Sunday Fulham Stuff - 24/12/23...

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Results

Saturday 23/12
West Ham	2-0	Man Utd
Fulham	0-2	Burnley
Luton	1-0	Newcastle
Man City	P-P	Brentford
Forest	2-3	Bournemouth
Spurs	2-1	Everton
Liverpool	1-1	Arsenal

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Fulham 0-2 Burnley

Wilson Odobert scored his third Premier League goal for Burnley at Craven Cottage

Wilson Odobert's stunning goal helped Burnley climb off the bottom of the table as they secured their third Premier League win of the season at Fulham.

French winger Odobert curled the ball home in style two minutes into the second half to put the Clarets ahead.

Sander Berge then arrowed in a second for Vincent Kompany's side with a low strike into the corner of the net.

Fulham were left to rue missed chances as Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford kept the home side at bay.

The match was refereed by Rebecca Welch, who became the first woman to take charge of a Premier League game.

"It feels like something we have deserved for a while," Burnley boss Kompany told BBC's Match of the Day.

"We keep going and today we kept going. A good team performance and a good result."

Burnley's Trafford was comfortably the busier of the two goalkeepers throughout, and he made two vital saves in the first half with the scoreline goalless.

The England Under-21s stopper did well to keep out Harry Wilson's effort at the near post after a jinking run and pushed a deflected Alex Iwobi shot wide of the post.

A scramble in the box shortly before half-time saw also Iwobi shoot at goal but Zeki Amdouni managed to block.

Burnley began the second half on the front foot and their early endeavour was rewarded with a fine opening goal.

Odobert exchanged a neat one-two with Lyle Foster and then opened up his body to spectacularly curl the ball beyond the diving Bernd Leno.

From there Burnley had a spring in their step and Norway midfielder Berge, allowed freedom by a Fulham defence in retreat, fired in a second from the edge of the box.

Fulham piled on the pressure but could not find a way past Trafford, who saved well from Timothy Castagne late on.

The result helped Burnley, bottom at kick-off, leapfrog Sheffield United up to 19th place - four points adrift of safety, as Fulham slipped down to 12th.

Clarets show plenty of grit
This was a much-needed boost for Kompany's side heading into a festive period in which they will face tough games against Liverpool and Aston Villa.

What will have pleased the Belgian most is the character and stomach for the fight from his side to end a five-match run away from home without a win.

Keeper Trafford has epitomised that spirit in recent weeks as one of Burnley's most impressive performers, but in this contest he was backed up by the rest of his team-mates.

The Clarets pressed, chased and harried when not in possession and showed a real willingness to put their bodies on the line.

A ruthlessness in front of goal - scoring from their only two shots on target - ensured they have now picked up five more points away from home than at Turf Moor.

Equally important was Burnley's first clean sheet for 15 Premier League away matches.

They will need more of the same if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation after winning promotion back to the top flight last season.

"The whole team really values wins and clean sheets. We have never really been short of confidence as a team," Trafford said.

"We believe in the whole process. The performances have been there and it was only a matter of time before the results came."

Fulham, for their part, were unable to convert their dominance in the first half into goals.

When they fell behind the Cottagers started to look jaded as the exertions of a penalty shootout victory over Everton in the EFL Cup during the week caught up with them.

Fulham have now lost their past three home league games against the Clarets and Marco Silva will look for a quick response at Bournemouth on 26 December.

"I think after we conceded the first goal we lost some principles. Clearly we deserved more from the game," Silva said.

"They had two shots on target but the reality is they were more ruthless. This can happen in the Premier League."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67735461

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Post-Burnley Press Conference
Marco Silva didn't hide his disappointment following his side's 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Craven Cottage.

Despite a dominant Fulham first-half, the Clarets supplied a sucker punch immediately after the break before doubling their lead.

"Disappointing result for us clearly," Marco admitted. "Good first-half from ourselves I think. We were the best team on the pitch all first-half, we were the dominant team.

"We controlled the game and created three or four clear chances. Of course, when you are so dominant and you create chances like we did first-half, we should score. If not, the game is open and anything can happen at this level.

"We started in the worst way possible second-half, conceding a goal in the first minute. After that moment, we didn't perform like we normally do and in the way to create more problems for them.

