sportinglife.com
Reading 1 Fulham 0
By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
http://tinyurl.com/2e472n
Lawrie Sanchez's first match as Fulham boss ended in defeat as Stephen Hunt scored the winner for Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Sanchez has got the better of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Luis Aragones while manager of Northern Ireland but could not find a
way past Steve Coppell's Royals, for whom European qualification remains a possibility.
Sanchez started his career at Reading before making his name with the Crazy Gang at Wimbledon, but his former club did not
offer any favours despite their own safety being secured.
Sanchez's contract is only for five games and Fulham fans will point to missed opportunities, slack defending and a disallowed goal
from Papa Bouba Diop as the cause of his first match ending in defeat.
Neither defence showed much confidence as chances came thick and fast in the first half, most of Reading's exploiting Fulham's
left where Franck Queudrue was given a torrid afternoon.
Kevin Doyle, the Republic of Ireland striker who replaced the suspended Leroy Lita in the starting XI, had the first sight of goal
but stabbed wide on the six-yard line after Brynjar Gunnarsson's scuffed shot from a corner.
Brian McBride almost profited from a similarly ugly shot by Wayne Routledge but his effort was saved by Marcus Hahnemann,
the former Fulham goalkeeper.
Antti Niemi threw a leg out to deny Gunnarsson when the midfielder ran through, while at the other end Ian Pearce lifted the
easiest of the early chances over the bar when Simon Davies' corner was flicked on and found him unmarked.
Pearce was made to rue his miss, with the hosts taking the lead in the 15th minute.
Dave Kitson won the ball as Carlos Bocanegra and Queudrue failed to clear, which led to Seol Ki-Hyeon finding Doyle at the near post.
Doyle smuggled the ball through to Hunt who found the top corner from close range for his third of the season.
Pearce had held the Fulham defence together in the face of Reading pressure but was forced off in the 26th minute when the
foot injury he suffered last month appeared to flare up.
Zat Knight came on and Fulham's new-look defence needed to guard against conceding a second.
Queudrue was caught in possession by Seol, with Niemi forced to tip over after Gunnarsson met the Reading winger's cross.
Hunt maintained Reading's threat with two volleys that went wide and there was a penalty shout against Michael Brown when
he raised his hands to the ball, yet Fulham finished the half with a flourish.
Queudrue's powerful long-range volley landed on the roof of the net, while Diop had a header ruled out for offside when it
appeared that it was a team-mate beyond the final defender.
Seol curled an effort over early in the second half, while the visitors had a tame penalty shout when Routledge went over in the area.
Fulham struggled to break down the hosts, with the fans calling for the introduction of Vincenzo Montella, and the frustration was
illustrated by Heidar Helguson's booking for dissent.
Davies appealed for another penalty when his shot was blocked by Seol, and the Welshman then ran through but has his effort
saved by Hahnemann.
Davies was then taken off for Clint Dempsey and Montella came on for Helguson, with Fulham looking for a different approach in attack.
Brown forced Hahnemann into a save with a low drive but it was the hosts who looked more likely to add to the scoring, with Doyle
getting a goal ruled out for offside. Brown then hit the bar in stoppage time.
"Thank you Cookie, we are grateful. Lead us home Sanchez," read one banner from the Fulham support.
The new boss has four games to do so.
STAT ATTACK
Reading......Fulham
6 Shots On Target 5
6 Shots Off Target 8
8 Fouls (Conceded) 7
10 Corners 6
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
What the papers say: Fulham
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Hunt strike sours Sanchez's day
Anna Kessel
Sunday April 15, 2007
The Observer
Lawrie Sanchez began his west London appointment with a disappointing defeat away to Reading - and, with games against Arsenal and Liverpool to come, safety from relegation now seems far from certain for Fulham. Reading, meanwhile, were hardly impressive and their first win since the FA cup ties against Manchester United, lacked conviction. Steve Coppell's men will need a bigger injection of confidence than a lowly win against a struggling side can provide if they are to push for a Uefa cup place this season.
