Manchester City 3-0 Fulham – Premier League – 4th February 2012

Manchester City put the disappointment of that midweek defeat against Everton behind them at a snowy Etihad Stadium on Saturday, coasting to victory against a Fulham side who rarely threatened Joe Hart’s goal.

In a game peppered by stoppages so ground staff could clear the snow off the pitch, City look menacing every time they got forward but eventually took the lead on 10 minutes courtesy of a very soft penalty. Adam Johnson “made the most” of contact in the box from Chris Baird and Brede Hangeland, going down easily to win his side a spot-kick which Sergio Aguero deftly converted.

City’s second goal was another case of misfortune for the Cottagers, with Baird putting through his own net from Johnson’s cross/shot. However, Roberto Mancini’s side deserved to be a couple of goals up after a succession of superb attacks.

The visitors’ best efforts came courtesy of Clint Dempsey and Simon Davies, but on 72 minutes, City made it three, with Edin Dzeko firing home after excellent work from Aguero.

The home side did hit their own post late on when Dzeko deflected a Bryan Ruiz cross off the woodwork but City were good value for their victory, and even managed to hand new-boy David Pizarro a debut.

So the Citizens go three points clear at the top, at least temporarily, while Fulham are now seven points clear of the drop-zone.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

With a name that makes us all thank the stars for ‘copy and paste’,  Pavel Pogrebnyak looks set to move to west London in one of the biggest deals so far in this rather moribund transfer window.

The Russian international striker has never been the most prolific of strikers, however, the imposing forward is best utilised as a targetman who can hold up the ball, and he’ll no doubt be confident of making a (hard-to-spell) name for himself at Craven Cottage. Although with Bobby Zamora, Clint Dempsey, Bryan Ruiz and Andy Johnson all pushing for a place, there’ll be no guarantee of first team action for the former Stuttgart man.

Indeed, looking at how Pogrebnyak’s fellow countrymen and those from the other former Soviet republics have faired in the Premier League, the forward will buck the trend if he succeeds with the Cottagers. Attackers  Sergei Rebrov, Andriy Shevcheko, Andriy Voronin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andriy Arshavin have all either flattered to deceive, or just downright deceived in their time in Blighty.

Indeed, other than Andriy Kanchelskis, Georgi Kinkladze and goalkeeper Mart Poom and have there really been any genuine Soviet successes in the Premier League?

Fulham boss Martin Jol will be hoping for his sake that Pogrebnyak will be another rare Russian success story.

                          

By Chris Wright

Apologies for the lack of proper match report, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to make do with the brass tacks this morning.

The long and short of it is that Everton booked themselves a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup last night, coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Goodison courtesy of two big headers from two big chaps – Denis Stracqualursi (his first goal in English football) and Marouane Fellaini –  who got themselves on the end of a pair of excellent Landon Donovan crosses.

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Eve 0-1 Ful, Murphy (pen) (14′)

Eve 1-1 Ful, Stracqualursi (27′)

Eve 2-1 Ful, Fellaini (73′)

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Fulham – Premier League – 14th January 2012

Steve Kean watched his side produce a superb battling performance at Ewood Park on Saturday, a performance which ultimately moved Blackburn out of the relegation zone for the first time since September.

Despite losing the in-form Yakubu for a dreadful challenge on Danny Murphy midway through the first half, and without wantaway skipper Christopher Samba, Rovers battled hard, eventually taking the lead on half-time, courtesy of a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick.

Blackburn then made it two in the first minute of the second half, with David Dunn smashing home after David Goodwillie’s shot was blocked by John Arne Riise.

Fulham’s majority possession eventually paid off, with Damien Duff scoring on 56 minutes to get the visitors back into the game. However, Blackburn stood firm and eventually, substitute Mauro Formica made the points safe for Rovers, when he latched on to Steven Nzonzi’s clever lofted pass before firing home.

So Rovers move up to 17th, ahead of 18th place QPR on goal difference while Fulham find themselves in 14th, just six points ahead of Blackburn.

