Wilson's hot Wales form - did you know?published at 08:37 15 October
08:37 15 October
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Harry Wilson kept his cool from the penalty spot to give Wales a 1-0 win over Montenegro on Monday.
Eight of Wales' last 13 goals have either been scored (5) or assisted (3) by Wilson and he has netted in three consecutive appearances for the Dragons for the very first time.
Wilson has been directly involved in nine goals across his last 11 appearances for Wales (5 goals, 4 assists), as many as in his previous 41 games for his country.
Ask our pundit - send in your questionspublished at 18:11 14 October
18:11 14 October
BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.
So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?
What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?
Gossip: Whites among clubs keen on defender Dawapublished at 10:20 13 October
10:20 13 October
Fulham, Everton and Leeds United are interested in Steaua Bucharest's 28-year-old Cameroon centre-back Joyskim Dawa, who has a release clause in the region of £4m. (Mirror)
Earlier, we asked you for the three players who have scored more than 30 Premier League goals for Fulham.
Clint Dempsey scored 50 times in the top flight for Fulham, while Steed Malbranque and Brian McBride both netted 32 goals apiece for the London club.
Contrasting starts for two London sidespublished at 11:58 11 October
11:58 11 October
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Even though it is still early days in the Premier League season, there are teams standing out for both good and bad reasons.
The side that has impressed me most this campaign so far has been Fulham.
Under Marco Silva this term, with a couple of new signings, they feel a more solid team but have also maintained that element of threat at the other end.
When they look at where they are in the table, it is a perfectly fair reflection of their start.
There will not be many times when a team completely outplays them to the point where it becomes a non-event, so I have found that to be really impressive.
As for the team that have been disappointing and worried me the most, it is Crystal Palace.
They have sold Michael Olise and they lost Joachim Andersen as well. That's two big players across recent seasons, but I would still have expected that by now Palace would have won a league game.
Yes, they have had some tough matches along the way, but I would not expect them to be in the position they are with the low goalscoring record they have after seven games.
With the talent that they have, it is still enough to be doing better and that is a bit of a concern. The fans will know they will continue to try and they will find something, but there will be an element of disappointment and that would be valid.
I did not anticipate the quest for their first league win would be going into October.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Today's trivia challengepublished at 09:11 11 October
09:11 11 October
Can you name the three players who have scored more than 30 Premier League goals for Fulham?
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST
Can managers openly admit mental health struggles?published at 08:08 10 October
08:08 10 October
Media caption,
Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.
A piece of skill for the agespublished at 11:02 9 October
11:02 9 October
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
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Over the years there are moments that jump out at you as being innovative to a level that is hard to imagine for the mere mortals.
We all have our own favourites and I have plenty on YouTube I look back on. I might even have one or two of my own, check out my goal for Everton v Man Utd back in 1992.
I selfishly digress because another one of my favourite moments of creativity, to rival the likes of Cantona, Bergkamp, Rooney and De Bruyne, was delivered by Raul Jimenez against Manchester City. On the BBC’s flagship highlights programme Match of the Day, it wasn’t given its due respect during the analysis, let me make up for that. I would argue that there will not be a better assist this season in the Premier League.
You rarely if ever see that next-level type of backheel no-look pass in the box, because it is that difficult even just to imagine the skill never mind deliver it. It was total, inspirational inventiveness in the moment.
I’m off now to watch it back, yet again. Well done Raul, for the moment of the week by a country mile, yes even above Cole Palmer sitting down on the field in exasperation when the rest of the players were having a puerile pushing party by the dugout.
'Has a defeat ever felt less like a defeat?'published at 12:36 8 October
12:36 8 October
Drew Heatley Fan writer
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Has a defeat ever felt less like a defeat?
It’s an illustration of Manchester City’s impact on the modern game that many of us still feel so buoyant after the weekend. After all, we played the champions off the park for large periods on Saturday. But Marco Silva and the boys won’t need reminding that you don’t get any points for impressing the neutrals.
Zero points, then. But plenty of positives. Firstly, we have enough strength in depth for Silva to tactically rotate out our £34m record signing, and for that decision to be proved right. Sander Berge came in to provide extra height and steel to the midfield and he did just that.
