I know it's kind of a policy not to report on other clubs on the Board, but thought some good news might make it okay. Liverpool U21s lost 2-1 at home to reading tonight. So they failed to close the gap on our lads at the top of the League. Match report: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...s/liverpool-u21s-lose-reading-anfield-6768279
Fulham 3 Blackburn Rovers 0 (U21s) Win Extends Lead at the Top A comfortable win, over the bottom team. Cameron Burgess and George Williams got their first starts for the U21s tonight, while 17 year olds Liam Donnelly Jordan Evans and Emerson Hyndman were on the bench. The team was: Stockdale; Passley, Burgess, Buatu, Briggs; Brister, Pritchard, Christensen, Della Verde; Williams; Dembélé Subs: Oberschmidt, Hyndman, Donnelly, Evans, Plumain Scorers: Lyle Della Verde (stunning 25 yard strike after 9 minutes), Moussa Dembele (penalty after 55 minutes) and Lyle Della Verde again (shot from just inside the box in the 90th minute).
Team, including substitutions: Stockdale; Passley, Burgess, Buatu, Briggs; Brister (Hyndman 61), Pritchard, Christensen, Della Verde; Williams (Evans 70); Dembélé ”As both teams probed for an early foothold, the game burst into life when Lyle Della Verde controlled smartly before driving in a fine 25-yard strike that left David Raya with little chance on nine minutes. With the Whites looking to build on their lead, it was the visitors who started to see more of the ball, though, frustrating Fulham and forcing them into some uncharacteristic errors. With Symons urging his side to move the ball quicker, the hosts gradually wrestled control back in their favour and as a result Lasse Vigen Christensen almost headed in a second on the half-hour mark. Moments later, a teasing right-flank delivery from Della Verde saw Dembélé glance another chance wide before a driving run from George Williams was expertly snuffed out by Blackburn skipper Darragh Lenihan. At the other end, Will Beesley moved David Stockdale into a routine low save while Dean Rittenberg fired high and wide following one clever run from deep. With Della Verde’s goal the difference at the break, the Whites needed Stockdale to be alert when diving at the feet of Rittenberg after the ball had deflected off Mananga Jonathan Buatu and into the striker’s path. Blackburn’s bright start to the second half was quashed, though, when Moussa Dembélé lifted a confident penalty beyond the reach of Raya on 55 minutes after Devran Green had fouled Christensen. Dembélé broke through shortly after only to fire wide with an angled strike, before Emerson Hyndman created space with a clever touch to then see his shot deflected wide for a corner. With the Whites in the ascendency, Josh Pritchard and Della Verde combined well to free the on-running Josh Passley. With the right-back underlining his attacking capabilities with a series of step-overs followed by a stringing drive that Raya did well to keep out. In reply, the visitors looked for an immediate response, with Tim Payne passing up an excellent opportunity when played through as Stockdale stood firm to make a decent stop. Green then hit an ambitious strike over the bar. Dembélé did well to hold the ball up while under pressure from Ryan Edwards and when his clever lay-off in the Rovers’ box found Christensen, the Denmark youth international went close to a third when jinking passed Lenihan. With the game drawing to a close, Fulham did have a third when Lyle Della Verde swept in a low strike from the edge of the box.”
