Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 0 Wolves 0: Aaron Hughes lines up a Ruud viewing ahead of European tour
Aaron Hughes will be watching DVDs of Ruud van Nistelrooy on Monday, as he works out how to shackle the Hamburg danger man ahead of Fulham's Europa League semi-final on Thursday.[LNB]Volcanic ash has put the trip in doubt, but Hughes says he is desperate to reward chairman Mohamed Al Fayed for his investment in the club by bringing the European trophy home to south-west London.[LNB]But when asked where Fulham's trophy cabinet is, Northern Ireland captain Hughes admitted: 'I don't know, actually.' [LNB] Keen eye: Fulham's Aaron Hughes (right) will face one of the best in the world on Thursday when Ruud van Nistelrooy (below) turns out for Hamburg[LNB] [LNB] Top drawer: Hamburg's Ruud van Nistelrooy[LNB]You can't really blame him. They have never won a major trophy, with their biggest honour being the 2002 Intertoto Cup.[LNB]Hughes wants the Egyptian multi-millionaire to be the man who starts decorating Fulham's bare shelves. [LNB]'He has done a lot for this club and if we could bring the trophy back for him, it would make him extremely proud,' said the former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender. 'Not only for him, but for the fans and us, too. [LNB]'There are a lot of us who haven't won anything in football certainly nothing of that prestige.'[LNB]Speaking of his pivotal role keeping an eye on Van Nistelrooy, Hughesadded: 'A few of us, including me, have played against him before. He'sa strong, physical presence and he has a lot of ability. He will be a threat.'[LNB] Hughes added that it would be a huge blow to the club to go out of Europe at this stage of the tournament.[LNB]'That's a view shared by a lot of people. All those games that we played, all those games that were changed to a Sunday from a Saturday and that extra effort we have had to put in.[LNB][LNB]MATCH FACTSFULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Smalling, Konchesky; Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies; Gera, Zamora. Subs (not used): Zuberbuhler, Pantsil, Okaka, Nevland, Riise, Greening, Dikgacoi. [LNB]Booked: Zamora.[LNB]WOLVES ( 4-1-4-1): Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi; Mancienne; Jarvis (Iwelumo 79min), Foley, Edwards (Guedioura 70), D Jones (Milijas 72); Doyle: Subs (not used): Hennessey, Ebanks-Blake, Ward, Halford.[LNB]Referee: M Dean (Wirral). [LNB]'We have to make sure it won't be for nothing and get to the final.' [LNB]It is incredible to think that just two years ago, Fulham were in an even worse position than Wolverhampton and were lucky to escape relegation. [LNB]This result should help Wolves ease to safety, as they maintain theirsix-point cushion above the drop zone. [LNB]It was a tight game of few chances, with Bobby Zamora coming closest to breaking the deadlock when he turned Jody Craddock and struck a fierce, 25-yard effort off the post after 65 minutes. [LNB]There was only one shot on target during the 90 minutes. Wolves have ground out three 0-0s in four games to edge closer to safety, but boss Mick McCarthy has never panicked during their run-in. [LNB]'I've been relaxed all season,' he said. 'It's just been everyone else going mad around me.' [LNB] Fulham 0 Wolves 0: Roy's men save their appetite for a Hamburg feastRiches to rags: Al Fayed must tackle Fulham debt or face future Euro banFlight ban threat to Liverpool and Fulham's Europa League tiesFULHAM FC
