Thursday Fulham Stuff - 09/02/23...

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FA Cup replay

Wednesday
Sunderland	2-3	Fulham

Results

Wednesday
Man Utd	2-2	Leeds

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Sunderland 2-3 Fulham

Fulham saw off Championship play-off hopefuls Sunderland to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leeds United.

Harry Wilson's early goal put a much-changed Fulham side in control of the fourth-round replay, with the winger slotting his effort into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot after he was teed up by Carlos Vinícius.

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira combined for Fulham's second goal just before the hour mark, when the Serbian striker did well to keep the ball in on the byline and touch it back for his fellow substitute to tap in.

Sunderland were given hope of a comeback inside the final 15 minutes when Jack Clarke curled a superb strike into the far corner following a pass from Ajibola Alese.

But Layvin Kurzawa re-established Fulham's two-goal lead in the 82nd minute, firing into the roof of the net following a knockdown from Shane Duffy.

With stoppage time approaching, substitute Jewison Bennette coolly lifted into the corner from close range to cut the deficit, but the Black Cats fell short despite a valiant effort.

Fulham boss Marco Silva, watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, said: "We've been working hard to reach this level and create a winning mentality.

"I knew before the game that it wouldn't be the best, I made nine changes, but we are pleased."

Substitutes seal deal for Fulham
Throughout the match, Sunderland showed why they have aims of returning to the Premier League and are just two points off the Championship play-off places as they put Fulham under serious pressure.

Amad Diallo was a bright spark for the home side, with his low shot cleared off the line by Duffy after he chopped inside and rifled a strike towards goal.

Patrick Roberts' effort deflected off Duffy and forced Marek Rodak into a smart save as Sunderland showed their attacking prowess despite missing striker Ross Stewart.

Wilson had two other opportunities for Fulham in the first half, but Anthony Patterson saved one effort following a fine solo run and he then placed his shot wide of the post after being sent through by captain Tom Cairney.

Silva's decision to bring on Mitrovic and Pereira increased the intensity from the visitors after the break and they showed the quality that has seen them climb to sixth in the top flight.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said after the game: "I think the supporters deserve huge credit for keeping the players going. We're fighting for these people who come to support us.

"We started a bit tentatively but we pushed them and they finished with their strongest team really which I think is a credit to us."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64572125

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Post-Sunderland Press Conference

Marco Silva gave credit to our opponents on Wednesday night, but felt his Fulham side deserved their place in Round Five of the Emirates FA Cup.

"Firstly, congratulations to Sunderland," he said. "They obligated us to play 180 minutes in this round. They made it difficult for us.

"And of course, congratulations to our players and our fans, because we are going to play in the Fifth Round, which was our clear goal from the first time we played against them at the Cottage.

"I think from the first minute we were the better team on the pitch. We played one or two touches every time, some moments we played a little bit slower than we would like, but from the first minute we created dangerous moments around their box.

"We scored early in the game which gave us the confidence to control the game in a different way. First 30 minutes we probably created enough chances to score the second goal and to be even more comfortable in the game."

With Fulham a goal to the good at half-time, Silva did not rest on his laurels, introducing Aleksandar Mitrović and Andreas Pereira at the break.

"At 1-0, they are always going to believe, even at 2-0 they believed, and at 3-1 as well," he explained.

"The last 15 minutes of the first half, we lost a little bit of our shape and our pressure was not at the level it should be, and because of that we decided to change things and start the second half with Mitro and Andreas Pereira.

"The team improved, our shape improved off the ball as well. We scored the second goal and, at that moment, everyone probably thought the game would be killed but, at this level, never.

"They believed until the end, they scored to make it 2-1, and even with our reaction to make it 3-1 they kept believing.

"It was a real FA Cup tie, with two teams playing to go through, but overall tonight we were the best team."

One big blot on the evening came right at the end when Tom Cairney took a knock following a counter-attack, and had to be helped from the pitch at full-time

"They are assessing him," Silva stated. "Tom Cairney was clearly the best player on the pitch. By far.

