Fulham

Tottenham 0-0 Fulham
Fulham claimed a deserved point at Tottenham as both sides wasted chances in an open game at White Hart Lane. Benoit Assou-Ekotto had the best chance of the first half when he forced Fulham keeper Antti Niemi into a solid save. Spurs turned up the heat after the break with Pascal Chimbonda and substitute Jermain Defoe going close but a lack of finishing quality showed. The excellent Moritz Volz nearly nicked it for Fulham but Paul Robinson saved his shot - and a share of the points. With Tottenham missing England winger Aaron Lennon and Fulham without playmaker Jimmy Bullard (both knee injuries), both sides were a little off kilter - and it showed. Surprisingly, it was the visitors who seized the initiative, capitalising on some sloppy play amongst the Spurs midfield. Cottagers' midfielder Michael Brown gave his former club a scare when he teed-up a shot from the edge of the box, only to see his effort smothered by Michael Dawson. Robinson also comfortably dealt with a long-range piledriver from Collins John before Bocanegra sent his rising header wide, under pressure from a looming Ledley King. It was a good 15 minutes before Spurs regained their shape, and finally Chimbonda and Jermaine Jenas, taking Lennon's role on the wing, began feeding some useful wide balls through to Robbie Keane and Mido. Keane, preferred to Defoe, looked lively but his best efforts were thwarted by a mix-and-match Fulham defence. As the half wore on, the home side's confidence grew and Teemu Tainio went close when he picked up Mido's pass in the box only to wastefully drag his left-footed strike inches wide. Niemi was also tested by Assou-Ekotto in the 40th minute but the Finn was alert enough to push the ball out of danger. Keane thought he might have ended Spurs' frustration when he was shoved over in the box by Franck Queudrue but his penalty appeals were waved away and the teams trudged off for the break in stalemate. Fulham boss Chris Coleman must have had the better of the team talks as the visitors again quickly set the tempo. Volz, who had a decent game playing in central midfield, won a free-kick and then attempted a rather speculative punt, which sailed wide. But the match soon descended into pretty harum-scarum stuff with both sides struggling for quality with their final ball. Spurs winger Lennon watches from the stands after surgery Keane looped a decent ball into the box but neither Mido or Jenas could get on the end of it. Minutes later, Mido missed out again when he thumped the ball into the post from a tight angle. Didier Zokora won a dubious free-kick outside the area - there appeared to be no contact from Queudrue - but Assou-Ekotto again failed to convert a good chance, sending the ball rising over the bar. With 20 minutes on the clock, Tottenham boss Martin Jol hauled off Tainio and brought on Defoe, to grateful cheers from the home crowd. Defoe tried to make an instant impact and won a free-kick outside the box but he lashed his strike wide. Tottenham, urged on by an anxious crowd, threw everything forward in the final 15 minutes but Fulham's defence was impenetrable. Luis Boa Morte damaged his cheekbone as he cleared Chimbonda's header off the line, Niemi turned Defoe's snap-shot round the post and then substitute Edgar Davids' powerful effort was blocked. Fulham almost stole maximum points when Volz raced down the other end, only to see Robinson save his long-range strike with his shins. Despite earning a slim Uefa Cup victory on Thursday, Tottenham remain scoreless in their last three Premiership matches while Fulham stretched their unbeaten run to four games. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tottenham manager Martin Jol: \"A draw is always frustrating at home because we need a win. It is a concern. \"We have strikers who can score goals and we have quality midfield players but we need them to gel together as soon as possible. The strikers need better service. \"I still think we worked hard and defended well and we could easily have lost the game. Credit to Fulham - we couldn't break them down.\" Fulham manager Chris Coleman: \"It's not just the point that I'm so pleased about, it's the fashion and the way in which we got it. \"We took the game to Tottenham, soaked up the pressure, hit them on the break and caused problems. \"Really, we had half a team out there on the pitch but we have a good work ethic, physically we are very strong and it is all credit to the players.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Zokora, Murphy (Davids 80), Tainio (Defoe 70), Keane, Mido. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Huddlestone. Booked: Chimbonda, Mido. Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue, Volz, Brown, Bocanegra, Boa Morte (Radzinski 77), McBride (Helguson 66), John (Runstrom 82). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Claus Jensen. Booked: Boa Morte, Bocanegra. Att: 36,131 Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea
Frank Lampard scored both goals to give Chelsea a hard-earned win against a well-organised Fulham side. Chelsea's Arjen Robben hit the bar in the first half, but the Cottagers should have gone ahead when Papa Bouba Diop put a header wide on 63 minutes. Ten minutes later, Lampard slammed home a penalty when Liam Rosenior handled under pressure from Salomon Kalou. And as Fulham pressed for an equaliser, Lampard scored with a low shot from 18 yards after Didier Drogba's pass. It was tough on Fulham who looked set to earn a point after a display full of endeavour and commitment. Indeed, Chris Coleman's side may have taken a first-half lead had Wayne Routledge's early effort been slightly wider of Petr Cech - instead the Blues goalkeeper was able to parry. As the half wore on, the champions looked more dangerous and were desperately unlucky not to score on 25 minutes. Robben's left-foot screamer had Antti Niemi completely beaten and the Dutchman was only foiled by the underside of the bar. But that effort aside, Chelsea only threatened rarely with Michael Essien seeing a shot saved by Niemi, while Drogba was denied by a tackle from Rosenior. Fulham were reinvigorated by the interval and Michael Brown felt he should have been awarded a penalty on 55 minutes after being impeded by Cech. Referee Mark Halsey ruled that Brown had committed the first offence by lunging for a loose ball and colliding with the Chelsea keeper. Still Fulham pressed and Bouba Diop should have done much better on 63 minutes when his free header from Franck Queudrue's free-kick from the right was diverted wide Chelsea nearly made them pay moments later as they fashioned a a trio of chances in a matter of seconds. Kalou's shot was blocked by Ian Pearce, Andriy Shevchenko's follow-up was parried by Niemi, and Drogba hammered the loose ball into the ground, only to see it bounce up, hit the angle of post and bar and go over. Soon after, on 73 minutes, Chelsea took the lead and it was Rosenior who was to blame - which was tough on the youngster, who had been excellent up to that point. The Fulham defender lost his balance as Kalou broke into the box and sent the ball behind the goalline with his arm. Lampard had been reinstated as penalty taker with Germany captain Michael Ballack suspended, and he showed no sign of the nerves which had blighted his recent penalty attempts, slamming the ball into the roof of the net. Fulham decided to attack and, inevitably, Chelsea made them pay as Lampard grabbed his second seven minutes later. The England midfielder collected Drogba's lay-off and hammered an impeccable low shot into the corner. And Fulham's Brown was fortunate referee Halsey did not see his two-footed lunge on Ashley Cole as tempers boiled over late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham boss Chris Coleman on referee Mark Halsey's display: \"I don't know what's wrong with Mark. \"Every time he comes we play Arsenal, Chelsea, big teams. We know there's pressure on and he has to referee the game as he sees it. \"There's results in one box and there's different results the other. That's not to take anything away from Chelsea.\" Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: \"I'm very happy with the three points, but very, very happy with the performance. I think we played very well in a very difficult game. \"Fulham are a good team and against Chelsea they are better than they really are. We played very well. \"Paulo Ferreira for me is man of the match by far, as he is not a central defender and played fantastically.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Volz, Bocanegra (Helguson 77), Diop, Routledge, Brown, John (McBride 77). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Radzinski, Claus Jensen. Booked: Volz, Queudrue. Chelsea: Cech, Geremi, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Ashley Cole, Makelele, Essien, Lampard (Bridge 90), Robben (Kalou 57), Drogba, Shevchenko (Mikel 76). Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Wright-Phillips. Booked: Ricardo Carvalho. Goals: Lampard 73 pen, 80. Att: 24,290 Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Fulham set to reopen Volz talks
Fulham boss Chris Coleman is ready to sit down with versatile German full-back Moritz Volz to convince him to stay at Craven Cottage. The 23-year-old's deal runs out at the end of the season and earlier contract talks ground to a halt over wages. Coleman said: \"I'd love Moritz to sign a new contract and we'll go back to the negotiating table with him. \"He's a young player we desperately want to hold onto. But it's got to be fair to both sides.\" Volz has showed impressive versatility by moving into midfield to cover for Fulham's injury-hit squad. The German has also built up a rapport with fans since his switch from Arsenal and Coleman believes Volz is key to his future plans. \"Moritz has done very well. He's in midfield because he's got great legs. \"Liam Rosenior has been playing at right-back so Volzy has sometimes been in the reserves. \"Occasionally I've asked him not to play because of injury but he's wanted to. He's been doing extra training.\" Volz joined Fulham on a permanent basis from Arsenal in 2004 after an initial loan spell.