Sanchez faced his old club, for whom he made 250 league appearances while simultaneously studying for a business degree, and the Northern Ireland manager must hope his ability to multitask has not diminished as he attempts to steer Fulham away from the drop zone. A tough job going on current form - Fulham and Reading are at the bottom of the Barclays Premiership's form table - and the London side struggled to impact at the Madejski stadium.
Reading were without goalscorer Leroy Lita, who began a three-match ban for an alleged butt on Charlton's Talal El-Karkouri, while Steve Sidwell was left out as Coppell prepares for life without the midfielder ahead of his inevitable departure at the end of the season.
Reading were by far the brighter side and put together lively moves into Fulham's box. Early on, Kevin Doyle, looking for his first goal since January, toe-poked the ball past the post and Brynjar Gunnarsson forced a decent save from goalkeeper Antti Niemi. It wasn't long before the home side went ahead, Ki-Hyeon Seol setting up Doyle to cut the ball back across the box, where Stephen Hunt had only to slam it into the net.
Fulham struggled to defend and Reading should have nailed a couple, Dave Kitson having a good chance and Gunnarsson again testing Niemi. Fulham were sporadic in their response and, frequently, their attacks came to nothing.
Ian Pearce blasted a shot over the bar and, very late in the first half, Papa Bouba Diop thought he had scored from Simon Davies' cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside. In consternation, Sanchez's eyebrows remained knitted.
In the second half, Helguson was booked for dashing a drinks carrier to the ground in frustration and Sanchez took his jacket off. That's about as hot as it got. With little to excite them, the Fulham fans shouted for Vincenzo Montella, while - in desperation - the home side tried long shots. Franck Queudrue fired wide, Diop's rising shot flew over and Brian McBride set up Davies, who really should have bagged the equaliser after going one-on-one with Marcus Hahnemann, who saved athletically with his foot. But Davies had acres of space.
Reading substitute John Oster could have sealed the points after a good cross from Doyle, but he scuffed his shot, and Doyle then thought he had broken his scoring hoodoo, but his header was ruled out for offside. In injury time, Michael Brown hit the crossbar with a curling shot, probably Fulham's best of the game, but the result was fair and Sanchez now faces four games to save the club.
Anna Kessel
Sunday April 15, 2007
The Observer
Lawrie Sanchez began his west London appointment with a disappointing defeat away to Reading - and, with games against Arsenal and Liverpool to come, safety from relegation now seems far from certain for Fulham. Reading, meanwhile, were hardly impressive and their first win since the FA cup ties against Manchester United, lacked conviction. Steve Coppell's men will need a bigger injection of confidence than a lowly win against a struggling side can provide if they are to push for a Uefa cup place this season.
Sanchez faced his old club, for whom he made 250 league appearances while simultaneously studying for a business degree, and the Northern Ireland manager must hope his ability to multitask has not diminished as he attempts to steer Fulham away from the drop zone. A tough job going on current form - Fulham and Reading are at the bottom of the Barclays Premiership's form table - and the London side struggled to impact at the Madejski stadium.
Reading were without goalscorer Leroy Lita, who began a three-match ban for an alleged butt on Charlton's Talal El-Karkouri, while Steve Sidwell was left out as Coppell prepares for life without the midfielder ahead of his inevitable departure at the end of the season.
Reading were by far the brighter side and put together lively moves into Fulham's box. Early on, Kevin Doyle, looking for his first goal since January, toe-poked the ball past the post and Brynjar Gunnarsson forced a decent save from goalkeeper Antti Niemi. It wasn't long before the home side went ahead, Ki-Hyeon Seol setting up Doyle to cut the ball back across the box, where Stephen Hunt had only to slam it into the net.
Fulham struggled to defend and Reading should have nailed a couple, Dave Kitson having a good chance and Gunnarsson again testing Niemi. Fulham were sporadic in their response and, frequently, their attacks came to nothing.
Ian Pearce blasted a shot over the bar and, very late in the first half, Papa Bouba Diop thought he had scored from Simon Davies' cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside. In consternation, Sanchez's eyebrows remained knitted.