"Unfortunately, we conceded a second goal in a way that cannot happen. It's a moment where we're completely out of balance and we lost that moment. It is what it is and we have to react in the next game."

The Whites' Carabao Cup Quarter-Final win at Everton in midweek, which went all the way to extra time and penalties, will have no doubt contributed to the lethargic display.

"Yes, it's one of the reasons. It cannot be the only reason but it is one of the reasons, of course. We started to lose some energy. That's the reality. It is what it is.

"Of course, it's different for us and for them; they didn't play in the middle of the week and we did. That's the easiest excuse but I prefer to not go in this direction, I prefer to analyse the game in a different way."

Willian was absent from the matchday squad through a minor hamstring injury, as Marco explained.

"As I said to you last game, he had a problem with his hamstring. It looks not really serious, not a big injury, but he had a small problem there.

"Yesterday, he trained with the team but not feeling really well in that hamstring. He was not in condition 100% to start the game and to play the game."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/december/23/post-burnley-press-conference/

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Fulham 0-2 Burnley: Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge goals seal shock and vital three points as Vincent Kompany secures his third Premier League win of the season

    Burnley impressed as they secured three vital Premier League points in London
    Second half strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge sealed victory

Minimum controversy for Rebecca Welch, the Premier League's first female referee. Maximum for Fulham, who never expected this was a game they could or would lose, based on previous evidence.

Craven Cottage had gotten used to 5-0 wins after seeing Marco Silva's side tear apart Nottingham Forest and West Ham this month. But Burnley refused to become Fulham's latest December dismemberment, holding it together until they took their chances in the second half.

First, Wilson Odobert produced a classy finish into the top corner after a one-two with Lyle Foster. Then, Sander Berge drilled his strike beyond Bernd Leno. With that, Vincent Kompany's Burnley are no longer propping up the Premier League table.

Kompany approached the away fans at full-time. Front and centre, he threw clenched fists towards them, and a rippling roar was the reply. Burnley believe.

The television cameras were obsessed with showing Hugh Grant's reaction to what was happening at Craven Cottage. The disappointment as Fulham failed to convert their chances in the first half. The desperation as Burnley took theirs in the second.

It was no wonder Grant skedaddled before full-time. He was not the only one. This was a fixture that Fulham fans will try their best to forget in a hurry.

Welch will not, however. When she walked out of the Craven Cottage tunnel, you could imagine the nerves. The 40-year-old former NHS administrator was alerted of this appointment two weeks ago. An eternity to mull over what might happen, not to mention read the jibes from social media ignoramuses like Joey Barton if one was so inclined.

Yet as Mark Clattenburg wrote in his Mail Sport column, Welch had earned this opportunity. She had worked her way up from the very bottom, having overseen the games where only a man and his dog were watching from the sidelines, and even the Jack Russell was barking abuse.

At 3pm, the trailblazer blew her whistle, and Fulham took charge in front of their watching owner Shahid Khan as only Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford stopped them from scoring.

First, Trafford was needed to stop Harry Wilson's shot from nestling in the corner. Then, he prevented Joao Palhinha's powerful drive from giving them the lead.

Fulham were without the injured Willian here. Operating on the left wing instead was Alex Iwobi, who used quick feet in the 15th minute to side-step Jordan Beyer as he broke through Burnley's back line. Yet the end product was absent as he sent his shot into the side-netting.

After 22 minutes, Beyer's foul on Andreas Pereira gave Fulham a free-kick opportunity from 35 yards. Pereira's ambitious attempt was deflected narrowly wide.

In the 24th minute, Fulham's fans were chanting 'you don't know what you're doing' after Welch penalised a flailing arm from Calvin Bassey into the face of Josh Brownhill. Television replays showed it was careless and Bassey was cautioned.

Before the break, Fulham came close twice. Iwobi's attempt at a curler was deflected off Vitinho, as the ball spun towards the top corner until Trafford Trafford acrobatically batted it away.

Iwobi then sent a goal-bound shot into the arm of Zeki Amdouni, but he was in the process of throwing himself to the ground to make the block. VAR Jarred Gillet checked it, with the help of his AVAR Natalie Aspinall, but Welch was told her original decision should stand.

Burnley had not looked like scoring and then, within two minutes of the second half's restart, they led 1-0. Amdouni had already gone close when he then won the ball close to Fulham's box ahead of Palhinha.

