After the glory of the Europa League and playing Wolfsburg, on Thursday evening, it`s back to the bread and butter of the Premier League this Sunday with a home fixture against Wigan Athletic.
Vital Quotes:
Still the furore over (Sir) Roy`s team selection at the KC Stadium, last weekend, creates waves. (Sir) Roy himself doesn`t seem too bothered and in his pre-match press interview couldn`t resist a crafty dig remarking,
“I will pick a team this weekend best capable of winning the match – as I did when we went to Hull.”
Fulham Team News:
Roy Hodgson, mindful of what lies ahead on Thursday evening, of next week, may well decide to shuffle his pack this weekend and rest a few key individuals, just like he did at Hull last Saturday.
Definitely missing though will be long term injury victims Andrew Johnson and John Pantsil. Stephen Kelly, who missed the Wolfsburg fixture is fit again and could come into consideration.
Player to watch: Bobby Zamora
18 goals for the season is testament to the progress Bobby has made and the clamour for his inclusion in the England squad, for 2010, increases. A brace against Wigan could just see it upped a few decibels.
Wigan Team News:
Roberto Martinez brings his Wigan squad to West London without the suspended Gary Coldwell. Rated as doubtful is Henry Thomas so Ben Watson, who recently returned from a loan spell at West Brom could well feature.
Wigan players to look out for include Charles N`Zogbia, Hugo Rodallega and James McCarthy and that is straight from the horses mouth over at Vital Wigan.
Player to watch: James McCarthy
Apparently this youngster is tipped t be the next Steven Gerrard by those who watch him week in and week out. It`ll be interesting to see how well he does against us.
Match Facts & Stats
Already this season the two sides have played out a 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium, in a fixture where a Dempsey penalty was enough to cancel out a Boyce opening goal.
The above result is indicative of how fixtures between the two sides go with five of the last six games having finished all square.
But, London hasn`t been a happy hunting ground for Wigan this season with the worst nightmare being the 9-1 thrashing they suffered at White Hart Lane.
Ref Watch:
Mark Clattenburg is the man in charge with John Flynn and Trevor Massey running the lines. The fourth official is James Linington
Match Prediction:
I`d hazard a guess that (Sir) Roy will be resting a few players ahead of the important Europa League quarter-final tie with Wolfsburg. But, our squad fringe players will rise to the occasion at Craven Cottage and I expect Fulham to pick up three Premier League points, probably by the odd goal in three.
Next Fixtures:
Next up for Fulham is the return leg of the Europa League clash with Wolfsburg, on Thursday evening, followed by a Premier League clash with Liverpool, at Anfield. Both mouth-watering prospects!