In the second half, Helguson was booked for dashing a drinks carrier to the ground in frustration and Sanchez took his jacket off. That's about as hot as it got. With little to excite them, the Fulham fans shouted for Vincenzo Montella, while - in desperation - the home side tried long shots. Franck Queudrue fired wide, Diop's rising shot flew over and Brian McBride set up Davies, who really should have bagged the equaliser after going one-on-one with Marcus Hahnemann, who saved athletically with his foot. But Davies had acres of space.
Reading substitute John Oster could have sealed the points after a good cross from Doyle, but he scuffed his shot, and Doyle then thought he had broken his scoring hoodoo, but his header was ruled out for offside. In injury time, Michael Brown hit the crossbar with a curling shot, probably Fulham's best of the game, but the result was fair and Sanchez now faces four games to save the club.
the independent
Reading 1 Fulham 0: Hunt hands harsh message to Sanchez
Fulham's new manager given an immediate sight of the mountain he now has to climb
By Norman Fox at The Madejski Stadium
Published: 15 April 2007
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football ... 450005.ece
Lawrie Sanchez's first match as caretaker-manager with struggling Fulham did not offer him what he might reasonably have expected.
Certainly his new charges charged around more energetically than of late, but the clouds of relegation are running just as fast
and the ability to defend with confidence is painfully absent.
Reading broke them down without playing well and at the same time broke their own run of indifferent results.
Sanchez had probably been thinking that there could have been more intimidating places to begin his attempt to rescue Fulham than
at Reading, for whom he made over 250 appearances between 1977 and 1984.
The fans gave him a warm welcome back, and Reading's manager, Steve Coppell, had indicated that he was more concerned about
preparing for next season than busting a gut over the remaining games that no longer have much consequence outside not wanting
to extend the poor run of results.
That outlook was made plain by the fact that Coppell omitted Steve Sidwell, who is expected to leave the club in the summer.
However, that apart, he did not make enough changes to cause complaint from the other relegation candidates around Fulham.
Brynjar Gunnarsson took Sidwell's role and was quick to press forward. Antti Niemi was immediately under pressure, as was the
whole of the Fulham defence.
Ian Pearce had to give away a corner as Seol Ki-Hyeon crossed dangerously and Gunnarsson had a powerful cross shot
deflected away by Niemi's foot.
Fulham thought they had put up some resistance when Brian McBride's low drive was just about held by Marcus Hahnemann,
but after 14 minutes their concentration lapsed.
Dave Kitson had snatched position before Seol took up the attack on the right.
The South Korean was knocked down and once Kevin Doyle had centred low, Stephen Hunt simply turned the ball past Niemi and
his flustered defenders.
Seol's industry on the right was a constant threat to Fulham with lucid footwork which led to another good chance but from his centre,
Gunnarsson's subsequent shot was pushed up and over by the keeper.
Fulham's difficulties were exacerbated when Pearce, who Sanchez had risked bringing back into the team after a foot injury,
damaged it again and had to abandon the match.
Meanwhile, Reading took advantage of having two wide players, Hunt and Seol, and as a result the Fulham defence was stretched.
If Coppell had warned his players to expect Fulham to come out flying in order to impress their new boss, he was not entirely wrong.
Although the defence looked extremely vulnerable some quite effective mid-game counter-attacks deserved more than one disallowed
goal when Papa Bouba Diop was caught offside.
Reading were far inferior to their mid-season form and should have been back on equal terms when Fulham's McBride sent Simon Davies
away on an unchallenged run down the left wing.
Davies cut in and had only Hahnemann to beat, but the goalkeeper got his foot to the shot.
Much as the outcome leaves Fulham in dangerous waters, Sanchez had seen a little more spirit than has been evident of late.
However, they will need more than that.
In fact they need five points from four games involving Blackburn, Arsenal, Liverpool and Middlesbrough.
Sanchez was indignant that late in the game Diop headed what seemed a legitimate goal that was ruled offside by a linesman who
himself seemed unsighted.