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Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Chelsea 1-1 Fulham – Premier League – 26th December 2011

Chelsea’s hopes of launching an assault on the Premier Legaue title in the second half of the season were dealt another blow after the Blues struggled against local rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Juan Mata did open the scoring for the home side just after the break, courtesy of a fine strike from the edge of the box. However, less then 10 minutes later, Bryan Ruiz beat Ashley Cole before setting up Clint Dempsey who levelled the scores.

Chelsea improved as they looked for a winner, but the Cottagers hung on for a superb draw. Surely the Blues’ chances of winning the title have now been well and truly extinguished? Oh, and Fernando Torres failed to score again.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Fulham – Manchester United – Premier League – 21st December 2011

Manchester United kept up the pressure on their cross-city rivals with an impressive performance at Craven Cottage against an admittedly appalling Fulham side.

The home team simply couldn’t live with United’s slick attacking play and were already a goal down after just five minutes courtesy of Danny Welbeck. Portuguese livewire Nani made it two just before the half-hour mark while Welsh legend Ryan Giggs kept up his record of scoring in every Premier League season (that’s a frankly astounding 20 seasons on the spin now!) courtesy of a deflected effort just before half-time.

The Cottagers improved in the second-half but late goals from Wayne Rooney (from 30 yards) and Dimitar Berbatov (a superb backheel) completed a dismal night for the west Londonders who are now just four points clear of the drop-zone.

Despite the convincing win, Sir Alex Ferguson will be concerned after seeing both Phil Jones and Ashley Young go off injured as we approach the traditional busy Christmas period.

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Photos: PA

                          

Fulham 2-0 Bolton Wanderers – Premier League – 17th December 2011

Fulham put the disappointment of that last-gasp exit from the Europa League in midweek to register a deserved win against a directionless Bolton side at Craven Cottage.

The under-rated Clint Dempsey was the star of the show for the home team, heading past Jussi Jaaskelainen just after the half-hour mark following good work from Bryan Ruiz. Dempsey then returned the favour for the Costa Rican striker who scored with a superb lob.

The Trotters, on the other hand, rarely troubled Fulham, although substitutes Chris Eagles and David Ngog did go close for the visitors late on.

While Martin Jol’s men move to 11th in the table, Owen Coyle’s time at Bolton must surely be coming to an end as his side remain firmly rooted to the bottom.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

Fulham were dumped out of the Europa League with the very last touch of the game when Odense slung in a deep cross and substitute Baye Djiby Fall nodded in an equaliser at the far post with roughly four seconds left to play (the referee blew for full-time during the goal celebration), thus robbing the Cottagers of the points they needed to edge out Wisla Krakow, who beat table-toppers FC Twente on the night to finish second in Group K -just one point ahead of Martin Jol’s side.

Goals from Clint Dempsey and a first senior strike from the lively Kerim Frei had Fulham 2-0 up at the interval, but Odense pulled one back on the hour mark through Hans Henrik Andreasen’s sneaky free-kick, before late sub Orlando Sa failed to keep hold of it in the Dane’s half with the clock ticking over, Espen Ruud pinched it and humped a salvo into the box for Fall to bugger everything up for the West Londoners in the 93rd-minute.

More than a little worrying was Bobby Zamora’s body language over the course of the evening. With rumours of a rift with Jol abound, Zamora looked well and truly narked, especially after being taken off (despite having played 89 minutes). Is it just me or is the January window beginning to loom ominously?

Any road up, if there is a shred of positivity to take from the evening for Fulham, at the very least they preserved their unbeaten European home streak, which now stands at a very healthy 23 games. Very comforting, I’m sure!

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Photos: PA

                          

Swansea City 2-0 Fulham – Premier League – 10th December 2011

Fulham ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer buries his head in the sand

Unquestionably one of the surprise stars of the season so far, Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm was once again in superb form on Saturday against a talented Fulham side.

The Dutch glovesman, who cost just £1.5million from Utrecht, made a number of superb saves, including one from Clint Dempsey’s spot-kick to rack up another clean sheet and help Swansea to victory.  Scott Sinclair opened the scoring for the home side just before the hour mark, after his shot was deflected past Fulham ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer by Dempsey. Danny Graham made it two in stoppage time, but only after the Cottagers had severely tested man of the match Vorm.

While the Swans registered their first win in five top tier games, Fulham suffered their first league defeat in four matches.

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Photos: PA