'Fulham in conversation for surprise European contenders'published at 09:06 11 November
09:06 11 November
Chris Wise Final Score reporter at Selhurst Park
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It is about now in the season when the narrative switches to who might be a surprise European contender - and I would stick Fulham in that conversation.
If they can keep key members of their team fit, then I do not see any reason why they should not believe they can finish in the top eight.
The recruitment of Emile Smith Rowe has taken the team's dynamism to a new level.
He has got a hearty mixture of talent and hunger, and looks to be one of the smartest pieces of summer business by any Premier League club.
Along with Reiss Nelson and Alex Iwobi behind Raul Jimenez, their attacking quality could hurt a few teams this season.
Gossip: Whites want Liverpool's Endopublished at 07:10 11 November
07:10 11 November
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, 31, is in high demand as the Japan international continues to struggle for game time at Anfield, with Fulham, Wolves, Ipswich and AC Milan all interested. (Caught Offside, external)
Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham: Smith Rowe stars for Cottagerspublished at 18:43 9 November
18:43 9 November
Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport journalist
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While the previous three meetings between these sides had ended in draws there was very little prospect of a fourth from the moment Emile Smith Rowe opened the scoring.
The former Arsenal midfielder has now scored three goals in 11 Premier League games this term and is showing clear signs that Fulham's decision to invest so heavily in him in the summer, when he became their record signing, was a shrewd bit of business.
The 24-year-old was not afraid to do the dirty work, pressing the ball when needed and was a key component to their fluent passing in midfield - linking up well with Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi before crucially bursting forward to support Raul Jimenez.
And had he not strayed marginally offside at the end of a sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other, he would have been rewarded with a second goal, that his performance richly deserved.
'I think we deserved much more'published at 17:49 9 November
17:49 9 November
Image source, PA Media
Marco Silva spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Fulham's victory against Crystal Palace: "I think we deserved much more but it is what it is. Great three points, great team performance. I think we have been seeing better things every match, every day that we are working with them. The confidence from the last game to this game is clear as well. The commitment, the attitude, the desire to do great things was there again."
On their counter-attacks: "We know how to do it, we know how to arrive with the ball. For us to do it we have to be brave off the ball, good positioning from ourselves was going to be important. Most of the times we decided with quality."
On Emile Smith Rowe: "Sometimes the most expensive ones are the players that don't perform. When you saw him and we had a small chance to fight to have him here, I told our board that we need to fight with everything we can because we needed a player like him. Creative in those pocket areas, a player who will score more throughout the season - I don't have doubts - he's a lovely kid, a lovely boy who is going to become a man and improve. He's already a really good player, he's going to be a top player. It's so nice to have a talent like him to work with."
On Harry Wilson: "I know that Harry wants to play from the start. Great impact on Monday against Brentford, it was an amazing moment from him and this afternoon again. We know he has the sharpness to go and create these kind of moves. This afternoon he scored in the same way as well, when he arrives in certain areas he has the ability to put the ball in the net. He has this quality, this ability."
Did you know? published at 17:38 9 November
17:38 9 November
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Fulham have won six of their past 10 Premier League London derbies (D3 L1), one more than in their previous 49 such games in the competition (W5 D9 L35).
Sutton's predictions: Crystal Palace v Fulhampublished at 09:26 9 November
09:26 9 November
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC).
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Palace's form has started to pick up and they almost got their second win in a row last week - they had a 96th-minute winner disallowed against Wolves, when it should have stood - or at least as far as I could see.
Fulham are always stronger at home, but they are a nicely balanced team and they have picked up a few points on the road too.
Apologies to everyone for sitting on the fence again, but I am going for another draw.
Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Fulham player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.
The correct answer was Damien Duff.
Today's trivia challengepublished at 08:50 8 November
08:50 8 November
Guess the former Fulham player from their Premier League statistics at the club:
Years at club: 2009-2014
National team: Republic of Ireland
Position: Winger
Appearances: 130
Goals: 15
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT
Silva on wanting more, squad competition and Crystal Palacepublished at 14:55 7 November
14:55 7 November
Ciara Fleming BBC Sport journalist
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "No fresh concerns. Still Sasa Lukic - he has had some sessions but is still out."
