After a blank weekend last time out, courtesy of Liverpool`s participation in the FA cup semi-final, at Wembley, we get back into action this Saturday with a Premier League fixture against Wigan. Our opponents are fresh from a memorable Monday night win, at Arsenal, and will be looking to harvest some more points to ease further away from the relegation pack.
Vital Quotes:
To follow
Fulham Team News:
Martin Jol has now seen Bryan Ruiz added to the long term injury list after the Costa Rican broke a foot in his last outing, thereby joining Grygera in the long term treatment room. Also likely to be missing is Steve Sidwell who is recuperating from a second hernia operation. Stephen Kelly is also side-lined but Jol is able to welcome back his strikers Andrew Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak from injury.
Player to watch: Clint Dempsey
Is this the American`s best season ever? If not his goal-scoring feats have certainly taken it close.
Wigan Team News:
Roberto Martinez squad have silenced a few critics, in recent weeks, with a fine burst of rom. However, he will be hoping that his squad will be boosted by the return of Hugo Rodallega who has been absent for some time. Young Shaun Maloney will require a fitness test.
Player to watch: Victor Moses
Signed from Crystal Palace, Moses has continued his development and is developing into a classy operative.
Match Facts & Stats
Fulham hold the upper-hand in this fixture. In the last ten meetings they`ve won four and drawn six.
Ref Watch:
The men in charge for this fixture are:
Referee: L Probert
Assistants: D Cann, N Mullarkey
Fourth Official: J Moss
Match Prediction:
Wigan, seen not too long ago, as relegation certainties, have turned things around in spectacular fashion and have carved out a series of fine results, in recent weeks, culminating in that fine 2=1 win at the Emirates on Monday night. Fulham need to gather more points to finish as high up the table as possible, as a higher finish brings in more prize money. This one will be hard fought encounter but I`m taking Fulham to ease past the post with a 2-1 win.
Next Fixtures:
Next up for Fulham is a difficult looking trip to Goodison Park, to face Everton next weekend.
