Wednesday Fulham Stuff (05.01.11)

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/04/fulham-west-bromwich-albion-premier-league

Simon Davies and Clint Dempsey help Fulham see off West Bromwich

Jamie Jackson at Craven Cottage guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 4 January 2011 21.57


Fulham's Clint Dempsey gives the Craven Cottage supporters the thumbs up after scoring the second against West Bromwich Albion. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

Flirting with relegation is this Premier League season's great new game. With this easy win Fulham became the latest team to understand how three points can allow a six-position leap that replaces the dread of 19th place with the warmth of 13th position.

Hughes's selection for a contest he was desperate to win was hampered by the enforced absence of Andy Johnson, who was advised to rest a tight hamstring or risk a potential absence of up to five weeks if the muscle were aggravated.

With Bobby Zamora out until February, at least, and Moussa Dembélé, the £5m summer signing, still absent with an ankle problem Fulham's stock of front-line strikers began and finished with Diomansy Kamara and Clint Dempsey.

This pair started at the front of Hughes's 4-4-2 formation and it was Kamara, the former West Bromwich Albion man, who produced the opening moment of quality by killing a Chris Baird punt in the visitors' area. The 30-year-old's swivel and shot with his left foot forced Carson to dip down to beat the ball away.

What proceeded was a bright half of action that lit up the chilly evening and closed with a Simon Davies finish that Scott Carson should have stopped.

Preceding this there had been a threat from Roberto Di Matteo's troops but this was too sporadic. First Peter Odemwingie worried David Stockdale with a cross from the right the keeper had to parry. Then the Nigeria striker collected 30 yards away from Stockdale and tricked Brede Hangeland into allowing him a yard before he unloaded an effort that deflected off the central defender to safety.

The match was open but quality faded near goal. Davies offered an illustration with a volley he steered wide, a Graham Dorrans long-range hit did not dip enough and Odenwengie again moved beyond traffic but allowed Dickson Etuhu to catch him up.

When Hangeland rose to meet a corner unchallenged but pulled the header wide the sense was the game would remain goalless into the second half. But then came Carson's howler. The keeper culpable for the mistake that allowed Croatia's opening goal in the 3-2 victory over England in the "Wally-in-the-Brolly" Euro 2008 qualifier in November 2007 will not wish to see Davies's goal too many times.

After Youssouf Mulumbu was dispossessed by Etuhu he passed to Davies who unleashed a sweet strike that came straight at Carson. The ball may have swerved a touch but West Brom's keeper should still have pushed it away rather than into his goal.

Fulham deserved the lead and tripled the score within 20 minutes. Moments after Davis stepped up to swing in a corner from the left that had the visiting rearguard slumbering.

Hangeland and Dempsey each jumped to meet the delivery and it was the American striker who collected a sixth league goal of the campaign to allow Fulham breathing space. Next it was the Norwegian's turn to send Di Matteo nuts as his side conceded a replica of the Dempsey goal. From another Davies' corner on the left Hangeland was left unchallenged to roam, leap and finish beyond Carson.

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6635172,00.html


Cottagers climb out of drop zone

Hughes breathes easy as Fulham end home hoodoo


By Ben Collins   Last updated: 4th January 2011    


Davies: Mobbed after opener

Fulham eased the pressure on Mark Hughes by winning 3-0 at home to West Brom to climb out of the bottom three.

Some Fulham fans called for the manager's head after their 3-1 home defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day and despite winning at Stoke, they slipped back into the relegation zone following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.

But Simon Davies opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time before delivering corners for Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland to head home, sealing Fulham's first win in six games at Craven Cottage and just their third home victory of the season.

Injury-hit West Brom were firmly in the game until Davies' opener but would rue a first-half miss by Jerome Thomas as they slumped to a fifth straight defeat.

Fulham are now up to 13th having leapfrogged the visitors on goal difference, leaving the Baggies just two points above the drop zone.

Injury problems
Roberto Di Matteo had to field a makeshift defence with 18-year-old James Hurst handed his league debut at right-back while centre-back Gianni Zuiverloon made his first Premier League start of the season and Fulham threatened first in a lively opening, former West Brom striker Diomansy Kamara forcing Scott Carson to save from a tight angle.

Fulham had David Stockdale back in goal with Australian Mark Schwarzer away on Asian Cup duty and he was tested by a 20-yard strike by lone striker Peter Odemwingie.

Fulham winger Damien Duff then dragged a shot wide before Youssuf Mulumbu was fortunate to survive a penalty shout for a clumsy challenge on Dempsey.

