Fulham 6 QPR 0: Andrew Johnson Nets Hat-Trick in Craven Cottage Rout
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Fulham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Andrew Johnson scored a hat-trick at Craven Cottage against QPR as Fulham recorded their first Premier League victory of the season in emphatic style.
Johnson has scored six goals in Europe and took that form into domestic football to net his first goals of the campaign away from the Europa League.
His first came in the second minute when Moussa Dembele's shot was parried by Paddy Kenny, and he tucked away the rebound.
Danny Murphy doubled the lead from the penalty spot, then Johnson added another before the half-time interval with a finish at the far post.
Murphy set up Johnson's hat-trick with a quick free-kick in the second half, then Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora added the others.
THE GOALS:
2 mins: Dembele's shot from the edge of the area is saved but Johnson follows up to open the scoring.
20 mins: Murphy scored from the penalty spot after Kenny brings down Johnson in the penalty area.
38 mins: Johnson finishes again after Zamora pulls the ball back for him.
59 mins: Murphy sets up the hat-trick with a quick free-kick, and Johnson did the rest.
65 mins: Johnson plays his part in the fifth goal before Zamora tees up Dempsey to score.
74 mins: Zamora joins the party, adding the sixth by cutting inside from the flank and finding the far corner.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
9 mins: QPR defender Bradley Orr clears off line as Dempsey goes close.
58 mins: Zamora runs through but Kenny makes the save.
79 mins: Joey Barton forces a save from Mark Schwarzer.
90 mins: DJ Campbell has an effort that goes wide for the visitors.
REACTION:
QPR manager Neil Warnock responded to reports Adel Taarabt left Craven Cottage after being replaced at half-time:
"That's not my problem at the moment. I have no idea. I've more worries than any individual when you lose 6-0. I don't think you can blame Adel Taarabt today. We conceded six goals. You've got to look at that."
On the match:
"If I'm honest, if we had Darren Bent playing for us today, and a few England players, we'd have still been beaten 6-0."
Fulham manager Martin Jol was pleased with his team's display:
"We took the initiative. Sometimes you need to let them play to get more space for our four attacking players and we did well in that respect. We played 4-4-2 today with two wide players who could come in. That caused them a problem with the full-backs."
On Johnson's contribution:
"I'm very happy for him and for us as well. He scored the goals in Europe, did it in the Premier League but it doesn't matter who scores the goals, we need the results."
On Johnson's contract expiring at the end of the season:
"Other people are doing the negotiations. I will back him all the time and hopefully he is good for us this season because he has scored more goals today than he did in the whole of last season. But I feel Andy Johnson and Fulham is a good combination."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Fulham have kick-started their season with this win. Morale will be high and it eases fears of being embroiled in a relegation scrap. QPR are back to square one after improving recently. They need to get this defeat out of their system quickly.
FULHAM 6 (Johnson 2, 38, 65, Murphy 20 pen, Dempsey 65, Zamora 74) QPR 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 7; Grygera 7, Baird 8, Hangeland 7, Riise 7; Dembele 7 (Sa 87), Sidwell 7, Murphy 8 (Etuhu 83), Dempsey 9; Johnson 10 (Ruiz 75, 6), Zamora 9.
Subs (not used): Etheridge, Kelly, Senderos, Duff.
QPR (4-2-3-1): Kenny 4; Orr 5, Hall 5, Ferdinand 5, Young 5; Derry 5 (Campbell 46, 6), Faurlin 5; Wright-Phillips 6, Taarabt 5 (Smith 46, 6), Barton 5; Bothroyd 5 (Mackie 72, 6).
Subs (not used): Murphy, Perone, Buzsaky, Helguson.
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
ATTENDANCE: 23,766
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v Stoke (away), Premier League, 15/10, 1500 BST
- QPR v Blackburn (home), Premier League, 15/10, 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Andrew Johnson (Fulham): His contract is expiring soon and he gave Fulham another reminder of what he is worth. Given his goals in the Europa League as well, he is one of the in-form strikers in the Premier League at the moment.
Fulham v QPR Preview: Shaun Wright-Phillips Out to Prove a Point to Fulham
by Jon WestFiled under: Fulham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE, CRAVEN COTTAGE, SUNDAY OCTOBER 2. KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
While the focus of the nation may be on the capital tussle north of the Thames on Sunday afternoon, try telling residents of Hammersmith and Fulham that this particular London derby has little significance.
It is the first derby between QPR and Fulham to take place in the top flight and the first in any league in over ten years.
And there is more than bragging rights for the supporters at stake. Fulham are in desperate need of their first league win this season, but have been buoyed by their win against Odense on Thursday night.
QPR, meanwhile, are keen to build on the momentum they built following their away win against Wolves. Momentum which was checked by the home draw against Aston Villa, where they fell behind to a soft penalty.
Both sides have new players who have yet to gel; Fulham are patiently waiting on Bryan Ruiz to adjust to the top flight, while Rangers manager Neil Warnock's midfield is still getting to know one another.
Key match-up: Jon-Arne Riise v Shaun Wright-Phillips. Riise is one of the best fullbacks in the business, while Wright-Phillips, according to his manager, has something to prove in order to get back in the reckoning for England.
Form guide: Fulham may be clocking up the air miles in the Europa League but it is in that competition where they have registered wins. QPR have been better away from home than at Loftus Road.
Odds: Fulham evens, QPR 3/1, draw 23/10
FULHAM:
Manager Martin Jol is unconcerned by the lack of wins, claiming he has the balance right to move up the table sooner rather than later.
Jol said: "If we win on Sunday it will be a great feeling, but I think our position will be fine in the league.
"It is not a matter of defeats, it is that we have had too many draws. And it is not that we have conceded a load of goals, we just need to score more. We want to climb the table and we have the team to do well."
Of more concern to Jol is Adel Taarabt, who he knows from his time at Tottenham. Back then, the Moroccan playmaker was a 17-year-old with an ego.
