Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 09/05/23...

[WhiteJC]

Results

Monday
Fulham	5-3	Leicester
Brighton	1-5	Everton
Forest	4-3	Southampton

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester City

Leicester City forward James Maddison believes his side were "not hungry enough" after their Premier League survival hopes suffered a blow with a 5-3 defeat at Fulham.

Victories for fellow strugglers Everton and Nottingham Forest later on Monday saw the Foxes slip into the relegation zone, now two points from safety with three games remaining.

"[I'm] hurting, this was a big game for us and we were not at it," Maddison told BBC Match of the Day.

"We didn't start the game well enough. We need to do the basics well."

Fulham opened the scoring through a Willian free-kick before strikes from Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney powered them into a 3-0 half-time lead.

Cairney added another after the restart before Harvey Barnes pulled a goal back for the visitors, who then saw Jamie Vardy miss a penalty in the 66th minute.

Willian re-established Fulham's four-goal lead with another fine strike before Maddison netted Leicester's second with a spot-kick and Barnes scored a late third.

"We were not hungry enough to want to win the game," added Maddison.

"It is tough. No easy game in the Premier League, it is a cliche but so true. We will keep fighting, we will keep trying to put it right."

Maddison later sought to clarify his post-match comments on social media, saying: "When I say not hungry enough I mean aggressive and on the front foot in duels, not us wanting to win or realising the importance.

"We were not good enough today and we've only got ourselves to blame and apologise for that. But, as someone who sees the work we are doing every single day to try and put this right, it's not down to attitude or application."

Woeful Leicester booed off at half-time
Leicester are desperate for points and, with matches against Liverpool and Newcastle still to come, Foxes fans would have circled Fulham away as a must-win fixture in their battle to avoid the drop.

But against a side who had lost three of their previous four matches at home, they were woeful in the opening 45 minutes.

"The first half was nowhere near good enough," Leicester boss Dean Smith told BBC Match of the Day. "We gave away goals we shouldn't give away at this level.

"I didn't see that coming. We have been fairly resolute in the five games we've had with the exception of Everton."

The Foxes fell behind in the 10th minute when keeper Daniel Iversen misjudged Willian's wide free-kick and the ball bounced underneath him before nestling in the bottom corner.

Vinicius' goal finished off a fine counter-attacking move before Cairney scored on just his third league start of the season with an impressive curling finish.


Tom Cairney scored his first Premier League goal since netting against Crystal Palace in October 2020

Trailing by three goals at the break, Leicester were booed off by the visiting fans and the mood only got bleaker when Cairney added Fulham's fourth in the 51st minute.

However, Barnes gave his side a glimmer of hope, before Vardy was caught by Bernd Leno midway through the second half - but when the striker missed the resulting spot-kick, any thoughts of an unlikely comeback ended.

Fulham soon added a fifth against a porous defence, with Leicester having now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past 20 games, an unwanted Premier League record.

There were ironic jeers when Maddison found the bottom corner from the spot in the 81st minute after he had been caught by Joao Palhinha in the box.

Barnes' 89th-minute strike made the scoreline look more respectable, but in truth the Foxes never looked like securing anything from the match.

Superb Fulham equal club record
Inspired by their impressive first-half showing, Fulham have equalled a club record of 14 wins in a single Premier League season.

"We clearly deserved the three points and it should have been much more comfortable," Fulham boss Marco Silva told BBC Match of the Day.

"Great team performance. Great moments of football, great goals. The way we played from the first minute was really good."

There was a party atmosphere at a sun-kissed Craven Cottage as Silva's side bounced back from narrow defeats by Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Cottagers completed a top-flight double over Leicester for the first time since 2004, thanks mainly to the excellent attacking work of Willian and Cairney.

Fulham remain 10th, two points behind west London rivals Brentford.

They need five points from their final three games to equal their record top-flight points tally of 53, from the 2008-09 season.

Fulham face Southampton away in their next match on Saturday before taking on Crystal Palace and Manchester United, while Leicester host Liverpool next Monday.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445806

[WhiteJC]

Post-Leicester Press Conference

Marco Silva was delighted with Fulham's play going forward, but would rather they'd seen the game out more comfortably against Leicester City.

The Whites stormed in a 3-0 lead in the first half, though our visitors won the second half to make it a tenser end to proceedings than it might've been.

"Clearly we were the best team on the pitch, I think there's no doubt about it, I think we should have won this game much more comfortably," Silva said.

"Great moments of football, great goals, and from the first minute we were the team that started in command. We started with intensity, the desire, the will, and the quality to play.

"I was really pleased with the dynamic that we played all the first half and the beginning of the second half as well, I was really pleased to see the way the players expressed themselves on the pitch. They understood our plan well and they stuck with it and it was really nice to see the way we played and the way we scored some goals.

"I told them at half-time that the reaction will come for sure. When a team is losing 3-0 at half-time, we have to expect the reaction, and they did it. The goals we conceded were unnecessary in my opinion, even the two penalties were unnecessary.

"They were moments where we have to start to be much more consistent when you are winning a football match. You know in the Premier League that any team can punish you if you switch off for one second.

"They had some moments around our box and we have to be much more calm and more consistent, to control the game in a different way, because it was a great performance from ourselves and the scoreline should be different for us.

"But praise for the players, it's part of the process, we are here to work with them, to improve them to be more consistent during the whole match, but credit to them.

"Great performance, great reaction from the last results, although against City and Liverpool we performed well and should have taken more from the games, but we got a great reaction this afternoon.

"Credit for the players, for the fans as well, for sure they enjoyed the way the team played."

In the final fixture before Aleksandar Mitrović returns from his ban, Carlos Vinicius led the line superbly, slotting home our second goal before teeing up Tom Cairney for number three.

And when asked if he's seen an improvement in performance from our number 30, Silva replied: "I think everyone can see it.

"When you are a football player, you need minutes, you need consistency, you need to be week in and week out inside the pitch to get some confidence to improve.

