Result: Fulham comeback moves them off the bottom of the Championship

Fulham came back from a goal down to Birmingham City to win 2-1 and move off the foot of the Championship table this afternoon.

Dave Cotterill gave the home side the lead in the first period, but Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega fired the Cottagers to their first three points of what has been a turbulent campaign so far.

In the first half, Mark Duffy played a reverse to pass to Cotterill, but the latter's shot was too weak and was comfortably held by Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Roadallega went close for the visitors, but his effort flew wide of the post after he got on the end of a Hoogland cross on 20 minutes.

Jonathan Grounds should have perhaps have given his side the lead just after the half-hour mark when he flashed a header wide from Cotterill's corner.

With the first period drawing to a close, Cotterill curled an excellent effort beyond Bettinelli from around 25 yards out.

Hoogland evened the score up just after the hour mark with his third of the season after good work from Fernando Amorbieta.

Colombian striker Rodallega then gave the rock-bottom visitors the lead when he raced onto to Ross McCormack's through ball to fire in with a powerful effort from a tight angle.

Fulham finished the stronger of the two sides as Kit Symons recorded his first victory as caretkaer boss.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/result/result-fulham-comeback-moves-them-off-the-bottom_179265.html

 
Birmingham 1-2 Fulham: Hugo Rodallega strikes to move Kit Symons' men off foot of the Championship table
Cottagers won for the first time in the Championship this season
Tim Hoogland equalised David Cotterill's first half opener
And Hugo Rodallega knocked in the winner for a surprise away win
Leeds lost on Darko Milanic's debut as manager at Brentford
Cardiff won for the first time in six games against Sheffield Wednesday
Nottingham Forest and Charlton both remained unbeaten in the division

Fulham finally claimed their first Sky Bet Championship victory of the season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Birmingham.

Second-half goals from Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega saw Kit Symons' men end their miserable start to life in the second tier, after David Cotterill had put the Blues in front before the interval.

The Cottagers climbed off the bottom of the table, with Blackpool - now the only winless team in the division - taking their place after throwing away a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 at home to Norwich, who now sit top.


Hugo Rodallega wheels away to celebrate after scoring against Birmingham City


Rodallega (grounded) celebrates with his team-mates after securing a much-needed Fulham win

New Leeds boss Darko Milanic suffered a defeat in his first game in charge, as Ramallo Jota and Alan McCormack were both on target in a 2-0 home win for Brentford.

Managerless Cardiff recorded their first win in six games by beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.

Sean Morrison scored his first City goal before cancelling it out himself by putting through his own net, but Anthony Pilkington reprieved him by netting the winner just after the hour mark.


Rodallega strikes while the Birmingham defenders can only watch on, helpless to stop him


Fulham captain Scott Parker celebrates finally picking up three points after the final whistle sounds

Nottingham Forest and Charlton retained their unbeaten records but both were held to goalless draws at home by Brighton and Middlesbrough respectively.

Chris Powell enjoyed his first win as Huddersfield boss as Nahki Wells scored twice in the 2-1 win over Millwall.

Blackburn fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Watford.

Matej Vydra and Daniel Tozser put the Hornets 2-0 up at the break but Rudy Gestede and Ryan Tunnicliffe responded in the second half for the hosts to earn a point.

Wigan's abject away form continued as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth - their fourth defeat in five league games on the road this campaign.

Chris Martin bagged a brace as Derby recorded a second successive away win, beating Bolton 2-0, while two goals in the opening six minutes helped Ipswich beat Rotherham by the same scoreline as they recorded a fourth league win in a row.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2772021/Birmingham-1-2-Fulham-Hugo-Rodallega-strikes-Kit-Symons-men-foot-Championship-table.html#ixzz3EaXCPhBN
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Fulham boss turns things round with half-time blast at Birmingham

Caretaker uses the break to get a first win of the season


This way: Symons directs operations.
Kit Symons read the riot act at half time against Birmingham after he described Fulham's passing as 'awful.'

The rollocking did the trick, as a different Whites came out and turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win - Fulham's first three points of the season.

It was smiles all round in the players' tunnel at the end as the caretaker boss had a long chat with CEO Alistair Mackintosh, and further underlined his credentials for the job permanently.

But it needed a change of heart to carve out the win, as Symons explained.

"We were overplaying in the wrong areas; our ball retention was poor, and Birmingham deserved their lead," he said. "But the players responded at half time, and we got the two goals we could have got a couple of more.