"A great, great performance from him. Another one. A great performance from him. In the last minute he got an injury, let's see if it's really serious or not.

"They are assessing him, at the beginning it seemed a little bit more serious, now we are more confident it probably won't be, but later tonight, tomorrow, in two days' time we are going to see.

"It's not just him, Harrison Reed as well had some problems, he twisted his knee a little bit, so let's see in the next few days. Time is really short for the next game, but we will see."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/february/08/post-sunderland-press-conference/

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Sunderland 2-3 Fulham

Fulham played out another entertaining Emirates FA Cup tie with Sunderland on Wednesday night, this time emerging 3-2 victors from the Replay.

Harry Wilson put us in front at the Stadium of Light, with Andreas Pereira doubling the lead having come on at half-time.

Jack Clarke pulled one back for the Mackems, only for Layvin Kurzawa to respond immediately with a booming volley – his third goal involvement in as many FA Cup fixtures.

A stoppage time strike from Jewison Bennette made for a slightly uncomfortable end to the game, but the Whites held out to secure safe passage to Round Five.

Kenny Tete and João Palhinha were the only survivors from Fulham's draw with Chelsea the Friday previous. Included in the starting XI were Shane Duffy and Luke Harris, each making only their second starts for the Club.

And it was Duffy who created Fulham's first chance with a beautiful ball over the top to Manor Solomon, catching out the Sunderland backline, though one of them recovered brilliantly to block the Israeli's shot.

But it was a short-lived reprieve for the hosts, with Wilson bagging his first goal of the season in style. Carlos Vinicius held the ball up strongly in the box before passing back to Wilson, who stabbed an instinctive strike with the outside of his left boot through a raft of bodies and beyond Anthony Patterson.

The goal will have done Wilson the world of good, and he threatened to double his tally in the 25th minute when he pinched possession and bore down on goal, but Patterson was equal to his strike from the edge of the box.

Another turnover in possession, this time Tom Cairney winning the ball, created another chance for Wilson. His curler had Patterson beaten but didn't quite have the swerve to come back inside the far post.

The Mackems had been quiet in the opening half hour – much to their fans' frustration – but they then had a good little spell on the ball, culminating in a vicious dipping strike from Amad Diallo that called Marek Rodák into action for the first time.

At half-time, Marco Silva showed his desire to get the tie won in 90 minutes by introducing Andreas and Aleksandar Mitrović, with Harris and Vinicius the men to make way following good contributions by the pair in the opening 45.

Cairney had dictated the play during that first half, and it was the skipper who had the first chance after the restart, bending one wide from 20 yards at the end of a quick Fulham counter.

The match wasn't as end to end as the one at Craven Cottage, but Sunderland were not without their threat, Dan Neill blasting wide before Patrick Roberts drew a smart reflex stop from Rodák. A deflection off Duffy actually changed the trajectory of the ex-Fulham man's effort, making the save all the more impressive from his former Academy teammate.

It marked a spell of dominance for the hosts, with Roberts at the heart of everything. His mazy run created a shooting chance for Diallo, who beat Rodák but saw his goalbound effort hacked off the line by Duffy.

The Whites punished their opponents for those missed chances with a devastating move up the pitch. Cairney spotted the run of Mitrović whose touch saw him break in one-on-one – Patterson repelled his strike but the big man then volleyed the loose ball across the face to Andreas for a tap-in. It was a gratifying moment for those watching at home, with the goal arriving approximately five seconds after the co-commentator lamented a lack of impact from our two substitutes.

With the Black Cats' enthusiasm clipped, and Fulham enjoying a two goal lead, the tempo of the game slowed somewhat thereafter, but Andreas almost put it to bed once and for all with quarter of an hour to play, but couldn't quite get his head over the ball and scooped over.

Things really livened up a couple of minutes later, though, when good play down the left from Aji Alese saw him up tee up Clarke, who opened up his body and placed a perfect shot into the postage stamp.

