MATCH THREAD " FULHAM v CARDIFF CITY " MATCH THREAD

Fulham:

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Cardiff City Unchanged
Cardiff team: Etheridge, Peltier, Bamba, Morrison, Bennett, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Damour, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett, Zohore.

Subs: Murphy, Manga, Richards, Tomlin, Ward, Feeney and Bryson.

Subs: Murphy, Manga, Richards, Tomlin, Ward, Feeney and Bryson.

Really strong bench

The picturesque Craven Cottage is as glorious as ever, but the real picture is the mass of blue (and the odd luminous green) in the end to our right with 3,000 travelling from South Wales. The noise has all been from the Bluebirds fans. Or it was before the choreographed clapping began with the paper clappers handed out by the host club. For one of the oldest, most traditional venues in the Football League, not sure what I think of this modern phenomenon.

Anyway, the clouds have come over as the sprinklers go on full flood - an indication of the football played here - and we await the teams from the corner of the ground to our left where the original cottage stands.

Teams are out

A rhythm of plastic clappers and some ridiculously OTT sprinklers welcome the players onto the field.

The tunnel is in the far corner here at Craven Cottagers, so all managers and coaches have to make their way across the pitch before kick off.

Ready for kick off

Some superb noise from the away support already!

Some nice skills from Mollo down the left who appeals for a corner but it is given as a goal-kick

Gunnarsson and Mendez-Laing link up nicely down the right as Cardiff enjoy their first foray into Fulham territory.

The hosts look to be playing a very fluid formation, either a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3.

Interestingly, highly rated Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon looks to have started the game as a centre forward.

Denis Odoi is on the left side of defence as the home side start promisingly.

Peltier squirts one back to Etheridge after Mollo made a run down the left wing.

Cardiff finding some space for Mendez-Laing early doors

Foul by Cisse on Hoilett, free-kick to Cardiff 25 yards out

The referee has given another free-kick after claiming Ayite touched it with his arm in the wall

Tim Ream gets a foot in and then Button clears it after Damour was charging through

Thoughts on the opening 10 minutes - Gunnar looking good

An impressive start from Aron Gunnarsson. He’s been involved quite a bit in these ten first minutes, both in terms of winning the ball quickly back from a side comfortable in possession, and with some intelligent passing. The midfielder is looking sharp, perhaps helped by his happy involvement with Iceland over the past week.

Mollo beat his man down the right but his cross was cleared by the Cardiff defence #FFC

Ayite was breaking away but the referee pulls him back after a soft foul on Hoilett where he appears to fall into Frederick

Cardiff's defence up to the challenge so far, with Bamba making two telling clearances #Bluebirds

A poor defensive header by Fulham almost lets Hoilett and Zohore carve out a chance.

They couldn’t get it right though and the hosts can clear.

Kalas clears Hoilett's cross after Cardiff broke following Fredericks clearance #FFC

The first 15 mins City have looked good

Gunnar stops them again!

Warm applause for Ibrahim Cisse who went down with a knock, causing a slight delay.

It’s Fulham who are pressing for an opening so far - but Gunnarsson again gets in the way! Immense.

The #FFC medical team enter the fray after being waved on by the referee following a collision between Cisse and Peltier

Cisse returns to the action after Odoi kicked the ball out following his tackle on Mendez-Laing #FFC
0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes

Sessegnon curls wide of goal

Close! @DamourLoic heads wide from a @Joe_Ralls cross. (0-0)

Ralls swings in a cross for Cardiff but Damour's header is not on target, goal-kick to #FFC

Fulham give Mendez-Laing too much space and it’s then crossed towards Damour at the back post.

A fine save by Etheridge denies Sessegnon a goal after some perfect link-up play with Johanse