Jol admits he has improved out of sight and said: "He was 17 years of age when he was at Spurs and when he had the ball everyone watched. It is like Bill Nicholson said, it was as if the players needed to buy tickets to watch him play.
"But he has improved. He plays the ball when necessary and keeps the ball when he has to. He is one of the best No10s in the game. When he gets the ball he is QPR's biggest threat."
Strategy: Expect Bobby Zamora to be leading the line after being laid low for a while through illness. The England striker remains his side's best bet for a goal and the Fulham medical staff have been busy behind the scenes with Sunday in mind, having left him at home for the Europa League trip.
Injury update: Aaron Hughes is back in full training and could feature on the bench. Simon Davies could return in November. Mousa Dembele and Zamora have overcome their illnesses.
QPR:
Wright-Phillips could have become a Fulham player in January when Mark Hughes, his former boss at Manchester City, was in charge at Craven Cottage.
A failure to agree on how big a chunk of his £80,000-a-week wages eventually scuppered that deal and it was not until August that the England winger moved back to London to join the Hoops.
And when he did he hardly gave the Fulham near miss a further thought. "I didn't think about it," he told the Ealing Gazette. "When I got the chance to come to QPR - I took it and that's what I wanted to do. The rest is all so much history and nothing more to worry about."
Wright-Phillips has made a huge impact since leaving Eastlands, despite not being as sharp as he would like.
He added: "My physical fitness is fine, but people say it takes five to six games to get match fit. I'm hoping I get there quicker than that now that I've got to half that total."
Fulham v QPR Preview: Shaun Wright-Phillips Out to Prove a Point to Fulham
by Jon WestFiled under: Fulham, QPR, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE, CRAVEN COTTAGE, SUNDAY OCTOBER 2. KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
While the focus of the nation may be on the capital tussle north of the Thames on Sunday afternoon, try telling residents of Hammersmith and Fulham that this particular London derby has little significance.
It is the first derby between QPR and Fulham to take place in the top flight and the first in any league in over ten years.
And there is more than bragging rights for the supporters at stake. Fulham are in desperate need of their first league win this season, but have been buoyed by their win against Odense on Thursday night.
QPR, meanwhile, are keen to build on the momentum they built following their away win against Wolves. Momentum which was checked by the home draw against Aston Villa, where they fell behind to a soft penalty.
Both sides have new players who have yet to gel; Fulham are patiently waiting on Bryan Ruiz to adjust to the top flight, while Rangers manager Neil Warnock's midfield is still getting to know one another.
Key match-up: Jon-Arne Riise v Shaun Wright-Phillips. Riise is one of the best fullbacks in the business, while Wright-Phillips, according to his manager, has something to prove in order to get back in the reckoning for England.
Form guide: Fulham may be clocking up the air miles in the Europa League but it is in that competition where they have registered wins. QPR have been better away from home than at Loftus Road.
Odds: Fulham evens, QPR 3/1, draw 23/10
FULHAM:
Manager Martin Jol is unconcerned by the lack of wins, claiming he has the balance right to move up the table sooner rather than later.
Jol said: "If we win on Sunday it will be a great feeling, but I think our position will be fine in the league.
"It is not a matter of defeats, it is that we have had too many draws. And it is not that we have conceded a load of goals, we just need to score more. We want to climb the table and we have the team to do well."
Of more concern to Jol is Adel Taarabt, who he knows from his time at Tottenham. Back then, the Moroccan playmaker was a 17-year-old with an ego.
Jol admits he has improved out of sight and said: "He was 17 years of age when he was at Spurs and when he had the ball everyone watched. It is like Bill Nicholson said, it was as if the players needed to buy tickets to watch him play.
"But he has improved. He plays the ball when necessary and keeps the ball when he has to. He is one of the best No10s in the game. When he gets the ball he is QPR's biggest threat."
Strategy: Expect Bobby Zamora to be leading the line after being laid low for a while through illness. The England striker remains his side's best bet for a goal and the Fulham medical staff have been busy behind the scenes with Sunday in mind, having left him at home for the Europa League trip.
Injury update: Aaron Hughes is back in full training and could feature on the bench. Simon Davies could return in November. Mousa Dembele and Zamora have overcome their illnesses.
QPR:
Wright-Phillips could have become a Fulham player in January when Mark Hughes, his former boss at Manchester City, was in charge at Craven Cottage.
A failure to agree on how big a chunk of his £80,000-a-week wages eventually scuppered that deal and it was not until August that the England winger moved back to London to join the Hoops.
And when he did he hardly gave the Fulham near miss a further thought. "I didn't think about it," he told the Ealing Gazette. "When I got the chance to come to QPR - I took it and that's what I wanted to do. The rest is all so much history and nothing more to worry about."
Wright-Phillips has made a huge impact since leaving Eastlands, despite not being as sharp as he would like.
He added: "My physical fitness is fine, but people say it takes five to six games to get match fit. I'm hoping I get there quicker than that now that I've got to half that total."
Martin Jol is Right to Fear Fulham are Overly Reliant on Bobby Zamora
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Fulham, Premier League, Football
It's easy to forget Fulham almost offloaded Bobby Zamora to Hull just two years ago - now they cannot seem to cope without the striker.
After scoring just twice in his first season at the club in 2008-09 season, the Cottagers accepted a £5 million bid from the Tigers only for Zamora to snub the move and fight for his place.
The rest is history, of course, with the forward having played in the Europa League final that season as well as going on to be capped by England.
He has started this season promisingly too, yet the same cannot be said of his team.
Although they have lost just two of their six league matches this season, Fulham are the only side in the Premier League yet to chalk up a victory, leaving them with just four points.
Of their four league goals this term, the England international has scored two of them.
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And when you consider the Zamora has played in just three of their six matches, Fulham's problems soon become obvious.
Saturday's match at West Brom was one of the matches from which Zamora was absent - a stomach bug kept him sidelined - and surprise, surprise they drew a blank.
