Sunday Fulham Stuff - 04/09/22...

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Results

Saturday
Everton	0-0	Liverpool
Brentford	5-2	Leeds
Chelsea	2-1	West Ham
Newcastle	0-0	Palace
Forest	2-3	Bournemouth
Spurs	2-1	Fulham
Wolves	1-0	Southampton
Villa	1-1	Man City

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Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Fulham

Tottenham have lost only once in their last 16 Premier League games

Tottenham maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they beat Fulham with goals from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane.

A late strike from Fulham's star man Alexander Mitrovic made for a nervy final 10 minutes as Marco Silva's side suffered a second loss of the season.

Spurs threatened to score virtually every time they came forward and had ample opportunity to extend their lead further, firing off 23 shots, 10 of which were on target.

However, it was thanks to former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno and a resolute Fulham defence that they were held to just two goals.

Hojbjerg's slotted finish into the bottom corner after some nifty passing in Fulham's box opened the scoring, before Kane headed home to double their lead after 75 minutes.

Fulham had been completely unable to get in the game for the majority of the 90 minutes with Mitrovic's threat nullified until his 83rd minute goal - his sixth of the season.

Richarlison, making his first start for Spurs since joining from Everton in the summer, looked lively and had a goal chalked off for offside in the final minutes of the match.

Deadline-day signings Willian and Dan James made their debuts for the Cottagers but struggled to impact the game.

Spurs in control but still no joy for Son
Tottenham lacked cutting edge in their 1-1 draw against West Ham on Wednesday and, with so many chances missed against Fulham, it was feasible that the same scenario could play out again.

They piled on the pressure in the first half with shots coming from all over the park, Son Heung-min smacked a shot off the bar, Richarlison had multiple chances to score his first Spurs goal.

Son saw an early goal chalked off when Kane was deemed to be interfering with play after going for a header from an offside position, despite the South Korea international's looped cross finding the back of the net without his team-mate's efforts.

But the form of last season's joint-Golden Boot winner Son will undoubtedly be becoming a concern for manager Antonio Conte - he has not scored with any of his 17 shots this season, four of which came against Fulham.

He and Kane have linked up 41 times during their time at Spurs but the addition of Richarlison gives Conte another attacking option and allows him to be less reliant on that prolific partnership.

That said, Spurs' defence were not really threatened until Mitrovic's late goal and Leno was called into action eight times, the most saves he has made in a Premier League game.

Tottenham are undefeated in their last 12 Premier League games and have a 100% home record this season.

Fulham, meanwhile, will see this as a small setback in a solid start to their return to the Premier League, but they will face a tricky task against more London opposition when they host Chelsea on Saturday, 10 September.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62697704

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Pre-Spurs Press Conference

Marco Silva is ready for the next challenge as we head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Spurs sit just three points ahead of Fulham in the Premier League standings, but Silva knows it will be a big fight to move level with our hosts come 5pm.

"It's a different game, as always, each game has its own story," he said. "We have already, and we still have some more hours, to keep preparing the players for what will be ahead of us.

"We know they are a really strong side, a lot of individual quality but really solid as a team.

"They're quality, but physical as well. They are a really physical team, in all the challenges they are aggressive, in the right way, off and on the ball.

"And they have some individual players who can decide things in one moment.

"We know that they always try to be solid, for them it doesn't matter if they play at home or away, they always try to play in the same way.

"Of course it's a difficult challenge for us, a really good opponent, but we like these types of games. We embrace the challenge."

The London derby will reunite Silva with Richarlison, who joined Spurs in the summer, having previously been signed twice by our Head Coach.

"I took him to Watford and I took him to Everton as well," he explained. "He's a very good professional, a great talent.

"He's a player who has the ability to score goals, even coming from the wide areas he has the capacity to score.

"It will be good to see him again. Of course I hope that he doesn't have a good game, I hope it will be a happier day for us than for them and for him.

"I hope all the best for him when he plays against all the teams, but the exception is when he's against us."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/september/02/pre-spurs-press-conference/

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Mitrovic scores again but Fulham lose to Spurs

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his sixth goal of the season but Fulham's late fightback was not enough.

Goals from Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg put Tottenham in control before Mitrovic pulled one back late on.

Højbjerg scored four minutes before half-time, exchanging passes with Richarlison and slotting past keeper Bernd Leno.

