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Apr 2, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Fulham relegated from Premier League: Five reasons behind their horror season

Fulham relegated: Five reasons behind their horror season
© Reuters
The Cottagers will be back in the Championship next season.

Fulham have been relegated from the Premier League following a 4-1 defeat at Watford on Tuesday evening.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at just what went wrong at Craven Cottage this season.

Fingers burned

Fulham broke their transfer record three times in spending over £100million last summer, but of their permanent buys only Aleksandar Mitrovic could be considered a relative success. Jean Michael Seri and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, who cost around £55m between them, have been huge disappointments.

Stubborn Slavisa

Aston Villa v Fulham – Sky Bet Championship – Final – Wembley Stadium
Slavisa Jokanovic guided Fulham to promotion (John Walton/PA)

Manager Slavisa Jokanovic stuck with the style of play which got Fulham promoted, but the players could not implement it in the top flight. The Serbian remained popular with the fans but was sacked in November with Fulham bottom of the table after conceding 31 goals in 12 games. However, at the time Fulham were just three points from safety.

Ran out of ideas

Claudio Ranieri was brought in to replace Jokanovic and attempt to shore up the defence. Ultimately the Italian, a title winner with Leicester, failed as their rearguard remained comfortably the worst in the top flight despite his defensive mindset. Ranieri's unwillingness to use previously key men such as captain Tom Cairney and full-back Ryan Sessegnon also frustrated supporters and he was sacked in February.

Kamara trouble

Fulham v Huddersfield Town – Premier League – Craven Cottage
Aboubakar Kamara, centre, and Aleksandar Mitrovic clashed on and off the pitch (Yui Mok/PA)

Ranieri said he wanted "kill" Aboubakar Kamara after he snatched the ball from Mitrovic to take a penalty, and then missed, against Huddersfield. Off the pitch the malaise continued with the forward rowing with Mitrovic in a yoga session and getting arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and criminal damage after reports of a fight at Fulham's training ground. He was farmed out to Yeni Malatyaspor in January.

No case for the defence

Fulham conceded three times to West Ham at the London Stadium
Fulham conceded three times to West Ham at the London Stadium (Nigel French/PA).

The simple fact is Fulham could not defend. Like a mullet hairstyle, they looked tidy up top but a mess at the back. They have conceded 76 goals in 33 matches, comfortably the worst record in the top flight, with neither Jokanovic, Ranieri or caretaker boss Scott Parker able to arrest the flow of goals which has ultimately cost them.

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Fulham interim manager Scott Parker on March 17, 2019
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4Chelsea6411157813
5Aston Villa6411129313
6Fulham632185311
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