It was not that Jol named a particularly negative team - even though Damien Duff and Andrew Johnson were also out Clint Dempsey, Moussa Dembele, Orlando Sa and Pajtim Kasami all still made the starting XI.
The footballing gods might not have been with them after they twice hit the woodwork, yet their reliance on Zamora to shoulder the goalscoring burden was evident once again - much to the concern of Jol.
He said: "I liked our performance, but I think if you play the way we do we should score more goals. The only one who is doing that is Bobby, but if he is not there we need other players to stand up.
"There are more goals in this team. A start like this is always going to worry you."
Jol is right to be concerned.
He has brought in a number of players untried in the Premier League this summer and they are yet to prove they can cut it among England's elite.
Six games in it is still early days but, as Jol knows from his time at Tottenham, time and patience are in short supply among chairmen and supporters here. He needs results now.
Jol will see Fulham's next four league matches against QPR, Stoke, Everton and Wigan as a real opportunity to beef up their points tally.
One man he is certain to look to is £10.6 million deadline-day arrival Bryan Ruiz, who hit the post with his very first touch on Saturday.
The signing from FC Twente insists he is now ready to make his mark on English football - which will be music to Jol's ears.
He said: "I hope people will see me at my best very soon. I need to play. For sure I need to play. I feel good. I'm fit. I know I can play 90 minutes in the Premier League.
"I played for 120 minutes against Chelsea and that has helped me. If I play more matches, I will get more confidence from that. The manager has said to me he knows it will take some time for me to adapt. But I'm here to play."
West Brom 0 Fulham 0: Cottagers Frustrated as Winless Run Continues
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Fulham, West Brom, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
West Brom were booed off despite climbing off the bottom after escaping with a plucky point against Roy Hodgson's former club Fulham.
Despite the absence of Bobby Zamora, the Cottagers, who remain without a win in the Premier League this season, twice hit the woodwork at The Hawthorns but were unable to force their way through in what was a low-key affair.
The Baggies hit the woodwork themselves in injury-time when Chris Brunt's low drive hit the left post but it was not to be their day.
The point was enough to move the Baggies above Bolton, however Hodgson will have been left unimpressed by another poor display from his struggling team.
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THE HIGHLIGHTS:
2 mins: Nicky Shorey swings in an inviting cross from the left but Brunt's powerful header is too close to Mark Schwarzer.
8 mins: Gareth McAuley is alert to the danger to block a vicious Orlando Sa volley.
11 mins: Schwarzer is down quickly to his right to hold Youssouf Mulumbu's stinging low drive from 25 yards.
12 mins: Ben Foster can count himself lucky after he calamitously spills Clint Dempsey's shot straight to Pajtim Kasami only for his close-range strike to be ruled out for the most marginal of offsides.
48 mins: Dempsey's shot takes a wicked deflection off Jonas Olsson and cannons off the upright.
63 mins: Peter Odemwingie is sent clean through by Mulumbu's pass but, much to the home fans' despair, he fires straight at Schwarzer.
68 mins: Fulham substitute Bryan Ruiz almost scores with his first touch when he reacts first to John Arne Riise's spilt free-kick five minutes later only to fire against the right post.
90 mins: The Baggies hit the woodwork themselves in injury-time when Chris Brunt's low drive cannons off the left post.
West Brom v Fulham Preview: Roy Hodgson Focuses on League Form
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Fulham, West Brom, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: THE HAWTHORNS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
He might have failed to win over the Liverpool supporters during his time at Anfield, but Roy Hodgson can this weekend look forward to a warm reception from opposition fans, never mind those of his own team.
West Brom have not made the start Hodgson would have desired after losing four of their first five Premier League matches - as well as crashing out of the Carling Cup in extra-time against Everton in midweek.
However, having rescued the Baggies from the brink last season, eventually leading them up to a creditable 11th position, the veteran manager still has plenty of credit left in the bank with the Albion faithful.
If he is popular at The Hawthorns, then Hodgson holds legendary status at Fulham having pulled off another escape act at Craven Cottage as well as leading them to the Europa League final two years ago.
Martin Jol is finding out just how good a job Hodgson did with his Cottagers team having made a slow start to the season too.
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Like West Brom, they have managed just three points from their first five matches and are out of the Carling Cup following defeat on penalties to rivals Chelsea.
Key Match-Up: Craig Dawson v Bobby Zamora: Dawson was one of the few positives to come out of last weekend's dire display against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium and, with Gabriel Tamas suspended once again, looks set to leep his place in the team. He will face one of the toughest tests of his career on Saturday, however, with in-form Zamora lying in wait. The England international has started the season strongly with four goals already to his name - including two in the last four matches.
Form Guide: This has not been the start Hodgson would have hoped for after just one league win all term and they hit a new low last weekend after a 3-0 humbling at Swansea. Fulham, too, have struggled but last weekend's fightback to draw 2-2 against Manchester City will have restored some confidence.
Odds: West Brom 25/19, Fulham 23/10, Draw 12/5
WEST BROM:
Despite leading until the final two minutes of normal time, Hodgson admitted he was "not particularly sad" over their extra-time Carling Cup exit with the league being very much his priority.
"It is very easy to draw a line under this and move on," said Hodgson. "Any game you lose, even if it's in extra-time after a good performance, you don't feel great about it but on the other hand our priority is the league.
"Our goal is not to win the League Cup, it is to get another season in the Premier League and, to be quite frank, it can be counter-productive for teams like ourselves.
"I couldn't have asked for more than the players gave and had we won it we would have been happy.
"But losing it in the way we did doesn't make me particularly sad.
Strategy: One way or another, expect Hodgson to make changes from the team humbled by Swansea last weekend. Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans both came off the bench and impressed in the second half and could be drafted in, while Somen Tchoyi's performance at Everton could persuade Hodgson to stick with the 4-3-3 formation used in the Carling Cup as opposed to the 4-4-2 used in the Premier League of late.