Cracking first goal. Unfortunately they've edited out the actual penalty kick by Dembele. [video=youtube;oDwBwx_ZjGg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDwBwx_ZjGg&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Southampton 3 Fulham 0 (U21s) On the face of it a strong team but a 'bad day at the office'. Looks like Matt Briggs had to go off after only 2 minutes. The team eas: Joronen; Brister, Passley, Buatu-Mananga, Briggs (Banya 2'); Plumain, Pritchard, Christensen, Della Verde; David; Islamovic Unused subs: Oberschmidt, O'Reilly Southampton closed the gap on Fulham at the top of the Barclays U21 Premier League with a 3-0 victory at their Staplewood training ground on Wednesday afternoon. Goals from Ryan Seager, Sam McQueen and Sam Gallagher did the damage, while the Whites’ best opportunity came when Dino Islamovic missed a penalty. The home side started strongly and were ahead with just four minutes on the clock when Seager burst into the penalty area before scoring with an accurate finish across Jesse Joronen. Fulham’s first chance to equalise arrived after a quarter of an hour when Lasse Vigen Christensen laid the ball off to Alex Brister, but the right-back’s strike just missed the target as it flew over the crossbar. Joronen then made a double save to deny both Seager and McQueen, before being called into action once again moments later when he held centre-back Jordan Turnbull’s header from a corner. Ange-Freddy Plumain was next to try his luck for the visitors when he beat his man before firing in a long-range effort that fell just wide of the post. But with mere minutes remaining of the half, Saints doubled their advantage. Good play from Gallagher saw him set up McQueen and the 19-year-old winger was left with a simple finish. The pair combined again before the interval but this time Gallagher volleyed wide. Fulham squandered a great opportunity to get back into the match three minutes after the restart when Saints captain Turnbull upended Josh Pritchard in the area. Islamovic stepped up to take the penalty but saw his spot-kick hit the post. And five minutes later Southampton had their third goal when Jake Sinclair’s powerful shot was fumbled by Joronen and Gallagher was in the right place to tap in. Chances were at a premium thereafter, with two Pritchard efforts the closest Fulham came to reducing the deficit - the first was comfortably held by home keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, whilst the second soared fractionally over the bar.
Sunderland 1 Fulham 0 (U21s) Looks like Moussa Dembele either sustained a new injury or is still suffering from the old one. The team was: Joronen, Passley, Banya, Pritchard, Buatu, Burgess, Evans (Smile 67), Christensen, Dembele (O’Halloran 17, Islamovic 54)), Della Verde, Plumain. Subs not used: Oberschmidt, Brister. "Jordan Laidler’s first half strike sent Sunderland up to fourth in the Under-21 Premier League after a 1-0 victory over Fulham. Laidler’s predatory finish from Mikael Mandron’s lay-off proved to be the only goal of the game at the Academy of Light today, as a strong Sunderland side featuring first-teamers Carlos Cuellar, Valentin Roberge and Ondrej Celustka, along with summer signings Charis Mavrias and El-Hadji Ba, held on for victory. In front of the watching Gus Poyet, the Black Cats could, and perhaps should, have won by a more handsome margin, with Laidler, Louis Laing and George Honeyman spurning further opportunities. Fulham’s best effort came early in the second half when Josh Pritchard’s strike was tipped onto the crossbar by Sunderland stopper Joel Dixon." Source: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/laidler-helps-sunderland-sink-fulham-1-6518260
A more detailed report from the Club - The Whites suffered an early blow when Moussa Dembélé had to be withdrawn after he appeared to take a kick on his hip, but they could have gone ahead when Lasse Vigen Christensen was presented with an opening on the edge of the box after eight minutes, but the midfielder sent his shot wide. The Black Cats made the breakthrough shortly after when Mikael Mandron was able to set up strike partner Jordan Laidler who converted from eight yards. Sunderland almost doubled their advantage five minutes later but Jesse Joronen pulled off a fine save to claw away a goalbound Laidler free-kick. Fulham improved as the half wore on and Lyle Della Verde was unfortunate to see his long range effort fly marginally wide of the post. The game opened up in the second half, with both teams seeing chances to score pass them by. First, Laidler fired over for the hosts, before Josh Pritchard had a shot that was tipped onto the crossbar. Louis Laing and Mandron each squandered chances to put the game to bed, although substitute Dino Islamovic was denied by the Sunderland keeper with five minutes remaining for what was Fulham’s last chance of note. “It was a little bit of a scrappy game,” Manager Kit Symons told fulhamfc.com post-match. “It was quite windy conditions and a bit of a bobbly pitch, so it wasn’t really a great footballing spectacle, to be honest. Both teams worked very hard, both teams were well organised and it was just a little bit scrappy. They got the breakthrough and we didn’t, unfortunately. There weren’t a lot of chances either way. Second half we were obviously pressing and trying to find the equaliser and left ourselves a little bit open at the back on a couple of occasions. Like I said, we worked very hard, but without that real quality in the final third. We had a few good opportunities in the first half, then their keeper tipped a great shot from Josh Pritchard onto the bar in the second half. That was our best chance really.” He continued: “From their point of view they scored quite a good goal; ball played into the big striker who got hold of it, then a runner got the second ball and beat Jesse Joronen at the near post. So it was a little bit disappointing, and certainly preventable, but other than that they didn’t really have too many chances. They had a few counters in the second half and Jesse made a few good saves.” Fulham remain second in the Barclays U21 Premier League table following the defeat. The top four teams advance to the Semi-Finals, and Symons is keen for his side to end this phase of the season on a high. We play Liverpool next Tuesday and then West Brom the following Sunday,” he explained. “It would be good to finish strongly. The players are putting the effort in and working hard enough, it’s just a little bit disappointing at the moment after doing so well earlier in the campaign." “We were the only unbeaten team in the league going into February, which was an unbelievable achievement, but the dynamic of the group has changed considerably since then and we’re not quite performing at the same levels. But they’re working hard enough – I’ve got no problems with that at all.”
