Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Brightonpublished at 11:42 5 December 2024
11:42 5 December 2024
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Fulham were excellent against Tottenham on Sunday and their boss Marco Silva is probably still scratching his head about how they lost so heavily to Wolves the last time they were at Craven Cottage.
Regular readers will know I usually go with Fulham to win at home but I am not sure this time, because of how good Brighton have been so far.
There are reasons to back either side here, so I am going to split the difference and go with a draw.
Gossip: Fulham scouting Blackpool youngsterpublished at 07:41 5 December 2024
07:41 5 December 2024
Fulham and Stockport County are interested in 16-year-old English midfielder Gabriel Schluter, who has impressed for Blackpool's academy sides. (Football Insider), external
Silva on January, 'pride' at season so far and Brightonpublished at 16:48 4 December 2024
16:48 4 December 2024
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Centre-back Joachim Andersen and midfielder Harrison Reed remain out, but Silva has no other injury concerns. Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic are suspended but Andreas Pereira is available.
Asked about potential incomings during the January transfer window, Silva said: "All managers and clubs want the same; to step forward and improve if you can. I'm no different. Someone coming to our football club has to be someone who can have an impact. If we can improve something, we will do our best. Of course it has to be right with our budget and the moment of the season."
Silva added: "For someone to come, they have to be a really good player because we have been playing really well, the players have been doing well and they have to be able to make an impact."
On the season so far: "I'm proud because I can feel that we all have confidence. Sometimes it comes from results, other times from the way you perform. We all share the same confidence because we all know the way we work and the players know their abilities as well. When you see fans proud, I have to be proud because our job is to make them proud. If we play any side and are at our best, then it is difficult for them [the opposition] as well."
Silva praised centre-back Issa Diop, who made his first start for more than a month in Sunday's draw at Tottenham: "He's a really vocal player in our group, he understands really well our ideas and philosophy as a team. He needs to have more confidence in himself sometimes because when he's at his best level, he's always able to step in - like he did in the last game."
Silva said of Brighton: "They have a clear identity as a club. When they go into the market, they have been able what they really need and want." He added that their summer spending "shows the ambition of the club right now".
Listen to Fulham v Brighton commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra on Wednesday
Fulham v Brighton: Did you know?published at 10:52 4 December 2024
10:52 4 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham are unbeaten in all eight of their Premier League games against Brighton (winning four, drawing four). #
It is the joint-most they have faced a side without ever losing (along with Norwich) and the most the Seagulls have faced a side without ever winning in the competition.
More moments to define Cairney's Fulham careerpublished at 12:25 3 December 2024
12:25 3 December 2024
Drew Heatley Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Tom Cairney’s Fulham career has always been defined by moments.
Bagging a 95th-minute equaliser against Leeds in the Championship to keep a play-off charge alive. Scoring the 100th goal of our title-winning season on the last day against Luton Town. Netting the winner in the play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley. The list goes on.
As our captain approaches a decade at the club, he experienced two contrasting moments against Spurs on Sunday.
Let’s focus on the positive, though, shall we? I’ve tipped my cap to Marco Silva before for turning TC into an impact player, managing his minutes and transforming a player who, though universally loved, was starting to spend more time on the treatment table than in the matchday squad.
On Saturday he came off the bench and promptly rolled back the years, finishing with aplomb after picking up a ball from Alex Iwobi.
That should have been that - Captain Fantastic helping us to a hard-fought point and putting the Wolves defeat firmly in the rear view. But 16 minutes later he saw red. It was clumsy make no mistake, but not malicious - Cairney’s the epitome of “not that kind of player”.
Luckily for Tom, the outcome was the same. The boys held on for the remaining seven minutes of the game plus seven more of added time. Given our penchant for late capitulations, that feels like a win. And with Arsenal then Liverpool in our next two games, getting any points on the board this weekend was vital.
All things considered, an easy misdemeanour to forgive, then, and another opportunity to give flowers to a man who really is Mr Fulham.
Drink it in, for we are not going to be treated to many more of his magic moments. As the song goes, there really “Ain’t nobody like Tom Cairney”.
