It`s been a bloody boring week hasn`t it! It seems to have been ages since our last home game, the win over Stoke City, and news coming out of Craven Cottage hasn`t exactly swamped us with the chance to keep the site rolling over article wise. But the action returns this Saturday and could there be amore tasty away fixture than a trip down to Shepherds Bush to take on our West London rivals Queens Park Rangers?
Of course, the fixture is given a little extra spice by the fact that Queens Park Rangers are now managed by somebody who just upped and left us after deciding not to renew his contract. There`s also the fact that Bobby Zamora recently moved down the road to seek glory with the Premier League new boys and the fact that we know Loftus Road so well after having squatted there for a few seasons when Craven Cottage was left to decay.
Quite a fixture to whet the appetite then!
Vital Quotes:
Whilst Bobby Zamora may be in the opposition ranks this Saturday, his former strike partner, Andy Johnson, stayed at Craven Cottage and could well be in the Fulham ranks that faces Queens Park Rangers.
Speaking about why AJ was kept on the books, Martin Jol had this to say,
“There are not many players like Andy available so we decided to keep him for the rest of the season.”
Let`s hope the move to keep AJ pays dividends this Saturday.
QPR Team News:
I was quite content when Neil Warnock was in charge of this lot. They looked a shambles and they looked like they were sliding straight back to the Championship. But, sacking Warnock and bringing in Hughes has freshened the squad up, courtesy of the January transfer window. But as far as injuries go, I really couldn`t give a damn, after all it`s QPR we`re talking about here and they`ve never been my cup of tea.
Player to watch: Bobby Zamora
Who else! We`re just hoping that Bobby doesn`t add his name to that already lengthy list of players that tend to score against former clubs. Keep a close watch on him lads; we don`t want him to become an instant hero after already having opened his QPR scoring account on his debut.
Fulham Team News:
Martin Jol will be hoping that the Russian who I`ll insist on calling ‘Pav` simply because I still can`t spell his surname without getting a reference book out, can shake off a rumoured ankle injury. If so he could be the cult hero we`re looking to replace that Zamora chap.
Elsewhere, Grgera is still absent long term and we`re hoping that`s it. The versatile Simon Davies looks to have shaken off his injury woes and if Moussa Dembele can do the same then I`ll have a smile on my face.
As for predicting a starting eleven, who`ll get me started in the comments section beneath this preview?
Player to watch: Clint Dempsey
His goal scoring feats have kept us in good spirits this season and we`re hoping that he can wipe that smile off of the face of Mark Hughes with another stunner. It`s not too much to ask for is it?
Match Facts & Stats
It`s a long time since we played this lot, at Loftus Road, in the Premier League and if I had my way it`d be a long time before our paths crossed again. But, earlier this season, back on October 1st, we did play them at Craven Cottage with Fulham hitting a poor QPR side for six. Wouldn`t it be nice if something similar could be conjured up this Saturday?
Match Prediction:
Okay, we beat them 6-0 last time our paths crossed, but I`m realistic enough to recognize this Saturday`s game might well be a little tighter. But, if I`m to be brutally honest, I`d be happy with any kind of win over them considering how our away form fluctuates between poor and bad. I`ll stick my head on the block and go for a 2-1 Fulham win!
Next Fixtures:
Next up for Fulham is a home fixture against troubled Wolverhampton Wanderers at fortress Craven Cottage