Thomas spurned the Baggies' best chance as Chris Brunt picked out his run in from the left, only for the winger to shoot too close to Stockdale.

A fine slide-rule pass from Graham Dorrans almost presented Brunt with the opener but the visitors suffered another injury blow on the half-hour mark as left-back Marek Cech hobbled off to be replaced by Nicky Shorey.

Zuiverloon made an important block to Dempsey's shot before the Baggies regrouped, while Davies sent a difficult volley wide and Brede Hangeland headed wide from a Davies corner.


Davies opener
And the home side's pressure paid off as Dickson Etuhu won possession with a fierce challenge on Mulumbu and squared for Davies to smash a right-footed strike high past Carson, who should have done better.

Duff fired narrowly wide after the break before top scorer Dempsey rose above Shorey to head his seventh goal of the season from Davies' 56th-minute corner.

And the three points were secured nine minutes later when Hangeland made amends for his earlier miss, losing Brunt to head home from another excellent inswinging delivery by Davies.

Thomas and Brunt were narrowly off target as West Brom battled for a consolation while Stockdale had to turn over a fierce Odemwingie strike late on.

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West Brom official site match report -

http://www.wba.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10366~53270,00.html

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Fulham 3 West Bromwich Albion 0: Scott Carson gaffe opens the floodgates as Cottagers claim crucial win


By Sportsmail Reporter and Laura Williamson


Last updated at 10:06 PM on 4th January 2011


Fulham moved out of the relegation zone with a vital home victory against West Bromwich, as the visitors suffered their fifth consecutive defeat.

A Simon Davies strike and headers by Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland and gave Fulham three vital points in a bitty, battling affair at Craven Cottage.


Calm down: Scott Carson's gaffe opened the floodgates at Fulham

Fulham boss Mark Hughes has predicted that, just like Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City did under his stewardship, Fulham will earn more points in the second half of the season than they did in the first. The jury's still out on that.

Hughes had expected to welcome back Moussa Dembele, who has been absent since November 13 with an ankle injury, but the 23-year-old did not even make the bench. Andrew Johnson was also sidelined with a slight hamstring injury, leaving Diomansy Kamara and Dempsey to start up front.



Fumble: Scott Carson seemed to have two good hands behind Davies' shot but the ball flew in

Davies's 25-yard opener in first-half stoppage time certainly looked spectacular, but it owed more than a little to a mistake by West Bromwich goalkeeper Scott Carson.

The 25-year-old seemed surprised by the pace of the Welshman's searing right-foot shot and flapped at it. It wasn't a gaffe on the scale of Carson's error against Croatia for England in November 2007, but the goalkeeper will not look back fondly at the replays.


Star and stripes: American international Clint Dempsey jumped highest to give Fulham breathing space

West Brom were forced to change three of the back four who started against Manchester United on New Year's Day, but had no such problems going forward, with Peter Odemwingie, Jerome Thomas and Chris Brunt all threatening.

Odemwingie was both creator and finisher and Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale, back in the side until Mark Schwarzer returns from Asian Cup duty with Australia, had to stay alert.


Head boy: Brede Hangeland was inexcusably left unmarked at the back post

Graham Dorrans slipped a lovely pass through the Fulham back four after 25 minutes - the match's first real moment of quality - but it fooled everyone, including Brunt.

West Bromwich manager Roberto Di Matteo was upset by a challenge from John Pantsil on Marek Cech on the half-hour. The Fulham right back tangled with the 27-year-old and appeared to stamp on Cech as he tried to retrieve his foot. The action was not malicious and referee Martin Atkinson did not deem it a foul, but it ended Cech's evening.

Damien Duff narrowly missed Carson's right-hand post with a right-foot effort after 53 minutes, but Dempsey sealed the points three minutes later. The American reached Davies's corner just ahead of Hangeland to score his sixth league goal this season. Nine minutes later Hangeland scored himself, heading in from another Davies corner.


Pure delight: The win was Fulham's second in the last three games


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1344062/Fulham-3-West-Bromwich-Albion-0-Scott-Carson-gaffe-opens-floodgates-Cottagers-claim-crucial-win.html#ixzz1A6naIqWI

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Blackburn line up Damien Duff and Roque Santa Cruz for sensational Ewood return


By Sportsmail Reporter


Last updated at 10:30 PM on 4th January 2011


Blackburn have identified Fulham's Damien Duff as another player they would like to bring back to Ewood Park.