A magical Premier League weekendpublished at 17:28 2 December 2024
17:28 2 December 2024
Henry Brownsey BBC Sport journalist
Justin Kluivert proved that three is a magic number.
Image source, Getty Images
As did Brentford's Kevin Schade.
Image source, Getty Images
Cole Palmer pulled another rabbit out of his hat.
Image source, Getty Images
Tom Cairney struck gold, before he was dealt the card he did not want.
Image source, Getty Images
As Ruben Amorim shuffled his deck again, Marcus Rashford was up to his old tricks.
Image source, Getty Images
Arteta conjured up another Arsenal victory, leaving some bewildered.
Image source, Getty Images
And, as Manchester City's bad spell continues, Pep Guardiola was quick to show the wonders he has worked.
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Tottenham 1-1 Fulham - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:18 2 December 2024
11:18 2 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Tottenham fans
Paul: We just did not play with any intensity and we were lucky to get a draw. Unfortunately Son is a shadow of the player he was. We should have substituted him off instead of Werner. Maddison is becoming too peripheral in these important league games. Davies had a good solid game but Dragusin needs to improve his awareness. He gets caught out too often.
Terry: True to form, Spurs do it again. Thank goodness for Ben Davies and our goalkeeper, they were both terrific. Son certainly had an off-day, but so did a few others. If Kulusevski was fit enough to come on as a substitute then why didn't he start the match? Spurs' passing was very slipshod. They must have thought it was going to be an easy game - wrong.
Alexander: Ange, just not good enough! You are stuck on a 4-3-3 system that does not work for us. Swallow your pride and change back to the 4-2-3-1 system that worked very well against Manchester City, especially when we have such a weak defence.
Emilio: We can't be so inconsistent and expect to win anything. Having been starved of trophies for so many years, I am sure that a lot of fans - like me - would rather win ugly than look good and concede goals that we shouldn't. Don't blame the fans Ange - if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.
Fulham fans
James: Fulham back at the races after last weekend's debacle. We turned up and really took the game to Spurs and, again, strange moments will be what we remember the game for, aside from it being a positive away result against a very good side.
Lucas: It was a good performance for a very good point. Despite the difficulty of the game, we should have come away with triple the points, if we were clinical enough. It nearly cost us the game. It was a good performance overall though, and a good bounce back from last weekend.
Dave: Given the fact that we almost gifted Spurs a goal in the first 50 seconds, we really took the game to them. We competed well in all of the key areas. Our full-backs were outstanding. We just needed a striker to put the ball in the back of the net! Bring on Brighton.
Bob: Frustrating... another two points dropped. We do need to finish teams off. It was a shame about the red card, but still Tom got his goal and helped us to get a precious point. We have a strong side now and we shouldn't struggle to overcome teams. Inspired substitutions by Marco.
Tottenham 1-1 Fulham: Key statspublished at 16:39 1 December 2024
16:39 1 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham are unbeaten across their last eight Premier League London derbies (W4 D4), the club's longest ever such run.
Tom Cairney scored an away Premier League goal for the first time since March 2010, when he struck for Hull City against Everton. At 14 years and 269 days, it is the longest ever gap between two away goals for a player in the competition, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record (12 years and 235 days).
Analysis: Tottenham 1-1 Fulhampublished at 16:39 1 December 2024
16:39 1 December 2024
Emma Smith BBC Sport journalist at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham move into the top half of the Premier League with this point, as their quietly consistent season continues.
They have now scored in 12 successive top flight matches for the first time since 1967.
Marco Silva's biggest headache at present is his midfield, with the Cottagers suddenly low on numbers.
Tom Cairney will miss three games after his red card, while Sasa Lukic will be absent in midweek after his fifth yellow of the season.
Andreas Pereira is also a question mark, not starting a league game for the first time this season in a week where he was quoted by a Brazilian outlet saying he was sad not to leave Fulham in the summer.
Pereira says he was misquoted, and Silva said the midfielder mised the Spurs game for fitness reasons rather than any interview.
'Cairney is not the player for that, everybody knows'published at 16:36 1 December 2024
16:36 1 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side held Tottenham to a draw away from home: "I think that everybody should recognise that the team who deserved to win this afternoon was ourselves. We deserved to win.
