Match Preview

Fulham v Swansea Preview

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This Saturday, Fulham welcome Michael Laudrup`s Swansea to Craven Cottage. Having suffered successive defeats to Manchester United (h) and Liverpool (a), Martin Jol will be hoping that the appointment of Rene Meulensteen will assist in getting our season back on track. But Swansea are also struggling to match the form they showed last season and will prove to be tough opponents, anything other than a win could be deemed to be a poor result for Fulham as we hover above the relegation trap door.

Vital Quotes:

Since Rene Meulensteen arrived at Craven Cottage, there has been speculation that he could be set to replace Jol. However, Jol is fazed by that possibility and ahead of the fixture with Swansea has remarked,

“You can always speculate – but for me that is not an issue because I know him well I`ve known him for at least 25 years.”

“He`s a very good coach and that`s why we took him – his quality is out on the training pitch.”


Fulham Team News:

Martin Jol enters this fixture without, once again, the services of Brede Hangeland, The Norwegian is still struggling with a sciatic nerve problem and will miss his fifth successive game.

Also out is another member of the regular defence, Sascha Riether, who serves the second of a three game ban im0osed by the Football Assocation.

Damien Duff is also sidelined but, after some impressive performances with the reserves, 17 year old Moussa Dembele is added to the squad.

Player to watch: Scott Parker

An experienced professional who needs to grab this side by the balls and get the battling. I once read that he single handedly changed a West ham game around (when he was on their books) with a legendary half time talk, now is the time to do something similar for his present club.

Swansea Team News:

Michael Laudrup brings his squad from South Wales to West London without the injured duo of Michu and Pablo Hernandez. The former has an ankle injury whilst the latter has a thigh injury.

However, Laudrup is able to call upon his regular first choice keeper, Michel Vorm, who has served a one-match suspension.

Player to watch: Bony –

Swansea`s top scorer, in the Premier League, with seven goals to his name.

Match Facts & Stats

Swansea have the upper hand in recent fixtures between the two clubs having won three out of the last four, with Fulham winning just the once with that win coming at the Libert Stadium on the last day of last season.

Fulham`s last win over Swansea, at Craven Cottage, came way back in 1997 when both teams were in the old Division Four.

Ref Watch:

Our officials, for this match, are:-

Referee – A. Marriner
Assistant – S. Ledger
Assistant – M. Perry
Fourth Official – J. Moss

Match Prediction:

I`m a troubled man at the moment, my beloved Fulham are struggling and it concerns me. I yearn for a win, I yearn for a sign that things are turning around in our favour, will he arrival of Rene Meulensteen change our fortune around, I sincerely hope so. In the circumstances we find ourselves in, you have to remain positive, so I shall, I reckon we can scrape three points here, but by the narrowest of margins, 1-0 to Fulham!

Next Fixtures:

After entertaining Swansea, Fulham travel to Upton Park, next Saturday, to face West Ham United in a local derby

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