Secondly, both our strikers are performing. Raul Jimenez continued his fine start to the season with an audacious back-heeled assist for Andreas Pereira’s opener, while Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench to get off the mark for 2024-25 - at the Etihad, no less.
And thirdly, we are sublimely exciting to watch. In Adama Traore we have one of the most unique wingers in the league. Yes, he could have - and should have - finished some of his chances on Saturday. But only he could have got in those positions in the first place. That footage of him leaving Kyle Walker in his dust will live long in the memory.
When the last international break arrived, I welcomed it so Marco could get his tactics in order and bed in our new arrivals. As we arrive at another break, five games and seven points later, it’s a great time to regroup ahead of a 10-game run to Christmas, during which we face just three top six clubs. If we pick up a similar points-per-game tally, we’d be well on course to surpass our best-ever points total.
And, despite this defeat, it certainly feels like that kind of season.
Is the new VAR working?published at 07:25 8 October
07:25 8 October
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A VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.
@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.
Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.
Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.
I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.
Man City 3-2 Fulham - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:40 7 October
12:40 7 October
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
City fans
Lea: We are missing Rodri so much. Can't afford to give two goals away. Better teams than Fulham will take points off us. I don't think we will get a trophy this season. How I hope I am wrong.
Tim: Agree with Pep - let's give credit to the opposition, they played some very good football and contributed to a great game to watch. However, let's also give credit to the champions for digging in and winning a very difficult game. Keep the run going, get more familiar without Rodri and improve.
Nick: Hard fought win and another team pushing City. However, I feel that playing Rico Lewis is becoming a luxury and not a necessity. I just don't get his hype. Too easily pushed off the ball or out of possession and I've never known anyone pushed over so easily. Please Rico prove me wrong.
William: City looking flat and slow again. Leaking cheap goals and missing that spark of seasons gone by. Confusing substitutions that didn’t seem to positively influence the match. Something is missing and it’s not just De Bruyne and Rodri.
Fulham fans
Bill: I thought Fulham were brilliant and frankly shocked City. Had Traore scored number two I think the result would have been very different. Much praise from Pep and many positives to take away from a great game of football.
David: Three points dropped potentially, all three of Traore's chances were clearer than any of City's. Score any two of those and it's a win. In reality Fulham could/should have been 3-0 up before City scored and I doubt even they would come back from that.
Will: A display that I am incredibly proud of. Perhaps another day we could have got a result, but this was a great performance in the hardest game of the season. Onwards!
Paul: Fulham were excellent went toe to toe with the best. Created so many good chances. Proud of them.
'Guardiola knew his side were in more of a fight than many expected'published at 10:58 7 October
10:58 7 October
Sarah Mulkerrins Final Score reporter at Etihad Stadium
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There was a big puff of the cheeks for Pep Guardiola as the win sunk in - he knew his side were in more of a fight than many expected.
Fulham weathered the early pressure and settled in defence. They did really well on the break, exposing Manchester City at times and gained huge confidence as the game went on.
In as much as a manager can be happy with a loss, you imagine Marco Silva will appreciate a lot of what his team showed. It could also have been so different if Adama Traore was able to finish any of the three chances when he was one on one with Ederson.
There were lots of supportive claps on his shoulder and back at full-time from team-mates and from Silva, who was also deep in a long conversation with Guardiola post-match.
As City adjust to the loss of Rodri, Mateo Kovacic put in a really good shift, along with scoring the crucial goals that pulled them level and then ahead.
However, you still feel they are a little unsettled and Kevin de Bruyne will be a welcome return after the international break if all goes well.
But they got the win which was so important for them after back-to-back draws - and they didn't even have to rely on Erling Haaland for the goals.
'Fulham should have got all three points with the chances they created'published at 07:20 7 October
07:20 7 October
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BBC pundits Chris Waddle and Micah Richards were both impressed by Fulham's performance despite eventually losing 3-2 at Manchester City on Saturday.
Marco Silva's side took the lead at Etihad Stadium and spurned several presentable opportunities to extend their lead and then get back into the game after City turned the game around.
"At first they parked the bus, which most teams do when they come to Manchester City," former Newcastle and Tottenham winger Waddle told Sports Report on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Then they grew in confidence. They thought 'let's have a go' - and with the chances they missed they will be disappointed they didn't get a point.