Odobert played a one-two with Foster and the 19-year-old's curler towards the top corner was always out of Leno's reach. It was Burnley's first shot on target of the afternoon and the live Premier League table showed they were off the bottom of the table.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12896627/Fulham-0-2-Burnley-Premier-League-2023-24-Result.html

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Rebecca Welch issues perfect response to Joey Barton after his stinging criticism of female Premier League ref
Rebecca Welch issued the perfect response to Joey Barton after he questioned her appointment as a Premier League referee.

Welch made history on Saturday when she became the first woman to take charge of a Premier League match.

She officiated Burnley's 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge the scorers for the visitors.

Ahead of the game, former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder Barton questioned Welch's appointment, claiming it "stank of tokenism".

Taking to X, he posted: "Fast tracked. RW was in League 2 a couple of years ago. I'm not sure she is good enough just yet. I hope she does well because it will set women back otherwise.

"I will be surprised if she has the athletic ability to keep up with play and see the full picture to make correct calls.

"Hope she doesn't slow the game down to her speed, so she can survive the physical expenditure needed at PL level.

"Stinks of Tokenism. Let's watch this space."

Barton's comments came after he said female presenters and commentators aren't "qualified" to speak about men's football.

He was also critical of Mary Earps' BBC Sports Personality of the Year win and claimed he would score 100 out of 100 penalties against her.

Welch gave the perfect response to Barton's most recent comments, overseeing the match between Fulham and Burnley without major controversy.

She did, however, have to give out three yellow cards to Fulham's Calvin Bassey and Joao Palhinha, and Burnley's Jordan Beyer.

Piers Morgan took to social media after the match to praise Welch's performance.

"Congrats to Rebecca Welch on becoming the first woman referee in the Premier League," he posted on X.

"By all accounts she had a very solid game, and was clearly there on merit, though every Fulham fan is now blaming her for their own players' dreadful performance.

"So, she should fit in very well!"



https://www.sportbible.com/football/premier-league/joey-barton-premier-league-female-referee-rebecca-welch-176195-20231222

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Tottenham Hotspur-linked centre-back Tosin makes decision on his future at Fulham
Nigerian central defender Tosin Adarabioyo has reportedly made a decision on his future with Fulham.

According to Football Insider, Tosin has indicated that he his not planning to sign a new deal with the Cottagers.

The Manchester City academy product has played nonstop at Fulham since October 2020 and will enter the last six months of his contract with the London club in January 2024.

Tosin attracted interest from Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window but he favored a switch to France over remaining in the Premier League and even acquired a Nigerian passport to smooth things out.

As per the report, Tottenham would reignite their interest in Tosin next year if they fail to land their top targets for the defensive positions.

Fulham are prepared to allow him run down his contract rather than cash in on the central defender in the January transfer window.

Tosin has emerged as a key player for Marco Silva's side since his recovery from injury, having gone the distance in each of the five matches played by the club, including today's 2-0 loss to Burnley.

The 26-year-old was on target in a 5-0 rout of West Ham United and netted the decisive penalty in a shootout win against Everton to help Fulham reach the semifinals of the Carabao Cup for the first time in their history.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=49885

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Fulham beaten at home by struggling Burnley
Strugglers Burnley won at Craven Cottage on an afternoon to forget for Fulham.

Wilson Odobert's stunning goal a couple of minutes into the second half put the Clarets ahead and Sander Berg's strike sealed their victory.

Fulham had chances, particularly in the first half, when keeper James Trafford produced saves to deny Harry Wilson and Joao Palhinha.

Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz also went close for the Whites before the interval, with both firing into the side netting.

The deadlock was broken in emphatic fashion when Odobert brilliantly bent in the opener after exchanging passes with Lyle Foster.

And there was no way back for Fulham after Berg surged through the middle and scored with a low shot which keeper Bernd Leno got a hand to but couldn't keep out.

The match was refereed by Rebecca Welch, who became the first woman to take charge of a Premier League game.
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Tosin, Robinson (Ballo-Toure 82), Cairney, Palhinha (Reed 82), Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 65), Wilson Muniz (Vinicius 65), Iwobi.
Subs not used: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Lukic, Diop, Harris.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/sport/fulham-beaten-at-home-by-struggling-burnley

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Fulham 0-2 Burnley: Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge strikes stun Craven Cottage
Vincent Kompany's Clarets produce only their third win of the season to move off the bottom

Burnley scored two superb goals to give Vincent Kompany's side a deserved victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Premier League.