"And if you are a striker and you come on for 10 minutes in a game, five minutes in the other, 30 minutes in the other, you don't get the consistency in terms of minutes and it's more difficult for you to pop up and show every single time your quality.

"Now he is in a better moment, I think everyone can see it. He is much more confident with more minutes, more games in his legs. I'm pleased for him because he deserves it.

"The season, for him, has had some ups and downs, and now that he's performing better, he's improving, he's more confident, he can show his quality better and he's scoring goals as well.

"It's important for him and I'm pleased because he deserves it, even if some moments this season I was the first one to demand more from him and to push him more, because I know his quality. Now I'm pleased for him that he's showing this quality."

The victory moved Fulham onto 48 points in the table, just five behind our Premier League record.

"We don't hide that it's our clear goal to achieve that," Silva stated. "That points target would make the season even more brilliant.

"We really want to finish the season with a big stamp, and the stamp will be to get that certain amount of points, and we are going to fight for it.

"We can achieve or not, we don't know what is going to happen, but we are going to work hard and fight really hard, and enjoy and embrace the challenge to achieve it."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/08/post-leicester-press-conference/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester

Fulham came out on the right side of an eight-goal thriller at Craven Cottage to defeat Leicester City.

There were braces for Willian and Tom Cairney, while Carlos Vinicius was also on target.

Two for Harvey Barnes and a James Maddison penalty in the second half made it a contest, but it was the Whites who took the win.

Marco Silva made two changes to his starting XI, bringing Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed back in from the off.

After a couple of half chances for Tosin at set-pieces, it was through a similar means that we went in front on 11 minutes. After Cairney and Antonee Robinson were both fouled wide on the right, Willian sent in a wicked curling delivery that bounced right in front of Daniel Iversen, throwing the City goalkeeper off completely and bouncing into the far corner of the net.

The visitors threatened a response when Maddison evaded three challenges in the box before squaring for Barnes, but the winger skewed wide under close scrutiny from Tete.

We then went straight up the other end with Harry Wilson who slipped in Reed. His angled drive was deflected behind by Caglar Soyuncu, with Tosin heading over from the corner.

And it was another driving run through the middle from Wilson that led to goal number two, with the Wales international waiting until the perfect moment to feed Vinicius' run. With Iversen onrushing, Vinicius showed fine composure to just roll the ball in the other direction to double his team's lead.

Leicester should have quickly got one back when Jamie Vardy read Robinson's pass to burst through on goal, but Bernd Leno made an outstanding save to deny the former England striker.

Reed must have thought he'd scored with his snapshot following exquisite link-up between Cairney and Willian, but Iversen made a crucial block, before then denying Tete from the edge of the box.

The Foxes had a couple of half chances from range which caused Leno no concern, and at the other end Vinicius glanced a Tete cross wide at the far post as we tried to put the game to bed before the break.

That third goal did arrive on the stroke of half-time, and it was lovely. João Palhinha won a crunching tackle high up the pitch, Reed backheeled into Vinicius, who in turn found Cairney. The skipper then sat Soyuncu down before curling a sumptuous low shot inside the far post on his rarely-used right foot.

Barnes almost gave Leicester the perfect start to the second half with his placed effort across goal, but Leno got down at full stretch to push it wide.

Craven Cottage was then in uproar when Wilson's immaculate first touch sent him through on goal, only to be wiped out by Boubakary Soumare. No decision came, though.

But spirits were quickly restored. Tete embarked on a barnstorming run down the right, looked up, and squared to Cairney who opened his body up to pass coolly beyond Iversen for 4-0.

Barnes did give the away fans behind the goal something to cheer just before the hour mark, smashing in off the bar after Maddison found him in space in the box.

We could have had a very different game on our hands after Vardy beat Leno to a through ball and was tripped by the Fulham goalkeeper. Redemption was afoot, though, with Leno guessing the correct way to palm away Vardy's spot-kick.

We soon went from an incredibly nervy moment, back to the joy of a four-goal lead. Reed switched the play to Willian who brought the ball back inside and unleashed an absolute laser into the corner from 25 yards.

Leicester threatened to reduce the deficit once again with a couple of good efforts – Maddison's free-kick just clearing the crossbar, and substitute Tetê shooting inches wide.

They were then given another lifeline from the penalty spot after Maddison went flying following a touch from Palhinha, and he picked himself up to slot home.

A bizarre game saw them reduce the deficit further still when substitute Patson Daka was able to tee up Barnes for a simple finish following a mix-up in the Fulham box.

It made for a nervier finale than it needed to have been, but the lads professionally saw out a hefty period of stoppage time to bank all the points.

Fulham FC: Leno, Tete, Tosin, Diop (Duffy 77'), Antonee Robinson, João Palhinha, Reed (Lukić 77'), Wilson (Kebano 82'), Cairney (De Cordova-Reid 82'), Willian (Solomon 82'), Carlos Vinícius

Subs: Rodák, Duffy, Kebano, Solomon, Cédric Soares, De Cordova-Reid, Lukić, Harris, Dibley-Dias

Leicester: Iversen, Castagne, Faes, Söyüncü, Kristiansen (Thomas 76'), Tielemans (Ndidi 60'), Soumaré (Dewsbury-Hall 76'), Praet (Tetê 45'), Maddison, Barnes, Vardy (Daka 76')

Subs: Ward, Evans, Souttar, Daka, Ricardo Pereira, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Thomas, Tetê



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/08/Fulham-5-3-Leicester/

[WhiteJC]

Cairney and Willian score twice in Fulham win

Tom Cairney and Willian both scored twice in a thumping win for Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Whites were three up by the interval after a dominant first-half display.

They opened the scoring when Willian's free-kick from the left caught out Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen and ended up in the net.

Carlos Vinícius added the second – a fine finish after being set up by Harry Wilson – before Cairney made it three with his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half years.

Vinicius was involved again, collecting Harrison Reed's back-heel and teeing up Cairney, who fired home.

Cairney netted again six minutes into the second half after a swift Fulham counter-attack led by Kenny Tete on the right flank.