Manager Steve Kean has put forward a list of six targets which includes Roque Santa Cruz, Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock and Norwich full-back Russell Martin.

Blackburn's hopes of signing Barcelona prospect Oriol Romeu have been dashed though after the 19-year-old tore a knee cartilage.


Wing wizard: Damien Duff made his major breakthrough with Blackburn


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1344095/Blackburn-line-Damien-Duff-Roque-Santa-Cruz-sensational-Ewood-return.html#ixzz1A6pATbRv

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943907/Fulham-3-West-Bromwich-Albion-0-match-report.html


Fulham 3 West Bromwich Albion 0: match report


Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Fulham and West Bromwich Albion at Craven Cottage on Tuesday Jan 4 2011.
      

FULHAM3 - 0
FTWEST BROM Tuesday, January 04 20:00
Premier League
Craven CottageDavies (45+1)Dempsey (56)Hangeland (65) (HT 1-0)
ATT: 23,654 


By John Ley 10:00PM GMT 04 Jan 2011


Scott Carson is still remembered for the error, on his competitive debut for England, that helped Croatia end the nation's hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals. But when he looks back on this season, he may recall another slip that opened the floodgates for Fulham to claim a vital win and send West Bromwich Albion into freefall.

Carson allowed Simon Davies's long effort through his hands just before the interval and the goal acted as an incentive, with Clint Dempsey claiming a second soon after the restart. Brede Hangeland's third left Albion's in defensive tatters.

The victory lifts Fulham out of the relegation zone, for now, and above Albion, who are now in relegation danger after failing to win a league point for a month after losing five successive games for the first time in more than six years.

Both managers, had they been offered the option, may have preferred to have deferred this fixture. Fulham lost Andrew Johnson earlier in the day, and with Moussa Dembélé still not fit from a troublesome ankle problem and Bobby Zamora at least a month away from returning, the home side were light in attack.

Hughes was forced to move Dempsey in to attack and give a rare start to Diomansy Kamara against his former club. With goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on international duty with Australia, David Stockdale was called upon for the first time since August.

By contrast Albion's problems were in defence with Pablo Ibanez and Stephen Reid, troubled by ankle and knee problems respectively, both missing. And while Gonzalo Jara was back after a one-match ban James Hurst, less than a month from his 19th birthday, was given his Premier League debut.

Hurst joined a back four that had never played together before. And before the first half had been completed, Albion were forced into another defensive change, with Marek Cech limping away, to be replaced by Nicky Shorey.

Hurst was soon tested, with Fulham pushing down the left flank, and the visitors forced an early opening when Kamara's snap shot was saved well by Albion goalkeeper and captain Carson.

Albion responded quickly with Peter Odemwingie's clever low cross parried by Stockdale, and, with no other visiting players in attendance, Fulham survived.

Given the importance of the points to both sides the game quickly became open and flowing, a good antidote to a freezing January night by the Thames.

Kamara, who joined Celtic on loan in last January's transfer window, was enjoying his recall against his former employees with some teasing touches and hints of better to come.

But it was at the other end where the next chance was forced, Odemwingie testing Stockdale again from distance. And then Jerome Thomas was denied by the stand-in goalkeeper as the visitors began to find the tempo of the game.

Worryingly for Albion in the first half Cech fell heavily under a John Pantsil challenge, and had to be replaced by Shorey, who spent a loan spell at Fulham last season.

Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans tried a dipping half volley from distance before the break, while there was evidence of panic in the Fulham defence whenever Odemwingie was allowed to run with the ball.

But Fulham offered signs of what was to follow when Duff's attempt, took a deflection and from Davies' corner, Hangeland sent the ball just wide, receiving an accidental fist from Carson in the face for his efforts.

And in the first minute of added time at the end of the first period Fulham scored a fine goal, though Carson may be disappointed that he was unable to stop the 25-yard effort.

Dickson Etuhu won a midfield challenge, fed Davies and the Welshman took the ball forward at pace before dispatching a looping drive; the goalkeeper letting the ball through his hands and into the top left-hand corner.

The late first half-break gave the impetus to Fulham to push on and, in the opening exchanges of the second period they almost added a second goal. Duff turned brightly and shot in one movement, his effort lifting just off the surface and narrowly wide of the left post.

But the second goal was soon to arrive, with Davies this time the supplier. From his well-flighted corner, in the 55th minute, both Hangeland and Dempsey rose together but it was the American who got the telling header and this time Carson could do little to prevent the goal.

