Showing posts with label fulham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fulham. Show all posts

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Fulham 2-0 Stoke City

Fulham had the last laugh in this season's feud with Stoke by completing a Premier League double over them to edge closer to safety.

Top scorer Clint Dempsey netted his eighth and ninth goals of the season as the Cottagers made it three wins in five to put daylight between themselves and the drop zone.

The match was the third tempestuous affair between the sides this season and Potters captain Ryan Shawcross was sent off after bundling over Dempsey in the box.

The American, who had already given his side a half-time lead, stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and seal a comfortable victory.

The opposing managers had refused to shake hands following their two previous meetings this season.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Wigan 1-1 Fulham

Andrew Johnson's late deflected strike earned Fulham a point at fellow strugglers Wigan.

The hosts went ahead in the 57th minute through Hugo Rodallega, who neatly guided the ball over David Stockdale.

Substitute Johnson drew things level with four minutes of normal time remaining with a shot that hit Gary Caldwell on its way towards goal, leaving Ali Al Habsi unable to stop it going in.

The result saw Wigan move out of the Barclays Premier League drop zone to 17th but they are only a point clear of the bottom three, while Fulham are one point better off in 15th.

In a scrappy opening to the game, Chris Baird made the first attempt on goal after eight minutes, striking a low shot from outside the area which Al Habsi got down to his left to save comfortably.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Fulham 3-0 West Bromwich

Scott Carson made another high-profile mistake to set Fulham on course for a 3-0 victory that lifted them out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Carson, whose blunder against Croatia contributed to England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, got both hands to Simon Davies' 30-yard drive on the brink of half-time but could only deflect the ball into his own net.

West Brom's new-look defence was then exposed after the break as Fulham cruised to a first home win in six attempts with headed goals from Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland.

While Fulham climbed above West Brom into 13th place to relieve some of the pressure on manager Mark Hughes, the Baggies' slump continued.

A fifth consecutive defeat represented their worst run in six years and having been eighth before Christmas they now hover just two points above the relegation zone.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Tottenham 1-0 Fulham

Gareth Bale's lightning reflexes proved enough to extend Tottenham's perfect Christmas and send them back into the Premier League top four in a London derby with Fulham.

The winger reacted brilliantly to flick Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick strike past a wrong-footed Mark Schwarzer three minutes before half-time. Spurs missed plenty of chances to add to their lead but Michael Dawson also had to clear off his own line.

Otherwise, Fulham's lack of firepower once again cost them dear as they slipped to second bottom of the table, piling the pressure on manager Mark Hughes.

The build-up to the game was dominated by the news Spurs were trying to sign David Beckham on loan. And the home side set about demonstrating why manager Harry Redknapp was so keen to bring the former England captain to White Hart Lane.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Fulham 2-0 Stoke City

Fulham moved out of the Premier League relegation zone thanks to Chris Baird's early brace in a 2-0 win at Stoke.

Baird, who had never scored for the Cottagers before, struck twice from outside the area in the opening 10 minutes to lift some of the pressure on his manager Mark Hughes.

The Northern Ireland international was an unlikely goalscorer to seal an unlikely result, as the London outfit recorded their first away win in the league in 27 attempts.

The Potters would have gone into the game feeling confident having already beaten Fulham three times in 2010, but it was the visitors who found themselves ahead after only four minutes.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

West Ham 3-1 Fulham

West Ham signalled their intent to become only the second club to stay up after being bottom of the Premier League on Christmas Day by ending their 27-game wait for an away win this afternoon.

Carlton Cole was gifted a Boxing Day double as the Hammers came from behind to stun Fulham at Craven Cottage and temporarily haul themselves off the foot of the table.

Cole netted twice after being inadvertently played in by Dickson Etuhu and Aaron Hughes at a chilly Craven Cottage, easing the pressure on manager Avram Grant.

The heat is now well and truly on opposite number Mark Hughes, whose side threw away namesake Aaron's first goal for more than six years, with Frederic Piquionne also on the scoresheet for the Hammers.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Donovan to Fulham??

For some managers, the January transfer window can't come soon enough. Take David Moyes and Mark Hughes. I'd wager that the bosses of Everton and Fulham, respectively, will be the most enthusiastic observers of the countdown clock on New Year's Eve. Heck, they might even get a head start by watching the festivities in Australia.

Both clubs are in the middle of borderline train-wreck seasons when so much more was expected of them, especially Everton, after top-12 finishes in 2009-10 -- Everton at No. 8 and Fulham at No. 12. They sit at the bottom of the form table (performances in the past six games): four draws and two losses for the Toffees, three draws and three losses for the Cottagers. Fulham's seven-game winless streak is also tied with Everton for the longest current streak in the league.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Fulham 0-0 Sunderland

Sunderland climbed one place to sixth in the Premier League after drawing with Fulham in a low-quality contest at Craven Cottage.

Neither side could complain with the outcome, though Fulham will be frustrated that a series of second-half chances were foiled by some resolute defending.

At one point in the second half Sunderland had a four-on-one overlap and a goal appeared certain, but an abysmal pass from Darren Bent ruined the moment.