Injury Update: Jonas Olsson is expected to recover from the cramp which ruled him out of Wednesday's Everton match. Zoltan Gera (knee) remains a major doubt to face his old club.
FULHAM:
Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell is wary of facing a Baggies team desperate to kick-start their season with a win.
"They're a good solid side," he said on official website fulhamfc.com. "Results haven't gone for them recently but the table doesn't lie, we're both down there and it's a big game even though it's early on in the season.
"As the years go by and the Premier League gets stronger, three points is harder to come by - there are no gifts in this league so we have to work hard to get every point.
"The Hawthorns is always a tough place to go, I've played there before and with them being at the bottom of the table their crowd's going to be right behind them and getting their players motivated.
"But that's an incentive for us to go there, quieten the home fans down a bit and try and stamp our authority on the game."
Sidwell was encouraged by taking Chelsea to penalties in the midweek Carling Cup clash.
"Everyone that came in had a point to prove to the manager," he said. "The performance is going to give the manager a selection headache for future games - but it's great for him to know that if there are injures or if he wants to rest or rotate the team, we have players who can come in and perform at that level."
Stategy: Jol gives his team license to attack, even if it has been their downfall at times this season. They were tighter under Hodgson but it has made for exciting matches at the start of Jol's reign.
Injury Update: Aaron Hughes is the main concern as he has a knee injury. Dickson Etuhu, Simon Davies and Andrew Johnson are out.
Chelsea Hope a Few Ghosts From the Past Have Been Exorcised
by Jon WestFiled under: Burnley, Chelsea, Fulham, Manchester United, Carling Cup, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Given that the Carling Cup was the first trophy Jose Mourinho won as Chelsea manager (although he managed to get himself sent to the stands during the 2005 final and was therefore banned from the celebrations) you can understand why Andre Villas-Boas was so pleased on Tuesday night.
His side has played more than 70 minutes a man down against a fellow Premier League side and come through via a penalty shoot-out. "Super-human" was his description of his players' efforts against a Fulham side that must be wondering how on earth it failed to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 1979.
It was Chelsea who ended up rewriting the history books however as before Bryan Ruiz, Fulham's expensive new acquisition, blasted his spot kick against the underside of the bar the Blues record in shoot-outs had been poor to say the least.
They had lost seven of the previous eight, including the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, when John Terry fluffed the kick that would have beaten Manchester United. Some of the others had been more embarrassing than heart-breaking however: home defeats to Charlton and Burnley spring to mind.
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And when Frank Lampard stepped up and saw the first kick of the shoot-out saved by Mark Schwarzer it looked like the pattern would repeat itself yet again. Until Terry scored his and Mousa Dembele saw his Fulham reply saved.
The Chelsea players ran to congratulate their goalkeeper after Ruiz's shot had bounced on to but not over the line four kicks later - and the man in question was Ross Turnbull, who was making his first appearance of the season and only his seventh for the club overall.
The reason was that Petr Cech had been hurt late in the first half in a collision with Orlando Sa that had left him with concussion.
The Czech republic international wasn't the first Chelsea man to be hospitalised by a bang on the head in that particular goalmouth this term as Didier Drogba had been knocked cold against Norwich the previous month. Indeed, the striker had only just returned for duty and has so far been able to clock up just 127 minutes of action so far this term, less than every other member of the first team pool.
Head injuries are a particular concern as far as Cech is concerned of course as he still wears the rugby-style headgear that protects a skull that was fractured in a collision with Stephen Hunt, then of Reading, in October 2006.
Thankfully this setback was nowhere near as serious and Cech is expected to resume his place between the sticks at home to Swansea on Saturday.
"Petr went for a scan in the hospital and he's okay," Villas-Boas said. "He felt a little bit dizzy from the early concussion at half-time. We decided, and he decided as well, it was better not to take risks."
So there was welcome news on two fronts for Villas-Boas, who revealed he had been informed of his side's dismal penalty record by his own players. Now he can get busy preparing for the next match - which might just be ideal for Fernando Torres to show his face again.
The man who gave the world the Miss of the Millennium at manchester United on Sunday wasn't even on the bench against Fulham. The seruous business of the Premier League-Champions League cycle begins again at the weekend - and there is nothing more seruious than trying to get a £50 million striker to find an open goal...
Fulham 2 Manchester City 2: Roberto Mancini’s Side Blow Two-goal Lead
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Fulham, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Danny Murphy completed a remarkable Fulham comeback that brought an end to Manchester City's 100 per cent league record.
City looked in control after Sergio Aguero's double put them two up after 46 minutes, but the home side fought back through Bobby Zamora and Murphy.
GOALS:
18 mins: David Silva's lay off finds Sergio Aguero in space inside the Fulham box and the striker finishes easily. Fulham's claims for offside are ignored.
46 mins: City take route one from the kick-off as Clichy finds Dezko who heads down for Aguero to finish from 20 yards.
56 mins: Zamora gives Fulham hope with a powerful shot on the turn from the edge of the box.
75 mins: Danny Murphy gets a slice off luck as his 20 yard shot deflects off Vincent Kompany and beyond Joe Hart.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
15 mins: Clint Dempsey does well to win possession on the edge of the City area and tests Joe Hart after fending off a challenge from Micah Richards.
25 mins: Mark Schwarzer is forced into a full length save after Gael Clichy shoots left-footed from 25 yards.
27 mins: Silva again springs the offside trap before teeing up Edin Dzeko whose first time shot is tipped over by Schwarzer.
62 mins: Dembele's left foot shot forces Hart into an outstanding save.
Martin Jol believes his side's fightback gives hope for the future:
"To show against a team like that you can come back and score two goals, must have given us a big boost and confidence for the future.
"The spirit will always be 100 per cent if you get the results and we didn't have the results, simple as that."
On dropping to the foot of the table:
"It was awful being at the bottom. You have to win your home games. It was not a nice thing to see that we were bottom of the league.