"We played our way, with our identity, on the pitch. Myself, the players and the fans should be proud of it. We should have been leading the score with the chances we had. We have to be realistic, Tottenham had chances as well."
On Tom Cairney's red card: "Firstly, I know him. Tom Cairney is not the player for that, everybody knows. I have to be realistic and honest with you, everybody knows I am the first one asking him to be more aggressive in the right way, to keep some principles as a midfielder in that situation, but he is not the type of player to do that type of thing.
"He stamped on his leg and, of course, looking through the images it should be a red card and we have to accept it, knowing that Tom Cairney was really unlucky because he is not that type of player."
On the reaction to going down to 10 men: "What a reaction from us. The reaction was good - 15 minutes with 10 men and the reality is that Tottenham didn't create one chance."
Tottenham 1-1 Fulham - send us your thoughtspublished at 15:28 1 December 2024
When is the FA Cup third-round draw?published at 12:16 1 December 2024
12:16 1 December 2024
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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.
The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Follow Sunday's Premier League games livepublished at 12:15 1 December 2024
12:15 1 December 2024
Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Fulhampublished at 11:18 1 December 2024
11:18 1 December 2024
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 13, he takes on boxer Sunny Edwards who is a Chelsea fan.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
I love watching Tottenham and what they do. They were missing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero against Manchester City last week but went to Etihad Stadium, played brilliantly and kept a clean sheet too.
The big worry for Spurs is Guglielmo Vicario got injured in that game. Fraser Forster is an excellent goalkeeper, who has had a great career, but he is not renowned for being brilliant with his feet.
Forster can appear a bit clunky on the ball, a little bit like I did when I played for Chelsea, and that could be an issue because of the way Ange Postecoglou wants Tottenham to play.
Fulham were on the opposite end of a four-goal scoreline at home to Wolves last weekend but, going off what I've seen from them this season, that is likely to be a one-off.
The Whites have scored in every game this season, apart from their opening-weekend defeat at Old Trafford, and they will be dangerous here too.
So I don't think this will be easy for Spurs but, if their forwards play like they did against City, they will come out on top again.
Sunny's prediction: 2-1
Tottenham are looking dangerous. I don't want to say they will win, but I think they will.
Silva on injuries, bouncing back and being 'brave'published at 16:26 29 November 2024
16:26 29 November 2024
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Tottenham (kick-off 13:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Silva confirmed that Harrison Reed, Joachim Andersen and Jorge Cuenca will all be unavailable, with Andersen being "out for some games", while Ryan Sessegnon is a "doubt".
On how they respond to the heavy defeat by Wolves last weekend: "We have bounce-back mentality. Of course the next one is always important. It's important to analyse and be clear with the message to players to make them understand deeply what happened in the game."
He added: "In the game, we were there - that result and score does not reflect what has happened on the pitch, that is the first thing. We were the best team on pitch for first 30 minuets - clearly. We did score, hit the crossbar, the game was going in direction it has been at home for us. We conceded a goal where we were flat and not aggressive enough and that changes the story of the game completely."
Opponents Tottenham's "identity is clear and the way Ange [Postecoglou] wants the team to play" and "they have the capacity to create different problems for the opposition" so Fulham will have to be "brave" in the way they play against them.
On if they can take inspiration from what Tottenham are doing in regularly competing for Europe: "We know what we are going to do and the ambition - no-one is going to take from ourselves. The way I see football, I am not going to be unrealistic... Sometimes you can compare things, but you have to be realistic. The key for you to improve and move forward your ambitions, the first thing is to be realistic and understand the reality of our football club."
On Antonee Robinson's comments that the team feel they can go toe to toe with everyone: "Really important but really nice for me to feel the players have this thought about the game and face the game and prepare themselves. It is a a message that has been throughout the football club the past three seasons."
On if they are ahead of where he expected despite the loss to Wolves: "We lost a chance to get clear and get three points in that game. Being us and reaching certain standards we want to reach it was a winnable game. You have to be a certain level in Premier League. Before that game everyone was saying we were brilliant. We had a bad game for us but you have to react and bounce back. We cannot let one game take away the good things we have been doing."