It was a goal that reenergised the home fans, but that enthusiasm was quickly extinguished thanks to Kurzawa. Some head tennis from Cairney and Duffy at a corner kept the ball alive, and the Frenchman got between his men six yards out to volley an unstoppable volley high into the net.

But the hosts did make stoppage time interesting, Bennett taking advantage of a Kurzawa slip in the box to lash home after Danny Batth flicked on a long free-kick that had been launched into the box.

Thankfully only four minutes had been added on at the end, which Fulham managed to see out to set up a meeting with Leeds United at the Cottage on Tuesday 28th February.

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Batth, Alese, Ballard, Michut (Ekwah 72'), Roberts (Pritchard 64'), Neil (O'Nien 64'), Clarke, Ba (Rigg 79'), Diallo (Bennette 71')

Subs: Ekwah, Bennette, Johnson, Pritchard, Kelly, Watson, O'Nien, Rigg, Bass

Fulham FC: Rodák, Tete (De Cordova-Reid 65'), Duffy, Tosin, Kurzawa, Cairney, João Palhinha (Reed 65'), Wilson, Solomon (James 80'), Harris (Andreas Pereira 45'), Carlos Vinícius (Mitrović 45')

Subs: Reed, Andreas Pereira, Antonee Robinson, James, Willian, Diop, Leno, De Cordova-Reid, Mitrović



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/february/08/Sunderland-2-3-Fulham/

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Fulham overcome Sunderland to reach FA Cup fifth round

Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa scored as Fulham progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

After goals from Wilson and Pereira, Jack Clarke curled a fine effort into the far corner five minutes before Kurzawa effectively sealed victory for the Whites, who will face Leeds for a place in the quarter-finals.

Championship side Sunderland pushed them hard and Jewison Bennette's stoppage-time goal left Fulham hanging on at the end.

Wilson's early opener gave his team a perfect start to what always seemed like it might be a tricky fourth-round replay.

It came after Sunderland failed to deal with Kenny Tete's ball in from the right.

Patrick Roberts, playing against his former club, could only head as far as Carlos Vinícius, and the Brazilian, with his back to goal, teed up Wilson, who poked the ball into the bottom corner of the net with the outside of his right boot.

Fulham had to withstand a spell of second-half Sunderland pressure, during which Roberts was denied by a save from Marek Rodak, and Amad Diallo by Shane Duffy's goal-line clearance, before the visitors doubled their lead against the run of play.

Tom Cairney played a clever ball in to Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was closed down by keeper Anthony Patterson but managed to set up fellow substitute Pereira for a simple tap-in.

Clarke's strike gave the Black Cats hope but they were then punished for failing to clear Pereira's corner.

Cairney headed the ball back towards goal and Duffy flicked it on for Kurzawa to volley in from close range.

A slip by Kurzawa enabled Bennette to fire home as Sunderland refused to accept defeat.

Fulham: Rodak, Tete (De Cordova-Reid 65), Duffy, Tosin, Kurzawa, Harris (Pereira 45), Palhinha (Reed 65), Cairney, Wilson, Solomon (James 79), Vinícius (Mitrovic 45).
Subs not used: Leno, Willian, Diop, Robinson.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-overcome-sunderland-to-reach-fa-cup-fifth-round

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Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Layvin Kurzawa's scores decisive goal as Marco Silva's survive late scare to set up FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Leeds

    Fulham are through to the FA Cup fifth round after a 3-2 win versus Sunderland
    Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa were on target for Fulham
    Jack Clarke and Jewison Bennette netted for Sunderland, who didn't give up

The romantic outcome was a Sunderland win and, 50 years on, a rerun of their famous 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds. Such nostalgia will have to wait for May's anniversary.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was serving a touchline ban and watched from the press box. It looked like those around him could be writing a fairytale ending as twice the young hosts got to within a goal of their Premier League opponents in the final 15 minutes.