It was a dismal spectacle that improved a little in a second half controlled by Fulham, with Clint Dempsey the focal point of their attack.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Fulham won't give up Clint Dempsey

LONDON -- Fulham will reject any offers for American Clint Dempsey in the January transfer window, manager Mark Hughes said Friday.

The 27-year-old forward and midfielder from Texas is Fulham's top scorer this season with six goals, including five in the Premier League.

"I'm sure there is interest in Clint. Most good players are mentioned at some point in time leading into a window," Hughes said. "There's been no contact from any clubs for Clint or any other player nor would we encourage it because Clint's very happy here, is enjoying his football and is having an impact for us.

"If there are any inquiries about Clint, they'll be getting short shrift."

Going into Saturday's match against Sunderland, Fulham (2-5-9) sits one place above the three-team Premier League relegation zone thanks to goal difference.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

Two magical goals from Samir Nasri rescued Arsenal as they survived another wasteful performance at the Emirates Stadium to move top of the Premier League.

The France star's jaw-dropping composure was in stark contrast to that of his team-mates, who almost threw away another three points in front of their own fans.

Nasri put them ahead early on but a sickening clash of heads between Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci allowed Diomansy Kamara to equalise before Nasri netted a glorious winner.

With Manchester United's match postponed due to the big freeze and Chelsea held by Everton, the victory sent Arsenal a point clear at the summit.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mark Schwarzer agrees to stay

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has signed a new contract until the end of the 2011-12 season, the club have confirmed.


Mark Schwarzer
GettyImages

Schwarzer, who would be available on a free at the end of the season, handed in a transfer request in August to try and force through a move to Arsenal but no deal materialised.

The 38-year-old Australian, who joined the Cottagers from Middlesbrough in 2008, has now agreed a new deal that contains the option of a one-year extension.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes said: "He was obviously very flattered by the interest [by Arsenal]. We're delighted that he's decided to stay here and we can move forward now."

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Fulham 1-1 Birmingham

A second-half equaliser from Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey robbed Birmingham of their first away win of the season as both sides remained perilously close to the relegation zone in the Premier League.

City had enjoyed an interval lead thanks to a 19th-minute strike from Sebastian Larsson but Fulham salvaged a point through Dempsey's 53rd-minute header.

Fulham are still one place above the relegation zone and they are now without a win in their last five league games.

The Cottagers should have taken the lead in the fourth minute but a goalbound shot by Aaron Hughes was cleared off the line by Keith Fahey.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Fulham 1 - 4 Manchester City

Carlos Tevez showed old boss Mark Hughes no mercy at Craven Cottage as Manchester City romped to a victory that saw them close to within three points of the Premier League summit.

Twelve months ago Hughes was the man profiting from the South American's prowess in front of goal.

Now it is Roberto Mancini hailing two goals and a man-of-the-match display from the inspirational South American.

Indeed, as Mancini reflects on a table that shows his side to be bang in the title hunt - as well as more money to strengthen in January than any of their rivals - and four more goals on the road to answer the critics who have panned him for being too negative, the Italian could be forgiven for having a large chuckle to himself.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Newcastle United 0 - 0 Fulham

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll was denied an eighth goal of the season by a stunning save from Mark Schwarzer as Fulham fought their way to a point at St James' Park.

PA Photos
 A crowd of 44,686 thought the 21-year-old, who could win a first senior England call-up on Saturday evening, had opened the scoring with a stinging 52nd-minute volley, only for the Australian goalkeeper to claw it out of the bottom corner.

Schwarzer also made two good saves from Peter Lovenkrands to preserve his clean sheet on another frustrating afternoon for Chris Hughton's men on their own park.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Chelsea 1 - 0 Fulham

Michael Essien's first-half header was enough to give 10-man Chelsea victory over west London rivals Fulham and keep them top of the Premier League table.

Getty Images

Florent Malouda's pinpoint cross into the six-yard box was met firmly by the Ghanaian midfielder, who planted the ball into the bottom corner.

However, Essien was shown a red card in the final moment of injury-time for a two-footed lunge on Clint Dempsey.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Fulham 1 - 1 Aston Villa

Fulham centre-half Brede Hangeland earned Fulham a point with a last-gasp equaliser at Craven Cottage.
PA PHOTOS

Marc Albrighton's 42nd-minute strike looked to have given Aston Villa a vital win when he latched on to a sensational cross-field pass from Barry Bannan to finish in style.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Fulham 2 - 0 Wigan Athletic

Clint Dempsey struck twice as Fulham avoided a third successive Premier League defeat to rocket up the table.
 
Dempsey, paired alongside Moussa Dembele in attack, took his tally for the season to five with both goals arriving in the first half of an encounter dominated by Mark Hughes' side.

PA PHOTOS
The USA international's brace saw him take centre stage at Craven Cottage, but left-back Carlos Salcido was another outstanding performer.
 

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Hughes 'compromised own values' at Man City

Fulham boss Mark Hughes has revealed he is glad to be out of the soap opera that is Manchester City and managing at a club where he is simply allowed to do his job.


Mark Hughes
GettyImages
Mark Hughes: Glad to be out of City