Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 2 Stoke 0: Relief for Cottagers as Dempsey doubles up
Tony Pulis revealed a grudgingadmiration for Clint Dempsey despite the fact his goals cost Stoke adefeat he hated every minute of. [LNB]This was a clash with form, so much so the managers have refused to accept each other's handshakes in their last two matches. [LNB]Nothing that happened here,certainly to Stoke, will have cleared the air between them entirely,though Pulis and Fulham boss Mark Hughes did cool the feud with handshakes before and after the match. [LNB] Close up: Clint Dempsey scores the opening goal for Fulham[LNB]Accusations of bad tackling,particularly when Andy Wilkinson damaged the ankle of Moussa Dembele,were the cause of the animosity in September and an undercurrent ofresentment has been building ever since. Is it over now? For Fulham,surely yes. [LNB]This was the best they have playedsince Hughes took over from Roy Hodgson, with Dempsey outstanding,Dembele awesome and Damien Duff at his best. [LNB]Stoke were far less impressive -"flat", according to Pulis, who acknowledged the professionalism ofDempsey for the second goal, a penalty, which saw Ryan Shawcross sentoff for fouling him. [LNB] Spot luck: Dempsey scores his second with a penalty[LNB]Pulis said: 'It killed the game forus. It looked like Dempsey was going down. He's a clever player. He's agood player on the ball - and off it. I like him. [LNB]'The sadness for us is that we willlose Ryan for two matches - it was his second dismissal - and in thiscase I don't think it deserves that.' [LNB]This was Fulham's fourth win in sixgames, with just one defeat in that time and Hughes said: 'Our win atStoke in December galvanised us. We had to get over a period when wewere missing players and we have. We've got Liverpool on Wednesday, butI am happy to say we are in good shape.' [LNB] Going down: Dempsey is felled by Stoke's Ryan Shawcross[LNB] [LNB]Dempsey's strike in the 33rd minute was so typical of his style; it was the art of being in the right place to connect with a cross, in this case a low effort from Andy Johnson. [LNB]And Dempsey's second from the spot after the challenge by Shawcross made any thoughts of a Stoke revival impossible. The Cottage is buzzing.[LNB] We need to grow up! Fulham boss Hughes keen to end spat with PulisAston Villa's outcast striker Carew completes his loan move to Stoke All the latest Fulham news, features and opinionAll the latest Stoke news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Matthew Etherington, John Carew, Tony Pulis, Danny Murphy, Ryan Shawcross, Mark Hughes, Damien Duff, Danny Collins, Stuart Attwell