With 15-year-old schoolboy Chris Rigg on as a substitute and goalkeeper Anthony Patterson storming upfield for corners, it had all the ingredients of a magical cup climax. It was not to be but credit to Sunderland, who fielded nine starters eligible for the Under-23s.

Silva, given where he was stationed, was asked what he would have written in his match report.

'Fulham deserved to go through,' he said. 'You have to congratulate Sunderland for the way they played over two games. It was an epic cup tie.'


Layvin Kurzawa's goal proved decisive as Fulham won 3-2 against Sunderland in the FA Cup


Harry Wilson celebrates after his goal put Fulham ahead in their clash against Sunderland


Wilson opened the scoring in the eighth minute during the FA Cup fifth round replay

Opposite number Tony Mowbray said: 'We gave a great account of ourselves and there is no shame in defeat.'

On a bitter night when sentiment, as well as fingertips, were to finish deadened amid the chill, it was the warm toes of Harry Wilson which set Fulham on their way to the last 16. Remarkably, given Wilson's obvious talent, his eighth-minute opener was his first goal in 10 months.

Sunderland keeper Patterson looks like the heir apparent to '73 hero Jimmy Montgomery - watching on from the stands - but he will know he could have done better. Wilson took aim with the outside of his left boot and, while the shot had pace and spin, Patterson would have expected to turn it around the post, instead of helping it into the bottom corner.

The Black Cats were enjoying their best period and Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo's shot had just been cleared from the line by Shane Duffy when, at the other end, Aleksandar Mitrovic laid on the easiest of finishes for fellow substitute Andreas Pereira just shy of the hour.

Sunderland's Jack Clarke curled in wonderfully on 76 minutes but visiting defender Layvin Kurzawa restored the two-goal cushion six minutes later with a close-range blast. Back came Sunderland and Jewison Bennette's smart chip in stoppage-time dialled up the home volume once more.

Silva was right, it was an epic. But sadly, for the romantics, it was the wrong result.


Andreas Pereira is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring Fulham's second goal


Jack Clarke managed to get a goal back for Sunderland with an impressive strike


Jewison Bennette scored Sunderland's second goal late on, but Fulham held on to win



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11728417/Sunderland-2-3-Fulham-Lavyin-Kurzawa-scores-decisive-goal-Fulham-prevail.html

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Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Silva's side through to last-16 of FA Cup after winning thrilling replay

Fulham overcame Championship outfit Sunderland with a 3-2 victory in their FA Cup fourth round replay to set up a clash with Leeds United in the last-16.

An early goal from Harry Wilson's early strike and second-half finishes from substitute Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa earned Fulham the win at the Stadium of Light.

The reward is a home clash against Leeds United, who parted company with Jesse Marsch earlier this week.

For Sky Bet Championship Sunderland, who dragged themselves back into it at 2-1 courtesy of Jack Clarke's curled effort and 3-2 through substitute Jewison Bennette, the dream of a reunion with the club they famously beat in the 1973 final evaporated despite a concerted fightback.

A youthful line-up – nine of Tony Mowbray's starting XI were aged 23 or under with 15-year-old Chris Rigg once again among the substitutes – fell behind with eight minutes gone when Carlos Vinicius did well to hold off his marker and lay the ball back to Wilson, who stabbed into the bottom corner with the outside of his left foot.

The combination of Tom Cairney, Wilson and the dangerous Manor Solomon repeatedly stretched the Black Cats, who struggled to break out of their own half despite the best efforts of the lively Amad Diallo and Abdoullah Ba.

Wilson might have doubled his tally with 25 minutes gone after picking off Patrick Roberts' ill-judged cross-field pass to Aji Alese and racing in on goal, although goalkeeper Anthony Patterson easily claimed his weak attempt, and the Wales international narrowly missed the target after being played in by Cairney minutes later.