Watford v Fulham
Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd is likely to name the same team that drew at Wigan last week to face Fulham. That would mean defender Lloyd Doyley and forward Darius Henderson staying on the bench as Boothroyd's men chase their first win of the campaign. Papa Bouba Diop and Carlos Bocanegra are full fit after playing through injury in the defeat by Chelsea. Mark Pembridge, Luis Boa Morte, Jimmy Bullard, Ahmad Elrich, Simon Elliott and Philippe Christanval are all out. Watford (from): Foster, Lee, Chamberlain, DeMerit, Mackay, Shittu, Stewart, Doyley, Chambers, Mariappa, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Bouazza, Spring, Bangura, McNamee, King, Young, Henderson, Priskin. Fulham (from): Niemi, Lastuvka, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown, Diop, Radzinski, Timlin, John, Helguson, McBride, Volz, Bocanegra, Routledge, N Jensen, C Jensen.

Fulham v Charlton
Fulham trio Carlos Bocanegra, Ian Pearce and Papa Bouba Diop are fit. But Luis Boa Morte (cheekbone), Jimmy Bullard, Ahmad Elrich, Philippe Christanval (all knee), Simon Elliott and Mark Pembridge (both calf) are out. Charlton may welcome winger Jerome Thomas back into the squad after his recovery from a broken foot. Souleymane Diawara and Omar Pouso are close to full fitness, but Gonzalo Sorondo and Djimi Traore are not ready to return and Kevin Lisbie is out. Fulham (from): Niemi, Lastuvka, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown, Diop, Radzinski, Timlin, John, Helguson, McBride, Volz, Bocanegra, Routledge, N Jensen, C Jensen. Charlton (from): Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Fortune, Rommedahl, Hughes, Faye, Kishishev, Reid, Ambrose, Thomas, Hasselbaink, D Bent, Diawara, Pouso, Myhre, M Bent, Ashton, Holland.

