Fulham

Despite a decent start to Saturday's game against Manchester City, a defeat by Pep Guardiola's men always felt on the cards. An unstoppable force in City very much found itself up against a moveable object in Fulham.

Our final game of the season is at Luton Town, and although the Hatters can mathematically stay up, it would need a miracle of epic proportions. Even if they did manage to score 11 goals against us, they would need Nottingham Forest to lose at Burnley, which feels unlikely.

Therefore, it feels like an opportunity for Fulham to save some face after what has been a pretty torrid end to the season. Six points from eight games since the international break is relegation form, and I really hope that does not continue into next season.

Also, every place in the division is worth millions of pounds, and a win on Sunday could see us go from 14th to 12th. It is hardly a season-defining jump, but that extra bit of revenue could be a little boost in the summer transfer kitty.

Fingers crossed we can end the campaign on a positive note.

Sammy James can be found at Fulhamish, external

We asked for your comments after Saturday's match between Fulham and Manchester City.

Here are some of your answers:

Fulham fans

David: A good start from us but conceding a soft goal early on did not bode well. Always felt City could turn it on as needed. In the end we were just outclassed. City are that good I'm surprised they didn't win Eurovision song contest later that day.

Alex: I thought Fulham got off to a decent start, then five passes later we were a goal down. A good season for us but work needed in the summer to rebuild.

Eric: Garbage from the get-go. They never lifted their heads to have a good game. They were blitzed by a exceptional side for sure but Man City were made to look better due to a lacklustre Fulham.

Sew: Well, this result clearly shows Fulham did not take it seriously. They haven't taken this game seriously all week after opting to fly kites instead of working on their gameplan.

Manchester City fans

Usama: That is what you call a complete performance. Controlled the game from start to finish and didn’t give Fulham any breathing space. Outstanding from every individual on the pitch. Hopefully Ake’s injury doesn’t keep him out. Only negative from the game was that Haaland chance. He’s got to bury that but he will get plenty more in the games to come.

Ian: A polished performance, Bernardo was exceptional in every respect, especially his one-touch passes and Josko Gvardiol finished like Haaland (usually does) - what greater compliment could I pay him?

Bob: We tired yet another side out and punished them in the second half. Still need to work on dealing with long balls behind the defence - fortunately Fulham were ultimately toothless in attack.

Major: They know how to win important matches. For the past three years, they have controlled their destiny.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Also, listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham United v Luton Town

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

Newcastle United are favourites to sign 26-year-old English defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer, when his Fulham contract expires this summer. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Marco Silva spoke to TNT Sports after Fulham's defeat to Manchester City: "It was really difficult, the way we planned the game, the first goal made a huge impact. The way we conceded was good combination play, pass and go from the left back but we should have dealt with it better. We should have been more aggressive in that moment, disrupt the run of [Josko] Gvardiol more than we did.

"First half was a little quiet from us, not that many chances. We did not have much of the ball but even City with the control of the game did not have many chances.

"Second half we tried to change things from the bench, add Adama [Traore] to give more power to our right hand side, get combinations with [Alex] Iwobi and try to add more dangerous moments in on that right hand side. We had some good moments for around 15 minutes, had a chance with [Rodrigo] Muniz from a good Adama cross. After that the second goal killed the game.

On City controlling the game and having an impact: "It is difficult. They control the ball, control the game and take a lot of energy from you. Take a lot of emotion energy too. The crucial moments are when you win the ball back or they lose it and we need to try and make more of those moments. With it being so difficult we had to try and have the confidence to go [forward] but it was not the same, and it was hard to make an impact.

On the season overall: "It was a successful season with the context of what happened in the summer, a difficult summer after a good last season. We had to rebuild again and we did it really well. We did not have the power of the other teams but it was a success. Now is the moment to sit with the board and discuss what are possibilities are. If we want to take a step forward we need to be clear and find out what the steps are in the market and go from there."

Image source, Getty Images

There was a slim chance of securing a top-10 finish for Fulham going into this game, but that was extinguished when Josko Gvardiol gave Manchester City an early lead.

Otherwise, this felt very much like a game where Fulham's players' had their minds on their summer holidays.

Aside from a fairly energetic start they offered very little to worry Manchester City throughout, with Ederson a virtual spectator in the visitors' goal.