"They should have got all three really with the chances they created. They'll go away very disappointed. City looked very leggy compared to Fulham."
Former City defender Richards added: "The story, for me, was Fulham.
"They were excellent and had it been for better finishing they could have come away with something."
'Proud of the performance but we have to take something'published at 18:36 5 October
18:36 5 October
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Fulham boss Marco Silva, speaking to Sky Sports: "They started the first half very well and the first ten minutes was difficult for us to adapt some things. They had more control of the game with the ball too without making lots of chances. The players executed the plan well, the way we changed some positions and moved things around a little and we started creating.
"We scored the 1-0 goal, and then they got lucky with the deflection to equalise, but before that we had a chance with Adama [Traore] to make it 2-0. The impact of a second goal in that moment would be big.
"We were really punished with the way we started the second half. We cannot concede a goal in the second minute of the half. The reaction was really good, another Adama chance 1v1 with Ederson but we didn't equalise.
"We then had more of the ball, more control, City were getting deeper and finished the game with five at the back. We deserve credit but I am really sad with the result, proud of the performance but we have to take something."
On Alex Iwobi's role: "Great performance from Alex. He understood the instructions and he did really well in tough duels 1v1 with Grealish and then Doku. He was also decisive in our offensive part. The demands in that role on and off the ball were high and he executed it really well."
On Traore's many misses: "Sad moment for him, he is really sad in the dressing room but that is football. We have to look for the reality at what happened this afternoon; it is not easy to create chances like that but he has to take some. We need to keep giving him the trust, belief and love for him to perform in the next game."
Manchester City 3-2 Fulham: Reasons to be optimistic for Cottagerspublished at 17:09 5 October
17:09 5 October
Emlyn Begley BBC Sport journalist at Etihad Stadium
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City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for opposite number Marco Silva and the outstanding job he has done at Fulham before the game.
But Fulham traditionally struggle in this fixture. In fact they had lost their last 16 - now 17 - meetings with City, the longest losing run one English league side has ever had against another.
However the Cottagers caused City more problems than some of the world's best teams manage at Etihad Stadium.
Their opening goal was outstanding and their late strike gave them renewed hope.
Adama Traore's lack of end product probably cost him a career at the very top level with Barcelona - and this would have been a different game had he managed to take his chances.
Fulham remain sixth in the table following only their second defeat of the season - and Silva will have seen plenty of reasons to be confident here.
Man City 3-2 Fulham - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:59 5 October
Who walks the most in the Premier League?published at 11:45 5 October
11:45 5 October
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
It has been a hectic start to the Premier League season with some clubs making a fast start while others are yet to get going.
But whose boots are made for walking the most so far?
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa has walked the most after six games, just 0.1 km more than Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Interestingly, Haaland and Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo walk a lot despite being forwards.
Maybe the reason why Haaland has been able to establish himself as one of the fastest players and why Semenyo has made so many sprints is that they conserve their energy for the biggest moments where they can make the most impact.
Meanwhile, it is not just distance walked that we have tracked.
Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has spent more of his time on the pitch walking than any other player in the Premier League so far.
It is also interesting that both of Tottenham’s centre-backs spend so much of their time walking, given Spurs' high possession, high pressing, style of play.
This might mean Cristiano Romero and Micky van de Ven can conserve energy for when things get a bit chaotic (or they fancy a marauding run)?
This could especially be true for van de Ven who has been the fastest player in the competition so far.
Follow Saturday's Premier League games livepublished at 11:31 5 October
11:31 5 October
Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Fulhampublished at 11:15 5 October
11:15 5 October
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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
I’ve got Fulham wrong a few times this season by underestimating them... I am still not going to back them to get anything at Etihad Stadium though.
Manchester City were not quite at it against Newcastle last weekend, whether that was down to Rodri's absence or not, and they will have to do better this time - which is what I am expecting to happen.
Fulham have got a nice balance to them, but can they keep City out? They lost this fixture 5-1 last season with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and, while they might suffer less damage this time, I can still only see one outcome.
The big question, for me, is whether City keep a clean sheet. They have conceded in their past five league games, but based on the law of averages - so nothing scientific - I think that run will end here.
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