It was Dempsey's seventh goal of the season and he squandered the chance of another on the hour when he set up Kamara but could not control the rebound.

But there was a third goal forthcoming and again Davies was the deliverer. One would have thought Albion had learned their lesson, but they allowed another well-struck corner from Davies land in front of goal and straight to the welcoming head of Hangeland.

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Fulham 3-0 West Brom: The Daily Mirror match report


Published 22:06 04/01/11

By Neil McLeman




Scott Carson dropped another big-match clanger last night to send West Brom on their way to a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.

But Fulham eased the pressure on Mark Hughes as the Cottagers climbed out of the bottom three up to 13th place.

Former Liverpool keeper Carson will forever be remembered for his cock-ups against Croatia in November 2007 which ended Steve McClaren's England reign at Wembley.

And last night across London at Craven Cottage, the Baggies No 1 let in another speculative long-range effort to hand Fulham the crucial opening goal. This time Simon Davies beat Carson from 25 yards in first-half injury time - and the Wales winger then provided the two second-half corners for goals to seal the win. Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland were the scorers to ensure Fulham clambered over West Brom on goal difference in the relegation logjam.

Hughes had been ordered to return quickly to winning ways after their Boxing Day defeat at home on Boxing Day - their fifth game at home without a win. But last night, after a torrid opening 45 minutes, last season's Europa League finalists finally began to refind their old form.

But West Brom are losing their touch at the wrong time of the season. When Roberto Di Matteo's side beat Fulham at the Hawthorns back in November, they climbed into the top four. But the Baggies have now lost nine out of 12 matches since as they have buckled under an injury crisis.

Di Matteo found no favours from his former Chelsea room-mate last night.

The sight of former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton in the Craven Cottage crowd will have reminded both managers of the precarious life of a Premier League gaffer.

Di Matteo was forced to make three changes to a defence ravaged by injuries.

With Pablo Ibanez, Paul Scharner and Steven Reid all out, Gonzalo Jara, James Hurst and Gianni ­Zuiverloon were drafted into a makeshift rearguard.

It was a Premier League debut for 18-year-old England youth ­international Hurst, who started his first match at Ipswich last month.

By contrast, Fulham's attack had a makeshift look with Andy Johnson not risked after suffering a tight hamstring and Moussa Dembele still hampered by an ankle injury.

Diomansy Kamara started against one of his former clubs and forced Carson into low save after only five minutes.

Fulham keeper David Stockdale, deputising for Asia Cup-bound Mark Schwarzer, was soon called into action to parry a Peter Odemwingie cross, and he then grabbed a shot from the Nigerian.

Stockdale made an even better stop from the clearest chance of the first half after 18 minutes.

Chris Brunt released Jerome Thomas down the middle only for Stockdale, who was not on the losing side in his four starts for Fulham in August, to deny him in their one-on-one duel.

West Brom's defence was further depleted after half an hour when Marek Cech was injured after a challenge by John Pantsil.

Nicky Shorey came on as the Slovak became the sixth Baggies defender to be ruled out for Di Matteo.

Brede Hangeland then needed treatment after 41 minutes when he beat Carson to a Simon Davies corner only to head wide – and receive a punch in the head from the former England keeper for his trouble.

But worse was soon to follow for the 25-year-old Carson in stoppage time just before the interval.

Dickson Etuhu dispossessed ­Youssouf Mulumbu with a hefty shoulder charge and fed Davies.

The Wales international took a touch and unleashed a right-foot shot from 25 yards.

And although Carson got two hands to the shot above his head, the former Liverpool keeper could only divert the swerving ball into the top corner.

It was a shot he should have certainly have saved.

Fulham, who had been booed off after their last home game on Boxing Day when they lost to West Ham, came out after the break full of confidence

Damien Duff sent a low shot just wide before the Cottagers closed out the game with two similar goals from Davies corners.

After 56 minutes, his dead-ball delivery was powered home by Clint Dempsey for his seventh goal of the season. And nine minutes later, this time the bedraggled Baggies rearguard allowed Brede Hangeland a free header from a corner six yards out to seal only their second win in 11 matches.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Fulham-3-0-West-Brom-Scott-Carson-clanger-sets-Cottagers-on-way-to-vital-win-The-Daily-Mirror-match-report-by-Neil-McLeman-article664273.html#ixzz1A6qJSLxB

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http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/fulham-3-0-west-brom/

Fulham 3-0 West Brom


Filed under: Match reports — rich @ 10:32 pm

Let's not get too excited -  West Brom are a bad team in worse form – but you can't beat a good 3-0 home win to boost morale, can you?