"Even though, they were pushing, our goal looked pretty safe, and we looked the most likely to score the next one as well."

Symons paid tribute to keeper Marcus Bettinelli who could do nothing about the goal that beat him from David Cotterill, but made two stops out of the top drawer to keep Fulham in it.

He said: "Marcus is an excellent keeper, and possibly thrown in the first team earlier than might be expected. He's been given the opportunity and he's taken it."


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-turns-things-round-7845076?

 
Rodallega lifts Fulham off the bottom
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 27, 2014


Hugo Rodallega must like Birmingham. Six months ago, on a rare first team appearance he breathed new life into Fulham's ultimately doomed relegation battle with a late winner at Villa Park. This afternoon, on the other side of the second city, his cool close range finish from the tightest of angles completed a spirited comeback against Birmingham City, sealing Fulham's first league win in 168 days and lifting the Londoners off the foot of the table. This gutsy display – following on from Tuesday's Capital One Cup win over Doncaster Rovers – might also just strengthen caretaker Kit Symons' claims to take over from Felix Magath on a permanent basis.

Certainly, Symons should receive plenty of plaudits for Fulham's much improved second half performance at St. Andrew's. Lifeless and lacking both bite and creativity in the first half, the visitors were much more tigerish after the break, with half-time substitute Kostas Stafylidis typifying the extra vitality in his own whole-hearted performance. Symons' gamble to replace the talented Bryan Ruiz with a third striker in the form of England under-21 international, Cauley Woodrow, in search of a winner was also pivotal and richly rewarded with Rodallega's clever finish.

For a while, it looked as if Birmingham's wretched home run of just one league win in their last 22 matches might be coming to an end. The Blues had created the better chances in a first half that was short on quality with Welsh international David Cotterill the most likely source of a goal. His two dangerous crosses provided chances that were passed up by Clayton Donaldson and Jonathan Grounds, although he had been guilty of missing the best opportunity, dragging a shot wide of the far post from ten yards after Fulham were sliced open far too easily.

If Symons, who assists his former Fulham team-mate Chris Coleman as Wales manager, had warned his side about Cotterill's ability, they failed to heed his words. His first goal since a summer move from Doncaster arrived nine minutes before the break in majestic fashion, when he was afforded the time and space to cut in from the left and curl a splendid effort into the top corner beyond the helpless Marcus Bettinelli. Fulham, for whom Rodallega spurned the best chance when he miscued an acrobatic volley from seven yards out, should have been further behind before the half-time whistle but for a smart reaction save from Bettinelli when Grounds broke clear in added time.

The visitors were indebted to Bettinelli, who saved a penalty to ensure progress past Doncaster in the Capital One Cup in midweek, again just before the hour when a swift Birmingham break saw Demerai Gray send Brek Shea through on goal with a perfectly weighted pass, but the Stoke City loanee's fierce shot was superbly parried by Bettinelli at full-stretch. That save proved crucial as Fulham broke from the Birmingham corner with Rodallega's pace and persistence winning the away side a corner of their own. The ball broke to Nikolay Bodurov from Ross McCormack's flag-kick and, although the Bulgarian's speculative shot from fully thirty yards was weak, it eventually found its way to Tim Hoogland, whose own scuffed effort beat Darren Randolph after a deflection off David Edgar.

The scrappy nature of the goal was immaterial – it galvanised Symons' side. They should have taken the lead just four minutes later but, after being found by Rodallega, McCormack placed his shot too close to Randolph and the keeper saved with his feet. The momentum was with Fulham now and they grabbed a second in the 71st minute. A horrible mistake from Darren Spector diverted McCormack's pass away from Randolph and into the path of Rodallega, who toed it away from the goalkeeper and calmly hooked the loose ball into the net from an acute angle – sparking delirious celebrations in front of more than 900 visiting fans.

Birmingham's confidence had deserted them and Fulham, without a win in the league since a narrow home victory over Norwich last April also secured by Rodallega, might have made a nervy last quarter of an hour far more comfortable had McCormack finished another presentable chance put on a plate for him by Rodallega. The Scottish striker snatched at his finish and Randolph was again able to save, but Fulham clung on for a crucial victory.

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Spector, Grounds, Robinson, Edgar; Reilly, Davis; Duffy (Shea 45), Gray (Thomas 72), Donaldson; Cotterill. Subs (not used): Doyle, Gleeson, Hall, Johnstone.

BOOKED: Grounds.

GOAL: Cotterill (38).