He said: "We deserved something. In the second half it looked like my side playing. If we play like that, we'll get the points."
Reading 1 Fulham 0: Hunt hands harsh message to Sanchez
Fulham's new manager given an immediate sight of the mountain he now has to climb
By Norman Fox at The Madejski Stadium
Published: 15 April 2007
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football ... 450005.ece
Lawrie Sanchez's first match as caretaker-manager with struggling Fulham did not offer him what he might reasonably have expected.
Certainly his new charges charged around more energetically than of late, but the clouds of relegation are running just as fast
and the ability to defend with confidence is painfully absent.
Reading broke them down without playing well and at the same time broke their own run of indifferent results.
Sanchez had probably been thinking that there could have been more intimidating places to begin his attempt to rescue Fulham than
at Reading, for whom he made over 250 appearances between 1977 and 1984.
The fans gave him a warm welcome back, and Reading's manager, Steve Coppell, had indicated that he was more concerned about
preparing for next season than busting a gut over the remaining games that no longer have much consequence outside not wanting
to extend the poor run of results.
That outlook was made plain by the fact that Coppell omitted Steve Sidwell, who is expected to leave the club in the summer.
However, that apart, he did not make enough changes to cause complaint from the other relegation candidates around Fulham.
Brynjar Gunnarsson took Sidwell's role and was quick to press forward. Antti Niemi was immediately under pressure, as was the
whole of the Fulham defence.
Ian Pearce had to give away a corner as Seol Ki-Hyeon crossed dangerously and Gunnarsson had a powerful cross shot
deflected away by Niemi's foot.
Fulham thought they had put up some resistance when Brian McBride's low drive was just about held by Marcus Hahnemann,
but after 14 minutes their concentration lapsed.
Dave Kitson had snatched position before Seol took up the attack on the right.
The South Korean was knocked down and once Kevin Doyle had centred low, Stephen Hunt simply turned the ball past Niemi and
his flustered defenders.
Seol's industry on the right was a constant threat to Fulham with lucid footwork which led to another good chance but from his centre,
Gunnarsson's subsequent shot was pushed up and over by the keeper.
Fulham's difficulties were exacerbated when Pearce, who Sanchez had risked bringing back into the team after a foot injury,
damaged it again and had to abandon the match.
Meanwhile, Reading took advantage of having two wide players, Hunt and Seol, and as a result the Fulham defence was stretched.
If Coppell had warned his players to expect Fulham to come out flying in order to impress their new boss, he was not entirely wrong.
Although the defence looked extremely vulnerable some quite effective mid-game counter-attacks deserved more than one disallowed
goal when Papa Bouba Diop was caught offside.
Reading were far inferior to their mid-season form and should have been back on equal terms when Fulham's McBride sent Simon Davies
away on an unchallenged run down the left wing.
Davies cut in and had only Hahnemann to beat, but the goalkeeper got his foot to the shot.
Much as the outcome leaves Fulham in dangerous waters, Sanchez had seen a little more spirit than has been evident of late.
However, they will need more than that.
In fact they need five points from four games involving Blackburn, Arsenal, Liverpool and Middlesbrough.
Sanchez was indignant that late in the game Diop headed what seemed a legitimate goal that was ruled offside by a linesman who
himself seemed unsighted.
He said: "We deserved something. In the second half it looked like my side playing. If we play like that, we'll get the points."
The Sunday Times
April 15, 2007
Short-term Sanchez fails to ignite Fulham
Reading 1 Fulham 0
Duncan Castles at Madejski stadium
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 654888.ece
THE PROBLEM with panic is that it can be contagious.
No new-manager effect for Fulham yesterday, more an afternoon of evidence that the haste with which the club dispensed with
Chris Coleman had transmitted itself to his former charges.
So effective in his other job as Northern Ireland boss, Lawrie Sanchez appeared exactly the short-term replacement summoned
from a skiing holiday this week to spend two days preparing a shocked and disappointed squad.
Primed for safety-first defending, Fulham started badly, conceded an error-laden early goal to Stephen Hunt and could have lost
several more before half-time.