On the Whites enjoying their best start to a Premier League season: "We should have more points the way we have been playing. For many different reasons we did not achieve what we deserved. I'm pleased with what we have done but we have the capacity to do more."
On the club's aspirations this season: "We are not hiding the fact that we want to do better that what the club has already done in the Premier League. Our story each season has also been about rebuilding because every year we have been losing key players from the squad. Last season was the best example because we did not just lose one or two but more."
On attacking depth in the squad: "It is a good headache. The best way for the players to reach different levels is to have that competitiveness. Nothing is guaranteed and they have to prove every single day in the sessions that they are better than the others."
On Harry Wilson after the Wales forward scored two goals as a substitute on Monday against Brentford : "He has the capacity to smell the right moments when inside the box. He can score and create goals. He is not only knocking on the door with the goals but he is working very hard and it has been tough for me to leave him out. Sooner or later, he will have the chance in the starting XI."
On Emile Smith-Rowe: "When we signed him, we were looking for a player to add something in the pockets and provide that extra creativity and a different dimension around the box. He has been a key player for us."
On opponents Crystal Palace: "After a really tough start for them, with all the problems and injuries, the last week they were able to get points. So it will be tough to face them, especially the way that they play, high with lots of energy."
On Palace boss Oliver Glasner: "Last season he had a massive impact after coming in to the club in a bad moment. This season, the ideas are there and the structure is there but when you don't win, there is a lack of confidence."
Clubs pay tribute to Dempseypublished at 12:22 6 November
12:22 6 November
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Chelsea and Fulham have paid tribute to former player John Dempsey, who has died at the age of 78.
The former defender made 171 appearances for Fulham in the 1960s before moving to Stamford Bridge, where he won silverware between 1969 and 1978.
A Fulham statement read: "Everyone at the club sends their condolences and thoughts to his wife Trish, and his wider family and friends."
Chelsea wrote: "It is with tremendous sadness that Chelsea Football Club announces the passing of our former FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup winner John Dempsey.
"We are sending our heartfelt condolences to all of John’s family and friends at this difficult time."
'Whizzes, bangs and pops - it was a derby from the off'published at 16:47 5 November
16:47 5 November
Drew Heatley Fan writer
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Remember, remember the fourth of November.
A good derby needs fireworks - and there were plenty on Monday night as we finally made injury time work in our favour.
The show-stopping explosions came from the most unlikely of sources. Harry Wilson has been impressing for Wales for months, but can’t crack into the embarrassment of attacking riches we have in our starting XI. However, last night he reminded us what he’s capable of, and turned the West London derby on its head.
Fulham versus Brentford is a tussle that is largely overlooked, but it’s got plenty of needle. The clubs are geographically close, and the supporters love to get one over on each other.
But in the past decade we’ve not had the better of our noisy neighbours, winning just four out of 17 meetings before Monday, compared to the Bees’ eight victories. In fact, Monday’s win was only our second at home in 34 years.
The fact we won by far the most important of our clashes, at Wembley in the play-off final, obscures these facts, but it was important this week to put in a performance that illustrated where we all think this side is headed under Marco Silva
And there were plenty of whizzes, bangs, and pops on the night. Reiss Nelson answered calls for him to start by being a pocket rocket, charging at Brentford and causing all sorts of problems. Kenny Tete knew it was a derby from the off, hustling and harrying.
And then there was Wilson himself, subbed on by Silva with less than 10 minutes to go, determined to show he still has that spark that can propel him back into first team contention.
Derby done and dusted, it’s onto Crystal Palace. Get a result there, and who knows how high we can shoot up the table.
The statistics show that there can be little argument Fulham were the dominant side against Brentford and got what they deserved.
But as Marco Silva said in his post-match interview, you don't always get what you deserve in football.
The home side had a total of 26 shots, compared to Brentford's five, but needed two goals in stoppage time to finally make their dominance count.