He did have to scramble to prevent Rodrigo Muniz's deflected flick sneaking in at the back post in the second half, but that was as close as Fulham came to troubling Pep Guardiola's side.

Fulham have had a poor run of results in the closing stages of the season which ultimately cost them a place in the top half of the table, and their focus will now very much be on ensuring they kick on next term.

• Manchester City have won each of their past seven Premier League games by at least two goals; their joint-longest run of victories when winning by more than one goal each time (previously a run of seven between May and August 2015).

• Fulham have lost each of their past 13 games against Manchester City in the Premier League – the only team to suffer more consecutive defeats against an opponent is Bournemouth, with their run also being against Manchester City (an active streak of 14).

• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has won all 13 of his games against Marco Silva, his best 100% record against an opposition manager in his career. Guardiola’s sides have scored 44 goals across the 13 matches, while only conceding eight times in return.

• Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne now ranks joint-second for assists in the Premier League (111 – level with Cesc Fabregas), with only Ryan Giggs making more(162).

• Phil Foden scored his 25th goal of the season for Manchester City, becoming just the second English player to score 25+ in a season for the club in the Premier League era (across all competitions), after Raheem Sterling in 2018-19 (25) and 2019-20 (31).

• After not scoring in any of his first 32 appearances for Manchester City across all competitions, Josko Gvardiol has netted five goals in his past seven games for the club. None of his five goals for the club have been scored with his left foot (four right-footed and one header).

Josko Gvardiol scored twice as Manchester City put the pressure on Arsenal in the title race by beating Fulham to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

In a game they dominated from start to finish, the visitors opened the scoring early on when defender Gvardiol produced a clinical finish after a good move opened up the Fulham defence.

Phil Foden then continued his excellent form this season with a second after the break, sending a first-time finish past Bernd Leno.

Erling Haaland should have added a third midway through the second half but the Premier League’s top scorer somehow drove high over when through on goal.

But Manchester City did not have to wait long for another goal as Gvardiol stabbed in at the far post to put the result beyond Fulham.

Issa Diop was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time as he brought down Julain Alvarez inside the box, and the Manchester City substitute then duly converted the penalty.

The result means the Gunners head to Manchester United on Sunday needing to win to be certain of taking the title race to the final day of the season.

Manchester City are at Tottenham on Tuesday and if Arsenal fail to get a positive result at Old Trafford then victory will seal a fourth consecutive Premier League title for Guardiola's side.

Were you at the ground or following along from home?

Fulham fans, give us your thoughts on the game

Tell us what you made of the performance, City supporters

Follow all the reaction here

There are eight Premier League games taking place today, and you can stay updated with all of them via our live page.

Keep up with all the action and reaction here.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Fulham have had a good season but their performances have maybe dropped off a bit in recent weeks, while Manchester City are hitting their best form.

We know Marco Silva's side can be dangerous because they have taken four points off Arsenal, so this is still a tricky game for City - but they are so efficient that I cannot see them slipping up.

Serge's prediction: 0-3

I feel like this is the hardest game City have got left, but I still think they will win it. I reckon Erling Haaland will get them an early goal and as soon as that goes in, that will calm their nerves.

Read all of the predictions here

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's home game against Manchester City in the Premier League (12:30 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sasa Lukic will be unavailable because of a "small issue in his calf", but it is not thought to be anything "too serious" and he should be back in contention "soon". There were no further injury concerns to report.

• Silva always expects "a different challenge" from City counterpart Pep Guardiola, after facing the Spanish manager 13 times now: "It's always a tough match, a different match. It's not new to say they are going to obligate us to do things we don't like. They do that against any team in the world. We are going to face one of the best teams in the world, no doubt about it."

• He anticipates his defence will be busy against City, stating: "We are going to play a team that, in all of their games this season in the Premier League, have had more possession. They have the capacity to frustrate the opposition with their possession and they take some energy from you."

• On Arsenal "relying" on Fulham to take points off Manchester City as both fight for the title, Silva said: "We are going to do our job like we have been doing so far this season - and that's it. We have prepared ourselves well for the match and we are going to do the maximum to get points for us, not to do favours for anyone else."