Harvey Barnes pulled a goal back for Leicester by blasting in off the underside of the bar after controlling James Maddison's pass.

But Fulham hit back with a cracking fifth goal as Willian cut in from the right, skipped a challenge and curled in a glorious strike.

Leicester were very much second best but scored two late goals.

Maddison netted from the penalty spot after being fouled by João Palhinha, and Barnes scored his second of the game when he pounced on a poor back-header by Shane Duffy.
Fulham: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop (Duffy 77), Robinson; Reed (Lukic 77), Palhinha; Wilson (Kebano 82), Cairney (De Cordova-Reid 82), Willian (Solomon 82); Vinicius.
Subs not used: Rodak, Cedric, Harris, Dibley-Dias.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-v-leicester-city-fc-report-080523

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester: Willian inspires hosts to memorable win as Foxes' relegation fears grow

Report and free highlights as Fulham beat Leicester in remarkable game at Craven Cottage; Willian, Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney scored before half-time, with Willian and Cairney scoring again in second period; Leicester hit back twice through Harvey Barnes, plus a James Maddison penalty

Leicester's hopes of avoiding relegation were handed a damaging blow against Fulham as Willian inspired the hosts to a memorable 5-3 win at Craven Cottage.

Dean Smith's side only sit above the relegation zone on goal difference and could find themselves as low as 19th by Monday night, with Everton and Nottingham Forest - two of the sides below them in the Premier League - still to play.

Leicester now face a daunting task to save themselves from a stunning drop into the Championship, with Liverpool and Newcastle next up before a game against West Ham on the final day.

Taking points in west London felt imperative for the Foxes but those hopes seemed over by half-time thanks to Willian's free-kick, plus goals from Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney.

The visitors' defence continued to disintegrate after the interval, with Cairney adding a second, but Harvey Barnes pulled one back before Jamie Vardy saw a penalty saved by Bernd Leno.

Willian then bent in a glorious fifth but the hosts lost their way, handing Leicester another spot-kick that James Maddison converted before a dreadful Shane Duffy header presented Barnes with the chance to sweep in his second.

It was too little too late for Leicester though, while Fulham close the gap on rivals Brentford - who are one place above them in ninth - to just two points.

How Willian helped punish lousy Leicester
The tone was set for another Leicester defeat in the 10th minute, when Willian's whipped free-kick from the left touchline flew uninterrupted into the far corner. There was no anticipation or resistance as the ball deceived every Foxes defender - just an acceptance of their fate.

That theme continued throughout a shambolic first half, with Vinicius striding through a gaping hole in the Leicester defence to slide in Fulham's second, before Cairney bent in his first after Wout Faes' weak clearance.


Team news

    Fulham made two changes, with Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed coming in for Cedric Soares and Sasa Lukic
    Leicester also made two changes, with Victor Kristiansen and Dennis Praet replacing Luke Thomas and Wilfred Ndidi, while Jonny Evans returned to the squad following injury


Leicester were lucky to only be 3-0 down at half-time, with Daniel Iversen producing two saves to deny Harrison Reed, while the visitors' only chance saw Leno push Vardy's shot wide after Antonee Robinson gave the ball away.

Leicester briefly looked more competent immediately after half-time, with Leno required to tip away Barnes' shot, but their defence then went AWOL again, allowing Cairney all the time he needed to slot in his second after Kenny Tete charged down the right wing.

Barnes did get on the scoresheet with a deflected strike shortly after and the fightback looked on when Leno brought down Vardy in the area, but the goalkeeper kept out the striker's tame effort.

Willian re-established the four-goal margin with the pick of the eight strikes, a bending effort from 25 yards, but Leicester's dismal performance appeared to lull Fulham into complacency and they surrendered two goals to bring about a tense final period of the game.

Maddison sparked the nerves when he made amends for his penalty miss at Everton last week by winning and converting a spot-kick, and Duffy then came off the bench to hand Barnes his second on a plate when his headed pass deceived Leno and left an open goal.

Fortunately for Fulham, they regained their composure in time to put an end to Leicester's hopes - and leave their opponents in the unenviable position of likely needing to take points off Champions League hopefuls Liverpool and Newcastle in their next two games.

Smith: First half worried me
Smith insisted after the game that he has seen enough from Leicester since his appointment last month to believe they can stay up, but admitted their capitulation in the capital was unexpected.

"The game was lost in the first half," said the Leicester boss. "I'm disappointed because I didn't see that coming. We've had a good week in training so I expected a far better performance.

"It was far too easy to get into our box and create chances.

"We were quite happy to get in at half-time. I was certainly very worried in the first half. That's the first time I've seen it with these players and I hope I don't see that again. I'm sure I won't.

"It wasn't a lack of fight - we just didn't get close enough to them.

"I've signs they're good enough but you can't keep conceding goals like we do. We've conceded some poor goals as well, where I don't think the opposition have had to work particularly hard to score. That's what has to stop."

Leaky Leicester asking for trouble
Leicester somehow shipped 23 shots and an expected goals total of 3.09 against Everton, the Premier League's lowest scores, in their most recent game, but their defensive display at Fulham was even more concerning.

The Foxes allowed their hosts to score five goals from an expected total of just 1.42, with Smith conceding after the game his team failed to get close to Fulham's players in attacking areas.

There was a sense of everything that Fulham touched turning to gold in the final third, with Willian twice striking from outside the box, including from a free-kick that was meant as a cross.

But the positioning of Leicester's defenders for many of the Fulham goals was damning, particularly for Vinicius' strike, when Caglar Soyuncu and Faes left a gap as wide as the nearby River Thames for the striker to wander into.

The defensive issues date back to before Smith's time in charge and the manager has not been granted much time in which to fix them - but he must find a way if Leicester are to survive.

They are the only remaining side in a major European league not to keep a clean sheet since the World Cup - a record that is asking for relegation.

Silva: Clearly we were the better team
Marco Silva was delighted with Fulham's performance and believed his side should have claimed an even more convincing win, saying: "Clearly we were the best team on the pitch and we should have won this game much more comfortably.