The home side forced their way into the game in the latter stages of the half with Clarke seeing a deflected effort hacked away before Amad's dipping thunderbolt caused goalkeeper Marek Rodak all kinds of problems.

Sunderland returned after the break still very much in the tie, although their task was not made any easier by Silva's introduction of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Pereira before play resumed.

Pereira almost made a swift impact when he broke from deep inside his own half and combined with Solomon and Wilson to set up Cairney to fire just wide.

The Black Cats replied in kind, Dan Neil curling just past the post from the edge of the box before Rodak had to turn away Roberts' strike, and it took a goal-line clearance by Shane Duffy to deny Amad a 57th-minute equaliser.

However, they fell further behind within two minutes when former Newcastle striker Mitrovic pulled the ball back for Pereira to fire home from close range.

Clarke gave the hosts hope when he dispatched a curling 77th-minute shot into Rodak's top corner, but Kurzawa restored the visitors' two-goal advantage within five minutes and although substitute Bennette reduced the deficit once again as the game entered stoppage time, there was no way back.



https://www.football365.com/news/sunderland-2-3-fulham-silva-side-through-last-16-fa-cup-winning-thrilling-replay

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Fulham hold off Sunderland comeback to set up fifth-round FA Cup clash with Leeds
Marco Silva watched Fulham secure an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Leeds from the comfort of the stands as Sunderland's hopes of a 1973 reunion went up in smoke.

Harry Wilson's early strike and second-half goals from substitute Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa earned the Londoners a 3-2 fourth-round replay victory at the Stadium of Light, when their boss was forced to take a seat among a crowd of 29,651 as he served a touchline ban.

Their reward is a home clash with Leeds, who parted company with head coach Jesse Marsch on Monday.

For Championship Sunderland, who dragged themselves back into it at 2-1 courtesy of Jack Clarke's curled effort and 3-2 through substitute Jewison Bennette, the dream of a reunion with the club they famously beat in the 1973 final evaporated despite a concerted fightback.

A youthful line-up - nine of Tony Mowbray's starting XI were aged 23 or under with 15-year-old Chris Rigg once again among the substitutes - fell behind with eight minutes gone when Carlos Vinicius did well to hold off his marker and lay the ball back to Wilson, who stabbed into the bottom corner with the outside of his left foot.

The combination of Tom Cairney, Wilson and the dangerous Manor Solomon repeatedly stretched the Black Cats, who struggled to break out of their own half despite the best efforts of the lively Amad Diallo and Abdoullah Ba.

Wilson might have doubled his tally with 25 minutes gone after picking off Patrick Roberts' ill-judged cross-field pass to Aji Alese and racing in on goal, although goalkeeper Anthony Patterson easily claimed his weak attempt, and the Wales international narrowly missed the target after being played in by Cairney minutes later.

The home side forced their way into the game in the latter stages of the half with Clarke seeing a deflected effort hacked away before Amad's dipping thunderbolt caused goalkeeper Marek Rodak all kinds of problems.

Sunderland returned after the break still very much in the tie, although their task was not made any easier by Silva's introduction of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Pereira before play resumed.

Pereira almost made a swift impact when he broke from deep inside his own half and combined with Solomon and Wilson to set up Cairney to fire just wide.

The Black Cats replied in kind, Dan Neil curling just past the post from the edge of the box before Rodak had to turn away Roberts' strike, and it took a goal-line clearance by Shane Duffy to deny Amad a 57th-minute equaliser.

However, they fell further behind within two minutes when former Newcastle striker Mitrovic pulled the ball back for Pereira to fire home from close range.

Clarke gave the hosts hope when he dispatched a curling 77th-minute shot into Rodak's top corner, but Kurzawa restored the visitors' two-goal advantage within five minutes and although substitute Bennette reduced the deficit once again as the game entered stoppage time, there was no way back.



https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/fulham-hold-sunderland-comeback-set-fifth-round-cup-clash-leeds

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Sunderland 2-3 Fulham: Marco Silva's side survive scare to keep FA Cup dream alive

Fulham can dream of an FA Cup run this season after an eventful 3-2 win at Sunderland ensured they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup where they'll meet managerless Leeds United.

