MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 01:59:00| >> :120:14648:14648:

Live Commentary: Fulham 1-2 Swansea City - as it happened

Sports Mole provides live text updates as two of the Premier League's stuttering sides, Fulham and Swansea, meet at Craven Cottage.
2

Both Fulham and Swansea City entered this afternoon's Premier League match in ailing form.

Martin Jol's Cottagers were searching for a first maximum in four while Swansea were winless in their last four in the league.

It was the visitors who stopped the rot, despite being without their injured star man Michu, as Danny Graham and Jonathan de Guzman's goals were good enough for three points.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute live coverage below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Afternoon folks! I'm hoping for a blockbuster in this one as long as it's not too wet in West London.

Let's not waste any time, the teams news is JUST IN!

SWANSEA XI: Tremmel; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Tiendalli; Agustien, De Guzman; Routledge, Dyer, Hernandez; Graham

Seven changes have been made to the Swansea side that drew a blank at Reading. Seven! The injured Michu is replaced by Graham up top while Pablo Hernandez returns after six games out through injury. Gerhard Tremmel returns in goal for Michel Vorm which may suggest that the Dutchman isn't quite back to full fitness. Garry Monk comes in for Chico Flores in defence and Angel Rangel returns, with Ben Davies dropping to the bench. In midfield, Kemy Agustien and Jonathan de Guzman also come back for Laudrup.

Here's the Swansea bench: Vorm, Davies, Bartley, Britton, Ki, Shechter, Moore

We're still waiting on the team news from the home dressing room but as soon as we get it you'll be the first to know. Promise.

And just like that, the Cottagers XI appears...

FULHAM XI: Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Dejagah, Karagounis, Sidwell, Frei; Ruiz; Berbatov

Jol makes five changes to the side that could only manage a point against Southampton. David Stockdale takes the place of Mark Schwarzer in goal while Matthew Briggs comes in for John-Arne Riise at left-back. In midfield, Giorgos Karagounis, Kerim Frei and Bryan Ruiz replace Chris Baird, Alexander Kacaniklic and Hugo Rodallega.

Both sides are boosted by the return of two of their most creative players. For Fulham, the artistry of Ruiz is sure to be a help while Hernandez's return is sure to bring about more chances for the likes of Graham.

The visitors will feel pretty good about their chances this afternoon as they did the double against the Cottagers in their first Premier League season last year.

Don't bet against the Swans if they score first today either. They're the only PL side to have won every game where they break the deadlock this season (they've done it six times).

PREDICTION Time for my thoughts on today's outcome. I expect Fulham to win it and keep a clean sheet, 1 or 2-0.

FULL-TIME The lunchtime kickoff has just ended and it's a win for Spurs who came from a goal down to beat Sunderland. Click here for Liam Power's match report.

After his hat-trick heroics on Boxing Day, Gareth Bale is going to be making the headlines for the wrong reasons tomorrow. The Welshman was, in my view harshly, booked for diving. He has been booked five times for simulation in Premier League since start of 2011-12. No other player booked more than twice for the same offence.

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel. Fulham are in their traditional white tops and black shorts while Swansea have to revert to their nationalistic Welsh kit of red tops, white shorts and green socks.

Scratch that, it's not all festive and Welsh for Swansea as their socks are black, not green.

KICKOFF We're underway at Craven Cottage.

Both sides have had a pair of corners early on but neither has produced a chance.

Sidwell fizzes in the first shot but it's well blocked.

UPDATE: There's five other 3pm kickoffs in the Premier League and there's been early goals! Edin Dzeko has scored an early brace for Man City at Norwich, Wigan lead at Villa through Ivan Ramis and Reading have taken the lead against West Ham thanks to Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Fulham win a free kick in an inviting position but Ruiz floats it to the back post and Tremmel is brave in punching clear.

CHANCE! Tiendalli concedes a corner and it's whipped in by Ruiz. The ball is allowed to reach knee height and Berbatov volleys into the turf. Tremmel is beaten but so is the crossbar.

Frei almost tickles through a reverse pass for Ruiz before Swansea break with Routledge curling a nice pass out to Hernandez. The Spaniard squares for Dyer but his shot is deflected out for a corner that comes to nothing.

A 50-50 challenge in midfield breaks kindly for Routledge to break into the box but his cutback doesn't reach Graham in the middle.