"Great moments of football, great goals and we started really intensely. I was really pleased to see the way the players expressed themselves on the pitch.

"The goals we conceded were unnecessary. They are moments where we have to be much more consistent. In some moments around our box we have to be more calm.

"But the performance was so good - even great, I would say."

Willian enjoying late-career renaissance

32 - In Tom Cairney (32) and Willian (34), Fulham have become the first side in Premier League history to see two players aged 32 or above score twice in a single match. Wisdom. pic.twitter.com/IC4H5ZMwG0

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 8, 2023

Willian's return to London last summer raised a few eyebrows - and not in a good way.

After leaving Chelsea for Arsenal three years ago, the winger looked a busted flush during his solitary season at the Emirates and quickly returned to Brazil with Corinthians.

But Willian's homecoming turned sour, prompting him to seek out another Premier League spell with Fulham following their return to the top flight.

Remarkably, the 34-year-old looks back to his best after two fallow years and ran the game from his position on the left wing as Fulham dismantled Leicester.

Scoring two goals from an expected goals total of 0.1 is some achievement and, while he will struggle to claim he meant to score his first, Willian's second was an example of the quality he exudes when he's in full flight.

His renaissance during the autumn of his career has been just one of a number of impressive feats during Fulham's commendable first season back in the big time.

What's next?
Fulham's final three games of the season see them head to Southampton on Saturday May 13, kick-off 3pm, before they host Crystal Palace and then finish at Manchester United.

Leicester also have three games left to stay in the Premier League. They are visited by Liverpool on Monday Night Football and then travel to Newcastle. Their final match could be crucial against fellow strugglers West Ham at the King Power Stadium.

Fulham's remaining fixtures
May 13: Southampton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 20: Crystal Palace (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 28: Man Utd (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm

Leicester's remaining fixtures
May 15: Liverpool (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports

May 22: Newcastle (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm

May 28: West Ham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm

Opta stats: Fulham's excellent season continues
    Fulham enjoyed their 14th Premier League win of the season; only in 1959-60 have they ever won more games in a top-flight campaign (17).
    Leicester have lost 21 Premier League games this season, their most in a league campaign since 1994-95 (25), a season in which they were relegated from the top flight.
    Fulham scored five goals in a Premier League game for the first time since beating Norwich 5-0 in August 2012.
    James Maddison became the first Leicester player to assist a goal in three consecutive Premier League appearances since Riyad Mahrez in February 2016. Maddison has nine assists overall in the competition this term, his most in a single top-flight campaign.
    Leicester's Jamie Vardy has won 23 penalties in the Premier League, the joint-most of any player in the competition's history, along with Raheem Sterling. It was the 17th time he took the penalty himself having won it, but only the second time he missed when doing so (also September 2017 v Liverpool).



https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-leicester-city/report/464977

[WhiteJC]

Riverside Season Tickets Sold Out

The Club is delighted to confirm that 2023/24 Season Tickets in the Riverside Stand have now sold out! Thank you for your incredible support!

Season Ticket Renewals for the rest of the stadium will go on sale from 10am on Tuesday 9th May. More information on renewals can be found here.

Supporters who are interested in purchasing a Season Ticket at Craven Cottage for 2023/24 can join the Club's waiting list. Subject to availability, remaining seats in the stadium will go on sale to registered fans in early June.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/may/08/riverside-season-tickets-sold-out/

[WhiteJC]

Leicester beaten by Fulham 5-3, mired in relegation danger

LONDON (AP) — Leicester remained mired in relegation trouble in the English Premier League after conceding four goals in the first 51 minutes and losing at Fulham 5-3 in a wild match on Monday.

Leicester's goal difference and confidence took a hit at Craven Cottage, where Willian and Tom Cairney scored twice each for Fulham along with a goal for Carlos Vinicius.

The visitors mounted a recovery from 4-0 down, with Harvey Barnes and James Maddison — from the penalty spot — scoring either side of Willian's second, a long-range curler that was perhaps the goal of the game. Barnes added his second goal in the 89th to cap an end-to-end encounter.

Jamie Vardy also had a penalty saved for Leicester, which started the game out of the bottom three only on goal difference and could end up in there by the end of Monday because relegation rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest played late.

Leicester's remaining three games don't make for kind reading, either: Liverpool at home, Newcastle away and West Ham at home.

Fulham's players showed they are not lacking for motivation despite having little to play for, with the London team in 10th place and unlikely to qualify for Europe.



https://apnews.com/article/leicester-fulham-epl-8d4ffc5bd90cb6b31cfa367bb6a71160

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester: Cottagers snap losing streak with win in enthralling encounter to worry Foxes

Leicester remained on parity with Nottingham Forest as a result of a 5-3 loss to Fulham – who snapped a three-game losing streak – but in potential danger of being overtaken, with Forest yet to play.

Starting the game outside of the bottom three on goal difference, Dean Smith's side were ripped apart in the first half at Craven Cottage as Willian, Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney all took advantage of shambolic defending to bury Leicester before the break.

Cairney got his second and his team's fourth early in the second half before Willian completed a brace of his own, rifling in a fine solo effort.

Harvey Barnes scored two and James Maddison tapped in a penalty to give visiting supporters momentary cheer, but the result was never in doubt. The prospects of their team remaining a Premier League club look slim on the evidence of a defensive display every bit as bad as the scoreline suggested.

Fulham scored with their first chance of the game, though it was more by luck than design. Dennis Praet fouled Antonee Robinson out near the left touchline, and from the resulting free-kick Willian's cross evaded everybody inside the box before bouncing up into the top corner past Daniel Iversen.

Leicester, sensing the severity of their predicament, rallied. Maddison crossed low for Barnes arriving inside the box but he failed to make sufficient contact to turn it home under pressure. At the other end, Cairney released Harrison Reed who went toe-to-toe with Caglar Soyuncu before the Leicester defender deflected his effort narrowly wide.