Spurs had been well on top – Son Heung-min's early cross sailed into the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside against Kane, who was later denied by Tosin Adarabioyo's last-ditch challenge after the striker had rounded Leno.

There was another temporary reprieve for Fulham when Son's shot struck the underside of the bar.

Once ahead, Spurs looked comfortable and the visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances.

New signings Willian and Dan James were brought on as second-half substitutes for their Whites debuts as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

Their hopes of a comeback were crushed when Kane netted with 15 minutes remaining after being set up by former Fulham man Ryan Sessegnon.

But Fulham battled on and reduced the deficit when their star striker cut inside Cristian Romero and sent a superb strike beyond keeper Hugo Lloris.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson (Mbabu 29), Palhinha (Cairney 60), Reed, Pereira, De Cordova-Reid (James 60), Kebano (Willian 60), Mitrovic.
Subs not used: Rodak, Duffy, Chalobah, Vinicius, Diop.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/spurs-v-fulham-report-030922

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Dominant Spurs see off Fulham despite late scare

Tottenham Hotspur 2
Fulham 1

After the disappointment of Wednesday's draw at West Ham, Tottenham bounced back by winning another London derby, beating Fulham 2-1 at home.

Antonio Conte's side were dominant, registering 23 shots with 10 on target, and it took heroics from visiting goalkeeper Bernd Leno to keep the Cottagers in the game.

Goals from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane in the 40th and 75th minutes put the Lilywhites in a deservedly commanding position. 

But Aleksandar Mitrovic's sixth goal of the season set up a tense finish, and it took a flying save from Hugo Lloris to deny Fulham's talisman a late equaliser.

Spurs started strongly, with Kane forcing a low save from Leno after just seven minutes. 

Three minutes later, Heung-Min Son had the ball in the net as his inswinging cross evaded everyone - but Kane's attempt to get his head on the ball from an offside position, just in front of the goalkeeper, meant the goal was rightly chalked off.

The misfortune continued for Son as last season's Golden Boot-winner sought his first strike of the 2022/23 campaign. 

When the lively Richarlison beat Tosin Adarabioyo and pulled the ball back, Son's goalbound shot was brilliantly deflected over the bar by Tim Ream.

And when the South Korean made a well-timed run in behind Fulham's defence to reach Kane's clever chipped pass, he struck the underside of the crossbar.

Instead, the opener came from a less-likely Spurs player - Hojbjerg.

When Spurs won the ball high up in the 40th minute, the Danish midfielder fed the ball through to Richarlison and then made his way into the box to gather a return pass and finish into the bottom left corner.

There was no let-up from the hosts after the break. Richarlison nearly earned another assist in the 50th minute as he won the ball outside Fulham's box and delivered a low cross to Eric Dier, who shot over first-time 10 yards out.

Spurs suddenly got a scare as Mitrovic finally got a shot off, hitting Clement Lenglet and watching as his effort looped over Lloris towards the top corner - but Spurs' captain managed to react and pull off a stunning fingertip save.

It sparked a 'Save of the Match' competition over the following 10 minutes, with Leno quickly adding two entries. 

The German tipped Ryan Sessegnon's low strike round the far post - denying the full-back a goal against his former club - and then stuck up a hand to stop Son's deflected effort from beating him.

However, Leno's resistance was finally broken in the 75th minute. Sessegnon's low cross was blocked by Ream but fell to Son, whose shot struck Adarabioyo - and Sessegnon's subsequent strike hit Leno and fell to Kane, who finished at close range.

It seemed to be all over and Conte immediately withdrew Kane, with a view to Wednesday's Champions League home match against Marseille.

But in the 83rd minute, Mitrovic brought down Kenny Tete's crossfield pass on the left side of Spurs' box, cut inside and whipped a sublime finish into the top right corner.

Against all the odds, the Cottagers were now pushing for an equaliser - and they very nearly got it. 

For the second time in the match, a deflected shot from Mitrovic looped towards the top corner - and for the second time Lloris showed his athleticism to claw the ball away.

There was more late drama as Sessegnon squared for Richarlison, who finished at point-blank range, but the Brazilian was denied his first Spurs goal after a VAR check showed Sessegnon was offside.

Tottenham continued to sweat, but the final whistle left them with three wins from their last four Premier League matches.