If there is hope for their escape from relegation it came in a second-half performance in which they rediscovered their ability to pass
and offered some threat to a weakened Reading side’s goal.
The grand irony of Coleman’s sacking was that this was exactly the kind of situation and fixture the manager had forged his reputation in.
Four years previously the Welshman had taken command of a Fulham side in far greater danger of relegation, retaining top-flight
status by winning three and drawing one of his five fixtures.
If the following campaign was one of overachievement, Coleman’s ability to deliver in critical matches against a backdrop of reduced
transfer and wage budgets kept a club with the fan base of a minor Championship outfit safely in the Premiership.
Three alterations to Fulham’s lineup were pragmatic. Franck Queudrue and Ian Pearce returned from injury to the back four,
Papa Bouba Diop replaced the unfit Alexei Smertin in a flat midfield four.
Their tactics were equally straightforward, Pearce setting the tone by punting the first ball that came his way high into the stands
and his teammates regularly following suit.
Fine by Reading, who worked their way down the wings and threatened from crosses and set pieces.
Pearce was soon heading a Seol Ki-Hyeon centre past his own post, Brynjar Gunnarsson almost turned Hunt’s clever low corner
kick in at the far post, Antti Niemi thwarted Ivar Ingimarsson with a swiftly outstretched leg.
On the quarter-hour mark the home side did score.
Seemingly in position to clear, Carlos Bocanegra allowed the ball to be pushed out to Seol and the South Korean bent his cross
into the near post. Kevin Doyle gathered, turned and reverse passed to Hunt, who merely had to elevate his shot over Niemi and
into the net from six yards.
Battling for scraps, Fulham might have scored from two corners of their own just before.
At the first Wayne Routledge’s misdirected shot fell for Heidar Helguson to test Reading’s goal-keeper.
From the second, Pearce conspired to volley over from five yards.
Before long the big defender had to leave the game altogether, succumbing to a calf knock while attempting to clear
another home corner.
Queudrue merely succumbed to inattention, permitting Seol to pilfer possession and tee up Gunnarsson for a free strike Niemi
had little right to parry.
As Reading continued to create openings, only the harum-scarum nature of their defending offered hope to the visitors and Fulham
twice netted from offside positions as Helguson and Diop were whistled back.
Sanchez sent his team out early for the second half and seemingly with greater leeway to play the passing game his predecessor
had fostered. What he got was his first period of sustained pressure, a handful of half chances and a yellow card for a frustrated
Helguson, slamming a drinks carrier to the turf in anger. On 66 minutes they came closer to a goal, Brian McBride heading on for
Simon Davies, whose shot just failed to bypass Marcus Hahnemann.
In stoppage time Michael Brown clipped the bar, but Reading had the win.
Returning to the ill-fated scene of his full managerial debut with Charlton, it was deja vu for Sanchez’s assistant Les Reed.
If his new boss can’t dispel the panic at Craven Cottage neither they nor the club will be seeing the Premiership again come August.
Star man: Kevin Doyle (Reading)
Player Ratings:Reading:Hahnemann 6, De la Cruz 5, Bikey 5, Ingimarsson 6, Shorey 5, Seol 7 (Oster 70min),
Gunnarsson 7, Harper 6, Hunt 7, Doyle 7, Kitson 6 (Long 70min)
Fulham: Helguson 55 Fulham:Niemi 7, Rosenior 6, Pearce 6 (Knight 26min, 6), Bocanegra 5, Queudrue 4, Routledge 6,
Brown 6, Diop 6, Davies 6 (Dempsey 68min, 6), Helguson 6 (Montella 71min), McBride 6
Scorer: Reading: Hunt 15
Referee: L Mason
Attendance: 24,082
April 15, 2007
Short-term Sanchez fails to ignite Fulham
Reading 1 Fulham 0
Duncan Castles at Madejski stadium
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 654888.ece
THE PROBLEM with panic is that it can be contagious.
No new-manager effect for Fulham yesterday, more an afternoon of evidence that the haste with which the club dispensed with
Chris Coleman had transmitted itself to his former charges.