A strange game in the end.   Fulham bossed the first 20 minutes without looking threatening, and when West Brom grew into the game it felt like West Ham all over again.    David Stockdale, covering for the far away Mark Schwarzer, was perhaps the busier of the two keepers, and had to make a couple of smart saves to keep us level.    As with so many of these games, it all came down to a moment, and this time the big moment was ours.

Dickson Etuhu – whose resurgence continued tonight in a hungry, bullying performance – knocked his man off the ball with a judo trip and Simon Davies arrived to crack a swerving drive at but through Scott Carson.  The ball came fast at the keeper and certainly moved a great deal in the air, but you have to save those.   A somewhat fortunate lead then, but fortune usually favours the better team and the goal was more or less deserved.

Fulham proved this to be the case with a strutting second half, Clint Dempsey rising high in trademark fashion to head home a second from a corner, Brede Hangeland doing the same later on to add a third.    (For the latter goal our determined centre-back brought to mind the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man stomping around New York in Ghostbusters, so large and dominant was he amid West Brom's small and timid defence.)

Ultimately this (like many games) proves nothing, but we've messed up a number of games like this under Hughes so everyone concerned will have been grateful for the win, and the surge up the table the associated points bring.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-brush-aside-struggling-baggies-2176144.html


Fulham brush aside struggling Baggies


Fulham 3 West Bromwich Albion 0

By Alex Lowe, PA Sport


Tuesday, 4 January 2011


Scott Carson made another high-profile mistake to set Fulham on course for a victory that lifted them out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Carson, whose blunder against Croatia contributed to England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, got both hands to Simon Davies' 30-yard drive on the brink of half-time but could only deflect the ball into his own net.

West Brom's new-look defence was then exposed after the break as Fulham cruised to a first home win in six attempts with headed goals from Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland.

While Fulham climbed above West Brom into 13th place to relieve some of the pressure on manager Mark Hughes, the Baggies' slump continued.

A fifth consecutive defeat represented their worst run in six years and having been eighth before Christmas they now hover just two points above the relegation zone.

Manager Roberto Di Matteo welcomed Gonzalo Jara back from suspension while James Hurst and Gianni Zuiverloon also came into the back four.

Fulham were without goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who was away on international duty, and injured striker Andrew Johnson but that gave Diomansy Kamara a chance against his old club.

The Senegal striker almost blasted Fulham ahead in the opening minutes after a brilliant piece of control in the box.

Kamara pulled Chris Baird's long ball out of the air with a deft touch and turned to fire a low shot, which Carson did well to block.

West Brom had their moments in the first half and striker Peter Odemwingie forced Fulham keeper David Stockdale into action with a low deflected shot from the edge of the box.

But Fulham were on top of a lively encounter and the visitors' defence was struggling to contain Kamara, who cut inside Zuiverloon and laid the ball off for Dempsey.

The American went to ground in the box under a challenge from Youssuf Mulumbu but referee Martin Atkinson waved away Fulham's penalty appeals.

At the other end, Cameron Jerome escaped the Fulham defence with an angled run but his shot went straight at Stockdale and John Pantsil, whose mistake had led to the chance, cleared with an overhead kick.

Marek Cech went down injured after a challenge from Pantsil and had to be replaced by Nicky Shorey after half an hour.

While the Slovakian was off receiving treatment, Dempsey did well to ride two challenges and bring the ball down in the box but his shot was blocked.

West Brom's nervous defensive display continued. Hurst failed to deal with Pantsil's long cross, allowing the ball to fall into Davies' path but the Welsh midfielder's volley fizzed across goal and wide.

Damien Duff's deflected shot forced Carson to scramble after another poor West Brom clearance and from the subsequent corner Fulham should have taken the lead.

Hangeland climbed above Carson and the West Brom defence to meet Davies' corner but he planted his powerful head just wide - moments before taking the goalkeeper's attempted punch full in the face.

However, Davies' swerving shot put Fulham ahead in first-half stoppage time.

Mulumbu was controversially robbed of possession by Dickson Etuhu, who teed up Davies for a 30-yard drive which Carson deflected into his own net.

Davies' strike gave Fulham a real impetus and Duff came within inches of doubling their lead seven minutes into the second half when he was allowed to turn on the edge of the West Brom box.

Carson was relieved to see his low shot across goal skid just wide - but the feeling was only temporary.

