Fulham v AFC Bournemouth

billythekid

UTC Legend
Top Of The Table Clash

In a game that looked like the Cherries getting 3 points since the last home win against Swansea City, the game turned on one bit of action where after a poor back pass from one of our players let a Coventry City player in on our goal, Jefferson Lerma with a tackle brought the player down and immediately the referee pulled out a red card. From leading 2-0, with the second goal coming two minutes before the incident, AFCB with 10 men with 22 minutes of normal time still to play plus as it turned out 5 minutes of injury time, AFCB were shaken by two goals from Coventry City and one coming from the last kick of the game which snatched victory from the home sides grasp. It was a disappointing end for the home team, management and fans in very windy conditions. As it turned out the other challenging sides in earlier games didn’t gain any advantage in their games.

The next game is a top of the table clash between the two top teams in the Championship. The Cherries make the relative short trip to London and Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames, the home of Fulham, the Championship leaders. The game is being played again live in front of the Sky cameras at 7.45 pm on Friday. It should be a cracking game with two good footballing sides pitting their wits against each other. It also will be the first return for Scott Parker and his backroom team to their old club, which they parted ways in the Summer after the London club was relegated from the Premier League. Fulham will be the last of the three relegated clubs to play AFCB, the other two who both visited Dean Court were West Brom which finished in a draw and beating Sheffield United.

The person to replace Scott Parker in the Fulham hot seat is the Portuguese, Marco Silva, who is no stranger to managing clubs in this country. He had been at Everton which he left in December 2019, Watford and Hull City. In the Summer Fulham signed midfielder Harry Wilson for £12 million from Liverpool, striker Rodrigo Muniz for a reported fee of £7 million from Flamengo. Two midfield players from Watford, Nathaniel Chalobah for £3 million and on loan Domingos Quina.

Fulham have won 7 home games, against Hull City 2-0, Stoke City 3-0, Swansea City 3-1, QPR 4-1, Cardiff City 2-0, West Brom 3-0 and Barnsley 4-1. Drawn with Middlesbrough 1-1 and Derby County 0-0. Lost 1-2 against Reading. Away they have won 6, D 2, L 2.

Fulham top the home table, P 10, W 7, D 2, L 1, GF 23, GA 6, GD 17, Points 23.
AFCB are top of the away table, P 10, W 6, D 3, L 1, GF 13, GA 5, GD 8, Points 21.

The last time we met Fulham at Craven Cottage was in October 2018 in the Premier League. AFCB went ahead in the 14th minute after Callum Wilson was fouled in the penalty area, Wilson took the penalty to make it 0-1, that was the score at half-time. In the second half David Brooks put the away side 0-2 up and a minute later Fulham were reduced to 10 men when Kevin McDonald was sent off for a second yellow card after bringing Brooks down. Twelve minutes later Wilson scored his second to make it 0-3 and that’s how it finished.

AFCB’s away record at Fulham, W 5, D 5, L 4.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 13, D 9, L 11.

Fulham Team News
They have had illness in their camp with some recovering and being able to play in their last away game at Preston. Amongst those missing Tom Cairney, also on their injury list are Ivan Cavaleiro and Nathaniel Chalobah.

Fulham Player To Watch
Alexander Mitrovic, has scored 21 goals and has 5 assists in the league. He is top scorer in the Championship. Apart from his last game where he still looked out of sorts after his recent illness, he has scored 11 goals in his last 8 games, including a hat-trick against West Brom. Our old loan player Harry Wilson is second highest scorer with 6 goals and leads with 7 assists.

AFCB Team News
We have a number out on the injury list and on one website it suggests those players could be available early into December, how many in time for Fulham remains to be seen. One big loss will be Jefferson Lerma who received a red against Coventry City and will miss this game.

AFCB Player To Watch
With Fulham’s defence only conceding 5 goals at home, we need to take what chances we get and Dominic Solanke has scored in his last four away games. Jaidon Anthony has scored 4 goals in his last 4 games and Philip Billing also comes up with useful goals. At the other end our defence needs to be on their game.

The Referee
Tim Robinson, was in charge of our home game with Luton Town.
 
Is anyone on here planning on getting the 10:30 train back from Waterloo?

Google Maps is saying it takes 45 minutes from Craven Cottage so will be a bit of a squeeze...
 
Can I be the first to say " why are there only 4 choices on the matchday poll, DJ "
: )
 
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Is anyone on here planning on getting the 10:30 train back from Waterloo?

Google Maps is saying it takes 45 minutes from Craven Cottage so will be a bit of a squeeze...
Where are you getting the train back from - Putney (not tube) ? You could get off early at Clapham Junction and get the 22.27 back from there BUT you have to change at Woking. Gets into Bmth at 00.22. Might save a few minutes but not much in it. Departure from Waterloo is showing as 22-35
 
All depends on the 11 that walk out there on Friday night... My feeling is it will be the same 11 (minus Jeff) that played V Coventry...

I didn't go to the Swansea game but if we let Fulham dominate us at the start like we did Swansea, I doubt they will let us off the hook quite so easily...

4-3-3 with Davis coming in for Jeff...

A point would be a great result given our recent run of injuries and form...
 
You're more confident than I am, for the first time in a while I have a bit of a sinking feeling about the next game....

I'm not sure I am, hence I'd take a guaranteed one point straight away. But if we did win, it wouldn't be a complete surprise. Those odds probably match my gut feeling.
 
Could desperately do with Kelly and Pearson back for this one.

Even though I think Cahill has been player of the season, both Mepham and Cahill do his job (not as good) but we badly miss Kelly bringing it out from the back.
 
We simply have too many injuries to expect to get anything from the hardest fixture of the season, you never know though I guess.
 
I watched the game at Preston and Mitrovic was back but I don’t think he was on top form after his illness and the stand in Preston centre half did a good job on him and he didn’t get a sniff at goal.

Mitrovic was getting more and more edgy as the game went on.

So if not Cahill maybe S Cook and do a job on Mitrovic as well, though he has had a few more days to recover after the illness and the Preston game and he is at home.
 
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I travel in hope rather than expectation. As long as every player puts in a shift then who knows. It is a shame we are not at full strength as I think it would be a great game. It's a long season and it doesn't end at Fulham no matter what the result.
 
Feel sorry for Parker here, going away to his former club, who also happen to be the top scorers in the league by a country mile, with likely his entire first choice back four and only two defensive midfielders out injured… I’m not inclined to write off games (even in the Prem I didn’t like this idea of a free hit as what is the point of turning up if we don’t believe we can compete) but even the most optimistic person from optimism land must admit that getting anything here is a very tough ask.
Re the formation and set up (assuming there are no miraculous recoveries) he has essentially got to pick from the lesser of two evils. Does he go for a back three with Rossi or a back four with Davis at left back? Both have shown themselves to be defensively naive at this point if we’re being honest and it’s highly likely that the most ruthless side in the league would take advantage. Personally I wouldn’t want Davis up against Harry Wilson and it might be beneficial to get as many bodies in our box to try and crowd out Mitrovic, so I would go for a back three with Ibsen Rossi but honestly can’t see either option being fruitful. Will be very interesting to see how we approach this.
 

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