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Americans In The UK: Dempsey Helping Fulham Thrive
Clint Dempsey had a big week in England, scoring the only goal for the Cottagers on Wednesday, while also notching a helper in Saturday’s thumping of Bolton.
Mar 16, 2009 12:04:45 PM
By Matthew Braine
Fulham continue to surprise the Premier League with their consistent results. The Cottagers have been in the top half of the table for some time, due in part to the solid play of Andy Johnson, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, and of course, Clint Dempsey.
On Wednesday the Cottagers got off to a cracking start. Dempsey got free after just 90 seconds when he chased down a through ball from Danny Murphy, headed it on, and tapped in a mild but bouncing shot into goal. However, the London side would ultimately face defeat in controversial fashion. There is no question that Jason Roberts’ 85th minute game winning strike was pure skill, but El-Hadji Diouf’s equalizer is a different story. It appeared that the striker was way offside, but was not flagged and as a result, drilled in the crucial goal from close range.
Saturday seemed to be a day where Fulham let off some steam, as they rolled through Bolton with a dominant performance. A terrible goal keeping/defender gaffe led to a hustling Andy Johnson goal to open up the scoring. Kevin Davies equalized just before half, but the Cottagers opened the game up in the second half, scoring twice more to bury Bolton 1-3. Simon Davies scored on a mashed up play in the box to make it a one goal advantage. Then, in the 88th minute, Dempsey picked off a poor Bolton clearance just outside the box and threaded a nice pass to Diomansy Kamara who slotted home the dagger.
Dempsey has now tallied six goals this campaign, matching last year’s total. Fortunately for Deuce and Fulham, the winger has nine Premiership fixtures left to improve on that mark.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Stoke City, 3-1, 90 minutes, 1 save, 1 goal conceded.
Howard was not too busy on Saturday, as Everton dominated the first half of their matchup with Stoke. Jo and Joleon Lescott opened up an early 2-0 lead for the hosts, but Ryan Shawcross put in a header in the 52nd to draw the visitors closer. Although Everton were not sharp in the second stanza, Marouane Fellaini, with newly braided hair, sealed the three points by putting in a pretty injury time goal to make it 3-1.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Portsmouth.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
Vs. Tottenham, 1-2, 90 minutes, 5 saves, 2 goals conceded.
Aston Villa has hit a wall. The Birmingham outfit dropped a 1-2 decision at White Hart Lane Sunday, dropping the club out of the top four for the first time in months. Jermaine Jenas tallied just five minutes in, while Darren Bent doubled the lead just after halftime. John Carew salvaged some dignity for Villa in the 85th minute but it was too little too late for the home side.
The Villians have now gone over a month without a Premier League victory. Their last win came on February 7th against Blackburn. Since that triumph, Villa has dropped three of four, only notching a point against bottom dwellers Stoke. During that time the club was also knocked out of the UEFA Cup, although some may say they knocked themselves out by fielding a mostly inexperienced squad during their matchup with CSKA Moscow. Now tied on points with Arsenal, Villa find themselves behind on goal differential with Everton creeping up just four points behind.
Up Next: Sunday, away to Liverpool.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan, customarily, backed up Friedel for Sunday’s contest. Lichaj, starting to show some promise, played the entire contest for the Reserves match on Tuesday and scored during the 6-1 rout of Portsmouth. The goal came towards the end of the first half when Lichaj arrived at the back post and headed in the third goal of the half for Villa.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Blackburn, 1-2, 90 minutes, 1 goal
Vs. Bolton, 1-3, 90 minutes, 1 assist.