Davies won Fulham a corner with a determined run down the left and then delivered the cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Dempsey planted his header past Carson.

Dempsey did well to keep his eye on the ball as it flashed past Hangeland's towering leap. A second warning about the Norwegian's aerial prowess that went unheeded.

And the next time Hangeland launched himself at a Davies corner, just nine minutes later, his timing and his aim were perfect.

No-one picked up Hangeland's late run and, at the third time of asking, he sailed through the air to meet Davies' corner to beat Carson with a powerful header from six yards.

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Fulham boss salutes David Stockdale after West Brom win

Jan 4 2011



By Jacob Murtagh

 
David Stockdale


MARK Hughes hailed keeper David Stockdale after he kept a clean sheet in Fulham's win against West Brom.

With Mark Schwarzer away on international duty, the youngster put in an assured display in the Whites goal as Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland wrapped up the points at Craven Cottage.

"He did really well," said Hughes afterwards. "He made a couple of early saves which settled him down.

"He looked very assured. I said before the game I had no problem putting him in the side.

"He showed he has the capacity to be the number one keeper."



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/01/04/fulham-boss-salutes-david-stockdale-after-west-brom-win-64767-27934400/#ixzz1A9020P2W

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West Brom Photo Special


Tuesday 4th January 2011


http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/WestBromPhotoSpecial.aspx

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Winning Ways

Tuesday 4th January 2011



Speaking after Tuesday evening's three-nil victory over West Brom at Craven Cottage, Fulham Manager Mark Hughes gave his post-match reaction.

"I am pleased. That's two wins in three games," said Hughes.

"Goals change games and we have struggled in that respect but we got a good goal before half-time which settled us and we went away from them in the end.

"Draws will give you some comforts in terms of how you perform but that doesn't move you up the league - three points and wins do.

"They have unfortunately been lacking in recent weeks. We have addressed that somewhat.

"You wake up and look at the table and to be 13th makes for better reading. We are with a group of teams at the wrong end and we feel we can do even better than we have in recent weeks.

"We've been disappointed as we feel performances have merited more points," Hughes added.

"But we've started climbing up the table, we've got three points, a clean sheet and a lot of positives so we are delighted. We knew if we got set plays and corners and put it in the right areas that Brede Hangeland was a good weapon for us. He probably feels he could have had a hat-trick,"
.

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/HughesWestBromReaction.aspx#ixzz1A91OVluU

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6635409,00.html


Di Matteo dejected after defeat

Baggies struggled to cope with aerial threat


By Ben Collins   


Last updated: 4th January 2011   

Roberto Di Matteo admitted his disappointment as West Brom slumped to a fifth straight defeat at Fulham.

The injury-hit Baggies were firmly in the game in the first half, with Jerome Thomas missing a great chance, but they ultimately went down to a 3-0 defeat on Tuesday night.

Fulham opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time as Simon Davies' 25-yard strike deceived goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Then both Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland headed home from Davies corners to seal victory and climb to 13th, above the Baggies on goal difference.

"We're obviously disappointed," Di Matteo told Sky Sports. "It was a difficult game for us.

"They had some aerial threat and superiority and we gave away the first goal, which was a killer. Just before half-time is a bad time to give a goal away."

Makeshift defence
The Baggies boss had to field a makeshift defence with 18-year-old James Hurst making a positive league debut at right-back while Dutch centre-back Gianni Zuiverloon made his first Premier League start of the season.

With Birmingham also winning on Tuesday night, West Brom are now just two points and two places above the drop zone after a miserable festive programme.

But Di Matteo assured fans that his players are determined to maintain their top-flight status following promotion last year.

"The club is trying very hard to stay in the Premier League and it's tough, not just for us because there's a lot of teams fighting for their lives," he added.

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6635402,00.html


Hughes relieved with Fulham win

Cottagers boss delighted to climb out of bottom three


By Ben Collins   

Last updated: 4th January 2011

   
Fulham boss Mark Hughes believes his side's 3-0 win over West Brom will calm nerves around Craven Cottage.

Some Fulham fans called for Hughes' head after their 3-1 home defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day and despite winning at Stoke, they slipped back into the relegation zone following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.

But Simon Davies opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time against West Brom on Tuesday night before delivering corners for Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland to seal Fulham's first win in six games at Craven Cottage.

It was only the third home victory of the season for Hughes' men and took them out of the bottom three.

"I think it settles everybody down," Hughes told Sky Sports. "And we were good value for it tonight.

"They were great goals, each and every one of them, and I thought we played well.

