Fulham V Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday 26^th December (Boxing Day) – 13:00 GMT

Fulham

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: WDWDW

Fulham, arguably, have the toughest fixture period of the lot as they try to get into the spirit of things. After their clash with Tottenham on Saturday, Roy Hodgeson’s cottagers take on Chelsea. This after their emphatic success at the weekend over Manchester United. The champions of England. So, although the fixture list hasn’t been kind to them, Fulham have already made the best possible start and aim to make it two huge wins in quick succession as London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, pay them a 90 minute visit.

Fulham have struck up a bit of form ahead of the new year and are now unbeaten in five league encounters after their sensational display and victory over the current champions, Manchester United. Roy Hodgeson’s side were so organised in both defence and midfield that is was hard to believe who were the actual champions on the day. Fulham, quite literally, bossed the game from start to finish and really could of won by a much bigger margin than just 3-0. Damien Duff, a late signing over the summer, was a constant thorn for United down the right, while Bobby Zamora appears to have found new life up front and his superb holding up of the ball enabled Fulham to get forward in numbers and overhaul an exposed United defence. A tactical ploy which will have surely been plotted by Roy Hodgeson and he deserves most of the plaudits for Fulham’s weekend scalp.

Fulham have now lost just once in eleven league games, a 1-0 defeat at in form Birmingham City their only disappointing result in a strong three month spell for Fulham. Draws have cropped up a few times but not too many have scuppered their home form, with Fulham unbeaten at Craven Cottage in six outings, winning a magnificent five and drawing just the one. Since the beginning of October, only Bolton have left Craven Cottage with any pride still in tact after Bolton held Fulham to a 1-1 draw. Ivan Klasnic’s goal in that game is also the only goal that Fulham have conceded in four appearances at Craven Cottage, with clean sheets coming against Blackburn Rovers (3-0), Sunderland (1-0) and even Man Utd (3-0).

Fulham are a team brimming with confidence, not only because of their stunning result against Man Utd but also this fantastic run of form they’ve fought so hard to build up. The Cottagers will have plenty of momentum, especially playing at home in a venue they’ve won their last two in, so perhaps it’s a case of will Tottenham cause Fulham any problems rather than will Fulham close the supposed big gulf in class between the two sides. League wise, though, Fulham are still nine points behind Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: DDLWW

A double from Peter Crouch against Blackburn Rovers gave Spurs a quick fire double themselves after beating Manchester City three days earlier. That was two very big wins but it wasn’t enough to overhaul an on song Aston Villa in fourth position. However, the race is far from over, just warming up in fact, and a win at Craven Cottage could be enough to leapfrog Aston Villa in that elusive fourth place providing Villa slip up elsewhere.

Tottenham appear to be back to their glorious best but Spurs, this season anyway, have a tendency to suddenly go off the boil when you least expect it. However, although Harry Redknapp has come a cropper against some of the smallest teams in the league, losing to both Stoke City and Wolves at home, he hasn’t had too many problems getting his squad fired up for the big encounters, and, surprising as it is, a trip to Fulham is now a big encounter, and Spurs better be aware of this. They are facing a team fresh off a success over Man Utd, a team that beat Spurs 3-1 earlier on in the season, so any complacency will be punished.

Peter Crouch claimed all the plaudits with his double at Ewood Park in a game Tottenham had to work damn hard for all three points. It was far from a walk in the park. In fact, it was probably the hardest Spurs have had to work for a victory all season, which just goes to show how far Tottenham have come as they’ve never been battlers, that’s for sure. Another surprising positive about Tottenham’s play last Saturday was their immense defending. Michael Dawson was a rock at the back, blocking anything that was targeted at a usually ’sketchy’ Gomes. If Dawson carries on like this then an England call up wouldn’t be out of the question. While if Tottenham continue to defend like they are then they shouldn’t have too many problems at least mounting a challenge on the top four spots.

Tottenham have now won back-to-back games in the league but that run is made more impressive by two successive clean sheets. The latter, the 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, was their first away shut out of the season, so that should stand the defence, which has had it’s fair share of critics in recent seasons, in good stead ahead of what will be an extremely tough outings for Harry Redknapp & Co. Still, Spurs are showing are the signs of a top four team at present but, like we said earlier, Tottenham do have a terrible knack of straying and a defeat at Craven Cottage wouldn’t surprise us in the slightest after a solid run of form.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Fulham W: 3 Tottenham Hotspur W: 3 Draw: 4

It’s been impossible to split the two meetings, although Fulham will be the confident of the two sides heading into this fixture in the knowledge that they didn’t suffer defeat in this fixture at home nor away at White Hart Lane. The Cottagers beat Tottenham 2-1 at Crane Cottage whilst the pair played out a goalless draw in the reverse fixture.

A crucial statistic is that Fulham have never lost at home to Tottenham since their arrival to the Premiership back in 2002, winning five and drawing two. Fulham have, though, been held to draws in two of the previous three encounters at Craven Cottage. Also, there has never been a goalless game at Craven Cottage between the two, so hopefully we will be treated to some goals.

Match Verdict: Fulham – 2.90 Boylesports

Fulham get the nod from us as they were nothing short of outstanding last weekend against a depleted Man Utd. Spurs, to their credit, put in a battling performance in their weekend encounter against Blackburn. Their workmanlike display earned them all three points and they’ll be very confident after two straight victories. However, Spurs turn ‘hot and cold’ too much for liking and preference is for a more consistent Fulham side, one we can’t see losing on Saturday if they put in a similar performance to the one we were treated to last weekend..

Match Odds:

Fulham – 2.90 Boylesports

Draw – 3.50 SkyBet

Tottenham Hotspur – 2.63 VCbet

Fancy a challenge?! – Tottenham have scored at least once in each of their last three away fixtures, whereas Fulham have managed at least one goal in their previous six home encounters. So will both manage to get on the score sheet in Saturday’s contest at Craven Cottage.

Yes – 1.75 BlueSquare

No – 2.25 Coral

Our challenge pick – Yes!

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For those of you who fancy yourself against Matt, feel free to send us your challenge selection and those who do beat Matt will get a mention on the related preview. There is no actual prize up for grabs… just bragging rights?!

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