Fulham 2-1 Brentford - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:51 5 November
09:51 5 November
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Fulham and Brentford.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans:
Ben: Phenomenal performance in almost very department and our ability to win the ball back constantly was great. Nelson and Smith Rowe had great link-up play, but the cutting edge was so prominent. They nearly held on for it but Wilson got the win and, against Brentford, it doesn’t matter how because they’ve had the bragging rights for too long!
Bob: Frustrating! But what a player we have in Wilson. He needs to start ahead of Pereira or we'll lose him in the January window. Robinson is superb - he has amazing pace for a big guy and is another one we need to keep. We have the ability in the players we have, they just need to finish better. Too many wasted chances. We're looking up though and so we should.
Joseph: It is obvious that we were really dominant up top, but given that we had 26 shots, and only scored two, means that we really need to work on our shooting. We also need a better set-piece coach desperately - we still haven't scored from a corner this season. Brentford defended brilliantly, and good luck to them.
Andy: Fantastic result. Thought we weren't going to be able to break them down even though we set up camp in their half the whole second half. Sat watching it in an Icelandic pub and won over locals to supporting Fulham. Now we celebrate!
Brentford fans:
Tim: Weird substitution choices and a complete lack of possession or attacking intent in the second half did it for us. It wasn't so much Fulham's press, it was more our lack of ability to complete more than two passes. Another failure to keep a clean sheet is the biggest worry.
Will: What a gutting result. To hold on to 1-0 until stoppage time and let two in... it's just horrible. Feel like we sat back and you just can't absorb the pressure of that many shots, even if only half-chances, and expect to keep points. Our subs were ineffective, and theirs stole the show. Fair play to Fulham, though - they never gave up.
Paul: So tired of the Bees being so negative. Got what they deserved, I'm afraid. The whole team was very poor. You can't park the bus for 90 minutes - show some adventure. Just hope home form continues otherwise it's the Championship.
Gary: We were poor from the start and very fortunate to go in front from a great Janelt goal. It was downhill after that apart from backs-to-the-wall defending. Very poor all round - no control of the ball, no progression, no attack. It was all coming from Fulham. Worst I have seen Brentford play for a long long time. Must do much better and very soon!
Silva understands it has been 'tough' for match-winner Wilson published at 08:07 5 November
08:07 5 November
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham boss Marco Silva says he knows it has been hard for match-winner Harry Wilson to deal with a lack of minutes so far in the Premier League.
The Wales international has not yet started a game and his heroics in the dramatic late win over Brentford on Monday will mean it is going to be harder to leave him out.
After the match, Silva was pictured speaking to Wilson as the team celebrated.
"I said that he deserved the moment. It's been tough for him and I know it," Silva said.
"He's been so important for us. He is a top lad, a top guy and he wants to play more.
"I congratulate him and said he deserves the moment."
'The reality is that we didn't lose the confidence'published at 07:27 5 November
07:27 5 November
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Fulham boss Marco Silva following the 2-1 win over Brentford: "We definitely deserved the three points. No doubts about it.
"We saw a little bit of what has been our season so far - being dominant in most of the games, the best team on the pitch most of the games and creating much more chances than the opposition side. But the reality is that, in some moments, we didn't get so far the points that we deserve from the game.
"From the first minute, on the front foot was Fulham. First 20 minutes of the game, I think we did create two or three clear chances to score. And from nowhere - they didn't have anything until that moment - the shot 25 yards from the goal, and they scored.
"The reality is that we didn't lose the confidence. We tried and tried, kept pushing them back and trying many different ways to score, and the result was really unfair at half-time.
"I told the players that we have to keep pushing hard, and it's going to be tough for [Brentford] to keep always blocking everything. I have to give credit to them. They defended really hard their box - 10 players always around their box, a lot of bodies there. But the reality is that we didn't give up.
"Normally, Harry Wilson plays more on the right-hand side. In that moment, we tried him a little bit closer to Rodrigo in the pocket areas to arrive. We know that he smells it - he has good timing to arrive in the box. We were rewarded for that."
Did you know?
Wilson's goal is Fulham’s latest winner in a Premier League game at 96 minutes and 46 seconds.
Image source, Getty Images
