harris (2, 3, 11), Bowie (20), Stansfield (48), Hilton (pen 56).

REFEREE: Matthew Dicicco.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/02/harris-hits-hat-trick-as-fulham-u23s-score-six-at-newcastle/

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Peterborough Tickets

Join us at Craven Cottage this Wednesday as Fulham take on Peterborough United in the Sky Bet Championship.

Marco Silva's side welcome The Posh to SW6 on Wednesday 23rd February, kick-off 7.45pm with Aleksandar Mitrović just one goal away from breaking the record for the most goals scored in a Championship season!

Adults can secure their seats from £30 and juniors from £15. Tickets for this match are on General Sale and can be secured online, by phone on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or in person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office.

BUY TICKETS

Please note, supporters will need to ensure they are logged in to their OneFulham Account and have linked their ticketing account in order to purchase online. For more information on the OneFulham Account, please click here.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/february/21/peterborough-tickets/