Sunderland's sixth-minute goal helped them to earn a replay when these sides met at Craven Cottage 11 days ago. This time it was Fulham's turn to score early, and on this occasion, they managed to get the job done against Tony Mowbray's ambitious Black Cats.

Patrick Roberts's poor defensive header allowed Carlos Vinícius to control in the box and play to Harry Wilson, who tucked into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot. Eight minutes in, Fulham led.

The Cottagers were unable to count on instruction from their manager, with Marco Silva serving a touchline ban after earning his fourth yellow card of the season in Friday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Fulham, for a while, looked like they might add to their early lead. Goalscorer Wilson nicked the ball from Roberts but his tame effort was saved. Not long after, he was wise to Dan Neil's pass, intercepting and cantering forward but smashing wide.

As the half wore on, Sunderland rallied. Amad Diallo, the 20-year-old wide player on loan from Manchester United, began to toy with the visiting defence and his swinging shot dipped on its way toward goalkeeper Marek Rodak, who could only parry. The home side's threat only grew and by the end of the half the Black Cats were in the ascendency.

After the interval, Neil curled just wide before Sunderland's livewire left-winger Jack Clarke passed to Roberts who tested Rodak via a deflection.

Without doubt, the Championship side were sensing their chance to level. Diallo twisted defenders this way and that and a shot was heading in, but Republic of Ireland international Shane Duffy made the most of a rare start and instinctively cleared from off the line.

Silva, from the stands, and his first-team coach Luis Boa Morte turned to their experienced heads from the bench. On came Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira and within an instant the former was slotting square for the latter to tap home the second.

Sunderland never went away, never hid, and they were back in it at 2-1 when Aji Alese picked out Clarke who used Duffy's body as a guide and then bent a gorgeous finish into the top corner.

The dying moments of the game grew frantic and Fulham managed to regain their two-goal cushion when Cairney and then Duffy both headed forward for Layvin Kurzawa to volley home with interest.

Kurzawa, however, heaped needless injury-time pressure on his side when his poor touch and slip allowed Sunderland's 18-year-old substitute Jewison Bennette to convert for 3-2 but the Costa Rican's goal couldn't inspire Sunderland to snatch their leveller.

Instead, Fulham held on and they face Leeds next. Sunderland's spirited journey comes to an end, but they certainly had Premier League opposition worried across both matches. In the end, that wasn't enough.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland-vs-fulham-fc-fa-cup-result-2023-b1058864.html

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Touchline ban harder for me than for my players, says Marco Silva after Fulham's FA Cup win


Watching on: Silva's ban meant he could not be on the touchline / REUTERS

Marco Silva says a touchline ban was harder for himself than for his players after he watched from the stands as Fulham beat Sunderland 3-2 to book a place in the FA Cup fifth round.

With the original fourth-round match at Craven Cottage finishing 1-1, Fulham visited the Stadium of Light in the hope of extinguishing Championship Sunderland once and for all. They just about did so, booking a meeting with Leeds United in the next round with a chaotic yet entertaining 3-2 away win.

Silva watched on after being hit with a one-match touchline ban because he picked up his fourth yellow card of the season in Friday's 0-0 draw with rivals Chelsea in the Premier League.

Following the win on Wednesday night, Silva said: "Tough game, as we expected. A little bit more under control from ourselves than the first one — even though the first one both teams played better than this evening.

"With the mistake we made for 3-2, the game is always open. An FA Cup tie is difficult and away from home even more difficult. I am really happy, and pleased for the players. It was always our goal to play the next round against Leeds at home and we are going to play.

"I knew before the match that we would not be the best. Even if they have the quality, nine changes is always a big number of changes. But, of course we are pleased with it. It's too early to make a conclusion about the season but we are pleased. We want more."