• He denied claims his players are "on the beach" after securing their Premier League status: "It's not the case. It's not even something I need to waste my time on with my players. They know the demand every single day and they know the way we work. If they are a little bit relaxed, I'm the first one to put some pressure on them."

• Silva said he believes Fulham have made "some steps forward" this season in terms of being "really tough to play against" and "achieving some great results against some of the top sides in the Premier League".

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Former Premier League midfielder Cesc Fabregas spoke to the Planet Premier League podcast about Fulham, who take on title challengers Manchester City on Saturday: “Fulham is a tricky one for Manchester City, because they are playing well and they have good players. They've had a very complete season, they've improved in many areas and they have a good coach. It will be tricky for Manchester City to obtain the three points.

"I'm happy to hear that Silva isn’t happy with Fulham just surviving relegation because that's what we need for the Premier League to keep improving, managers like this with this mentality.

"He has a good group of players, technical players. He's made them believe, he's made them work hard because they track back and they really are very disciplined.

"They have a very clear idea of what they want to do. His style of play is very demanding, but at the same time it's good on the eye.

"It's true that they are a bit inconsistent. They can struggle sometimes but it's still early days. What he's saying, what he's trying to build takes some time as well.

"I believe they are on the right track. He's done it before in other clubs, he's a successful manager so I think he'll be successful at Fulham.”

Listen to the full episode here

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Fulham and Manchester City in the Premier League.

• Fulham have won just one of their 15 Premier League home games against Manchester City, beating them 2-1 in November 2005 under Chris Coleman.

• City have won their past 15 meetings with Fulham in all competitions – it is the joint-longest winning run any team has had against another in competitive English football history, with City also having 15-game runs against Bournemouth and Watford.

• Fulham have won just one of their past seven Premier League games, while they are winless in each of their past three at Craven Cottage (D1 L2).

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their past 20 Premier League games (W16 D4). They have won each of their last six in a row, scoring four or more goals on five occasions in that run.

• Erling Haaland has scored five goals in his three Premier League games against Fulham, including a hat-trick in City’s 5-1 win earlier this season. He has scored a penalty in all three games. No player has ever scored from the spot in four consecutive Premier League appearances against a specific opponent.

• Rodri has not lost any of the past 47 Premier League games in which he has featured for Manchester City; only three players have ever had a longer unbeaten run in the competition’s history – Sol Campbell (56 from Nov 2002 to Oct 2004), Kolo Toure (48 from May 2003 to Oct 2004) and Thierry Henry (48 from May 2003 to Oct 2004).

We asked you what Jay Stansfield's future should look like, after returning to Craven Cottage after a promising loan spell at Birmingham City.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Will: This type of question is exactly what pre-season is for. Give him some game time and see how he fares. With [Armando] Broja leaving, there is no reason Stansfield cannot be third choice, or even better.

Hector: Two consecutive seasons and two increasingly impressive loan spells. There’s not much more he can do - he deserves to be in Marco’s plans for next season.

Luke: Stansfield is not the type of player for a Marco Silva striker. Most of his starts have come as a winger, and I expect that to continue. I think he'll stay and be an option off the bench as a winger and a striker. Ideally, he will go out on loan to a top Championship or bottom of the Premier League club to see if he can make it at the highest level.

Ian: Jay should be given the chance to play on the left as it's unlikely Willian will be there next season but a loan out to a Premier League club wouldn't be too bad to give more experience. For example, he could go to Leicester who have just come up and rotate with [Jamie] Vardy. Fulham have a hard closed season of who to keep - I am expecting a busy window of ins and outs.

Mike: Stansfield is the ideal replacement for [Raul] Jimenez.

Image source, Getty Images

Jay Stansfield will return to Fulham this summer after a season-long loan at Birmingham City.

Despite it being a disappointing season for Blues, who were relegated to League One on the last day of the season, the forward's talent shone through and he won the hearts of the fans.

They say 'never fall in love with a loan player,' but that is exactly what happened at St Andrews.

The 21-year-old completed the clean sweep of five awards at Blues' end-of-season event, including supporters' player of the season and an award for players' player. He was the campaign's top goalscorer with 13 and won Goal of the Season for his debut goal against Plymouth Argyle in injury time.

In a season that has seen five managers in the dugout and Tom Brady becoming co-owner, Stansfield kept the fans' hope of survival alive until the very last minute,

But with Birmingham playing in the third tier next season, a permanent move for the England-under-21 international is highly unlikely.

