Fulham V Sunderland Betting – Sunday 6th December

Fulham V Sunderland

Kick-off: Sunday 6^th December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Craven Cottage

Fulham

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: WDLWD

Fulham are starting to race up the sort of gears which seen them secure a top ten finish last season. They are, however, just holding onto a top ten spot but their performances of late have warranted a top ten status, with Fulham losing just once in their last eight outings in the league. However, the problem now is that Roy Hodgeson is back to tinkering with his squad after Fulham were in Europa League action on Thursday, of which we don’t know the result just yet as the preview was written beforehand. Still, Hodgeson has already stated on several occasions that the league is Fulham’s priority this season and we expect to see a strong and fresh Fulham side on Saturday in another game they really shouldn’t lose.

Craven Cottage was a venue even the best team dreaded going last season, and the Cottage is having a similar affect this season, with Fulham just twice there in seven games thus far. Both those defeats came against London rivals; Arsenal (0-1) and Chelsea (0-2), in which they were soundly beaten in the latter but mighty unlucky to lose the former. However, they were presented with a very winnable fixture in their last match, a home encounter with stragglers, Bolton Wanderers. We thought Fulham were a worthy punt that day but they were rocked in the opening half, perhaps a case of under-estimating their opponents, but their second half display did earn them a point when Damien Duff scored his third of the season to ensure Fulham remained undefeated at the Cottage in four.

Fulham’s only defeat in eight came at St. Andrews, against a very awkward and stubborn Birmingham team. Chances were few and far between and Fulham didn’t really get going in all honesty. However, they didn’t dwell on the defeat as they did follow it up with a superb 3-0 win at home to Blackburn Rovers. The arrival of Sunderland will now be Sunderland third home encounter on the spin, and with an extrmely difficult Christmas fixture schedule, it’s imperative that Fulham go into the festive period with as many points and as much momentum as possible as Man Utd, Chelsea & Tottenham await them in the forthcoming month.

A small negative about Fulham is the size of their squad and the fact that they do have to contend with European affairs, as well the domestics. Real talent is at a premium at the club so any injuries are devastating. Andy Johnson, a key player for Fulham, appeared to be on the mend but he won’t feature on Saturday after undergoing an operation on his ankle. They could of done with his pace during Christmas but that is just about Fulham’s only injury concern at present and if they can keep well clear of the treatment room then Fulham could enjoy themselves trying to frustrate the bug guns. For now, though, a victory over Sunderland is all that they’re thinking about and at Craven Cottage, Fulham could be well worth a small punt.

Sunderland

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: LDLWL

We really do feel for Sunderland fans, when one week you’re flying high beating the big boys and then you’re at your lowest losing against the smaller fish. Well, Sunderland were a small fish back in the day, just a few months ago actually, but those days could be a thing of the past with Steve Bruce now at the helm. His uncanny wit and knowledge of the game has not only turned Sunderland into a stronger all round side but they are, for the first time in years, a treat on the eye at times. However, they aren’t always the best to watch and this is the problem at current with the club, a severe lack of consistency.

On their day, as they’ve proven on several occasions this season, Sunderland can be a right handful, but they just don’t do it enough, especially when they are expected to win games. This season, Sunderland have thrived on the underdog status beating teams such as Arsenal, Liverpool and drawing away at Man Utd, but there is an ever growing list of teams which Sunderland should have beaten quite comfortably and got beaten themselves. This is becoming a regular and unwanted occurrence and, although everyone likes to see their side upset the odds every once and a while, the majority of the points rest in the games against the lesser sides, sides which Sunderland have persistently struggled with at times this season.

For starters, Steve Bruce needs to roughen his squad up because they are clearly lacking both physical and mental strength this season, with the latter especially needed in away ventures, a grey area for Sunderland. The Black Cats have won just one of seven away games this season, a terrible return for your money, and when you consider that the solitary away win came on the opening day of the season, Sunderland’s credentials heading down to London don’t look good at all as they are without an away win in six outings, losing three on the spin.

A huge boost for Steve Bruce is the likely return of Kenwyn Jones of whom can be a right handful for opposing defences. Of course, Darren Bent has often stole the show for Sunderland this season but just two of his nine league goals have come on the road, so the extra hand up front could make a world of difference. At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland haven’t been shy in front of goal, scoring 16 goals. However, it’s been a completely different story away from home, with Darren Bent scoring two of Sunderland’s five away goals. That’s a terrible strike rate and when you take into consideration that they’ve conceded more then double that, 11 goals, Sunderland’s chances of winning just seem to petter out, although, will the re-emergence of Jones spark some life into a homesick Sunderland?

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Fulham W: 3 Sunderland W: 3 Draws: 2

Since 2002, the pair have notched up the exact same amount of wins over one another but it’s Sunderland who hold all the aces as they are unbeaten in this fixture in the previous five meetings, winning three and drawing two. However, Fulham did hold Sunderland to a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage last season although Sunderland did beat Fulham 1-0 at The Stadium of Light later on in the season.

Meetings between the two have generally been very tight affairs, with often a single goal separating the two come the end. Just one of the previous seven encounters has finished with a winning margin more then one goal, that being the 3-1 win for Sunderland, at Craven Cottage, back in 2008.

Match Verdict:- Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Sunderland haven’t lost back-to-games in the league this season and we don’t think it will occur for the very first time on Sunday. Fulham rely heavily, and have done for some time, on their form at Craven Cottage and they have rightly been a tough nut to crack there, but Sunderland have come on leaps and bounds this year and just when you think they’ve been dreadful and will go onto lose more points, they surprise you. However, a Sunderland win wouldn’t be a complete and utter surprise to us while a draw would just confirm our gut instinct that a stubborn Fulham defence will keep the scales even with a dangerous Sunderland offence. 1-1 could be a worthy punt in a game which might not live up to expectations.

Match Odds:

Fulham – 2.20 totesport

Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Sunderland – 3.60 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: 1-1 Correct Score – 7.00 Boylesports