Two long-range strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave Burnley their first win since December 2.

The 2-0 score-line meant a second straight league defeat for Marco Silva's Fulham following last week's 3-0 setback at Newcastle.

Burnley were camped in Fulham's half in the early stages and created a chance in the sixth minute.

Brazil international Vitinho tucked inside and played a whipped cross to the head of Lyle Foster whose effort sailed over the crossbar.

Fulham went close themselves in the 13th minute after a moment of brilliance from Harry Wilson.

The tricky Welshman picked up the ball on the edge of Burnley's box, sliced through the defence before his outside of the boot shot was saved by James Trafford.

Two more quickfire chances through Timothy Castagne and Alex Iwobi showed the Cottagers' intent but Fulham missed the quality of the suspended Raul Jimenez.

Referee Rebecca Welch became the first woman to take charge of a Premier League match and she brandished a yellow card to Calvin Bassey after the defender struck Josh Brownhill with his hand.

And the chance of the match came in first half added time. Andreas Pereira put a wide free-kick into the danger zone and after a scramble in the box, Iwobi's strike was cleared off the line to keep it level.

Burnley came out the blocks fast in the second half and took a 1-0 lead after 47 minutes.

A neat piece of play deep into Fulham's half saw the ball at the feet of Odobert who produced a wonderful, curved strike into the right-hand corner of Bernd Leno's goal.

And after 66 minutes the Clarets stunned Fulham and took a 2-0 lead.

The towering Berge retrieved the ball on half-way and drove into space. He entered the edge of Fulham's box where he rifled his strike past Leno to double his team's lead.

Actor Hugh Grant, a Fulham fan, was in attendance to witness the two festive blockbusters which gave the Clarets all three points.

And his team failed to produce a positive reaction late on and looked off the pace during six added minutes.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-vs-burnley-result-premier-league-b1128875.html

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Wayne Rooney apology to Neil Dewsnip over Jay Stansfield goal celebration
Stansfield, the former Exeter City striker, showed off a t-shirt with the slogan Once a Red Always a Red after scoring for Birmingham City in a 3-3 draw with Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney issued an immediate apology to Neil Dewsnip after Jay Stansfield's opening goal celebration in Birmingham City's 3-3 draw with Plymouth Argyle caused uproar at Home Park.

Stansfield, the 21-year-old former Exeter City striker, gave Blues an early lead and reacted by running behind the goal at the Devonport End and lifted his top over his head and revealed a T-shirt with the words Once a Red Always a Red on it. Argyle fans were furious as Stansfield and his team-mates celebrated in front of them and it led to him receiving a yellow card from referee Graham Scott before play restarted.

Dewsnip, who coached Rooney when he was a young academy player at Everton, was unaware of what words were on Stansfield's t-shirt when he was asked about the incident in his post-match Press conference after taking charge of Argyle for the first time.

He said: "I didn't realise that. What I would say, though, is - and this is the quality of Wayne Rooney as a person - you might have seen he came straight up to me and he said 'Neil, I apologise, I know about the Exeter-Plymouth thing, I will speak to him in the dressing room'.

"Now maybe that was why he took off him later on. I don't know, you would have to ask to Wayne, but well done Wayne Rooney."

A number of objects were thrown onto the pitch towards Stansfield and his team-mates from furious Argyle fans in the Devonport End. Whether that will lead to any disciplinary action being taken against Argyle as a club remains to be seen, but Stansfield's actions were clearly provocative and the reaction of the supporters was not good either.

Dewsnip said: "Both are not great, I would say. I know one instigates the other. I would have to see it, I have not seen the incident really."

Rooney was also asked about the way Stansfield had celebrated his goal. "I didn't know what was on the shirt," said the Birmingham boss.

"It's something I have done myself as a player and emotions are really high and you never know what a player is feeling from that point of view.