Tottenham: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Royal, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Richarlison, Kane, Son

Fulham: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Kebano; Mitrovic



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/dominant-spurs-see-off-fulham-despite-late-scare

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Exeter 1-0 MK Dons: Jay Stansfield makes emotional debut in Grecians victory

Jay Stansfield made an emotional debut for Exeter as former academy graduate teammate Cheick Diabate grabbed the winner in a 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

Fans were on their feet in the 79th minute after Stansfield, who came through the youth ranks at St James Park before signing for Fulham in 2019, came off the bench following his deadline-day loan switch.

Stansfield, 19, played in the number nine jersey worn by his late dad, Adam, who died of cancer at the age of 31 in 2010 while playing for the Devon club.

And the striker's hero's welcome capped a perfect day for the Grecians, who picked up all three points thanks to Diabate's 66th-minute header.

The central defender ghosted to the far post to latch onto Jevani Brown's header and planted a powerful header past Jamie Cumming.

Cumming had been the star of the show up until the deadlock being broken after tipping Tim Dieng's header on to the post before scrambling Pierce Sweeney's follow-up header off the line.

Cumming once again excelled after the break, pulling off a smart save to deny Jack Sparkes who let fly with a piledriver.

Exeter's pressure paid off midway through the second half when Diabate struck to send the home fans into raptures, but Stansfield's homecoming stole the show as Exeter climbed to seventh.



https://www.skysports.com/football/exeter-city-vs-milton-keynes-dons/report/469006

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Marco Silva critical of Fulham standards after Tottenham loss


Marco Silva was critical of his Fulham side after they lost to Tottenham on Saturday / Getty Images

Marco Silva conceded Tottenham "deserved the points" and lamented the first-half performance after watching his Fulham side beaten 2-1 on Saturday.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opened the scoring for the home side before Harry Kane equalled Thierry Henry's record of 43 goals in Premier League London derbies.

The in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic, however, did score his sixth goal in as many games to set-up somewhat of grandstand finish at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fulham sit tenth in the Premier League after a strong start to the season despite a difficult summer and are gearing up for a west London derby with Chelsea at Craven Cottage next week.

Silva, however, was from pleased about some aspects of his team's performance.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, the Portuguese said: "Tottenham deserved three points, our first half was not good enough, we didn't get to our standards. On the ball we were not at our level, even without high pressure from Tottenham we took many wrong decisions on the ball first half.

"We gave the ball away easy many times and for me that was the main thing of the first half because doing better on the ball we would control the game better and take more decisions and put them under pressure as well and we didn't do that.

"After the injury of Robinson that created a different scenario for us and we had to adapt. We had much more courage in the second half and tried to match them, we had some problems in our pressure definitely but we were more aggressive.

"Not just because we lost the ball in an important decision it was our reaction after. The way we like to play is to take risks but our reaction has to be different.


In-form: Mitrovic has scored six goals in six games for Fulham this season / Getty Images

"We missed Robinson on and off the ball. The way they scored the second goal they created problems for us.

"I wanted a reaction, I expected to see that after half-time. I didn't see that after 10-15 minutes in the second half so I decided to change something.

"We didn't get our standards, we have to improve on the ball, there is a lot of room for us to improve. We will do it, we need more time to work with the players. It wasn't our best afternoon, but we tried to get the equaliser until the last minute."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-fulham-tottenham-premier-league-2022-b1022947.html

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Silva praises Leno and Mitrovic in Fulham's 2-1 defeat at Spurs

Fulham boss Marco Silva admitted Tottenham deserved the three points but singled out two of his players at either end of the pitch for particular praise.

Aleksander Mitrovic scored his sixth goal of the campaign and that, coupled with a string of world-class saved from former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, meant Fulham were still in with a chance of snatching a point until the very last here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Silva admitted after his side's 2-1 defeat: "It wasn't our best performance. We didn't get our standards. Our first half was not good enough.

"Most of the times on the ball we gave it away. We took so many wrong decisions and were not dynamic enough.

"The goals we conceded were too sloppy. In the second half I saw much more courage, even after the second goal at lest we tried until the end.

"We had a very good chance for Tom Cairney to equalise but I have to be honest Tottenham deserve the three points."

Spurs appeared to be cruising to victory – 2-0 up with just minutes remaining, boss Antonio Conte was even afforded the luxury of taking off one of his goalscorers – Harry Kane – with the midweek Champions League game against Marseilles in mind.