So effective in his other job as Northern Ireland boss, Lawrie Sanchez appeared exactly the short-term replacement summoned
from a skiing holiday this week to spend two days preparing a shocked and disappointed squad.
Primed for safety-first defending, Fulham started badly, conceded an error-laden early goal to Stephen Hunt and could have lost
several more before half-time.
If there is hope for their escape from relegation it came in a second-half performance in which they rediscovered their ability to pass
and offered some threat to a weakened Reading side’s goal.
The grand irony of Coleman’s sacking was that this was exactly the kind of situation and fixture the manager had forged his reputation in.
Four years previously the Welshman had taken command of a Fulham side in far greater danger of relegation, retaining top-flight
status by winning three and drawing one of his five fixtures.
If the following campaign was one of overachievement, Coleman’s ability to deliver in critical matches against a backdrop of reduced
transfer and wage budgets kept a club with the fan base of a minor Championship outfit safely in the Premiership.
Three alterations to Fulham’s lineup were pragmatic. Franck Queudrue and Ian Pearce returned from injury to the back four,
Papa Bouba Diop replaced the unfit Alexei Smertin in a flat midfield four.
Their tactics were equally straightforward, Pearce setting the tone by punting the first ball that came his way high into the stands
and his teammates regularly following suit.
Fine by Reading, who worked their way down the wings and threatened from crosses and set pieces.
Pearce was soon heading a Seol Ki-Hyeon centre past his own post, Brynjar Gunnarsson almost turned Hunt’s clever low corner
kick in at the far post, Antti Niemi thwarted Ivar Ingimarsson with a swiftly outstretched leg.
On the quarter-hour mark the home side did score.
Seemingly in position to clear, Carlos Bocanegra allowed the ball to be pushed out to Seol and the South Korean bent his cross
into the near post. Kevin Doyle gathered, turned and reverse passed to Hunt, who merely had to elevate his shot over Niemi and
into the net from six yards.
Battling for scraps, Fulham might have scored from two corners of their own just before.
At the first Wayne Routledge’s misdirected shot fell for Heidar Helguson to test Reading’s goal-keeper.
From the second, Pearce conspired to volley over from five yards.
Before long the big defender had to leave the game altogether, succumbing to a calf knock while attempting to clear
another home corner.
Queudrue merely succumbed to inattention, permitting Seol to pilfer possession and tee up Gunnarsson for a free strike Niemi
had little right to parry.
As Reading continued to create openings, only the harum-scarum nature of their defending offered hope to the visitors and Fulham
twice netted from offside positions as Helguson and Diop were whistled back.
Sanchez sent his team out early for the second half and seemingly with greater leeway to play the passing game his predecessor
had fostered. What he got was his first period of sustained pressure, a handful of half chances and a yellow card for a frustrated
Helguson, slamming a drinks carrier to the turf in anger. On 66 minutes they came closer to a goal, Brian McBride heading on for
Simon Davies, whose shot just failed to bypass Marcus Hahnemann.
In stoppage time Michael Brown clipped the bar, but Reading had the win.
Returning to the ill-fated scene of his full managerial debut with Charlton, it was deja vu for Sanchez’s assistant Les Reed.
If his new boss can’t dispel the panic at Craven Cottage neither they nor the club will be seeing the Premiership again come August.
Star man: Kevin Doyle (Reading)
Player Ratings:Reading:Hahnemann 6, De la Cruz 5, Bikey 5, Ingimarsson 6, Shorey 5, Seol 7 (Oster 70min),
Gunnarsson 7, Harper 6, Hunt 7, Doyle 7, Kitson 6 (Long 70min)
Fulham: Helguson 55 Fulham:Niemi 7, Rosenior 6, Pearce 6 (Knight 26min, 6), Bocanegra 5, Queudrue 4, Routledge 6,
Brown 6, Diop 6, Davies 6 (Dempsey 68min, 6), Helguson 6 (Montella 71min), McBride 6
Scorer: Reading: Hunt 15
Referee: L Mason
Attendance: 24,082
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