"I spoke to Jay, and I said this to Neil as well, I don't think it helped us in getting involved with the crowd as well. Sometimes you are better focusing on your job on the pitch, but ultimately he's a young player still learning his trade in the game.



https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/wayne-rooney-apology-dewsnip-stansfield-8996404

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Yellow cards, VAR and no controversy: Rebecca Welch makes history as first female Premier League referee
It's said that the mark of a good performance for a football referee is not being noticed. That was always going to be a tall order for Rebecca Welch, who on Saturday became the first woman to referee a Premier League match in Fulham's 2-0 home defeat by Burnley.

Amid the glare of history and the adrenaline fug of 22 rule-bending millionaires, it was like asking a white hen to maintain a low profile in a fox's den. As gender milestones go, it wasn't quite up there with, say, Valentina Tereshkova being the first woman in space, but it was certainly a maiden voyage into a potentially hostile environment.

Perhaps some pressure was eased by Mary Earps, the England women's football team's goalkeeper winning the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award last week. That moment suggested that, in the nation's eyes, football is no longer just a "man's game".

Then again, given the reaction in some quarters to Earps's victory, the weight on Welch's shoulders may have increased. Representing the Tyrannosaurus school of punditry, the former player, manager and England international for a mere 17 minutes, Joey Barton, dismissed Earps's award as "more loving nonsense".

But Welch was in no mood for any nonsense herself. Inside the first 10 minutes she turned down two major appeals for fouls, giving the strong impression that she wasn't going to stand for grown men falling over. Maybe she was looking for more of a woman's game.

After 25 minutes she received her first boos and some half-hearted chants of "You don't know what you're doing" when she booked Fulham's Calvin Bassey for a foul on Josh Brownhill. It felt like she had arrived, the initiation rite of her first Premier League yellow card.

Harsh? Fair? Whichever, it proved early on that she wasn't a "homer", one of those referees whose decisions lean towards the local support. And nor was she that other unloved type in black, an attention-seeking whistleblower.

The most disputed moment of the first half came in injury time when Welch turned down a Fulham penalty appeal for handball. VAR supported her decision, but, as they say, I've seen them given.

The truth is that referees have not enjoyed a golden season so far this year. There have been all manner of controversial decisions made worse by some dubious application of VAR. The issue that most concerns players, managers and supporters is clearly not about gender but competence.

If the likes of Barton and other less prominent social media trolls seem out of step with the times, then it's worth remembering that it's little more than a decade since Sky Sports's celebrated duo Andy Gray and Richard Keys, thinking they were off air, felt entirely relaxed about denigrating female officials and other women in the industry.

They both castigated Sian Massey, one of the first female assistant referees, after she made a tight (but correct) offside call. "Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her..." said Keys.

"Yeah," replied Gray, "can you believe that?"

'The game's gone mad," complained Keys, deriding Karren Brady for highlighting sexism in football. "Do me a favour, love."

The standard sexist joke about women and football used to be that they couldn't understand the off-side rule, and would be better off putting the kettle on. That Gray and Keys were sacked (after further tapes emerged of their "prehistoric banter") was a convulsive shock to the male-dominated system.

Nowadays it's commonplace for women to chair football discussions on TV and to offer expert opinion. But the progress of female officials has been less speedy and conspicuous.

Welch, 40, was also the first woman to referee an English Football League match, when she carried the whistle in a League Two game between Harrogate Town and Port Vale in 2021.

She has been praised for her "resilience", a quality that surely all referees require, because being the subject of a full stadium's fury is the stuff of waking nightmares. Maintaining focus and exerting control over two groups of highly competitive men when thousands are loudly questioning your parentage is not a job for the faint of heart.

Fulham v Burnley is about as soft a landing as is possible in the Premier League. With Hugh Grant, who was in attendance, a regular visitor, it's fitting that the atmosphere at Craven Cottage tends towards middle-class diffidence. When Welch and her assistants did a warm-up lap before the match, she received a round of polite applause from the Johnny Haynes stand.

Things heated up in the second half, as Welch handed out another couple of yellow cards. However, she maintained a quiet and calm authority, always alert and on her toes, and never intimidated by the occasion.

There will be tougher tests ahead, but you could say that in her Premier League debut she experienced the familiar fate of many women in a male-dominated workplace in almost passing unnoticed. In this case, there's no higher praise.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/yellow-cards-var-no-controversy-181943999.html

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Fulham closing in on signing Andre; Liverpool, Tottenham move collapses

Fulham are closing in on Andre Trindade as Tottenham and Liverpool moves fall apart
Premier League side Fulham are closing in on a deal for Brazilian midfielder Andre Trindade who is also on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. This is according to a report by Football Insider.

