It`s back on the road this weekend as Fulham travel to the DW Stadium to take on a Wigan side managed by Roberto Martinez. Most Fulham supporters will be viewing this as a fixture we should take three points from but then again our form on the road isn`t much to write home about and hasn`t been for several seasons!
Vital Quotes:
Going into the game it looks as if Martin Jol could be forced to look for an out of contract replacement for the injured Diarra with the Mali international looking at a long spell on the sidelines with Jol remarking,
“There`s a piece of cartilage floating so we have to operate. That can be three of four weeks.”
“But if there is damage to his cruciate it will take four, five months.”
Let`s hope that`s the only piece of bad news we`re going to have to contend with this weekend.
Wigan Team News:
Roberto Martinez is in the fortunate position of only having one injury concern to worry about, that of Antolin Alcaraz who missed the last game with a groin problem.
Player to watch: Aruna Kone
An Ivorian striker who is looking to fill the slot vacated by Hugo Rodallega moving to Craven Cottage.
Fulham Team News:
Martin Jol has several players who will not be available for this fixture. Mahamadou Diarra is set for a long spell on the side-lines with a knee injury whilst our summer signing Kieran Richardson is also out, along with Kasim Frei.
Phillipe Senderos is fit again but match fitness is something that will keep him out of contention this time around.
Player to watch: Dimitar Berbatov
Those that make the trip to the DW Stadium will be hoping that the Bulgarian will be taking his shooting boots and treating us to a performance of similar quality to that of last week.
Match Facts & Stats
Fulham have the upper hand in recent meetings winning 5 and drawing 6 of the last 11 fixtures.
Last season was a rare success on the road for Fulham at the DW Stadium with the team winning 2-0 thereby ending a run of five draws on the trot against Wigan on their patch.
Ref Watch:
Our match officials are L. Probert (referee), D. Cann (assistant), M. Wilkes (assistant) and P. Down (fourth official)
Match Prediction:
Our poor form on the road has to improve somewhere, but will that be at Wigan? I`d like to hope so but Wigan are a much improved outfit in recent times and I`d, if I were to be honest, be grateful for a point.
Next Fixtures:
Next time out, in the Premier League, we take on Manchester City, at Craven Cottage.