"Now we're 18th. It's better."
On the second half recovery:
'We came out in the first half with v good intentions to do better. To concede a goal like that is unexpected. But to come back from the death, we had the belief and the mentality."
Roberto Mancini hopes his side will learn from the shock of conceding a two-goal lead:
"After 2-0 it feels like a defeat, but it could be a lesson for us. When you dominate a game like us today for 60 minutes and score only two goals it's a problem.
"For 10-15 minutes afterwards Fulham played very well, but a football match finished after 95 minutes. A top team like us to control the game.
"Every game is like this in England. If a team is losing 2-0 they do not finish playing. They keep fighting and scored quickly."
On the reason for the outcome:
"For 10-15 minutes all the team should have worked better. All the payers need to defend. For 10 minutes we only defended with five or six players which is not good enough. We lacked the killer quality."
WHAT IT MEANS:
City have been showered with praise this season but their last two performances suggest Mancini's side is far from the finished article. The manager blamed tired legs and a lack of coordinated defensive effort for dropping two points but having assembled such an impressive squad, it is now up to him to remedy those faults. Fulham at last showed some of the fight that characterised their progress over the last two seasons and Jol has reason to believe his side can now move forward.
FULHAM 2 (Zamora 56, Murphy 75) MANCHESTER CITY 2 (Aguero 18,46)
PLAYER MARKING:
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 8; Kelly 6, Baird 7, Hangeland 6, Riise 6; Duff 6 (Kasami 6, 61), Sidwell 7, Murphy 7, Dempsey 8; Zamora 7, Dembele 9 (Ruiz 6,84).
Subs (not used): Etheridge, Sa, Ruiz, Senderos, Gecov, Grygera.
Manchester City (4-3-3): Hart 7; Richards 6, Kompany 6, Lescott 6, Clichy 7; Silva 7 (Zabaleta 6, 69), Barry 6, Y Toure 7; Aguero 8 (Tevez 6,83), Dzeko 7, Nasri 6 (Johnson 6,81).
Subs (not used): Pantilimon, Kolorov, K Toure, Tevez, Balotelli.
ATTENDANCE: 24,750
REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v Chelsea (away), Carling Cup 21/09, 1945 BST
- Manchester City v Birmingham City (home), Carling Cup, 1945 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Mousa Dembele (Fulham): The striker led the way as Fulham upped their game after falling two behind
Fulham v Manchester City: Sergio Aguero Maintains Maradona Connection
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Fulham, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: CRAVEN COTTAGE, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2011. KICK-OFF 1500 BST
Diego Maradona was guest of honour when these two teams played at Craven Cottage last season but his son-in-law will be in the limelight this time.
Sergio Aguero, who is married to Maradona's daughter, has six goals in his four Premier League games for Manchester City since his move from Atletico Madrid before the start of the season.
Aguero has shone as City have claimed maximum points in their four league games, helped by their other key players such as David Silva and Vincent Kompany.
So another win is expected when they face a Fulham team who have yet to record a domestic win and have struggled for a cutting edge in the attacking third of the pitch.
Martin Jol's side started their season early after gaining a place in the Europa League, and he is already juggling his resources and trying not to tire his players out as they manage their workload.
But Jol needs a result to kick-start their season and a result against high-flying City would give them the perfect lift, especially with the visitors appearing to be unstoppable at the moment.
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Key Match-up: Bobby Zamora v Kompany: Zamora was kept on the bench for most of the Europa League draw against FC Twente so he should be fresh. Kompany is the mainstay of the City defence and will be looking to keep the England striker quiet.
Form Guide: Fulham have looked good in possession but their attacks break down too easily. Jol wants more from his forwards as they are normally solid at the back. City are in top form at the moment and the quality in their squad means they can change a host of players without being weakened.
Odds: Fulham 11/2, Manchester City 4/7, Draw 14/5
FULHAM:
Fulham skipper Danny Murphy insists beating City is possible, despite Roberto Mancini's side scoring 15 goals in four league games.
Murphy said: "We can win the game because we've shown before against good quality opposition that we can, especially at the Cottage.
"So bring it on. It's going to need a hell of a performance from us. But what better way to get your first win than against one of the best sides in the Premier League.
"We showed last yeast when we played them up there at their place that we're capable of getting results against the better sides.
"We've done it here before as well against the Man Uniteds of this world, and the Liverpools and Arsenals. You've got to play these teams and try and believe you can win - sometimes teams are finished before they get out on the pitch."
On Fulham's position, Murphy added: "We've got an experienced squad and we won't panic. The fixture list hasn't been kind because we've got Man City on Sunday when them and United are in such sizzling form.
"I don't want to get the violin out but we seem to be getting punished a lot recently. But that's football at this level against good opposition."
Strategy: It will be difficult for Fulham to impose themselves on game so they will look to counter-attack. They are a threat from set-pieces too.
Injury Update: Bryan Ruiz is back in the squad after being ineligible for Europe, Aaron Hughes (knee) is a doubt and Dickson Etuhu has a thigh injury.
MANCHESTER CITY:
City manager Mancini is not letting up in his search for perfection and claims his free-scoring side still need to become more ruthless in front of goal.
He has seen his side make a flying start to the season and they are only being kept off top spot by neighbours Manchester United making an 100 per cent start.
But the hard-to-please Italian is not satisfied and urged his star-studded squad to follow the example of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
He said: "Manchester United are a top team, they have been used to winning for a long time.
"They have strong players. When they played against Arsenal, when they scored two or three goals, they continued trying to score. We need to have this mentality."
He added: "I don't think it will be possible to win always but we want to try to. We know Fulham will be a very tough game as they are strong at home."
Mancini is set to rotate his side at Craven Cottage as he tries to juggle his squad's involvement in three competitions.
That means Carlos Tevez, who failed to push through a summer exit, is in line to start.
But Mancini says his former captain must accept he has slipped down the pecking order, and said: "At this moment there are players that are better than him.