The Samba star was a key player for Fluminense as they won the Copa Libertadores this year. Just 22, Andre is already an experienced player and appears ready to make the next step in his career.

The defensive midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Anfield last summer. However, it was not to be and the Reds opted to bring on other players to fulfil their midfield revamp. Despite being linked with a January effort, it would appear that a move to Merseyside is now a no-go.

The same can be said of Tottenham who are looking to rebuild under Ange Postecoglou. Landing Andre would have helped them add some serious muscle in the middle of the park and helped the Spurs boss implement his attacking brand of football.

Andre, for his part, is keen to move to the Premier League. This is good news for Fulham who are now in the driver's seat for the 22-year-old. The player is keen to play in the English capital and could join up with fellow Brazilians Willian, Andreas Pereira, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz at Craven Cottage.

Landing Andre is nothing short of a coup for the Cottagers. Marco Silva's side ned muscle in the middle of the park and should they land Andre, it can be considered a coup. Not only does the Brazilian also possess excellent technical ability on the ball but is equally capable of reading the game and cutting off danger.

The future of Joao Palhinha is still up in the air given that several clubs are circling for his services. Should Fulham lose him in January, Andre will certainly help ease that deficit both in terms of quality and numbers.

It is perhaps curious that Fulham holds the edge over Tottenham despite the latter also being a London-based club. More so, Spours also have a healthy South American contingent in their ranks. Whatever the reason, one cannot dismiss the fact that landing Andre would be a statement of intent from Fulham.




https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/24/fulham-closing-in-on-signing-andre-liverpool-tottenham-move-collapses/

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Burnley battle to vital victory
Marco Silva suggested in the build-up to this game that he would only enjoy Christmas if Fulham followed up their impressive December home form by picking up three points against Burnley. If the Portuguese adopts a Scrooge-esque persona around Motspur Park after this dismal defeat, his players will only have themselves to blame – they were outfought, outwitted and outplayed over the course of ninety minutes as the Clarets ground out only a third league win of the campaign to climb off the foot of the table and give Vincent Kompany hope of an incredible escape act.

Burnley's first away clean sheet was the basis of a surprise success with dogged defiance and the terrific James Trafford in goal keeping out a trio of Fulham efforts in an otherwise forgettable first half. He spread himself well to palm away Harry Wilson's shot after the Welshman had wriggled past three defenders on a solo right infield from the right before reacting well to deny Joao Palhinha when the powerful midfielder had latched onto a header from Rodrigo Muniz. Trafford thwarted Alex Iwobi with his legs when the Nigerian found himself clear of the Burnley back four – and a penalty shout on the stroke of half-time came to nothing when it was ruled that Iwobi's shot had inadvertently Zeki Amdouni's arm.

The visitors, who matched with their hosts in a 4-2-3-1 formation, looked lively on the counter. They caused plenty of nervousness in the first twenty minutes even if their best opening before the break saw Lyle Foster's intelligent run curtailed by a last-ditch intervention from Tosin Adarabioyo. Kompany's side competed for every ball, quietly nullified the effectiveness of Tom Cairney in central midfield, and disrupted Fulham's rhythm. The hosts badly missed the banned Raul Jimenez with neither Muniz, who hit a rasping drive into the side netting from an acute angle in the first half, or his eventual replacement Carlos VInicius making much of an impression on a well-drilled Burnley back line.

After Trafford had narrowly escaped playing a pass straight to Cairney as he sought to find his centre halves, Amdouni skewed a shot wide from ten yards out. It felt like the sort of chance a struggling side couldn't afford to pass on, but Burnley were about to ruthlessly punish the home side's failure to finish off their own opportunities. Teenager Wilson Odobert conjured up a spectacular opener, curling a fabulous finish around Bernd Leno having worked a one-two with Mike Tresor, after Amdouni had pinched possession from Cairney.

Fulham probed patiently in response with two substitutes almost combining for an equaliser moments after entering the fray. Bobby De Cordova-Reid cross for Vinicius, but Trafford was equal to the Brazilian's header. The home fans howled for a penalty against Foster for handball, but their desperation only intensified when Sander Berge was allowed to run 40 yards through the middle of the park before rifling a low shot past Leno to send the travelling fans wild.