Fulham 2-1 Charlton
Substitute Claus Jensen scored one goal and made the other as Fulham moved into the top half of the Premiership thanks to a much-improved second-half display. A Dennis Rommedahl-inspired Charlton dominated the first half and Andy Reid and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink went close. But Fulham upped the pace after the interval and Brian McBride blasted them ahead with a sweet 20-yard half-volley. Former Charlton midfielder Jensen raced through to make it 2-0 and Fulham held on despite Darren Bent's neat finish. The home side were good value for the win given their second-half performance but bottom-of-the-table Charlton could have been out of sight by the turnaround. The Addicks had lost six of their seven Premiership matches heading into this London derby, but were by far the better side in the first period. Rommedahl was the Addicks main threat and gave Fulham left-back Franck Queudrue a torrid first 45 minutes. The Danish winger jinked his way past his marker on numerous occasions but Charlton failed to capitalise. After 29 minutes Rommedahl teased the home defence and pulled the ball back for Hasselbaink but his low shot lacked direction and was comfortably saved by Antti Niemi. Rommedahl then crossed to Bent but the England man lacked conviction and his header drifted harmlessly wide. But the best chance saw Rommedahl ease past Queudrue and cross to Reid. The former Tottenham winger let the ball run across him before unleashing a powerful low shot from 20 yards that beat Niemi but flew inches wide. Rommedahl also blazed a shot wide after an exquisite driven crossfield pass from Bent and saw another effort smash into Hasselbaink after a typically direct run. Fulham boss Chris Coleman opted for the aerial presence of Heidur Helguson and McBride in attack but they were starved of possession and only had one sniff of goal each before the break. Helguson headed over from 15 yards after a fine McBride cross and the American flashed a shot wide at the near post from a well-worked corner. But Fulham were a different proposition after the break. McBride did well to stretch out and volley a Tomasz Radzinski cross towards goal but Scott Carson saved with ease. The American striker then wasted a great headed chance but he made amends on 65 minutes blasting a superb 20-yard half-volley past Carson following a Jensen free-kick. Radzinski nearly made it 2-0 with a stunning half-volley and within three minutes of McBride's goal Fulham did add a second through Jensen. The injury-plagued former Valley favourite raced onto Liam Rosenior's pass and showed great composure to beat Carson with a quality finish high into the roof of the net. At the other end Reid drifted onto a superb Bryan Hughes cross and should have scored but sent his glancing header wide. With a home win looking a certainty Charlton rallied and Bent stabbed the ball home after substitute Jerome Thomas caused havoc in the Cottagers' box. Hermann Hreidarsson almost headed his side level late on but Fulham held on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham manager Chris Coleman on goalscorers Brian McBride and Claus Jensen: \"Brian is an absolute dream. His attitude is fantastic. \"He is not quick but he is strong in the air, knows the game and can hold the ball up. I'm delighted he has started to score goals for us this season. \"Claus has come on and scored a fantastic goal to win a game and he has worked hard for that on the training ground. \"Since we have had him we have not had a run of 10 or 15 games for him to come in and get his fitness but for someone with his talent he has more than enough ability to play in the Premiership and that will give him confidence.\" Charlton manager Iain Dowie: \"We've have some difficult times and now we need to look for the positives. \"We have to make sure everyone sticks together and stands up to be counted. \"We are in a dark time at the moment and we have to swing hard towards the light.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue, Routledge (Volz 79), Diop (Bocanegra 81), Brown, Radzinski, McBride, Helguson (Claus Jensen 58). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, John. Booked: Queudrue. Goals: McBride 65, Claus Jensen 67. Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara (Holland 79), Hreidarsson, Reid, Faye, Hughes (Marcus Bent 72), Rommedahl, Hasselbaink (Thomas 72), Darren Bent. Subs Not Used: Myhre, Fortune. Booked: El Karkouri, Young, Reid. Goals: Darren Bent 78. Att: 19,179. Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).

Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham
Moritz Volz's goal on the stroke of half time earned Fulham a deserved draw at Aston Villa. Gareth Barry slammed Villa ahead from the penalty spot after referee Chris Foy penalised Liam Rosenior for a foul on Stiliyan Petrov. Barry, though, failed to track Volz who broke into the Villa box to volley home Tomasz Radzinski's deep cross. Fulham proved a tough nut to crack as they settled for a point against the last unbeaten team in England. The early spotlight fell on referee Chris Foy who waved away Villa penalty appeals when Rosenior misjudged a cross and the ball clearly struck him on the arm - unintentionally in the referee's view. Referee Foy evened that up at the other end in an almost carbon-copy incident when the ball struck Gabriel Agbonlahor's hand, but Fulham's appeals were waved away. Villa should have taken the lead when Petrov swung in a dangerous free-kick which Liam Ridgewell completely missed in front of goal. As Villa turned the screw Agbonlahor's low cross was missed by Juan Pablo Angel and fell at the feet of Milan Baros who was crowded out. Having escaped earlier punishment, the law caught up with Rosenior on 25 minutes when Steven Davis's pass put Petrov in behind the Fulham defender and referee Foy ruled the wrestling match warranted a penalty which Barry despatched with aplomb. Fulham had their moments, with Zat Knight escaping some slack Villa marking at a corner only to power his header into the ground where it bounced over the bar. Ridgewell's failure to deal with a cross allowed Brian McBride to hammer a volley across the face of goal where Volz and Claus Jensen failed to make contact. Fulham drew level just before half-time when Radzinski worked himself a yard of space to cross to the far post where Volz shocked Villa by escaping Barry's attentions to volley home from six yards. Villa boss Martin O'Neill shifted Agbonlahor into the centre of his attack but the initial effect was that his side stopped playing through midfield and lumped long balls forward to try and use the youngster's pace. The home side were a threat at set pieces and Barry delivered a wicked inswinging free-kick from the right flank, but it somehow eluded every lunging boot before going on to shave the outside of the post. Villa's increasingly desperate and ragged attacking efforts were meat and drink to Fulham's central defenders Knight and Ian Pearce who simply stood firm and nodded long balls away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill: \"We didn't play well and we got what we deserved. We remain unbeaten and that's as much as we could have taken out of it. \"The players know we didn't play well. We should have done better, we were unable to capitalise on anything today. It wasn't the best of games. \"I am very disappointed. We will have to do much much better.\" Fulham boss Chris Coleman: \"I was very disappointed with the referee's decision - it was never a penalty. I don't blame Rosenior. \"Collectively it was a good team performance. We didn't play great football but we tried to do something. \"It was never going to be easy but we kept chipping away and tried to play on the counter attack.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aston Villa: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Laursen, Ridgewell, Agbonlahor, Davis (Osbourne 83), Petrov, Barry, Angel (Sutton 75), Baros (Agathe 46). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Bouma. Goals: Barry 26 pen. Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown, Bocanegra, Volz, Claus Jensen, Radzinski, McBride (John 72). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Helguson, Zakuani, Routledge. Booked: Knight, Queudrue. Goals: Volz 45. Att: 30,919 Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

