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2014–15 Fulham F.C. season

Fulham
2014–15 season
Chairman Shahid Khan
Manager Felix Magath
(until 18 September 2014)
Kit Symons
(initially caretaker, permanent from 29 October 2014)
Stadium Craven Cottage
Football League Championship 17th
FA Cup Fourth round
(eliminated by Sunderland)
League Cup Fourth round
(eliminated by Derby County)
Top goalscorer League:
Ross McCormack (17)

All:
Ross McCormack (19)
Highest home attendance 23,271 (vs Brenford, Championship, 3 April 2015)
Lowest home attendance 8,070 (vs Doncaster Rovers, League Cup, 23 September 2014)
Average home league attendance 18,268

The 2014–15 season was Fulham's 117th professional season and first in the Championship under its current name and the first in the division since 2001. Fulham took one point from their first eight games, effectively writing off any chance of promotion. Fulham temporarily rescued their season by means of sacking Felix Magath and appointing Kit Symons. The resulting run of form led to play-off aspirations, before a poor run of form at the beginning of 2015 led to worries about a second consecutive relegation. However, Fulham only lost one of their last six games, which kept them safe at the expense of Millwall, Wigan Athletic, and Blackpool.

Much hype occurred surrounding the £11,000,000 signing of 2013–14 Championship top scorer Ross McCormack, but McCormack could only muster 17 Championship goals, one of the many underachievers of a side expected to compete for promotion. Fulham also competed in the League Cup, reaching the fourth round, and the FA Cup, also reaching the fourth round.

For Fulham's first game, against Ipswich Town, Felix Magath fielded eight debutants, including five in the back line, in the starting eleven. Only Scott Parker, Moussa Dembélé, and Chris David, the lack of experience showed Fulham conceded a corner after just 17 seconds as Ipswich created the early chances. Fulham almost capitalised on an error by Dean Gerken when the Ipswich goalkeeper fumbled David's 20-yard shot but he made amends to deny Dembélé with his legs. Although Fulham were enjoying the majority of possession, Ipswich continued to create chances, and it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Luke Hyam's incisive through ball released Daryl Murphy, who outpaced Shaun Hutchinson before making no mistake with a powerful finish. Ipswich doubled their advantage on 62 minutes: Murphy was again too strong for Hutchinson on the left wing and, while his low cross was half cleared, it fell perfectly for David McGoldrick. It was now comfortable for the hosts with Fulham looking a beaten outfit well before the final whistle. Anthony Wordsworth should have added a third 11 minutes from time when he headed over from ten yards following excellent work from McGoldrick and Luke Chambers. McGoldrick called Jesse Joronen into action from the corner of the penalty area after yet more tenacious play by Jay Tabb, before Fulham pulled a goal back out of nothing: Tim Hoogland cut inside Tyrone Mings and his weak shot took a wicked deflection off the body of Tommy Smith to take it past Gerken's near post. The lifeline galvanised Fulham and another deflection almost gave substitute Patrick Roberts an equaliser, but Ipswich held on to claim all three points.


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