After seeing the unbeaten run in the Premier League this season ended by Spurs last weekend, Mark Hughes takes his squad to play West Bromwich Albion this Saturday. It`s a fixture that pits several current Fulham players (Gera, Kamara and Greening) against their former employers. With West Brom having gained a valuable draw at Old Trafford last time out, it has all the hallmarks of being a tough trip.
Interestingly, the fixture pits Mark Hughes against the very player he used to room with when both were at our rivals from down the road, Chelsea!
Vital Quotes:
Brede Hangeland is looking forward to this weekend, believing we can get our first away win in over twenty-odd attempts, explaining to the official site,
‘They’ve had some very strong results and like any game in the Premier League these days it’s going to be tough for us.’
‘I’m sure it’s going to be a tough game but we’ll be up for it.’
‘We’re playing slightly different this year, we’re not conceding ground like we did last year and we’re trying to press a bit higher up the pitch and get in the opponent’s face a little bit more.’
‘It’s given us some good performances away from home and some decent results, now we’re hoping for that first away win of the season and it would be nice to get it this weekend.’
West Brom Team News:
Roberto Di Matteo will be hoping that West Brom can continue with an unbeaten home record this season but the ex-Chelsea player does have some injury concerns.
Cech, Mattock and Miller are all definitely out whilst Odemwingie is rated as doubtful
Player to watch: Chris Brunt
An elusive player who uses his pace and trickery on the ball to deceive defenders.
Fulham Team News:
Mark Hughes will still be without the long term injured Bobby Zamora and Phillipe Senderos and Dickson Etuhu is still a couple of weeks away from returning after injury.
Rumours have it that Andrew Johnson is very close to a return and may well return for this fixture.
Others struggling to make the starting eleven are Davies (ankle), Duff (calf), Kelly (calf), and Murphy (groin)
Jonathan Greening, Zoltan Gera and Diomansy Kamara may well be hopeful of a starting place against their former side and we wouldn`t be surprised, considering the injury situation, if all three featured from the off.
Player to watch: Moussa Dembele
He`s back from injury and raring to go. If Fulham are to get maximum points from this fixture we could do with Dembele getting on the score sheet.
Match Facts & Stats
West Brom have the advantage when it comes to fixtures between the two sides. With 75 games played West Brom have won 35 times, Fulham have won 24 and there have been 15 draws.
In recent years Fulham hold the upper hand though losing just 1 of the last 7 meetings.
At home, West Brom have yet to lose this season winning three and drawing two, in all competitions.
On the road, in the Premier League, Fulham have drawn all four of their fixtures.
Ref Watch:
Kevin Friend is the man in charge assisted by Peter Kirkup and Andy Halliday with Robert Lewis named as the fourth official.
Match Prediction:
This, before the season started, would have been considered a fixture Fulham would be capable of taking all three points from what with West Brom being a newly promoted side. Unfortunately for us Roberto Di Matteo`s side are more than holding their own in the Premier League and after an opening day disaster, at Stamford Bridge, have picked up some decent results. If Fulham are to end a dreadful away run in the Premier League it`ll take some effort to do so. Here in the editorial seat, I reckon this could go either way but it wouldn`t surprise me too much if it ended 1-1
Next Fixtures:
Fulham entertain Wigan next Saturday in a Premier League fixture.
