On Sky
With the gap between us and safety still worryingly large, Everton arrive at Craven Cottage with Fulham desperately needing to pick up win number four of the Premier League season.
Vital Quotes:
With points now a necessity, Roy Hodgson has spoken out about his team and how the media are likening our predicament to that of the West Ham team, inspired by Carlo Tevez, who pulled off the sort of miraculous escape we need to do. This is what he had to say,
“We have not put the team together in a way where we focus on one player.”
“I think it is unfair to ask other players to start naming their Carlos Tevez – we have to do it as a team. As a team we are capable of getting out of trouble.”
Fulham Team News:
With every game now labelled as a Cup Final, Roy Hodgson needs to get his team selection right. With points needed, it`d be crazy, in our opinion, to go with one up front, we need to go for broke, we need to gamble, we need to start winning, nothing less than three points will do as the number of games left starts to run out.
On the pitch it is likely that Kasey Keller will continue in goal in place of Anti Niemi and that Philippe Christanval and Jari Litmanen, both with muscle problems, will be the only players unavailable.
Player to watch: Jimmy Bullard
The bubbly Jimmy continues to be a major influence on our team, although he was criticised for his lack of discipline in midweek, you get the feeling that his presence gives us that little something extra.
Everton Team News:
Everton arrive at Craven Cottage with Lee Carsley available again after serving a suspension. However, the threat that Tim Cahill presents will, thankfully, be missing as he`s unlikely to have recovered from a hip injury.
Player to watch: Mikel Arteta
A seriously good player, one who I would consider to be wasted at a club like Everton (waits for howls of derision) and one who could strut his stuff for one of the so-called big boys of the top four. Rumour has it he`s destined for a return to Spain soon, bad news for the Toffee`s then!
Match Facts & Stats
Everton arrive at Craven Cottage having not won there since a certain Alan Ball (RIP) scored the winner for them, in other words a long, long time ago. Naturally, considering our recent form, Everton will consider themselves favourites as our record of only three wins in twenty-nine games doesn`t auger particularly well.
Ref Watch:
Steve Bennett will be the man in the middle.
Match Prediction:
After the last minute equaliser at Ewood Park last weekend, spirits are high in the camp. Everton, who crashed out of the UEFA Cup (on penalties) in midweek, will be formidable opposition, however, I`ve just got this nagging suspicion we can pull it off. After all, wasn`t our last league victory also in front of the Sky cameras? So it`s Fulham by the odd goal in three for me.
Next Fixtures:
After taking on Everton, Fulham can look forward to a trip to St James Park to take on a Newcastle side that can`t win for the love of money, could it be that elusive first win?