And on the Liverpool game next Tuesday very disappointing that, The Club would like to inform supporters that the Under-21s' game against Liverpool on Tuesday 1st April will now be played behind closed doors and will kick-off at 2pm. There will be no general public access for this fixture.
Fulham 2 Liverpool 1 (U21s) Title Surge Both teams were on equal points at the top of the League before this game. A result against West Brom in the final match next Sunday will ensure a place in the title play offs. Felix took a seat in the Johnny Haynes today as Derek Boateng had a rare outing and Chris David a comeback from injury. There was a slightly unusual line-up though; Charlie Banya at left back and Freddy Plumain leading the line. The team was: ………………Oberschmidt………… ..Passley… ..Buatu… Pritchard….. Banya ………………..Boateng…………… …Mesca…..Christensen…David…. DellaVerde… ………………..Plumain…. Scorers: Freddy Plumain from a through ball by Chris David Lasse Vigen Christensen with a great shot from the edge of the box and another Chris David assist Liverpool started brightly in the behind-closed-doors encounter, Kris Peterson going close in the third minute. Allowed time and space on the edge of the area, his effort from 20 yards was tipped over the bar by Max Oberschmidt. Five minutes later, Oberschmidt stood up to parry an angled drive away from Joao Teixeira at his near post after the Liverpool man had been teed up by Seyi Ojo. Fulham were struggling to find a way in the final third, but Chris David curled one over from the edge of the box in the 17th minute after good work on the wing by Buomesca Tue Na Bangna. Then on 21 minutes, a slip in the middle of the park by Cameron Brannagan was seized on by David who released Ange-Freddy Plumain. The youngster burst forward but sliced his shot wide from just outside the area. Fulham were growing into the game. A ball over the top by Mananga Jonathan Buautu on 25 minutes was missed by Rafael Paez Cordona, allowing Plumain to cut inside. However, his shot was saved by the outstretched leg of Lawrence Vigouroux. Derek Boating then freed Josh Passley down the right in the 27th minute and his cross found Lyle Della Verde whose half-volley was tipped over the bar. Just 60 seconds later, David spread the play out wide to Passley who burst inside his marker but dragged his shot across the face of the goal. Fulham’s dominance was rewarded with a goal in the 33rd minute. A quickly-taken free-kick by David found Freddy Plumain who jinked inside and fired in a shot that flew under Vigouroux and in. Plumain went into the book in the 35th minute for catching Ojo and Lasse Vigen Christensen shot well wide towards the end of the half before proceedings came to a close. Christensen should have made it 2-0 in the early stages of the second half. A cross from the left by Della Verde was dummied by Plumain to run into the path of Christensen who saw his shot from eight yards well saved by Vigouroux. Liverpool then enjoyed a good spell of pressure and they almost drew level when substitute Connor Randall’s cross was met at the far post by Reds skipper Lloyd Jones who saw his header saved at the near post by Oberschmidt. In something of a scrappy second period, Liverpool centre-back Cordona was booked for chopping down Plumain in Fulham’s half in the 74th minute. But Fulham made the game safe with seven minutes remaining. David ran into a wall of red shirts on the edge of the box but kept possession and found Lasse Vigen Christensen who rolled the ball onto his left foot and sidefooted a shot beyond Vigouroux. The old adage that you’re at your most vulnerable after scoring almost came true moments later as both Peterson and Cordona went close for Liverpool in an almighty goalmouth scramble in the box. Jack Dunn then went down under a heavy challenge from Buatu but referee Derek Eaton waved play on. With four minutes to go, Oberschmidt breathed a huge sigh of relief after his kick was charged down by Dunn but rolled inches wide. Oberschmidt redeemed himself in the first minute of injury time, saving Dunn’s volley from point-blank range but he was finally beaten by the same player in the dying seconds. Dunn was fouled by Buatu in the box and Eaton pointed to the penalty spot, with Dunn sending Oberschmidt the wrong way from 12 yards. There was barley time for the game to restart, though, as Fulham took the points.