Fulham's second arrived before the 20-minute mark and started with a Leicester mistake. Boubakary Soumare lost his footing and gave away possession in his own half, allowing Harry Wilson to race away upfield. From his pass nobody in blue went with Vinicius, who had the simple task of striding into the box and rolling it low past the exposed goalkeeper.

Bernd Leno saved well from Jamie Vardy as Leicester threatened immediately to half the arrears, but it was Fulham who were well in control, going close to a third after half an hour when Reed fired straight at Iversen from Willian's cut-back.

Leicester were hanging on and Fulham came again when Robinson fizzed a cross straight across goal that failed to find a touch, before Vinicius headed inches wide as the ball came back in.

It was a momentary reprieve and by half-time Fulham had three and Leicester looked buried. Reed showed good footwork to control the ball and feed Vinicius, who turned well and found Cairney. The Fulham captain took a touch to come inside Soyuncu before bending his shot smoothly into the bottom corner.

Leicester came out for the second half with some attacking urgency, going close when Barnes struck low towards Leno's bottom corner which drew a fine fingertip save from the Fulham goalkeeper.

Defensively, they remained as disorganised as before the break. Cairney scored his second and Fulham's fourth after a powerful run by Kenny Tete down the right. It was a cool finish from a deft first touch after he had been picked out by the full-back.

Barnes thumped in a consolation off the underside of the crossbar just before the hour, and the visitors were offered further encouragement when Leno brought down Vardy inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty. The Leicester striker took the kick himself but the goalkeeper redeemed himself with a two-handed save low to his left.

It extinguished whatever faint hope might briefly had been rekindled for the visitors, and minutes later their woeful defensive organisation was exposed yet again. Willian was barely challenged as he picked up the ball, drifted inside a blasted in Fulham's fifth.

There was time still for Maddison to succeed where Vardy had failed, knocking his penalty past Leno but drawing barely a cheer from the visiting fans. The same was true when Barnes tapped home from Patson Daka's pass.

It was a brave stab at recovery but Leicester had lacked courage when it mattered. A two-goal margin did not reflect the extent of Fulham's dominance.



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-5-3-leicester-cottagers-snap-losing-streak-win-enthralling-encounter-worry-foxes

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester: Marco Silva full of praise as Willian gamble continues to pay off

The Brazilian was at the double as the Cottagers beat Leicester 5-3 on Monday

The Foxes, meanwhile, slipped further into relegation trouble as they endured a woeful 5-3 defeat away to Fulham to end their three-game unbeaten run and inflict damage on their survival hopes.

Starting the game outside of the bottom three on goal difference, Dean Smith's side were ripped apart in the first half at Craven Cottage as Willian, Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney all took advantage of shambolic defending to bury Leicester before the break.

Cairney got his second and his team's fourth early in the second half before Willian completed a brace of his own, rifling in a fine solo effort.

Harvey Barnes scored two and James Maddison tapped in a penalty to give visiting supporters momentary cheer, but the result was never in doubt. The prospects of their team remaining a Premier League club look slim on the evidence of a defensive display every bit as bad as the scoreline suggested.

Fulham scored with their first chance of the game, though it was more by luck than design. Dennis Praet fouled Antonee Robinson out near the left touchline, and from the resulting free-kick Willian's cross evaded everybody inside the box before bouncing up into the top corner past Daniel Iversen.

Leicester, sensing the severity of their predicament, rallied. Maddison crossed low for Barnes arriving inside the box but he failed to make sufficient contact to turn it home under pressure. At the other end, Cairney released Harrison Reed who went toe-to-toe with Caglar Soyuncu before the Leicester defender deflected his effort narrowly wide.

Fulham's second arrived before the 20-minute mark and started with a Leicester mistake. Boubakary Soumare lost his footing and gave away possession in his own half, allowing Harry Wilson to race away upfield. From his pass nobody in blue went with Vinicius, who had the simple task of striding into the box and rolling it low past the exposed goalkeeper.

Bernd Leno saved well from Jamie Vardy as Leicester threatened immediately to half the arrears, but it was Fulham who were well in control, going close to a third after half an hour when Reed fired straight at Iversen from Willian's cut-back.

Leicester were hanging on and Fulham came again when Robinson fizzed a cross straight across goal that failed to find a touch, before Vinicius headed inches wide as the ball came back in.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-willian-fulham-fc-vs-leicester-premier-league-result-2023-b1079588.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham player suggests he almost signed for Liverpool – Was in negotiations with Reds

In a conversation with Premier League Brasil, Fulham winger Willian recalled the many years he spent in English football.

When telling the story about leaving Anzhi to move to the Premier League, he revealed that a couple of clubs were trying to sign him back then, and Liverpool were one of them.

Willian claimed that the Reds were battling Tottenham Hotspur to land him in 2013. And it was his wish to move to London that convinced him to turn Liverpool down.

"I went to London and Liverpool and Tottenham were interested. I was negotiating with both, not Chelsea. And in my heart the dream was to go to Chelsea. Proposals came from both of them and, as I wanted to stay in London, I decided that I'd go to Tottenham," Willian told Premier League Brasil.

"Then, 45 minutes into the second half, Chelsea made an offer. And I didn't think twice. It was something I really wanted, with all due respect to Tottenham, who are also a great club, but my dream was to play for Chelsea."

Willian left Anzhi for Chelsea in a €35.5m transfer in 2013. He spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, where he made 339 appearances.

The winger then left the Blues to join Arsenal on a free move in 2020, and a year later, moved to Brazil to play for his childhood club Corinthians again.

It was just last summer that he agreed his return to England by signing for Fulham, where he has five goals and four assists in 27 appearances so far.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-suggests-almost-signed-liverpool-negotiations-reds/

[WhiteJC]

Silva hails Fulham after victory over Leicester

Marco Silva praised Fulham's players for their largely dominant performance in the 5-3 win at home to Leicester.

Two late Foxes goals took the gloss off the victory, but Fulham, who were 3-0 up at half-time, were by far the better side and produced moments of pure quality.

Tom Cairney and Willian both scored twice and there was also a goal for Carlos Vinicius.

