[themaclad]

v



LAST TIME OUT
FULHAM 1 SWANSWEA CITY 0


Looked slightlyy lucky not to give away a couple of penalties whilst seemed to be gifted one which they missed, Mitro made amends by bagging with the last kick of the game
WEST BROMWICH 2 PRESTON NORTH END 0

LAST TIME AT THE COTTAGE
FULHAM 2 PRESTON NORTH END 2


Leading 2-1 deep into injury time until Maxwell cocks up in the 7th minute of injury time

FULHAM FORM RATING 13
PNE FORM RATING 13

The last scheduled league game in the capital this season always a favourite with the travelling whites and it's has absolutely nothing to do with beer.
As per usual a river trip has been arranged for themasses, this is years boat,


As for the game the Cottages do seem to rely on the goals of one man, Mitro, they would probably be mid table without him, they play decent football although under Parker doesn't seem to have the zip of old they get criticism for a slow build up. As well as Mitro, Cairney is decent but we can cause them trouble as defensively don't think they are overly great.

Fisher likely to be suspended, they have appealed but IMV have sod all chance of winning it, if Darnell is suspended would like to see Rafferty start and not Clarke, hopefully Harrop is fit, cannot see many changes.

Match Officials: Fulham Away

The match referee for this weekend’s trip to face Fulham at Craven Cottage is David Webb.

We are seeing David for the third time this season, having had him officiated the Carabao Cup second round penalty victory over Hull City at Deepdale back in September and out last victory in London, November’s 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic.

The Hull City tie was his first game at Deepdale since 2016, when he had the whistle in PR1 for our 2-0 home win over Peterborough United in the middle of the 2015/16 campaign.
Last season he officiated two PNE games, the away matches at Birmingham City and Derby County.
Overall then he has refereed the Lilywhites on 12 occasions, some of the most memorable games including the FA Cup win at Wycombe Wanderers, when Kevin Davies scored a stunning strike from 35 yards, and a 3-2 home win over Crewe Alexandra in 2011 in the league cup.

Overall this season, he has taken charge of 27 games, issuing 69 cautions and no red cards, with this being his third trip to Craven Cottage this season, the others being their 1-1 draw with West Brom early in the campaign and a 1-0 success over Middlesbrough in January.

He will be assisted at The Valley by assistants Geoffrey Russell and Adrian Waters, whilst the fourth official will be experienced Championship official Gavin Ward.

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Fisher wins appeal

[themaclad]

Fulham 2 Nugent og Kamara Preston North End 0

Fulham line-up: Rodak, Hector, Odoi, Mitrovic, Cairney ©, Ream, Decordova-Reid, Arter (McDonald, 90), Cavaleiro, Bryan (Christie, 9), Knockaert (Kamara, 78). Subs not used: Bettinelli, Kebano, Johansen, Sessegnon.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Davies, Browne ©, Johnson, Hughes, Bauer, Maguire (Sinalir, 72), Barkhuizen, Nugent (Stockley, 66), Potts (Harrop, 83). Subs not used: Ripley, Clarke, Ledson, Huntington.
Attendance: 19,020 (1,948 PNE fans)
Referee: Mr D Webb

The away fans travelled en masse to the ground by the River, car, train, tube and boat and as usua went home only with memories as we lost to our play off rivals by 2-0 and as with Tuesday both goals could be described as soft. The manner of the second left keeper Declan Rudd going ballistic at Josh Harrop and he had every reason too.
We had a chance to try and level with the game deep into stoppage time from a corner, Harrop's kick barely reached the front post, balleasily won by Fulham and off went Kamara on an 80 yard dash, advanced on goal and squared the ball to Cavaleiro who returned the pass for the stocky winger to fire home through the legs of two defenders. It gave the score a slightly unfair look as North End especially in the first half had taken the game to their hosts.


Pearson absent through an injury, no Rafferty or Gallagher on the bench and a first start in ages for Brad Potts who it can be said was North End's best player, the tall midfielder had two efforts blocked and generally caused problems for the home side by running with the ball, something we do not do on a regular basis. Browne had an effort saved by slightly dodgy keeper Rodak before Maguire had a goal disallowed for offside followng a Nugent flick on.
Fulham's best chances fell to Christie who had come on for as substitute forJoe Bryan after 9 minutes. The home side were much improved towards the break .
We never really got to grips with them in the second half and Fulham dominated with the ball but didn't look like scoring Shots from Christie, Cairnet and Mitrovic went over the bar and in truth cannot recall a shot that Rudd had to save.
When the break through came there was more than a touch of fortune about if Knockaert's corner was dirtected by Nugent's head past his own keeper to give the home side the lead slightly harsh on North End. From then Fulham were rarely trouble until the last few minutes when it looked as if Rodak had to make a save from Bauer and then came Harrop's poor corner and the rest is history

Still sixth nbody else seems to want to take our place, 10 games to go going to be fun.

Fulham boss Scott Parker said:

"It is always important for us to win matches and we always go into every game expecting to win.

"Of course, West Brom and Leeds have been the most consistent and they are two very good teams.

"We have them both to play but we have to concentrate first on Bristol City next week and the games that follow that and see what we can do."

Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I think we started brightly and then obviously the set-play comes in and I don't know how it happens but it comes off Nugent and goes in.

"As with any game the first goal is always crucial. Then we end up with a corner, they counter and it ends 2-0 which I think flatters Fulham.

"We're the makers of our own downfall really. A cross into the box and we head it into our own goal. To be honest, we gifted them [the game]."