What a terrific second goal - six Liverpool defenders in front of him and woof, Lasse still scores (I'll get my coat!). [video=youtube;k8epKGuSHbQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8epKGuSHbQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]
West Brom 2 Fulham 1 (U21s) Tight at the Top Disappointing defeat. We are still at the top of the League but the club’s immediately below us (Liverpool and Man City) have games in hand. The team today, which looked strong on paper with Jack Grimmer and The Tank returning, was: ……………….Oberschmidt………… ..Passley…Grimmer…Buatu…..Banya.. …Plumain..Christensen…Pritchard…Mesca.. ……………..David……….. …………….Tankovic…….. Subs: Brennan, Della Verde, Islamovic and O'Reilly Scorer: Chris David from a free kick "The Baggies named a strong side containing first team regulars Billy Jones and Chris Brunt, but it was Fulham who had the first decent chance when Josh Pritchard hit a post. West Brom went straight up the other end and hit the woodwork themselves through Alex Jones, but they made the breakthrough midway through the first half when Kemar Roofe netted from close range. The home side hit the crossbar on the half hour mark as they dominated the first 45, but the Whites upped their game after the break and grabbed a deserved equaliser through Chris David’s well taken free-kick. But Albion secured the points late on when Donervorn Daniels connected with Roofe’s corner, meaning Fulham end the campaign with 11 wins, five draws and five defeats from their 21 games played. “It was obviously a disappointing result,” Manager Kit Symons told fulhamfc.com after the game. “We didn’t play well at all in the first half – we weren’t at the races and subsequently found ourselves one down. We were much better in the second half, though, and created some chances and managed to get the equaliser through a very good free-kick from Chris. After that you’d probably say that we were the team most likely to go on and win it, but West Brom hit us with a sucker punch late on which was a bit of a kick in the nether regions.” The result meant the Whites will need the teams around them to slip up if they are to progress to the Play-Offs as some sides – such as Chelsea and Manchester City – are just a few points worse off than Fulham but have four games in hand. Symons continued: “It’s out of our hands now and perhaps looking unlikely because a lot of teams below us have quite a few games in hand. It’s the Dallas Cup coming up soon and a few of my boys are eligible to go to that – I’m not sure how many will travel – and when they get back we’ll probably have a better idea of whether or not we’re going to finish in the top four.”
West Brom 2 Fulham 1 (U21s) Not the best of goals to give away but worth watching just for Chris David's free kick - [video=youtube;xCMAydikyVk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xCMAydikyVk[/video]
Having lost that last game to West Brom I was sure we'd blown our chances of making the play offs. However, since then results have gone in our favour and if Manchester United fail to beat Reading at the Madejski on 24th April we'll go through. Unlikely, but you never know.
Drat! Drat! Drat! Manchester United scraped through with a very, very late goal to win 3-2 tonight. So, that's the season over for the U21s.
It has been another superb season for our academy squads by the sound of it. Would love to see some more being given a chance in the first team if they deserve it. Interesting though, just watched the west Brom highlights, great goal by David but strange that no one seemed to celebrate it with him.