End product
"I thought we stuck to our principles. We like to get the ball down, pass it and move, and today we had the end product, which hasn't always been the case, so we're delighted."

Fulham have responded well to that Boxing Day defeat by fellow strugglers West Ham as they also performed well against Spurs, despite losing at White Hart Lane.

The Cottagers are now above West Brom on goal difference and sitting in 13th place after the festive programme.

"We've had a decent few games," Hughes added. "Obviously it was a great win at Stoke, a good performance against Spurs last time out and we won today so it's been a decent Christmas."

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/01/04/2290260/fulham-defender-brede-hangeland-glad-to-escape-drop-zone

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland glad to escape drop zone

Defender happy to pick up three points...


By Matthew Harold


4 Jan 2011 23:18:00

Brede Hangeland was delighted with his side's performance after they recorded a three-goal victory against fellow relgation strugglers West Brom, which saw Fulham jump to 13th place in the Premier League.

Mark Hughes's side comfortably saw off the visitors with goals from Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey and Hangeland. After the victory, the defender highlighted the importance of the three points and feels this could be the turnaround in their season.

"It's a massive win for us, I think that something turned for us against Stoke last week and we played well at Tottenham and didn't get anything, but today was a good win and hopefully it's the start of something," Hangeland told Sky Sports.

"I'm not too worried about West Brom, but we hoped to get out of the relegation zone as soon as possible.

"So the more teams that are behind us then the better for us. It looks like a really tight league this year and there could be about ten teams trying to avoid relegation in a few months."

The central defender was then asked about the fact that most of Fulham's goals recently have come from defensive players, to which Hangeland responded: "Yes, we're missing Bobby Zamora up front, so we're not getting the amount of goals that we did last season, but the strikers are trying to work hard, so if we can help them out, then that's great."

The final two goals for the home side came as result of corner kicks, with Fulham having a significant height advantage, with Hangeland saying: "To be fair, I saw that when we came out and with their keeper coming out for every cross, so I knew that we would have an advantage from any high balls in the box."

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http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/01/04/fulham-striker-andy-johnson-hit-by-injury-setback-82029-27934406/

Fulham striker Andy Johnson hit by injury setback

Jan 4 2011


By Jacob Murtagh


Andy Johnson

ANDY Johnson will miss Saturday's FA Cup clash with Peterborough after picking up a hamstring injury.

Scans revealed the former England international has suffered a grade one tear, which kept him out of the victory against West Brom.

And Fulham boss Mark Hughes expects to be without him for another week.

He said: "AJ's had a couple of games in close succession and felt some tightness in his hamstring.

"He could've played [against West Brom] but it was too risky. If he tears it worse he could be out for five or six weeks.

"But with a grade one tear you're looking at between eight and 10 days."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9338621.stm


West Brom win will settle down Fulham - Mark Hughes 


Hughes open to new signings

Mark Hughes is hopeful Fulham's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion will "settle everybody down" at the club.

The Fulham manager has been under increased pressure since the Cottagers dropped into the relegation zone after defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day.

But six points in their last three games have moved them out of the bottom three and transformed the modd.

Hughes said: "The win settles everybody down. Things haven't run for us... but hopefully things are changing."

Victory over West Brom moved Fulham onto the same points as the Baggies and into 13th place in the Premier League - emphasising the tight nature of the table this year, where the bottom eight sides are separated by just four points.

And Hughes insisted his side could well have been much higher up the league.

606: DEBATE
Great win for the team, really solid performance, albeit against a below par West Brom.

frogman27
"We've been disappointed as we feel performances have merited more points," Hughes explained.

"Draws will give you some comfort in terms of how you perform but that doesn't move you up the league - three points and wins do.

"They have unfortunately been lacking in recent weeks. We have addressed that somewhat.

"But we've started climbing up the table, we've got three points, a clean sheet and a lot of positives so we are delighted."

Scott Carson failed to deal with Simon Davies' 30-yard strike just before the interval before Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland both scored with headers as Fulham took advantage of an injury-depleted Baggies' defence.


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Di Matteo ready for relegation scrap
"We knew if we got set plays and corners and put it in the right areas that Brede Hangeland was a good weapon for us. He probably feels he could have had a hat-trick," said Hughes.

And West Brom boss Roberto di Matteo conceded that lack of defensive cover provided costly.

"We knew we were up against a big side and we are missing five centre-halves and we don't quite have the resources to put an 11 out that could handle Fulham tonight," said Di Matteo.