Whites boss Silva declared: "Clearly we were the best team on the pitch. I think there's no doubt about it. I think we should have won this game much more comfortably.

"Great moments of football, great goals, and from the first minute we were the team that started in command. We started with intensity, the desire, the will, and the quality to play.

"I was really pleased with the dynamic that we played all the first half and the beginning of the second as well.

"I was really pleased to see the way the players expressed themselves. It was really nice to see the way we played and the way we scored the goals."

There was praise too for Vinicius, who has grown into his role up front in place of the suspended Aleksandar Mitrovic.

"Now he is in a better moment. I think everyone can see it," Silva said.

"He is much more confident. I'm pleased for him because he deserves it."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-hails-fulham-after-victory-over-leicester

[WhiteJC]

[WhiteJC]

Player ratings: Fulham 5-3 Leicester City

George Rossiter has the ratings after an eight goal thriller at the Cottage.

Five goals against a team John Terry helps to coach the defence for, that is very funny. The whites blitzed Dean Smith's side for much of the game, and the two-goal gap in the scoreline flattered a Leicester side who found themselves opened up every time Fulham came forward. A much needed morale boast for Silva's side who head to Southampton next for the penultimate away game of the season.

Bernd Leno
While Fulham ran rampant in the first half, Leicester did have the occasional moment, including a Robinson mistake which allowed Vardy to run through one-on-one, Vardy seeing his shot saved brilliantly by Leno, followed by another great save from Barnes just after half time. While Leno gave a silly penalty away, bringing down Vardy, I guess he is forgiven for saving it. Leicester's third was unnecessary though, and it was Leno's lack of communication that seemed to cause it. One or two poor moments in an otherwise good performance. 7/10.

Kenny Tete
Tete started the game strongly, making a brilliant interception at the back post in the first quarter of an hour to prevent Barnes from following home. He could not however prevent Barnes from scoring in the second half, potentially reacting a bit slowly to the ball falling to Leicester's forward in the penalty area. A fairly quiet game defensively for Tete's standards, with an up and down performance against one of the division's best left wingers. His attacking play was brilliant, on the plus side, with incredible energy down the right to help create Cairney's second. 7/10.

Tosin
In a game where his centre back partner was finding a way to defend at a million miles an hour, Tosin was the calm influence needed in a game Fulham often dominated but sometimes left gaps in. His performance perhaps followed a trend with our centre backs this season, where individually players seem to perform at a good level, but as a unit goals are conceded. It's a strange thing to analyse, but overall Tosin did well. 7/10.

Issa Diop
In a game where you score 5, you could do without one of your defenders being madly chaotic at times, even if he didn't actually play badly at all. His runs into midfield and passes into forward areas were brilliant for starting Fulham's attacks from the back, but there were a few occasions where he lost it quite high up the pitch. Defensively solid for the most part though, even if he still doesn't look 100% comfortable on the left side. 6.5/10.

Antonee Robinson
Really silly error to allow Vardy through on goal at a time where all the ball was in Fulham's possession, and was lucky that Leno bailed him out with a brilliant save. Beyond that Robinson was decent enough, maybe struggled a bit when the fresh legs of Tete came on for Leicester, but nothing majorly worrying there. His delivery did look better than in the past today, which is certainly a positive to take forward. 6.5/10.

Joao Palhinha
This may be harsh, but there has to be criticism where it's due. In recent weeks, Palhinha's tackling has often looked lazy and clumsy, missing the regular conviction and quality that had been shown earlier in the season. It's happened a lot recently, and occurred again today for Leicester's second penalty. His passing has been solid recently and he did well to win the ball back to start the attack for a couple of our goals, but the elements of his game that made him so good before the World Cup have recently been slightly below the bar he's set himself in his time at the club. 6.5/10.

Harrison Reed
Once again Harrison was showing how much he's improved in getting into forward areas and contributing positively to Fulham's attacks. He came close to scoring one and setting up another in the first half, if not for a Soyuncu block at the near post from his own shot, and an Iversen save from a Willian strike that he had set up. He eventually got his reward with an assist for Fulham's 5th. In a game where Leicester's midfield often looked lifeless, he was first to everything, as he often is. 7.5/10.

Tom Cairney
Just incredibly good. So, so good at controlling the pace of the game in the middle, as he has been for years in the black and white. Seeing this fit, hungry and in form version of the skipper in the Premier League is a blessing and a reward for all the injury issues and promotions he's gone through in recent years. His first goal a wonderful effort with his lesser seen right foot, the second a brilliantly composed touch and finish on his left. After Pereira's performances had stagnated for a while, the captain has been a breath of fresh air in the side. 9.5/10. – Man of the match.

Harry Wilson
It's been said for weeks but I'll continue to say it because it's taken a while to get here after a big injury and limited minutes. Seeing this version of Wilson that's confident in creating chances and consistently beating his man is an absolute joy. His ball to Vinicius for Fulham's second was perfectly timed and the sort of pass we saw over and over again in the Championship last year. Long may this form continue. 7.5/10.

Willian
I've lost count of the number of times I've asked for Willian to get another year at the club, but I must apologise, I shouldn't have said this, I was wrong. He needs to be given two more years, if not three. What a joy he is to watch, genuinely one of the most technically gifted to wear the colours of Fulham in recent memory. His first was a deliciously whipped ball in with a hint of luck. There was no luck for his second, a gorgeous finish to cap off a mesmerising display. 9/10.

Carlos Vinicius
This is a run of performances you can get from a striker when you play to his strengths and fill him with confidence. His run for his goal was perfectly timed and the finish was brilliantly placed beyond Iversen into the corner. His link-up play to provide the assist for Cairney's first and Fulham's third was exquisite and a sign of how good he can be with his feet. Marco Silva has a tough choice for who starts up front against Southampton with the inform Vinicius and the returning Mitrovic. 7.5/10.

Substitutes

Shane Duffy (77' for Issa Diop)
Gutted his back post header didn't add a sixth for Fulham, and a shame a breakdown in communication allowed Leicester to score a third. 6/10.