"He will have a chance to play. I don't know if he is happy, but every player that can't play is not happy."
Strategy: Mancini can things freshen up in the knowledge he is not weakening his side. And with Fulham having been in European action barely 72 hours earlier, this will only play into City's hands.
Injury Update: Nigel de Jong is out and is set to be joined on the sidelines by James Milner. Owen Hargreaves is not ready yet to make his debut.
Premier League Text Commentary: Fulham v Blackburn As It Happened
by Daniel HarrisFiled under: Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Premier League, Football, Min-By-Min Reports
Minute-by-minute commentary from Craven Cottage.
Fulham 1 Blackburn 1: Injury to Junior Hoilett Spoils Gritty Encounter
by Jon WestFiled under: Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Fulham and Blackburn shared a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage that kept both teams in the bottom three of the Premier League table and still searching for their first wins.
Ruben Rochina's eye-catching strike gave Rovers the lead midway through the first half but an error at the back allowed Bobby Zamora to level before the break.
The game was also marred by injury to Junior Hoilett, who was stretchered off following a collision with Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in stoppage time, which was extended by 11 minutes.
GOALS:
31 mins: Hoilett lays the ball back to Rochina on the edge of the box for the Spaniard to blast a left-foot thunderbolt past Schwarzer and in off the underside of the bar.
38 mins: Zamora makes it 1-1 with a quality finish - although Gael Givet's powder-puff challenge on the left of the Rovers area also helped.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
9 mins: Damien Duff gets the better of Gael Givet down the right and sets up Steve Sidwell, who fires just wide.
12 mins: Hoilett sends Rochina away but he tries to trick one defender too many and Schwarzer is able to save the shot that follows.
15 mins: David Goodwillie sends a bicycle kick just over.
22 mins: Rovers were lucky to escape conceding a penalty when Scott Dann gifted Zamora possession and Michel Salgado bundled the striker over in the box.
57 mins: Referee Howard Webb fails to give Rovers a penalty when Sidwell appeared to bring Hoilett down. Fulham counter through Jon-Arne Riise and Givet did well to stop Zamora getting on the end of the cross.
73 mins: Danny Murphy breaks free in the box but Paul Robinson pulls off a leaping save.
85 mins: Goodwillie fires across goal and wide after more good work from Hoilett.
90 mins: Schwarzer booked for clattering Hoilett outside the box. Could have been red. Goodwillie almost nicks it for Rovers from the deflected free kick.
REACTION:
Blackburn manager Steve Kean confirmed Hoilett's injury was not as bad as first feared.
"He needed three or four stitches in the side of his head and got a bang on his eye. He was out for a little bit of time, and he'll probably be concussed. It's good that he's up on his feet, and he'll get himself stitched up and will be fine."
The Scot felt Schwarzer should have been sent off by referee Webb.
"I was expecting him to send him off. When I spoke to Howard, he felt that even if Hoilett had got the first touch, (Fulham defender Stephen) Kelly was coming round. At the time, and at the pace it happened, I thought it would be a red card."
Kean did not feel Schwarzer had been deliberately reckless though.
"Schwarzer thought it might result in a goal, so he went all out for it. Hoilett, too. It was just a good professional attempt from each to score or prevent a goal."
Kean had been under pre-match pressure with suggestions he would be sacked if Rovers lost.
"Speculation in the press has just been speculation in the press, not from within the club. I've got fantastic backing from the owners, and I'm in contact with them every day. They're happy with the way we're playing. We had backing in the window, and have a competitive squad, so we have a squad that will finish in the top half. It's been a slow start, but we should already have had three or four points on the board before today. We'll stick at it."
Fulham manager Martin Jol did not feel Schwarzer should have been shown more than a yellow card.
"I've seen the challenge again and, while Hoilett is a terrific player and a nice guy and went for the ball, but Mark Schwarzer was clattered as well. It was a 50-50 situation."
The Dutchman was frustrated not to turn superior possession into goals however.
"They protected crosses well, but you need to come up with good solutions. We needed better finishing. I've heard we lacked a cutting edge, maybe today we did."
New signing Bryan Ruiz had a debut to forget but Jol backed him to come good.
"Bryan has to get used to the English game, and he'll do that. There are a lot of foreigners who never cope with that, but he's an intelligent guy who wants to achieve things with us. He scored a lot of goals. He couldn't get there where he~s good, in the box where he's deadly."
WHAT IT MEANS: That Kean will keep his job, for now. That both sides need a little extra to give their seasons the kick-starts they require. Neither look that bad but are finding performances better than the points tally.
FULHAM 1 (Zamora 38) BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 (Rochina 31)
PLAYER MARKING:
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 6; Hughes 6 (Kelly 20, 6), Senderos 6, Hangeland 7, J A Riise 6 (Johnson 80, 5); Murphy 6, Sidwell 6; Ruiz 4 (Dembele 46, 6), Duff 7, Dempsey 6; Zamora 7.
Subs (not used): Etheridge, Kasami, Gecov, Grygera.
Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Robinson 7; Salgado 6, Samba 6 (Olsson 46, 6), Dann 6, Givet 6; Dunn 6 (Petrovic 52, 6), Nzonzi 6; Rochina 7 (Lowe 71, 5), Formica 6, Hoilett 9; Goodwillie 6.
Subs (not used): Bunn, Yakubu, Vukcevic, Roberts.
ATTENDANCE: 24,856
REFEREE: Howard Webb
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v FC Twente (Home), Europa League, 15/09 2005 BST
- Blackburn v Arsenal (Home), Premier League, 17/09 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH: Junior Hoilett (Blackburn). Was a constant worry to the Fulham back-line, especially when cutting in from the left at speed. Sadly, he will now be missing as he recovers from his collision with Schwarzer.
Fulham v Blackburn Preview: Steve Kean Ready to Be Judged
by Ben HuntFiled under: Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: CRAVEN COTTAGE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1600 BST
These two sides have amassed a measly total of just one point from their opening matches this season; a statistic neither manager will be pleased with.