Fulham v Wigan
Fulham captain Luis Boa Morte returns to their squad after five weeks out with a fractured cheekbone but is likely to start on the bench. Goalkeeper Antti Niemi felt a twinge in his groin in training on Friday but is expected to be fit. Denny Landzaat could get another chance in the Wigan midfield following Josip Skoko's hamstring injury. Centre-back Fitz Hall is also out with ankle ligament damage so Andy Webster or Matt Jackson will deputise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham (from): Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Brown, Bocanegra, Volz, Jensen, Radzinski, McBride, John, Boa Morte, Lastuvka, Helguson, Zakuani, Routledge. Wigan (from): Kirkland, Boyce, Webster, De Zeeuw, Baines, Teale, Valencia, Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Todorov, Camara, McCulloch, Heskey, Pollitt, Jackson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski: \"Wigan will be flying high after last weekend and they're a team that can score many goals. \"It's going to be a tough game but, with the right approach and our home advantage, hopefully we can continue our good form and put another three points on the board. \"We have to have the right approach to the game and we've got two or three players in our team who can make a difference and score the goals for us. \"We are a very stubborn team now and we don't give up. Our heads don't drop and even if we go a goal behind we know we can turn it around.\" Wigan boss Paul Jewell: \"Fulham have had a decent start. Since they lost to Manchester United on the first day they've won at Newcastle and have kept up good home form. \"It's a tough place to go, we went there last year, played very well and lost the game. \"We need to start picking up points on the road and I'm sure that the victory on Saturday and the way we've responded since the Manchester United game will stand us in good stead.\"

Pearce agrees to new Fulham deal
Fulham defender Ian Pearce has signed a one-year extension to his contract. The 32-year-old's previous deal was set to expire next summer but boss Chris Coleman was keen to retain his services after recent impressive performances. \"I'm delighted I've been given the chance to sign for Fulham for another year,\" Pearce told the club website. \"I am really pleased that we have secured the services of Ian Pearce for a further season. He has been top class for us so far,\" Coleman said. He added: \"His attitude in training has been fantastic also, and he's in the best physical shape I've seen him so it's great that we have been able to extend his contract.\" The Cottagers boss also said the club are close to finalising a new deal to keep Moritz Volz at the club and Coleman is hoping he will sign in the next couple of weeks. Volz is one of five Fulham players whose current contracts are due to expire next summer. Coleman expects to offer USA striker Brian McBride a new deal but the futures of Danish midfielder Claus Jensen, Canadian international Tomasz Radzinski and French utility man Phillippe Christanval remain uncertain.

