Fulham Boss Jean Tigana has seen the FA Cup bubble finally burst but he
cannot allow his players' heads to drop for too long. The Cottagers have
four league games left to secure their top-flight status starting at Elland
Road against David O'Leary's underachievers on Saturday.
Once again it was the Londoners' inability to score goals that ultimately
cost them the opportunity of a trip to Cardiff. Sure, the build-up play
was concise and measured, but the cutting edge up front failed to do the
approach play justice.
It was a match that summed up our season. We did not play too badly and
had our chances but we did not score. That's been our problem and that's
why I'm very frustrated, Tigana asserted after the semi-final defeat.
Steve Marlet looked lively enough and tested Carlo Cudicini in the Chelsea
goal with a snapshot, which culminated the best move of the match. But somewhat
surprisingly Barry Hayles was left on the bench, despite the fact that he
has the best shooting accuracy of any Fulham forward in the Premiership
this season. |
Elland Road
20th April, 2002 |
Leeds |
Fulham |
Div
Avg |
| Games |
35 |
34 |
34 |
| ATTACKING |
| Goals scored |
51 |
32 |
45 |
| Ave goals per game |
1.46 |
0.94 |
1.32 |
| Shots(ex blocked shots) |
414 |
357 |
372 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
41% |
45% |
| Goals to shots % |
12.3% |
9.0% |
12.1% |
| PASSING |
| Short passes |
10483 |
11602 |
9880 |
| Long passes |
3747 |
3914 |
3736 |
| Passes |
14320 |
15516 |
13616 |
| Pass completion % |
74% |
76% |
74% |
| CROSSING |
| Crosses |
756 |
892 |
846 |
| Crosses completion % |
24% |
23% |
25% |
| DEFENDING |
| Tackles |
1018 |
1067 |
935 |
| Tackle success rate % |
75% |
74% |
74% |
| Clearances |
1761 |
1477 |
1639 |
| Goals conceded |
36 |
41 |
45 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
1.03 |
1.21 |
1.32 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
583 |
498 |
517 |
| Yellow cards |
65 |
48 |
53 |
| Red cards |
5 |
1 |
3 |
| stats
from opta |
|
Top scorer Louis Saha was preferred even though he has tested the 'keeper
with just 40% of his efforts in 2001-02.
It has been more than two months since the capital representatives last
tasted a league victory and with just four points separating them from Ipswich
and the drop zone, it is imperative that the Cottagers avoid defeat at the
very least.
However, Leeds will not be found in generous mood after maintaining consecutive
clean sheets from the previous two outings and boosted by UEFA Cup qualification.
Nigel Martyn is seeking to become England's number one ahead of the World
Cup and will therefore be keen to remain resilient for his club: "Being
realistic this is probably the last chance for me to play in a major championship,
certainly a World Cup, so I want to be in the team from the start", he stated.
| Matchday
Referee |
Rob Styles
Waterlooville, Hants
Rob Styles is currently positioned in the middle of Opta's referees
chart and averages fewer than four cards per game. He is perhaps best
noted for awarding seven penalties this term, but Leeds and Fulham
needn't let this worry them, as they have both conceded just one spot-kick
apiece this term.
Mr. Styles has not officiated at a Fulham game this season and only
reffed one Fulham game in each of the previous 2 seasons. He was the
ref for the Fulham v QPR game in Sept 1999 who sent off Steiner. Mar
Poll has had only one busier game this season when he gave 3 cards
each to Arsenal and Newcastle and sent off Parlour
Rather unusually Ref Styles seems to enjoy giving more yellow cards
to home squads. His busiest game this season was 8 yellows in the
Blackburn v Leicester game, 6 cards to Rovers.
| |
Mr. Styles' score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
| |
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
16 |
|
14 |
|
| Fouls |
44 |
27.75 |
433 |
30.23 |
| Penalties |
7 |
0.44 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Yellow cards |
61 |
3.81 |
44 |
3.10 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
0.06 |
3 |
0.20 |
|
Martyn's current total of 16 shut-outs is unrivaled in the Premiership and
this record bodes well for the Leeds custodian reaching his personal goal
with the international side. Incidentally, he managed to keep Fulham at
bay last time the two teams met and contested a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.
The visitors would possibly settle for the same scoreline again in order
to earn a valuable point away from home. Given that they have not scored
more than once in a single league outing in the last five attempts and Leeds
have averaged 1.76 strikes per game at home this term, a stalemate might
be Fulham's best hope.
|
MATCH BETTING ODDS
|
According to the High Street Bookies Fulham will return empty handed
from Leeds. If you think they have not taken enough account of Leeds
having a guaranteed UEFA Cup place and the improved Fulham form in
recent games perhaps the 3/1 for the draw, on offer at Coral-Eurobet,
could be an interesting bet. If you are totally Fulham mad then Coral-Eurobet
are also one of the biggest at 11/2 for a Fulham win.
|
|
Source planetfootball by Mark Willis