Asked whether he is looking forward to being back in the dugout for Fulham's Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Silva replied: "For sure, for sure! [It was] more difficult for me than for the players. The view is much better — you can see everything in a different way. But it's really strange and of course I want to be there with my players to support them and feel the emotions of the game."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-fulham-fc-latest-news-fa-cup-2023-b1058949.html

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Marco Silva insists Fulham have achieved nothing yet following FA Cup win
The Londoners will face Leeds in the fifth round.

Marco Silva has insisted Fulham have achieved nothing yet despite making it to the FA Cup fifth round while riding high in the Premier League.

Last season's Sky Bet Championship winners booked a home clash with Leeds after a 3-2 fourth-round replay victory at Sunderland on Wednesday evening after cementing eighth place in the top flight with Friday's 0-0 draw at Chelsea.

However, asked to asses the campaign to date, boss Silva said: "Of course we are really pleased with it. The players have been brilliant this season so far – and I have to say last season too.

Layvin 🤝 @EmiratesFACup! #SUNFUL pic.twitter.com/3uddUP4xyu

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 8, 2023

"This kind of mentality, we have to keep creating inside the dressing room, the players have to have the right mindset as well.

"It's not something that comes so easily and this season has been very good work from all the players, and I have to congratulate them.

"Of course, we are pleased with the season so far, but again, we haven't achieved anything yet. We want more. We are a really ambitious club and a group of players and we want more."

The Premier League outfit, who made nine changes to the side which started at Stamford Bridge, looked to be cruising at the Stadium of Light when they went 2-0 ahead through Harry Wilson and substitute Andreas Pereira.

Of course, we are pleased with the season so far, but again, we haven't achieved anything yet. We want more. We are a really ambitious club and a group of players and we want more

Marco Silva

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However, the hosts twice dragged themselves back into the tie, through Jack Clarke with 13 minutes remaining and then again at the death when, after Layvin Kurzawa had made it 3-1, substitute Jewison Bennette gave the Black Cats renewed hope.

Silva said: "We scored the second goal and at that moment, everyone thought that probably the game would be killed, but they believed until the end.

"It was a real FA Cup tie with both teams trying to go through. I think overall tonight, we were the better team."

The Portuguese watched the game from the stands as he served a touchline ban, but later admitted that experience is not something he wants to reprise.

He said: "The view is much, much better, I have to say, but I would like not to repeat."

For opposite number Tony Mowbray, whose starting line-up included nine players aged 23 or under – but no recognised striker – while 15-year-old Chris Rigg was used from the bench, there was both disappointment and encouragement.

Mowbray said: "I'm very conscious of trying to lose the narrative that we're a young team. I think they're good enough, you can see that.

"It doesn't matter whether you're 20 or you're 30, if you can compete and you can run and pass and you can shoot and tackle, you're good enough.

"Our ambition is to be competitive in every game. Tonight was always a big ask without a recognised striker and we were all disappointed on the transfer [deadline] day that we didn't manage to get a number nine over the line.

"But listen, I still think they're exciting."



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-marco-silva-londoners-leeds-tony-mowbray-b2278641.html

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Kurzawa kills off spirited Sunderland
Layvin Kurzawa must love the FA Cup. Fulham's French full back had hardly got a look in after arriving from Paris Saint Germain in September, but the advent of the world's oldest club cup competition gave him an opportunity to impress Marco Silva. His serene sidefoot at Hull City helped the Portuguese survive a shock at the hands of former employers in the third round and the left-back lashed in what proved to be the winner as the Premier League side saw off a spirited Sunderland after a five-goal thriller.

Silva himself seethed silently from a steeply height this evening, pacing up and down like a smoker denied his cigarettes having been banned from the touchline having picked up a fourth yellow card at Stamford Bridge on Friday. Luis Boa Morte, who has apparently mellowed since his playing days, tackled the technical area in an understated fashion and after another Cup classic the Cottagers are ninety minutes from Wembley.