The Fulham manager, Martin Jol, saw his side earn that point from a goalless draw with Aston Villa on the opening day of the season while there have been defeats at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle.
Perhaps it was those two results that prompted the signing of striker Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente for the sum of £10.6 million in the transfer window.
Steve Kean has endured an even worse start, with Blackburn yet to register a single point after starting the season with three straight defeats.
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That has resulted in calls for the removal of the Rovers manager from fans frustrated at the lack of progress since their team's narrow relegation escape at the end of last season.
While Fulham have been doing their best to boost their attacking threat, Blackburn's problems have been in defence.
Rather strangely, like Fulham they have played Aston Villa and Wolves, however on both occasions Rovers were on the losing end. Kean's side have also lost to Everton.
There were several new arrivals at Ewood Park in the transfer window as Yakubu, Scott Dann and Simon Vukcevic were recruited and could feature on Sunday.
Key Match-up: Bryan Ruiz v Chris Samba. The forward, Ruiz, arrived at Craven Cottage with a big reputation - and with a big transfer fee. There will be great interest to see whether he can repeat his free-scoring at Fulham. While playing in the Eredivisie for Twente, Ruiz scored 36 goals in 61 games and Jol's team need that firepower. It has been one area where Fulham have struggled in the past, particularly whenever Bobby Zamora is missing. Ruiz is likely to be given a rough ride by Samba. The towering defender remained with Rovers, despite plenty of speculation that he would join Arsenal in the transfer window. The centre-back will be instrumental in helping Rovers try to keep a clean-sheet.
Form Guide: Neither of these sides are in form. It could be argued that Fulham are marginally the better, having at least taken a point from their opening three games this season. In the past two years, the Whites have come off the better, beating Rovers 3-2 last season and 3-0 the year before that. Historically, however, Blackburn edge this battle with 34 victories to Fulham's 26.
Odds: Fulham 4-6, Blackburn 9-2, Draw 13-5
Deadline Day Round-up: Craig Bellamy In, Raul Meireles Out at Liverpool
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, Wigan, Wolverhampton, QPR, Norwich, Swansea, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Liverpool were the focus of a dramatic end to deadline day after Craig Bellamy and Raul Meireles completed 11th hour moves in and out of Anfield.
Meireles' departure to Chelsea on a four-year deal for a £12 million fee came as a particularly surprising development after news the Portuguese star had handed in a transfer request came little over half an hour before the 11pm deadline.
Meanwhile, Wales striker Bellamy, who spent last season on loan at Championship side Cardiff, is back at Anfield four years after leaving the Merseyside and will wear the No. 39 shirt.
QPR and Stoke had appeared in the frame to sign Bellamy earlier in the day, however the chance to return to the club where he spent a controversial year in 2007 proved too good to turn down for the 32-year-old.
Further developments in a breathless day at Anfield saw Joe Cole snub late interest from Aston Villa to join Lille on a season-long loan, Christian Poulsen join French side Evian and David Ngog make a permanent move to Bolton.
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Sunderland signed Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal on a season-long loan, while Villa signed Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton on a respective season-long loan and permanent deal from Tottenham.
Spurs managed to keep hold of one of their key men in Luka Modric, whom manager Harry Redknapp claimed was the subject of a rejected £40 million bid from Chelsea, althought a move for Bolton's Gary Cahill failed to materialise for the White Hart Lane outfit.
They did, however, succeed in landing Football Writers' Association Player of the Year Scott Parker in a £5 million move from West Ham.
David Bentley has headed in the opposite direction on a season-long loan, while the Hammers also signed Henri Lansbury from Arsenal on a similar deal and Guy Demel from Hamburg.
Manchester City completed their shock move for free agent Owen Hargreaves, with the former Manchester United midfielder arriving on a one-year contract, while Carlos Tevez has remained at the Etihad Stadium.
QPR signed Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City and Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland.
Scott Dann left Birmingham for Blackburn in a £6 million move which could rise to £8 million.
Rovers also recruited striker Yakubu from Everton, who have attempted to offset the loss of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal by signing Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid and Argentine striker Denis Stracqualursi from Tigre on season-long loans.
The Toffees also sold striker Jermaine Beckford to big-spending Championship side Leicester in a £3 million transfer.
Wigan signed Shaun Maloney on a two-year deal from Celtic for £1 million as well as signing Chelsea's 21-year-old Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan. The Blues also allowed Gael Kakuta to join Bolton on loan.
Fulham fought off late competition from Newcastle to land Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente in a move worth around £10.6 million.
The Cottagers also signed experienced Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera and former Porto player Orlando Sa on free transfers and allowed Rafik Halliche to join Swansea on loan for the remainder of 2011.
Deadline Day Round-up: Craig Bellamy Makes Dramatic Anfield Return
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, Wigan, Wolverhampton, QPR, Norwich, Swansea, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Forward Craig Bellamy made
a dramatic deadline day return to Liverpool on Wednesday night after completing an 11th hour move from Manchester City.
The Wales striker, who last season on loan at Championship side Cardiff, is back at Anfield four years after leaving the Merseyside and will wear the No. 39 shirt.
QPR and Stoke had appeared in the frame to sign Bellamy earlier in the day, however the chance to return to the club where he spent a controversial year in 2007 proved too good to turn down for the 32-year-old.
Bellamy's arrival was just one of a number of developments on a busy day at Anfield
which saw Joe Cole snub late interest from Aston Villa to join Lille on a season-long loan, Christian Poulsen join French side Evian and David Ngog make a permanent move to Bolton.
There was also one further twist with half an hour of the window remaining when it emerged Chelsea target Raul Meireles had handed in a transfer request, leaving his future on Merseyside shouded in mystery as the 11pm deadline passed.
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Manchester City completed their shock move for free agent Owen Hargreaves, with the former Manchester United midfielder arriving on a one-year contract, while Carlos Tevez has remained at the Etihad Stadium.