But a number of acrobatic saves from Leno, and Mitrovic's superb curling effort in the dying minutes, kept alive the hopes of the travelling whites fans until the final blast of referee Stuart Attwell's whistle.

Silva said: "(Mitrovic) can score at any moment. We fought until the end even though we were not playing at the best level we matched them until the last minute of the game.

"Mitrovic is in a very good moment, his confidence you can see every time when he has the chance he takes it. He has the ability to do it.

"Leno is a top, top, top goalkeeper. I will probably repeat this every week the same. He kept us in the game and when he needs to make a statement in the game he is always there.

"Each week he will be more important. He is a top goalkeeper.

"We know his quality – he just needs to keep working and playing at his best level and we will see how good he is."



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/silva-praises-leno-and-mitrovic-in-fulham-s-2-1-defeat-at-spurs

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Outstanding Exeter City ensure Jay Stansfield homecoming marked with a win

The headlines seemed perfect to be written about Jay Stansfield's return, but it was Cheick Diabate who grabbed the winner for City over MK Dons at St James Park.

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor hailed the outstanding performance of his Grecians side who comfortably beat MK Dons on an emotional day at St James Park. On a day that seemed scripted to be about one Exeter City academy product, it was another who scored the winner to give the Grecians a first win in five.

The headlines seemed perfect to be written about Jay Stansfield's return, but it was Cheick Diabate who grabbed the winner for City over MK Dons at St James Park. The centre back rose highest to head home a Jevani Brown corner midway through the second half to make it 1-0.

City in truth had enough chances to win by more than the scoreline they did. The script would have been perfect had the Fulham loanee, wearing the number nine shirt previously worn by his father Adam who tragically died in 2010 aged 31, added a late second, but it mattered little as City are now up to seventh. Liam Manning's Dons had reached the play-offs last season, but offered little on their trip to Devon. The loss dropped them down to 19th in the table.

"We were outstanding," Taylor said. "I thought the first half was the best game of football I have witnessed this season at this level and both goalkeepers made excellent saves.

"But the second half was one way traffic and we sustained the attacks, we had numerous box entries. I wanted more in terms of quality, but the set piece was quality with Jevani putting the ball in and Cheick's header putting it exactly where we needed to. The intent and the will was outstanding and we outhustled a team who like to use the ball and we did it with the will and intent to get to the ball."

Taylor made just the one change to the side who drew 0-0 at Accrington Stanley last Saturday, and it was an enforced one. Sam Stubbs wasn't fit enough to be involved, so was replaced by Jonathan Grounds, for his first league start of the season, who joined Pierce Sweeney and Diabate in the back three, with the manager praising the unit who kept the clean sheet, saying that to keep the clean sheet in the context they did was impressive.

MK Dons carved out only one real chance all when Darragh Burns was brilliantly denied by Jamal Blackman when one-on-one, before Jamie Cumming in their goal made three impressive stops in quick succession, the last of them clawing a Sweeney header away when the captain seemed certain to score.

Jack Sparkes and Brown missed good chances after the break. But Diabate, just after the hour, rose highest from a corner to power a header home to make it 1-0 and break the resistance. Stansfield, who came on in the 79 th minute, could have capped the emotional return, but dragged wide late on, but the 19-year-old showed why in his cameo Grecian fans are so excited by him.


Jay Stansfield of Exeter City is congratulated by family after making his debut during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and MK Dons at St James Park, Exeter on 3 September 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

"It is a footballing move, but it is not just a footballing move," Taylor said. "It is on the back of the tragic story and one we were part of, but not as much a part as Jay and his family. I hope it doesn't bring back too many memories and emotions locked away.

"His family will support him and they came to watch and a huge moment for the family, and on the pitch, he will be himself and harrying defenders, and now we have a real front line to be excited about.

"He seemed to cope with the emotion and he impacted the game, and he kept on going, and to bring an asset on like Jay, we were a constant threat. I would have liked the keeper to make more saves, but that is nit-picking as it was an excellent performance. He will add the quality we need, will be a willing runner and affect games, and the feeling and the buzz, and rightly so, it was emotional when he came on and lifted us."

Exeter City, after four midweek games in a row, now have a seven day break. The Grecians are next in action when they travel to Charlton Athletic.



https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/outstanding-exeter-city-ensure-jay-7544015

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Jay Stansfield's story is the best you'll see this season
Jay Stansfield has joined Exeter City on loan from Fulham, following in his late father Adam's footsteps

Jay Stansfield has joined Exeter City on loan from Fulham.