"They were bigger than us and they took advantage of it.

"We have been OK on corners and set-pieces but in the last three games we have conceded and that is creeping in a bit."

Carson's mistake set Fulham on the road to victory after the England goalkeeper got both hands to Davies' strike but could only deflect it into his own net.

"Scott is disappointed. He probably could have done better. He knows that. He is big enough to know that," said Di Matteo.

"Everybody's mood is a little bit down at the moment. We have had a bad run. We are a little bit down but we have to keep going, we have to pick ourselves up.

"There are a lot of clubs fighting relegation. As a newly promoted club we knew we'd be in for a tough season. We are trying to give ourselves the best chance."

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Roberto Di Matteo ready for West Brom relegation scrap


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/9338622.stm

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Mark Hughes open to new signings at Fulham


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9338616.stm

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/carson-clanger-helps-fulham-give-hughes-breathing-room-2176155.html


Carson clanger helps Fulham give Hughes breathing room


Fulham 3 West Bromwich Albion 0

By Glenn Moore at Craven Cottage


Wednesday, 5 January 2011


It was just like the old days here last night, when the manager was that fellow who is now unwanted at Anfield, and appears to have been airbrushed out of Fulham's history.

Roy Hodgson's absence from the club programme's 31-photograph review of 2010 can probably be ascribed to the chairman's pique, but his presence was very much in evidence on the pitch. Mark Hughes inherited all 11 starters and once Fulham took the lead the performance, and atmosphere, were very reminiscent of last season.

It was not, however, until another of Scott Carson's howlers gifted Simon Davies a goal in first-half injury-time that Fulham were able to dominate a West Bromwich Albion side who have now lost five on the trot and badly need a result. They also need their luck to change. After Gary Neville's escape on Saturday, they were again unfortunate with a refereeing decision for Youssuf Mulumbu was fouled in the build-up to Davies' shot.

"He pushed Youssuf down," said Roberto Di Matteo. "Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't, but we have a lot of decisions going against us at the moment." The Albion manager added: "The timing of the first goal was bad for us. I think Scott is disappointed, he could have done better. He's a bit down, everybody is. We are on a bad run but we have to pick ourselves up and keep going."

Fulham's other goals came from corners, converted by Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland within 20 minutes of the break, and Di Matteo said: "We are missing five centre-halves and we do not have the resources to handle a big side like Fulham."

Victory catapulted Fulham above Albion and out of the relegation zone to the heady heights of 13th, easing the pressure on Hughes. Given their debt burden, Fulham need to be in the top flight, and chairman-owner Mohamed al-Fayed is not known for his patience.

"I'm pleased," said Hughes. "That's two wins in three games, with three good performances. Thirteenth makes for better reading, but I feel we can be better than 13th."

In Hughes' defence it is mainly injuries, especially to the forwards, which have rendered his squad impotent. Last night he had hoped to recall Moussa Dembélé but the Belgian remained absent, along with Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson. This excuse had limited validity on this occasion as Albion had such problems in defence that Di Matteo had to make three changes to the back four which faced Manchester United on New Year's Day. He was very unhappy to then lose the only survivor, Marek Cech, to injury and accused John Pantsil of "leaving his foot in".

Among those drafted in was 18-year-old James Hurst for his league debut. It was, though, the more experienced Gonzalo Jara who was turned too easily by Diomansy Kamara and grateful to see Carson make the game's first save.

As half-time approached, Dickson Etuhu barged Mulumbu off the ball as Albion tried to play out of defence. Etuhu passed to Davies whose 28-yard shot whistled through Carson's raised hands.

The goal injected Fulham with confidence, and dissipated what was left of Albion's. Home pressure earned corners which Albion could not defend, Dempsey, heading in unchallenged from a standing jump, then Hangeland nodding in another Davies delivery.

Fulham played out the closing stages with ease but the embraces shared with Hughes at the end, and the euphoric response of the home support, betrayed the tension that has built up around the club in recent weeks.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Stockdale; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Davies (Riise, 82); Dempsey (E Johnson, 86); Kamara (Gera, 63). Substitutes not used Etheridge (gk), Salcido, Greening, Halliche.

West Bromwich (4-2-3-1): Carson; Hurst, Zuiverloon, Jara, Cech (Shorey, 34 ); Mulumbu (Fortuné, 62), Dorrans; Morrison (Cox, 69), Brunt, Thomas; Odemwingie. Substitutes not used Myhill (gk), Tchoyi, Miller, Meite.

Referee M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Attendance 23,654.