Tottenham, too, managed to keep hold of one of their key men in Luka Modric might and, although they failed to push through a move for Bolton's Gary Cahill, they did succeed in landing Football Writers' Association Player of the Year Scott Parker in a £5 million move from West Ham.
David Bentley has headed in the opposite direction on a season-long loan, while the Hammers also signed Henri Lansbury from Arsenal on a similar deal and Guy Demel from Hamburg.
Two players who left Spurs, however, were Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton, who both joined Villa on a respective season-long loan and permanent deal.
QPR signed Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City and Scott Dann left Birmingham for Blackburn in a £6 million move which could rise to £8 million, while Rovers also recruited striker Yakubu from Everton.
Wigan signed Shaun Maloney on a two-year deal from Celtic for £1 million as well as signing Chelsea's 21-year-old Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan.
Newcastle 2 Fulham 1: Martin Jol not Best Pleased by Another Defeat
by Jason MellorFiled under: Fulham, Newcastle, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Leon Best made the most of a rare start to maintain Newcastle's impressive unbeaten opening to the season with a second-half double to sink Fulham.
The Republic of Ireland forward clearly likes facing London teams, with six of his eight Premier League goals for the club now having come against opposition from the capital.
Alan Pardew's side never looked back once Best broke the deadlock immediately after the break, following that up with a sublime second just after the hour.
Their only disappointment was missing out on a third straight Premier League clean sheet thanks to a late consolation from Clint Dempsey, Fulham's first goal in four-a-half hours of league football under Martin Jol this season, as they came up an inspired display from Newcastle keeper Tim Krul.
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THE GOALS
48mins: Mark Schwarzer pushes a shot from Yohan Cabaye onto the bar, and Best reacts first to break the deadlock from five yards (1-0)
66mins: Best takes a sublime touch to kill a low cross from substitute Demba Ba before turning to fire past Schwarzer from close range (2-0)
88mins: Dempsey's looping backward header from Danny Murphy's free-kick finds the net to ensure a nervy finish for the hosts (2-1)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
9 mins: Peter Lovenrkands heads narrowly wide after reacting first to a scuffed shot from Cabaye.
44 mins: The first serious goal threat from either side as a header from Jonas Gutierrez forces a good low save from Schwarzer.
45 mins: A positive flurry of goalmouth activity as Schwarzer tips over a cross-shot destined for the top corner from Cabaye.
56mins: Krul saves well from Steve Sidwell's powerful header as Fulham finally pose an attacking threat.
72mins: Krul called into action again as Chris Baird works a quick free-kick to send in a dangerous shot from distance.
77mins: More heroics from Krul, this time with a stunning point-blank stop to keep out a header from Murphy which he had no right to save.
90mins: Ba's shot deflects off Aaron Hughes onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
REACTION
Pardew insisted his side were good value for their latest victory:
"We've won three games this week and whatever level of football you're at, that's good going. We've used numerous players and they've all done a good job which is very encouraging."
On goalscorer Best:
"I don't think he started particularly well and you have to pay credit to Fulham for taking the sting right out of us early on. But we dealt with that, changed things a little and started to dominate. We were in control until the last 10 minutes.
"Leon's a player whose trying to establish himself in the Premier League. When he's playing poorly it doesn't set him back and I never really worry about his confidence, which is something he has in abundance. He did well today, especially in the second-half.
"He still has to prove himself in the Premier League. I've known him for a long time and come up against him plenty of times but for me he's never had a run where he's been able to say 'I'm the man'. He's got an opportunity to do that now."
On in-comings before the transfer window closes:
"There's nothing that I want to disclose now, we'll know where we are in a couple of days. It's frustrating for me.
"I'm frustrated we haven't got a couple of bodies in yet. Derek (Llambias) and Mike (Ashley) are frustrated as well, and hopefully we'll get things over the line this week."
On the impressive Krul:
"He's the kind of keeper you know you're going to get reaction saves from, but what impressed me today was his presence.
"He looked big, and came out and took a couple of crosses at the end. That was a signal that perhaps he thinks he's arrived which was a good thing."
On Ba's influence from the bench:
"Demba's had a tricky start to life here and he has some reasons for that which I'm not going to go into detail about, but he's a great lad and it was nice to have a positive cameo from him. All the new lads did well today, they influenced the game."
On life after the departed Joey Barton:
"You can't disguise the fact we've lost Joey and we need players to come out of the pack. We've got players who're ready to do that. We have the makings of some good young lads here.
"Joey's a large pesonality but the club's always bigger than the individual. I enjoyed working with him and contrary to some things you hear I wish him well.
"Football moves on very quickly and we've got seven points from a tough programme of three games and we're pleased with that."
On the injury to substitute Haris Vuckic:
"Haris looks like he has broken his hand which is a big disappointment for us."
Jol bemoaned his side's lack of cutting edge:
"If you create eight or nine chances away from home and some big ones at that, then you should take something from the game.
"Newcastle's first chance didn't come until just before half-time but then at the start of the second-half we dropped our concentration. It's frustrating because we always knew that at home Newcastle were capable of scoring goals."
On a third game of the week:
"We need to realise that even though it's our third game of the week the ball never gets tired."
On his compatriot Krul:
"The second goal almost killed us but we came back and credit to their young goalkeeper, he's from my home town and I like him a lot.
"He's had to learn his trade away on loan and he's now got his chance. In Holland they rate him as one of the top three keepers and the only thing he needs now is to get more experience.
"He made good saves but I told him that if we put the ball in the corner then he doesn't have a chance. I've known him since he stated as a youngster."
On his selection options:
"The team's picking itself at the moment, I'm having to play my best players every week. You don't have to be great at maths to realise that after nine players left and four came in this summer we need players here at the club."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Joey who? Mr Barton may be gone, but life goes on for Newcastle, who improved after an insipid first-half to run out worthy winners, earning a place in the top six against a Fulham side with just a single point from their three games.