CHANCE! Graham shoots with his left from a narrow angle but Stockdale does well to keep it out.

GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Swansea (Graham)

The visitors take the lead as Rangel's cross is partially blocked straight into the path of Dyer. The winger takes the volley on and it's well kept out by Stockdale, but the ball pops up for Graham to acrobatically turn in his first goal since August.

UPDATE: Plenty more goals elsewhere in the top flight as Norwich pull one back against City through Anthony Pilkington, Man Utd lead thanks to West Brom's Gareth McAuley sticking in his own net while Southampton now lead 2-1 at Stoke.

Another free kick for Ruiz, this one more central and the Costa Rican takes it on. His effort looks good as it bends over the wall but it can't dip down in time to get under the crossbar.

Riether's cross from the right is flicked back by Berbatov to Ruiz but the number 11 can't quite get over the ball as his volley rises over.

Berbatov tries to make a mark on the game by beautifully swerving a pass with the outside of his boot to Sidwell. Unfortunately, it's got a tad too much on it and just runs out of play.

Swansea pump the ball downfield and Hughes's header under pressure almost falls to Hernandez but Briggs is aware and does well to save the situation.

Cracking football from Fulham this. Sidwell with a quick one-two with Berbatov before sending it out to Frei but his cross is well held under pressure by Tremmel.

SAVE! Ruiz is given far too much time to drive at the Swansea area before he curls it towards the far post. Tremmel can see it coming though and shuffles right before making a solid stop on the dive.

SAVE! Ruiz is given far too much time to drive at the Swansea area before he curls it towards the far post. Tremmel can see it coming though and shuffles right before making a solid stop on the dive.

SAVE! Ruiz is given far too much time to drive at the Swansea area before he curls it towards the far post. Tremmel can see it coming though and shuffles right before making a solid stop on the dive.

Once again Ruiz is allowed space to send over a dangerous cross but the impressive Tremmel is off his line quickly to extinguish the danger. Up the other end, Briggs almost gifts Dyer a golden chance heading back to Stockdale but the header just has enough on it.

Once again Ruiz is allowed space to send over a dangerous cross but the impressive Tremmel is off his line quickly to extinguish the danger. Up the other end, Briggs almost gifts Dyer a golden chance heading back to Stockdale but the header just has enough on it.

UPDATE: Southampton now lead 3-1 at Stoke while Samir Nasri has been sent off for City at Norwich after squaring up to Sebastian Bassong.

UPDATE: Southampton now lead 3-1 at Stoke while Samir Nasri has been sent off for City at Norwich after squaring up to Sebastian Bassong.

HALF-TIME: Fulham 0-1 Swansea

HALF-TIME: Fulham 0-1 Swansea

Swansea take a narrow lead into the dressing room then. Fulham have arguably been the better side but with the pace at Swansea's disposal going forward they will always create chances and Graham did well to take his. I think the visitors will need a second though as Fulham are sure to come out stronger.

Swansea take a narrow lead into the dressing room then. Fulham have arguably been the better side but with the pace at Swansea's disposal going forward they will always create chances and Graham did well to take his. I think the visitors will need a second though as Fulham are sure to come out stronger.

Here are the other Premier League half-time scores:

Aston Villa 0-1 Wigan
Man Utd 1-0 West Brom
Norwich 1-2 City (Nasri sent off)
Reading 1-0 West Ham
Stoke 1-3 Southampton

The shock result there is Southampton scoring three at the Britannia. Before this afternoon, no other side had scored more than once away at Stoke. Will City be able to hold on at Norwich with 10 men?

We're back out for the second half and Swansea have made a change. Ki Sung-Yueng comes on for Wayne Routledge. The latter isn't injured, purely tactical move from Laudrup.

KICKOFF We're back underway.

Ki doesn't start brilliantly, bringing down Karagounis right on the edge to present Fulham with a free kick.

CLOSE! Ruiz has yet one more attempt and it's his best yet. Tremmel is rooted to the spot as the Costa Rican deftly curls it over the wall but centimetres past the post. Encouraging start to the half for the hosts.

A bit of showboating from Berbatov almost results in a chance for Fulham but once more Tremmel goes in bravely to punch the ball off Ruiz's head.

I expected Fulham to come out stronger after the break but this has been a barrage. More neat passing from Fulham ends when Dejagah just overplays to win a corner, which Sidwell heads wide.

GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Swansea (De Guzman)

How has this happened? It's a horror show for Stockdale who has been given a rare chance between the sticks today. The ball is played back and he has plenty of time to clear but slaps it low straight to Hernandez. The Spaniard doesn't get carried away and lays it to De Guzman who takes one touch before passing coolly into the far corner. Fine finish and a long way back for Fulham.

SAVE! Fulham almost pull a goal back as Berbatov nods down for Ruiz but his volley is superbly beaten away by Tremmel.

GOAL! Fulham 1-2 Swansea (Ruiz)

It's been coming, but should this goal have been given? Berbatov's header balloons up off the bar and then falls for him again but his rebound his blocked before falling to Ruiz. The Costa Rican's prods goalwards from a couple of yards but it actually strikes Riether, who may have been in an offside position, before going in. The ball was definitely going in but did hit Riether.

CHANCE! That goal has buoyed Fulham and they're back to camping in the Swansea half. Once again it's Ruiz who stings the palms of Tremmel after Berbatov had been unable to turn his shot goalwards from Dejagah's cutback. This game is far from over.

CLOSE! Dejagah is having plenty of joy against out-of-position Tiendalli down the right for Fulham. His latest cross is misjudged by Tremmel and reaches Frei whose delivery is deflected towards the near post and almost in.

CHANCE! Swansea will be dangerous on the break and it's evident as Hernandez feeds Graham whose curler is unconvincingly kept out by Stockdale.

It's turning into a nightmare afternoon for Stockdale. He tries to come and claim the resulting corner but doesn't get there and Williams's header flies just past the far post.

SUB: Swansea make their second change as Ben Davies replaces Pablo Hernandez.

SAVE! The ball is headed out to Frei and he hits a rasper towards the corner that Tremmel once again does brilliantly to keep out. The Swansea keeper is on fire!

DISALLOWED GOAL! Swansea seem happy to let Fulham shoot and this time it's Karagounis who lets fly with Tremmel yet again beating away. It falls to Berbatov to tap in but the Bulgarian was offside.

UPDATE: Due to the end-to-end nature of proceedings at Craven Cottage I haven't brought you an update for a while! City now lead 4-2 at Norwich, Southampton's lead at Stoke has been cut to 3-2 but Stoke have had Steven N'Zonzi sent off. Villa's festive period goes from bad to worse as Wigan are now three up at Villa Park. Reading and United still one up.

Fulham make their first change as Hugo Rodallega replaces Dejagah.

Swansea almost double their advantage as Ki's pass to Graham is perfectly weighted but the forward can't beat Stockdale.

YELLOW! Agustien is shown yellow for a careless shove on Rodallega. Another free kick in Ruiz territory...

Rodallega takes it on instead but hits it straight into the wall. Pants effort.

Final change for Swansea as Leon Britton comes on for the booked Agustien.

Fulham also make a sub as Philippe Senderos replaces Frei. That means that Hangeland will go up front to provide some aerial presence.

SAVE! Rangel is out of position in midfield but he shows he can shoot by sending a scorcher towards the corner that Stockdale does excellently to save. The young stopper shows his bad side from the resulting corner but escapes, just.

Fulham are now resorting to simply lumping the ball into the area for Hangeland to win headers. It's not paying off at the moment.

Four minutes of added time.

There's plenty of late goals elsewhere in the Premier League that I'll fill you in on shortly. At Craven Cottage, Berbatov has just failed to get up enough and he heads over.

PENALTY SHOUT! Rangel tumbles when looking to put the game to bed but his appeals are waved away.

FULL-TIME: Fulham 1-2 Swansea

Swansea steal the points thanks to goals from Graham and De Guzman. Fulham will feel hard done by but the Swans' superior finishing in front of goal ultimately won them the match.

Here are the other full-times from the Premier League:

Aston Villa 0-3 Wigan
Man Utd 2-0 West Brom
Norwich 3-4 Man City
Reading 1-0 West Ham
Stoke 3-3 Southampton
Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham

For all our match reports from the Premier League and Championship, click here. Thanks for joining us this afternoon, make sure you head over to our live commentary of the evening kickoff between Arsenal and Newcastle which can be found here. Until next time, good evening!

ID:61432: cacheID:61432:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:29069:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Swansea forward Michu celebrates his goal against Manchester United on December 23, 2012
Read Next:
Swansea frustrate Man United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!