Sasa Lukic (77' for Harrison Reed)
Maybe a little surprised that a midfield player with limited minutes coming into a comfortable game situation wasn't getting on the ball much when he clearly has ability on the ball. 6/10.

Manor Solomon, Neeskens Kebano and Bobby De-Cordova Reid (82' for Willian, Harry Wilson and Tom Cairney) all subbed on too late to be fairly rated.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-05-08-player-ratings-fulham-5-3-leicester-city/

[WhiteJC]

Clubs becoming interested in Fulham striker – Return to home country is an option

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz could soon be on his way back to Brazil, according to reports from his home country's media.

The striker, who's been loaned to Middlesbrough this season, only has two goals in 17 appearances in the Championship, and has barely been playing recently.

Now according to TNT Sports, Brazilian clubs have been watching Rodrigo Muniz, planning to sign him from Fulham this summer.

It's said Grêmio are one of the sides interested in him, but there are others in the race.

Fulham spent €8m to sign Muniz from Flamengo in 2021, and even made good use of him in the Championship, as he had five goals in 28 appearances in his first season with the Whites.

With promotion to the Premier League, however, the Craven Cottage side chose to loan him out to Middlesbrough, and it's this poor season with Boro that may impact his future.

For now, it isn't said whether the Brazilian clubs would like to sign Muniz on a loan deal or if they'd have the conditions to buy him from Fulham.

The striker's contract with the Whites runs until 2026, and he's valued by Transfermarkt at €5m.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/clubs-becoming-interested-fulham-striker-return-home-country-option/

[WhiteJC]

Willian and Cairney flatten the Foxes
After three straight defeats, a fired-up Fulham found their groove again and delivered a stylish repudiation of any suggestion that they were already on the beach. Marco Silva's men led Leicester City by three goals before half-time and looked threatening every time they came forward. Only when the head coach rang the changes did the visitors threaten any sort of revival, although the Foxes' hopes of an astonishing comeback were undermined when the excellent Bernd Leno saved a Jamie Vardy spot-kick. Dean Smith's side fought to end to make this an eight-goal thriller, but side are deep in the sort of relegation battle than many a pundit predicted for the Cottagers before a ball was kicked.

Silva's nous has been the main reason that Fulham are heading for the sort of mid-table mediocrity that would delight every Craven Cottage regular who has had to ride the rollercoaster of emotions that follows being promoted and relegated with depressing regularity. The Portuguese head coach surprised many observers by opting for a Championship side on his long-awaited return to English football but he has turned second tier specialists into a side that can trade blows with the Premier League's very best and still remain standing.

Key to the Whites punching above their weight this season has been the performances of a few stalwarts. Tim Ream, sidelined for the season after being fracturing his arm last week against Manchester City, has belied his advancing years with composed displays at centre half. Plenty questioned the signing of Willian after the former Chelsea and Arsenal winger cancelled his Corinthians contract in search of fresh start, but the 34 year-old rolls back the years on a weekly basis in SW6. Daniel Iversen, heroic in Leicester's draw with Everton last monday, shouldn't have allowed his free-kick from the left to go all the way in to open the scoring but the Brazilian veteran has been surprising top flight defences ever since he arrived at Fulham in September.

Silva's penchant for attacking football means that his side are often a little open and this afternoon's outcome might have been different had Harvey Barnes squeezed Jamie Vardy's centre inside the far post rather than wide, although Kenny Tete's sliding challenge might have put the winger off. It proved a costly miss. Fulham looked irresistible going forward. Harrison Reed probably should have scored when played in by Harry Wilson, but his shot was deflected over before Tosin Adarabioyo missed the target with a free header from the ensuing corner.

The hosts didn't regret those failures for too long. Wilson, who is finally showing his quality at the highest level after a season that began with injury frustrations and was then interrupted by the World Cup, drove through the middle of the Leicester midfield before slipping a perfectly-weighted pass through the horribly square Leicester defence for Carlos Vinicius to double Fulham's lead. Vardy should have halved the Foxes' arrears after seizing on a poor pass from Antonee Robinson but, not for the first time this season, Leno bailed out his back four.

Reed missed another chance to increase Fulham's advantage with Iversen bravely blocking after a flowing move that involved Cairney and Willian before the Leicester goalkeeper also fielded Tete's attempt from outside the area. But the Whites were not to be denied a third goal, which of the highest quality. Joao Palhinha won possession with a typically tenacious tackle, Reed flicked the ball onto Vinicius and the Brazilian fed Cairney, who wrong-footed Caglar Söyüncü, before firing into the bottom corner off his right foot.

Leicester emerged determined to put things right and it needed an excellent save from Leno to keep out a low drive from Barnes. But Fulham still looked like they had more goals in them. Referee Robert Jones waved away Wilson's strong claims for a penalty after he looked to have been taken out by Boubakary Soumare, although the rancour subsided when Cairney added a fourth seven minutes after the interval. Tete tore along the right flank and found Cairney in space – with the Fulham captain slotting simply into the net despite the despairing dive of Wout Faes.

Barnes did raise the spirits of the visiting fans, lashing in a lay-off from Vardy to get Leicester on the board and the Foxes' fans at the Putney End were bouncing when Leno was penalised after bringing down Vardy having made an ill-advised dash from his line to try and intercept a through ball. The German goalkeeper became Fulham's first number one to save a spot kick since Marcus Bettinelli in 2017 when he guessed right to foil Vardy's effort.

The Whites went right up the other end to restore their four-goal cushion, with Willian driving in from 25 yards after after a raking pass from Reed. In keeping with a crazy game, the visitors came alive after Silva had substituted a number of key performances. Maddison grazed the crossbar with a free-kick and substitute Tete shot fractionally wide before Maddison converted a spot-kick he won having tumbled under the merest of touches by Palhinha. A terrible back header from Shane Duffy then allowed Patson Data to set up Barnes for his second of the afternoon, but Fulham were able to recapture their control in six minutes of stoppage time to end their losing run.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Diop (Duffy 77); Palhinha, Reed (Lukic 77); Wilson (Kebano 82), Willian (Solomon 82); Cairney (Decordova-Reid 82); Vinicius. Subs (not used): Rodak, Cedric Soares, Harris, Dibley-Dias.