(See Above)
Up Next: Saturday, home to Manchester United.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
The Hammers take on West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Blackburn.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann, Reading
After Reading’s average result on Tuesday, a 2-2 draw with lowly Charlton Athletic, it was clear that Adam Federici’s magic had worn out. Marcus Hahnemann resumed his starting role on Saturday as the Royals took on Ipswich Town. Hahnemann was very solid throughout, stopping five shots, but Jonathan Steed’s second half bicycle kick was unstoppable, dealing Reading a tough 0-1 defeat. Still, Hahnemann’s overall performance should yield him the starting job going forward.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Tuesday was a tough day for Cardiff. They were outplayed by Norwich, dropping a 2-0 defeat on the road. Johnson played the entire match and had a few chances at goal, but only one really tested the keeper. His other shots were mild, including one fantastic opportunity just before half, when Gavin Rae’s shot bounced off the keeper only for Johnson to send it over the bar. On Sunday, Nicky Maynard gave Bristol City a 1-0 first half lead, but the Bluebirds were able to grab a late equalizer, grabbing a point in the 88th minute.
Eddie Johnson, arriving in the 69th minute in place of Jay Bothroyd, drilled a solid shot at Brazilian goalkeeper Adriano Basso, who fumbled the ball allowing Ross McCormack to pounce on it and send it into goal. The draw, coupled with Tuesday’s loss, leaves Cardiff just one point behind Preston North End for the final playoff spot.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit was not involved in either Watford match last week. The Hornets defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Tuesday before coughing up a late equalizer Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 with Preston North End Tuesday, conceding a late equalizer at the hands of Jon Parkin. Simek was on the bench but did not get on. However, on Saturday, the Owls brought some of their own late game heroics. Simek came on in the last 20 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Watford. The defender played well as the Owls battled back from a 2-1 deficit. Finally, in the waning moments of stoppage time, Jermaine Johnson was awarded a penalty, setting up Francis Jeffers equalizing goal.
Meanwhile, Up In Scotland
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. CIS Insurance Cup Final (Both DNP)
On Sunday, Celtics squeezed out a late 2-0 victory over Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup Final. Edu made the bench but did not play, which is more than anyone can say for Beasley.
Up Next: Saturday, home to Heart of Midlothian.
Matthew Braine's feature, "Americans In The UK" appears weekly on Goal.com
Fulham continue to surprise the Premier League with their consistent results. The Cottagers have been in the top half of the table for some time, due in part to the solid play of Andy Johnson, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, and of course, Clint Dempsey.
On Wednesday the Cottagers got off to a cracking start. Dempsey got free after just 90 seconds when he chased down a through ball from Danny Murphy, headed it on, and tapped in a mild but bouncing shot into goal. However, the London side would ultimately face defeat in controversial fashion. There is no question that Jason Roberts’ 85th minute game winning strike was pure skill, but El-Hadji Diouf’s equalizer is a different story. It appeared that the striker was way offside, but was not flagged and as a result, drilled in the crucial goal from close range.
Saturday seemed to be a day where Fulham let off some steam, as they rolled through Bolton with a dominant performance. A terrible goal keeping/defender gaffe led to a hustling Andy Johnson goal to open up the scoring. Kevin Davies equalized just before half, but the Cottagers opened the game up in the second half, scoring twice more to bury Bolton 1-3. Simon Davies scored on a mashed up play in the box to make it a one goal advantage. Then, in the 88th minute, Dempsey picked off a poor Bolton clearance just outside the box and threaded a nice pass to Diomansy Kamara who slotted home the dagger.
Dempsey has now tallied six goals this campaign, matching last year’s total. Fortunately for Deuce and Fulham, the winger has nine Premiership fixtures left to improve on that mark.
Premiership:
Tim Howard, Everton
Vs. Stoke City, 3-1, 90 minutes, 1 save, 1 goal conceded.
Howard was not too busy on Saturday, as Everton dominated the first half of their matchup with Stoke. Jo and Joleon Lescott opened up an early 2-0 lead for the hosts, but Ryan Shawcross put in a header in the 52nd to draw the visitors closer. Although Everton were not sharp in the second stanza, Marouane Fellaini, with newly braided hair, sealed the three points by putting in a pretty injury time goal to make it 3-1.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Portsmouth.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.