Fulham 0-1 Wigan
Henri Camara struck with seven minutes remaining to secure Wigan's first away win in the Premiership this season. Camara latched on to the ball after Zat Knight's clearance was charged down and shot low past Antti Niemi. Earlier, Wigan's Denny Landzaat sent a penalty against the bar after Camara's shot struck Knight on the elbow. Camara also saw a 50th-minute header parried by Niemi before being cleared, with Wigan players claiming the ball had crossed the line. Television replays were inconclusive, but Camara's goal meant the incident did not ultimately prove controversial. The late drama came in a match which had been high on industry but low on thrills. Neither side threatened to score until a mazy run from Fulham's Claus Jensen just after the half hour which ended with the Dane shooting over. Tomasz Radzinski also gave the visitors a scare with a deflected cross which raced across the face of goal. Wigan's best chance of the opening period came after a slick move which ended with Gary Teale sidefooting into the path of Landzaat, but the Dutchman blazed over. And Paul Scharner should have done better with a header from Teale's cross which he directed off target. Fulham began the second half with some urgency and Wigan's Kevin Kilbane came very close to putting Franck Queudrue's dangerous cross into his own net. But it was Wigan who felt aggrieved shortly afterwards after Camara's header from Kilbane's deep corner was clawed away by the sprawling Niemi. Despite Wigan's protestations that the ball was over, replays were not conclusive. And they appeared to have lost the chance of victory on 73 minutes when Landzaat sent a penalty kick against the bar. Graham Poll pointed to the spot after Camara's shot struck Knight on the elbow inside the six-yard box. Landzaat halted his run-up in a bid to fool Niemi, but the trick proved pointless as the kick struck the top of the crossbar and bounced over. But just when a draw seemed likely, Camara raced clear on to the loose ball and showed a cool head to shoot home, despite Niemi getting a hand to the shot. Fulham substitute Luis Boa Morte - making his first appearance in five weeks after a fractured cheekbone - had a late header saved, but there was no way back for Fulham. Indeed, it could have been worse, but for a good double save by Niemi from Camara and then Lee McCulloch in injury time.

Fulham v Everton
Luis Boa Morte will start for Fulham five weeks after breaking a cheekbone. After coming off the bench last week and showing no ill effects the skipper will replace Michael Brown, who is suffering from a badly-bruised ankle. Everton are still without defenders Alessandro Pistone, Tony Hibbert, David Weir, Paddy Boyle and Gary Naysmith. Full-back Nuno Valente returns, but his match-day participation depends on how well players recover from a virus that has spread through the squad. Fulham (from): Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Bocanegra, Volz, Jensen, Radzinski, McBride, Boa Morte, John, Lastuvka, Helguson, Zakuani, Routledge. Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Valente, Arteta, Davies, Carsley, Cahill, Osman, Beattie, McFadden, Johnson, Turner, Hughes, Anichebe. # Fulham boss Chris Coleman on stand-in captain Zat Knight: \"The longer Zat concentrates on just playing for Fulham the better. \"As soon as he starts thinking about England he will go off track. \"He has to do the simple things on the ball and he has been doing that and looking a very good player this season.\" # Everton boss David Moyes: \"Hopefully we will be able to attack a little more than we did last weekend but Craven Cottage has proved a difficult ground for us. \"Prior to last weekend's defeat against Bolton they were only a couple of points behind us. \"We have got to respect them because they are doing quite well.\"

Fulham vow to find coin thrower
Fulham have promised to do all they can to identify the fan who threw a 50p coin at Claus Jensen on Saturday. The Dane, who scored Fulham's winner in the 1-0 victory over Everton, was struck on the head by a coin as he went to take a corner. The Cottagers have vowed to \"assist the Football Association in every possible way\" to identify the culprit. Media officer Sarah Brookes said: \"We operate a policy of zero tolerance on crowd misbehaviour at Craven Cottage. Fulham have given police full access to the closed circuit television footage at Craven Cottage to aid the investigation. Fulham boss Chris Coleman has called for tough sanctions for anyone found guilty of throwing things onto the pitch. Coleman said: \"I hope the offender is identified. It was a coward who threw the coin. Send him to prison or somewhere away from football.\" Everton also immediately condemned the individual responsible. Ian Ross, the Toffees' head of PR and external affairs, said: \"As a club we condemn without hesitation the actions of the moronic individual who threw a coin at Claus Jensen. \"We would urge anyone who knows his or her identity to contact the police immediately.\" The FA have launched an investigation into the weekend's coin-throwing incidents at Fulham and at West Ham - where Arsenal's Robin van Persie was struck.

Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham
Andy Cole scrambled home 15 minutes from time against his former club to grab a draw for Portsmouth in a game the hosts should have won comfortably. Lomana LuaLua was the star of the first half, forcing three fine saves and setting up Sean Davis to hit the post. It was Fulham that took the lead though when defender Zat Knight headed home via a deflection off Dejan Stefanovic. But, after Noe Pamarot had hit the bar, Cole drew Pompey level after a dubious challenge on Antti Niemi by Kanu. The Nigerian was lucky not to have been penalised for kicking the ball out of the Finnish keeper's hands and he then appeared to hold Niemi back as Cole flicked home. It was no more than Portsmouth deserved though and it was a fitting way to mark the 15th anniversary of Cole's last appearance for the Cottagers. One might have guessed that Pompey would enjoy a bit of luck after they had marked Armistice Day with the presentation before the game of three survivors from the D-Day Normandy landings. And the playing of 'The Boys Are Back in Town' to accompany their appearance was all the more apt considering Harry Redknapp's selection. Pompey's best-ever start to a Premiership campaign had stuttered of late but the return of defensive duo Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus once again looked to have provided the foundation for a solid performance. Redknapp's decision to start LuaLua alongside Kanu for only the second time this season also appeared inspired. It was the Congoan who created the game's first chance when he set up Kanu to slice wide with the goal gaping, before Davis headed onto the post from another of his crosses. It was a virtuoso opening from LuaLua and on 20 minutes he forced Fulham keeper Antti Niemi into a full-length stop with a dipping 25-yard free-kick. The visitors were hanging on, with Brian McBride isolated up front, though Carlos Bocanegra's header from a corner, well saved by David James, sparked a period of greater composure. But LuaLua was not long out of the game and first Niemi palmed his effort away from a tight angle and then he volleyed wide from Primus' sharp cross just before the break. And when Niemi somehow clawed away Kanu's header from a corner in first-half injury time, the hosts could have been forgiven for thinking it was not going to be their day. So it proved 10 minutes into the second half when Knight headed home Jensen's corner, though the dubious goals panel may want a look after it deflected off Stefanovic. As expected, the hosts responded with determined effort, Primus denied from close range by Liam Rosenior's goal-line clearance before Pamarot crashed a header onto the bar from Gary O'Neill's pin-point cross. Then came Cole's decisive intervention - and still Portsmouth could have won it. Substitute Benjani Mwaruwari forced another fine save with seconds remaining, before LuaLua almost capped a fine performance with the winner with the last kick of the game - only for Niemi to save well once again. A late injury to O'Neill put a dampener on an otherwise entertaining clash, with early suspicions being that he suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

Liverpool v Fulham
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Sami Hyypia and Steve Finnan are available again after being rested for the Champions League match in midweek. Striker Peter Crouch has been troubled with a back problem and may have to settle for a place on the bench. Fulham left-back Franck Queudrue has recovered from a badly gashed shin and returns to the squad along with central defender Phillippe Christanval. Luis Boa Morte was a doubt but has recovered from a hamstring strain. Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Pennant, Fowler, Crouch, Bellamy, Kuyt, Guthrie, Dudek, Paletta. Fulham (from): Lastuvka, Volz, Knight, Christanval, Pearce, Rosenior, Diop, Brown, Boa Morte, Radzinski, Jensen, McBride, Helguson, John, Routledge, Batista. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: \"We know we have to now concentrate on the Premiership and forget about Europe, apart from waiting for the last-16 draw next week. \"We have to start being consistent in the league and to manage more away victories \"Now Europe is out of our minds we can work hard on correcting our league form.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fulham boss Chris Coleman: \"In our last two away games we haven't looked resilient like we did earlier this season and that's what we've got to get back to on the road. \"We've shown we can beat the best and lose to the guys at the bottom. \"This season we want to progress from what we did last year. We finished 12th, which is very respectable for us, but we want to better that.\"

View Full Version: Fulham