GOALS: Willian (10, 70), Vincius (18), Cairney (44, 51).

LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Iversen; Castagne, Kristiansen (Thomas 76), Faes, Söyüncü; Soumare (Dewsbury-Hall 76), Tielemens (Ndidi 60); Maddison, Barnes, Praet (Tete 45); Vardy (Daka 76). Subs (not used): Ward, Evans, Souttar, Pereira.

BOOKED: Barnes, Maddison, Soumare.

GOALS: Barnes (59, 89), Maddison (pen 81).

REFEREE: Robert Jones (Merseyside).

ATTENDANCE: 24,442.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/willian-and-cairney-flatten-the-foxes/

[WhiteJC]

Silva savours superb Fulham win
Fulham head coach Marco Silva saluted his side's attacking invention in this afternoon's 5-3 victory over relegation-threatened Leicester City at Craven Cottage.

Doubles from Willian and Tom Cairney, squeezed between another goal by Carlos Vinicius, ensured the Whites ended their three-match losing streak in fine style.

Silva told his post-match press conference at Craven Cottage:

    "Clearly we were the best team on the pitch, I think there's no doubt about it, I think we should have won this game much more comfortably. Great moments of football, great goals, and from the first minute we were the team that started in command. We started with intensity, the desire, the will, and the quality to play.

    I was really pleased with the dynamic that we played all the first half and the beginning of the second half as well, I was really pleased to see the way the players expressed themselves on the pitch. They understood our plan well and they stuck with it and it was really nice to see the way we played and the way we scored some goals.

    I told them at half-time that the reaction will come for sure. When a team is losing 3-0 at half-time, we have to expect the reaction, and they did it. The goals we conceded were unnecessary in my opinion, even the two penalties were unnecessary. They were moments where we have to start to be much more consistent when you are winning a football match. You know in the Premier League that any team can punish you if you switch off for one second.

    They had some moments around our box and we have to be much more calm and more consistent, to control the game in a different way, because it was a great performance from ourselves and the scoreline should be different for us. But praise for the players, it's part of the process, we are here to work with them, to improve them to be more consistent during the whole match, but credit to them. Great performance, great reaction from the last results, although against City and Liverpool we performed well and should have taken more from the games, but we got a great reaction this afternoon."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/silva-savours-superb-fulham-win/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham 5-3 Leicester City: Player ratings
Oscar runs the rule over some excellent performances as Fulham snapped their losing streak by winning an eight goal thriller against Leicester City at Craven Cottage this afternoon ...

Bernd Leno: Fulham fans have been running out of superlatives for the class and ice-cold composure he brings to the team. The German had a good game, including an excellent penalty save, something which we Fulham fans rarely see. Oddly enough, despite the fact he let in three goals, none of which were his fault, it was a pretty quiet game for him. 7

Kenny Tete: After Cedric's showing at Liverpool in midweek, Tete underlined why he remains Marco Silva's first choice at right back. He was brilliant defensively this afternoon, denying Leicester's Harvey Barnes much room along the left wing for the first 70 minutes. Tete also made some excellent forward runs and bagging an assist along the way. 8

Tosin Adarabioyo: Overall Tosin was extremely solid, despite a couple mistakes he had a good game, keeping Maddison and Vardy quiet for most of the game. Overall he worked well with Diop, despite a couple errors from him, it was a decent game for Tosin. 7

Issa Diop: Diop's tackling today was absolutely superb. However, when reading the game he can sometimes be caught out, and he made multiple unnecessary forward runs, all of which ended up in us losing possession. While he did make numerous good contributions today, there were errors in his game. 6

Antonee Robinson: A quiet game from the American left back, didn't make any major mistakes, and contributed to Fulham's forward strength. Overall an alright game from Robinson, but nothing to write home about. 7

Joao Palhinha: After a few tough games for the man with the octopus legs, Palhinha was back to his very best, even factoring in the concession of what was a very dubious penalty. The Portuguese midfielder was pivotal in breaking up any momentum Leicester City put together and dovetailed perfectly with Harrison Reid. 8

Harrison Reed: The special one Iniesta had a decent game today, his work rate even when he made mistakes was unmatched today. While i do think there were mistakes in his performance today, including numerous wayward passes, it wasn't a disaster by any means. Reed also made numerous chances and made a goal with his great switch of play for Willian's long-range strike in the second half. 7

Tom Cairney: The Fulham faithful sing that there ain't nobody like Tom Cairney – and that was true this afternoon as Leicester couldn't get near our classy playmaker. An excellent game from the skipper, he was bright, energetic and dribbled like a Brazilian. Scoring two good goals capped a fine display from him. 9

Harry Wilson: Every time he starts Wilson just looks better and better since he has come back from injury. Time and time again he managed to slip past his marker. The Welsh winger was key in nearly every attack we made and really showed why Silva should continue putting him in the starting eleven. He was unlucky not to get the goal his performance deserved. 8

Willian: People doubted Willian when he first came to play for Fulham. They said he was too old, not fit enough and past it. Well, today he showed otherwise – as he has for most of this stellar season. He was constantly a threat and played true Brazilian football, full of skills and creative play. Willian's attacking threat was total and Fulham looked exceptionally dangerous whenever he was on the ball. 9

Carlos Vinicius: I know in the past I have been (extremely) critical of Vinicius. But these last few games he has proved me wrong. While he wasn't perfect today he did what all good strikers do and made a massive nuisance of himself to Leicester's defence. The Brazilian grabbed a goal and an assist on a very productive afternoon. 8

Substitutes:

Shane Duffy (5), Neeskens Kebano (7), Manor Solomon (7), Bobby Decordova-Reid (6) all didnt see enough of the ball to have a true reflection on their ability. Sasa Lukic (7) looked solid today, making some good passes and looked fairly composed.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/05/fulham-5-3-leicester-city-player-ratings/