FULHAM (4-1-2-1-2): Bettinelli; Hoogland, Amorebieta, Bodurov, Burn; Parker; Hyndman (Stafylidis 45), Christensen; Ruiz (Woodrow 66); McCormack, Rodallega. Subs (not used): Kiraly, Kavanagh, G. Williams, Smith.

BOOKED: Stafylidis.

GOALS: Hoogland (63), Rodallega (71).

REFEREE: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

ATTENDANCE: 14,132.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2014/09/rodallega-lifts-fulham-off-the-bottom/?

 
Symons salutes Fulham's spirit
by DAN on SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

Kit Symons praised his side's spirit after they battled back from a goal down at Birmingham to record Fulham's first win of the season this afternoon.

Second half strikes from Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega secured a 2-1 victory at St. Andrew's and helped lift the Whites off the bottom of the Championship table. Symons saluted his players self-belief and determination after they produced a much-improved second half display to turn the match on its head.

I'm absolutely delighted for the players, for the fans and for the whole football club. Winning breeds confidence and gives you momentum. That's what we've got now, two wins on the spin, and we need to build on it.

It's a start, and that's all it is. But it's a great start to have. Belief was the word we spoke about before the game, and at half-time, because I don't think we really showed the belief in the first half but in the second half we showed it in abundance. We've got really quality in this group but we've got real character as well, and when you get the two together, you've got a chance.

Symons admitted he had to tell a few home truths in the dressing room at half time after a lacklustre and disappointing display was punished by David Cotterill's fine strike seven minutes before the break.

[I told them to] liven up a bit because we didn't get going at all. Our defending was a little bit loose and our passing was absolutely awful. We were overplaying in the wrong areas and it was a poor first-half performance. Birmingham were the better side and they deserved their lead.

But the players took on board what we told them at half-time, what we asked them to do differently, and they came out and did it fantastically well. We got two goals and then we could have got a couple more. Although they were pushing for the equaliser, our goal looked pretty solid, pretty safe and we looked more likely to score the next goal as well.

In the three games since I've taken over, we seem to do either very well first half and drop off in the second half or the other way. If we could actually start playing well for 90 minutes of football, it'd be a doddle this job but unfortunately it's not quite as simple as that.

Symons saved special praise for the performance of Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli who kept the Cottagers' in the contest with a string of fine saves.

Marcus is an excellent keeper, we've known that for a long, long time. He been thrown in the first team maybe earlier than he would have imagined, and maybe we imagined. But he's been given an opportunity and he's taken it, and sometimes that's the way things work out.

He can't do a lot more than that, a penalty save to win us the cup game on Tuesday night and an inspired performance today. He'll be very pleased, and I'm very pleased with him.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2014/09/symons-salutes-fulhams-spirit/?

 
Manager Reaction

Kit Symons praised the Whites for showing their character and believing in themselves to spark the second-half revival at Birmingham City.

Fulham's Caretaker Manager admitted the first-half performance was not up to his standards, but Symons was delighted his players turned the tide after the interval to secure our first Sky Bet Championship victory of the season.

"I'm absolutely delighted for the players, for the fans and for the whole football club," Symons said.

"Winning breeds confidence and gives you momentum. That's what we've got now, two wins on the spin, and we need to build on it.

"It's a start, and that's all it is. But it's a great start to have. Belief was the word we spoke about before the game, and at half-time, because I don't think we really showed the belief in the first half but in the second half we showed it in abundance.

"We've got really quality in this group but we've got real character as well, and when you get the two together, you've got a chance."

That character was something Symons failed to see emerging during the first half, and he had no hesitation in making the Whites fully aware of his feelings at the interval.

"[I told them to] liven up a bit because we didn't get going at all," he added.

"Our defending was a little bit loose and our passing was absolutely awful. We were overplaying in the wrong areas and it was a poor first-half performance.

"Birmingham were the better side and they deserved their lead.

"But the players took on board what we told them at half-time, what we asked them to do differently, and they came out and did it fantastically well.

"We got two goals and then we could have got a couple more. Although they were pushing for the equaliser, our goal looked pretty solid, pretty safe and we looked more likely to score the next goal as well."

"In the three games since I've taken over, we seem to do either very well first half and drop off in the second half or the other way. If we could actually start playing well for 90 minutes of football, it'd be a doddle this job but unfortunately it's not quite as simple as that.

"Lee Clark set his team up well, as we knew he would, but in the end I felt we were worthy winners."

Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega may have scored the goals which flipped the match on its head but Symons reserved praise for the performance of Marcus Bettinelli, whose saves either side of half-time kept the Whites in touching distance of Birmingham City.