Silva's side continued to dominate possession but found no way through a resolute Burnley rearguard. They struggled to create much despite throwing caution to the wind in the closing stages, with Trafford only called upon to block a shot from Timothy Castagne before Kompany could defiantly punch the air after the final whistle.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson (Ballo-Toure 82), Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha (Reed 82), Cairney; Wilson, Iwobi, Pereira (De Cordova-Reid 65); Muniz (Vinicius 65). Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Lukic, Harris.

BOOKED: Bassey, Palhinha.

BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Vitinho, Taylor, O'Shea, Beyer; Brownhill, Berge; Bruun Larsen (Tresor 45; Delcroix 89), Amdouni (Redmond 80), Odobert (Roberts 80); Foster (Rodriguez 65). Subs (not used): Muric, Zaroury, Cullen, Obafemi.

BOOKED: Beyer.

GOALS: Odobert (47), Berge (66).

REFEREE: Rebecca Welch (Tyne and Wear).

ATTENDANCE: 23,598



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/burnley-battle-to-vital-victory/

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Silva: 'We didn't perform'
Marco Silva admitted Fulham fell well short of their usual standards after his side were beaten by Burnley at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Spectacular second-half strikes from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge secured a massive victory for Vincent Kompany's side who soaked up Fulham's pressure and punished their opponents for missing several good chances in the first 45 minutes.

Silva told the BBC after the final whistle:

"A disappointing result for us. We created enough chances in the first half, we didn't score. From the first Burnley goal, we did not perform. It's not really the way we like to perform and play. We deserved more from the game because we created more chances in the first half.

"I think after we conceded the first goal we lost some principles. Clearly we deserved more from the game. We produced more to win the match and were on the front foot for most of the game. We created three or four chances in the first half. They had two shots on target, but the reality is they were much ruthless. This can happen in the Premier League."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/silva-we-didnt-perform/

[WhiteJC]

Boss Silva admits Fulham were punished
Boss Silva admits Fulham were punished

They were beaten 2-0 at Craven Cottage, where Wilson Odobert's stunning goal a couple of minutes into the second half put the Clarets ahead and Sander Berg's strike sealed their victory.

Fulham had chances, particularly in the first half, when keeper James Trafford produced saves to deny Harry Wilson and Joao Palhinha.

Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz also went close for the Whites before the interval, with both firing into the side netting.

The deadlock was broken in emphatic fashion when Odobert brilliantly bent in the opener after exchanging passes with Lyle Foster.

And there was no way back for Fulham after Berg surged through the middle and scored with a low shot which keeper Bernd Leno got a hand to but couldn't keep out.

"We were not close enough at this level and we were punished," said Silva.

"In the first half we were the best team on the pitch. We dominated the game and should have scored.

"Then we started the second half in the worst way, and for their second goal their player runs 30 yards without opposition."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/boss-silva-admits-fulham-were-punished

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham and Monaco expected to revive interest in Nigerian central defender
Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco are expected to reignite their interest in Fulham's Nigerian centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo.

As reported by 90min.com, the two clubs are ready to battle it out once again for the signature of Tosin after their failed attempts in the summer.

Tottenham attempted to sign the former Manchester City youth player in the summer but a deal did not happen as the player wanted to join Monaco.

Tosin's proposed transfer to the Principality club fell through as Fulham didn't have a replacement lined up for him, so they pulled the plug on the deal.

The renewed attempt to sign Tosin would be met with huge resistance from the Cottagers who want him to commit his future to the club.

His current contract ends next summer and that means he can agree on a pre-contract agreement with Monaco and other foreign clubs next month.

The lanky defender started this season on the sidelines but appears to have regained his place in Marco  Silva's side in recent weeks.

He grabbed the headlines in Fulham's victory over Everton as it was his penalty that sent them to their first ever Carabao Cup semi-final

 Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=49889

[filham]

Is there a risk that Tosin will leave us on a free transfer or a very low fee.

[MickTheBeard]

Tosin wants to leave it can't just be money their must be other reasons it's his 4th year  what is he not happy with money,success,owners,manager,fans would like to know just because he is determined to leave.

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

I am surprised that people are not mentioning the 20% sell on fee which we would have to pay Man City should we sell Tosin in January. That was a condition when we signed him for only £2m