So what next?

Image source, Getty Images

Stansfield has played eight times for Fulham since signing from Exeter City's academy in January 2020.

He was loaned back out to his boyhood club in 2022, wore the number nine shirt that his dad Adam wore and played in front of a stand bearing his father's name.

Including his spell at Birmingham, he has made 84 senior appearances and scored 22 goals.

However, competition for a place in the first team at Fulham is fierce with Marco Silva boasting seven forward options already.

Rodrigo Muniz has 10 goals this season and he is followed by Bobby De Cordova-Reid on seven and Alex Iwobi on six. Willian and Raul Jimenez have also netted five.

Stansfield only signed a new four-year-deal with the club last August but could opt for a move away from Craven Cottage to continue playing first-team football.

Yet at just 21-years-old - and with that contract giving him three more years in west London - it would appear he remains on the club radar as one to watch in the future.

Whether that will be at Craven Cottage next season, or away from it, we will have to wait and see.

What do you reckon, Fulham fans?

Would you like Stansfield to get his opportunity next season? Or is he still too young?

Let us know your thoughts here

Chelsea are searching for a buyer for Albania striker Armando Broja, following the 22-year-old's loan spell with Fulham. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Saturday's 0-0 draw at Brentford was one of the most frustrating performances of the season. Despite dominating large swathes of the game, Fulham were wasteful in attack.

Raul Jimenez's miss with the goal gaping was the extreme example of our profligacy, but in all honesty there were numerous members of the team who made poor decisions when we entered the final third.

Yet while our attack let us down, defensively we were very sound against the Bees. Issa Diop put in a man-of-the-match performance, which considering he was not even in the squad a few weeks ago is an impressive turnaround.

Since the match, it has been pointed out on social media that Fulham's recent defensive record has been pretty standout. Since 1 January, only Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League.

This weekend, all Arsenal fans will be praying that Fulham can stop City at Craven Cottage, and while I am not that sure that we will, it may just be our defensive solidity that gives us a small chance.

Not only that, but I am sure former Arsenal players Alex Iwobi and Bernd Leno would love to help their former side out too.

Then again, we have lost our past 15 games against City, so I would recommend Gunners supporters not to put all their hopes on us doing them a favour!

Sammy James can be found at Fulhamish, external

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Friday and Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Burnley v Newcastle United

• Manchester City v Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

This was a goalless draw which will not live long in the memory for Fulham fans and will surely end up last on Match Of The Day.

One person who will not want to watch those highlights is striker Raul Jimenez, who missed the best chance of the game against Brentford.

Adama Traore picked out the Mexican striker with a low cross but despite having time and space in an abundance he managed to screw his shot wide.

Jimenez wanted the ground to swallow him up immediately afterwards as he clasped his hands to cover his face.

The 32-year-old, who suffered a horrendous head injury while at Wolves in November 2020 which kept him out for nine months, always felt like a bit of bargain punt by Fulham.

Marco Silva is under no illusions about the need to sign a proven striker in the summer.

Jimenez is one year into a two-year deal (with the option of a third year) but with a need to manage the wage bill he might end up being shown the exit door this summer after a modest return in front of goal.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Marco Silva speaking to BBC Match of the Day on whether it was a dull afternoon: "A tough game for both sides. It is a derby that is becoming a little bit more special, the incentive for both, and I think we showed that in the match as the best chances were for us. We kept them really quiet. Even though they are dangerous on set-pieces we kept them quiet because we did our job.

"We showed the motivation and commitment. When you are not motivated you can start to lose focus but we didn't see that in our team. We tried until the last moment to go forward. All the changes I made - and Thomas Frank - was more attacking."

On Raul Jimenez's miss: "Yes, normally those are the chances where you expect to see the ball in the back of the net. We all expected him to score. The good thing was he was in the right position. He tried, he didn't score and hopefully next time he will score because we trust in him."

On offering Willian a new contract: "Yes, I was clear in the last two months that we are happy with him and we try to renew the contract with him."

On Rodrigo Muniz: "He is a player we signed last summer. We will help him to recover his confidence to be that Premier League striker we all know. He had a very good week and for that he was the solution to play the last couple of games."