The 19-year-old has actually played in the Premier League this season, promising to be yet another exciting young talent coming through the Whites' academy, following in the footsteps of Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Sessegnon – but first, he's going on loan to the Football League.

But the switch in question is a highly emotional one – and Exeter City have a big place in Stansfield family history.

Jay Stansfield's father Adam played for Exeter City

Adam Stansfield is an Exeter legend (Image credit: Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Adam Stansfield joined Exeter in 2006. The striker was a fan favourite, playing a vital role in two successive promotions for the Grecians – but in 2010, he suffered with a lot of abdominal pain. In April of that year, he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of colorectal cancer.

Stansfield actually joined pre-season training in July 2010, despite undergoing chemotherapy but his condition rapidly deteriorated. He died in August 2010.

Exeter retired their No.9 shirt. In 2017, he was inducted into the Exeter City Hall of Fame and a year later, the club named a stand of St. James' Park after the forward who had scored an equaliser in a vital play-off semi-final and whose goals had helped them up again the following season. 12 years on, Stansfield is still well-loved with Exeter fans and considered a cult hero.

Adam Stansfield's son is now going to play for Exeter, too
Jay Stansfield was just seven years old when he lost his father. Now, he's 19 years old and on the books of a Premier League club.

But his loan spell to Exeter gives him the opportunity to write his name into Grecian history, too. He is set to wear his dad's shirt number for the club – the No.9 – and play at the stadium that has a stand named after him.

It's a beautiful story – and it's going to be an emotional moment when Jay Stansfield takes to the field in the shadow of the Adam Stansfield Stand.



https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/jay-stansfield-fulham-exeter-city-story-is-the-best-in-football-that-youll-have-seen-this-season

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US defender Robinson limps off injured in Fulham loss

LONDON (AP) — United States international Antonee Robinson limped off with an apparent ankle injury during Fulham's 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the English Premier League on Saturday.

His manager Marco Silva was hopeful of a quick recovery.

Robinson came off in the 29th minute after seeming to get his right foot stuck in the turf when trying to deliver a cross from the left flank.

"Let's hope he can recover quickly and be ready for the next game," Silva said.

Robinson has established himself as the first-choice left back for the U.S. ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and has also been a key player in Fulham's defense.

The game at Tottenham was still scoreless when the American went off, and Silva acknowledged his team struggled to cope without Robinson.

"The injury of Robinson created a different scenario for us, we had to adapt a player on our left side," Silva said. "We had some problems during the game to build from that side, and much more than that to be solid as a backline as we should. ... He's a really important player for us."

The U.S. already is missing one projected World Cup starter: Atlanta central defender Miles Robinson tore his left Achilles tendon during a Major League Soccer match against Chicago in May.



https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2022/09/03/us-defender-robinson-limps-off-injured-in-fulham-loss/50697027/

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Liverpool: Arthur Melo could have joined Fulham

New Liverpool signing Arthur Melo was reportedly wanted by Fulham during the summer transfer window, before quickly deciding to join the Reds.

The Reds have helped ease their injury crisis with the signing of the 26-year-old, who has moved to Anfield on loan for the rest of the season.

Arthur had fallen out of favour at Juventus, struggling to ever really impress there since his move from Barcelona, but Jurgen Klopp saw him as a good target to boost his midfield options.

It appears as though Liverpool weren't the only Premier League club who could have signed him this summer, however.

The Latest: Fulham were also keen

According to Brazilian outlet UOL [via Sport Witness], Fulham were also interested in taking Arthur to England, with Arsenal and Everton previously eyeing a move in January.

All three are described as 'possible alternatives' but he 'immediately accepted' Liverpool's offer as soon as it arrived on Thursday.

The Verdict: No-brainer for Brazilian

With all due respect to Fulham, it is always going to be tough to compete with Liverpool for a signing, given the difference in magnitude between the two clubs.

So it proved with Arthur, who will surely have jumped at the opportunity to work with Klopp, not to mention a host of world-class names, from Virgil van Dijk to Mohamed Salah.

The hope now is that the 22-time capped Brazil international proves his worth in a Liverpool shirt, potentially leading to them signing him permanently next summer.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-news/liverpool-premier-league-arthur-melo-transfers-news-updates/