More than six hundred Fulham followers made the journey at nine days notice to Wearside, braving freezing temperatures and no return trains and ignoring the fact that the BBC were beaming this game into every home in the land. Fulham, with only Kenny Tete and Joao Palhinha remaining from the line-up that started the SW6 derby, began this replay red hot where they were sleepy in the original tie, when snappy Sunderland punished an error from Issa Diop to fashion an early lead through Jack Clarke. A brilliant ball from Shane Duffy nearly freed Manor Solomon but Danny Baath dived in to deny the Israeli.

It was the top flight team who hit the front with Harry Wilson firing his first goal of an injury-hit campaign into the bottom corner with the outside of his foot in the eighth minute. The Welsh winger beat Anthony Patterson, who kept the Black Cats in the Craven Cottage contest, with a fine finish off the outside of his foot after Carlos Vinicius had punished a poor header from Motspur Park graduate Patrick Roberts to set up a half chance with strong hold up play.

Wilson's joy was evident. He has endured a tough season since being crudely kicked out of a pre-season friendly by Tyrone Mings and rushing back to make Wales' first World Cup in 55 years. Had he been sharper in front of goal, the former Liverpool wide man might have scored a hat-trick before half time. Patterson was equal to a tamer effort from Wilson on 25 minutes and then stood and watched a curler creep just wide after the classy Tom Cairney had seized possession and led a storming break.

There looked like there were more than two divisions between the sides at times in the first half hour, but the Mackems only needed a spark in the final third to enliven the Stadium of Light. Roberts quickly redeemed himself with quick feet on the right flank and the combination with Amad Diallo that proved so potent in SW6 saw the Manchester United loanee test Marek Rodak with a powerful drive.

A strong five-minute spell from the hosts saw Silva ruthlessly introduce Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Peireira at the interval, with Luke Harris hooked at half-time on his second senior start just as he had been at Crawley on his professional debut. The seventeen year-old had sparkled in the hole in the first 45 minutes, but Pereira and Mitrovic took seven minutes to make it 2-0. The impetus for another lightning raid came from Cairney, who played in the Serbian. Mitrovic was denied a first FA Cup strike but a good save from Patterson but had the presence of mind to hook the loose ball across goal from the byline, providing Pereira with a tap-in.

To say the second arrived against the run of play was an understatement. Sunderland dominated the start of the second period with Dan Neill powering wide before Roberts forced a fabulous save from Rodak at point-blank range, with the Slovakian spreading himself sensational after the shot deflected off the prone Duffy. The Irish international then denied Diallo with a goal-line clearance after the winger wriggled into a shooting position after Roberts roamed menacingly into the area.

Pereira wasted a chance to make it three when he blazed over after bright play from Cairney and Mitrovic and the hosts went up the other end to make a game of it, with Clarke curling a majestic finish into the top corner after Alise had burst forward from left back. Kurzawa then looked to have killed off the hosts with venomous volley after Cairney and Duffy had headed on a Pereira corner.

Sunderland still refused to die wondering with substitute Jewison Bennette drilling in a second after Luke O'Nien had flicked on a deep free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time, but the Whites survived to fix a date with managerless Leeds at Craven Cottage on 28 February.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Patterson; Hume, Alese, Baath, Ballard; Michut (Ekwah 72), Neil (O'Nien 64′); Clarke, Roberts (Pritchard 64); Ba (Rigg 79), Diallo (Bennette 71). Subs (not used): Bass, Johnson, Watson, Kelly.

GOALS: Clarke (78), Bennette (90+1).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete (Decordova-Reid 65), Kurzawa, Duffy, Adarabioyo; Palhinha (Reed 45), Cairney; Wilson, Solomon (James 80), Harris (Pereira 45); Vinicius (Mitrovic 45). Subs (not used): Leno, Diop, A. Robinson, Willian.

BOOKED: Duffy.

GOALS: Wilson (8), Pereira (59), Kurzawa (82).

REFEREE: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).



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