Having finally laid that Premier League away-day hoodoo to rest, with a great 2-0 win at Stoke the last time out; Fulham are faced with an awkward away trip, on New Years Day, to face high-flying Tottenham Hotspur. Can Mark Hughes men make it two away victories on the trot?
Vital Quotes:
Looking back on the recent away victory at Stoke, Mark Hughes had a few recollections that he hopes will serve his team in good stead for the forthcoming trip to Spurs, when he remarked to the media,
“I was really pleased with what the players produced.”
“I think everybody saw that it was a fully committed team and a group of players who were desperate to win.”
“They showed everything we`ve been trying to instill in the team from the outset. We weren`t to be denied.”
“It takes time but it was really pleasing, the manner of the performance, and the determination of the players to get the job done.”
“I feel really close to the players now and I feel we have a lot more to come.”
More of the same again then please lads!
Spurs Team News:
Harry Redknapp enters this fixture without the suspended Kaboul after the defender received a straight red card in his last outing. On the injured list are Carlo Cudicini, Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King and Jamie O`Hara whilst Robbie Keane is rated as doubtful.
Also suspended is Jermain Defoe who is serving a two game ban for a recent red card offence.
Player to watch: Gareth Bale
Currently the tabloid press hero of the decade. Blessed with outstanding pace and a decent finish, Bale has worked out that if he kicks the ball past an opponent his sheer pace allows him to get free. Simple but effective!
Fulham Team News:
Mark Hughes squad will have been buoyed by the away win at Stoke; however, we`re, thanks to other results, still loitering in the bottom three as we enter a new year. Back in August I doubt that this scenario would have been in the script but we have to accept it is a situation we can get ourselves out of, even if the squad is suffering from injuries that seriously affect our cutting edge.
Definitely out are Bobby Zamora and Philippe Senderos whilst doubts exist about whether Moussa Dembele will have shaken off his recent knock. Unless he has, and unless we`ve picke dup the odd minor knock or two at the Britannia Stadium, we suggest that Mark Hughes will go with the same eleven that did us so proud in winning 2-0!
Player to watch: Danny Murphy
Our former Spurs player will be desperate to put on a good show at his old stomping ground. It`d be great if he could score!
Match Facts & Stats
Fulham go to White Hart Lane with a poor record. We`ve only won once there since 1948 and that came in August 2003 when we won 3-0.
The record since 1948 reads Spurs 18 wins, Fulham 1 win and 7 draws.
Since that win in 2003 we`ve lost every game at White Hart Lane and scored only once!
Match Prediction:
Winning at Stoke, the last time out, after 500 days without an away win in the Premier League, was a great feeling, but can we make it two away wins on the tort at White Hart Lane? My heart tells me yes, but don`t we always have that supreme vein of optimism pumping blood around after such a win? Sadly my head tells me no! But if I were to be optimistic I`d suggest we might get a draw this time out!
Next Fixtures:
With the games coming thick and fast at this time of the year, we welcome West Bromwich Albion to Craven Cottage on for our first home game of the New Year, on 5th January.