"Marcus is an excellent keeper, we've known that for a long, long time," said Symons.

"He been throw in the first team maybe earlier than he would have imagined, and maybe we imagined. But he's been given an opportunity and he's taken it, and sometimes that's the way things work out.

"He can't do a lot more than that, a penalty save to win us the cup game on Tuesday night and an inspired performance today. He'll be very pleased, and I'm very pleased with him."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/september/27/manager-reaction

 
'This is the job I've always wanted' - Kit Symons stakes his case after Fulham's first league win of the season



Fulham's caretaker manager Kit Symons is hopeful the 2-1 Championship win over Birmingham City at St Andrew's will lead to his permanent appointment.

It was Fulham's first Championship win of the season following a miserable start when they picked up just one point from their first eight league outings.

Symons said: "I have made it clear from day one. This is the job I've always wanted to do to be manager of Fulham.

"In no uncertain terms everyone knows that this is exactly what I want to do.

"But I also do know that the owner will take time to find the right person.

"I love the club and I've got a lot of history with Fulham and I want the right person to be in charge of Fulham. I want that right to be me. I need to make sure that is the case."

He certainly has the support of Birmingham boss, Lee Clark. He positively said: "Give him the job.

"He knows the club inside out. I noticed the difference from the time when I went down to the Cottage to watch Wolves earlier in the season and I was there to watch Doncaster on Tuesday.

"He has the fans behind and he has people around the club smiling again. He has the players look like they are playing for him - young and old. The senior ones have embraced him.

"It is a special club. Give it to someone who knows the club. They do not need an outsider.

"He is doing good job and getting results. He deserves his chance and I would back him 100%."

Symons was naturally full of praise for Fulham's come back to win after trailing to a Dave Cotterill goal in the first half.

He claimed: "It was great effort from the players and the roar which went up to greet the final whistle is something I will remember for a long, long time.

"Football at this level is about results and we got a very positive one against Birmingham.

"There are loads of things to work on. We were pretty awful in the first half to be honest but we turned it around in the second half with much better performance and we well worth the win.

"We had to change a few things in the second half and I was pleased with the response from the players who came on.

"It is still building confidence. Just one win will not suddenly make everything better. It is easy to think confidence than it is to build it.

"Also, it looks as if we are getting a few slices of luck. You need these pieces of luck here and there."

Lee Clark, Birmingham's distraught manager, admitted the game had been frustrating and disappointing. He said: "We buckled after they equalised. The confidence drained out of us.

"We became completely the opposite team to what we had been in the first half.

"It is something we have to eradicate but that is up to the players.

"We had some gilt edged chances in the first half but we have to be stronger after we have a set-back.

"Their second goal from an experienced player's mistake was so poor it was untrue."


http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/this-is-the-job-ive-always-wanted--kit-symons-stakes-his-case-after-fulhams-first-league-win-of-the-season-9760025.html

 
Birmingham City vs Fulham match report: Cottagers finally get off the mark


Birmingham City 1 Fulham 2

After eight games without a win since their relegation from the Premier League Fulham finally ended their miserable start to the season with a 2-1 Championship victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Two second half goals from their German and Colombian imports, Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega, enabled the west Londoners to savour the rate taste of victory.

They trailed by a first half goal from Dave Cotterill and were let off the hook on several occasions by Birmingham's indifferent finishing before they hit back in determined style to the delight of their 903 travelling fans.
 
The win was also the first in league under the control of caretaker manager, Kit Symons.



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/birmingham-city-vs-fulham-match-report-cottagers-finally-get-off-the-mark-9760056.html

 
Championship roundup: Kit Symons restates his case after Fulham's first win
• Dougie Freedman vows to stay at Bolton after defeat by Derby
• Scott Young and Danny Gabbidon steer Cardiff to victory

Birmingham City 1-2 Fulham

Caretaker Kit Symons restated his desire to replace Felix Magath on a full-time basis after securing Fulham's first win of the season. "I have made it clear from day one. This is the job I've always wanted to do, to be manager of Fulham. In no uncertain terms everyone knows that this is exactly what I want to do. I love the club, I want the right person to be in charge of Fulham, and I want that right person to be me." Birmingham manager Lee Clark said: "Give him the job. He has the fans behind him and he has people around the club smiling again. It's a special club, and he knows it – they don't need an outsider."


http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/27/championship-roundup-kit-symons-restates-his-case-after-fulhams-first-win?