Vs. Tottenham, 1-2, 90 minutes, 5 saves, 2 goals conceded.
Aston Villa has hit a wall. The Birmingham outfit dropped a 1-2 decision at White Hart Lane Sunday, dropping the club out of the top four for the first time in months. Jermaine Jenas tallied just five minutes in, while Darren Bent doubled the lead just after halftime. John Carew salvaged some dignity for Villa in the 85th minute but it was too little too late for the home side.
The Villians have now gone over a month without a Premier League victory. Their last win came on February 7th against Blackburn. Since that triumph, Villa has dropped three of four, only notching a point against bottom dwellers Stoke. During that time the club was also knocked out of the UEFA Cup, although some may say they knocked themselves out by fielding a mostly inexperienced squad during their matchup with CSKA Moscow. Now tied on points with Arsenal, Villa find themselves behind on goal differential with Everton creeping up just four points behind.
Up Next: Sunday, away to Liverpool.
Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan, customarily, backed up Friedel for Sunday’s contest. Lichaj, starting to show some promise, played the entire contest for the Reserves match on Tuesday and scored during the 6-1 rout of Portsmouth. The goal came towards the end of the first half when Lichaj arrived at the back post and headed in the third goal of the half for Villa.
Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Vs. Blackburn, 1-2, 90 minutes, 1 goal
Vs. Bolton, 1-3, 90 minutes, 1 assist.
(See Above)
Up Next: Saturday, home to Manchester United.
Jonathan Spector, West Ham
The Hammers take on West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Up Next: Saturday, away to Blackburn.
Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann, Reading
After Reading’s average result on Tuesday, a 2-2 draw with lowly Charlton Athletic, it was clear that Adam Federici’s magic had worn out. Marcus Hahnemann resumed his starting role on Saturday as the Royals took on Ipswich Town. Hahnemann was very solid throughout, stopping five shots, but Jonathan Steed’s second half bicycle kick was unstoppable, dealing Reading a tough 0-1 defeat. Still, Hahnemann’s overall performance should yield him the starting job going forward.
Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Tuesday was a tough day for Cardiff. They were outplayed by Norwich, dropping a 2-0 defeat on the road. Johnson played the entire match and had a few chances at goal, but only one really tested the keeper. His other shots were mild, including one fantastic opportunity just before half, when Gavin Rae’s shot bounced off the keeper only for Johnson to send it over the bar. On Sunday, Nicky Maynard gave Bristol City a 1-0 first half lead, but the Bluebirds were able to grab a late equalizer, grabbing a point in the 88th minute.
Eddie Johnson, arriving in the 69th minute in place of Jay Bothroyd, drilled a solid shot at Brazilian goalkeeper Adriano Basso, who fumbled the ball allowing Ross McCormack to pounce on it and send it into goal. The draw, coupled with Tuesday’s loss, leaves Cardiff just one point behind Preston North End for the final playoff spot.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit was not involved in either Watford match last week. The Hornets defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Tuesday before coughing up a late equalizer Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Sheffield Wednesday.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 with Preston North End Tuesday, conceding a late equalizer at the hands of Jon Parkin. Simek was on the bench but did not get on. However, on Saturday, the Owls brought some of their own late game heroics. Simek came on in the last 20 minutes of the 2-2 draw with Watford. The defender played well as the Owls battled back from a 2-1 deficit. Finally, in the waning moments of stoppage time, Jermaine Johnson was awarded a penalty, setting up Francis Jeffers equalizing goal.
Meanwhile, Up In Scotland
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangers
Vs. CIS Insurance Cup Final (Both DNP)
On Sunday, Celtics squeezed out a late 2-0 victory over Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup Final. Edu made the bench but did not play, which is more than anyone can say for Beasley.
Up Next: Saturday, home to Heart of Midlothian.
Matthew Braine's feature, "Americans In The UK" appears weekly on Goal.com
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