FULHAM
14th in Premiership
with 32 points
Position achievable
after MatchDay 29:
Highest 13th - Lowest 16th
- FULHAM against Aston Villa is a clash between the Premiership's draw specialists. A win for the Cottagers would see them swapping places with Villa, who are level on points but one spot above, with a superior goal difference of eight.
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Chris Coleman's side have lost the last three in a row in all competitions, with League defeats, away to Bolton and home Manchester United, separated by a 0-4 thrashing by Spurs in the FA Cup. They're third bottom in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table, with five points out of 18, but still matching last season's pace. Fulham are in danger of losing three Premiership matches in succession for the first time this season.
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Honours are even between these clubs in League competition. The pair have won 15 and lost 15 against each other, with 15 drawn, including the last four. Last season's corresponding fixture was a six-goal thriller, in which the Cottagers had gone ahead three times and were controversially denied a last-gasp penalty.
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ASTON VILLA
13th in Premiership
with 32 points
Position achievable
after MatchDay 29:
Highest 13th - Lowest 16th
- ASTON VILLA head for London on the look out for a first League victory from the capital this season. The Villans have managed only two wins in 15 Premiership outings and have been the epitome of inconsistency in the last month, alternating between defeat and victory in five encounters. Three points would be a welcome belated birthday present for manager Martin O'Neill, two days after turning 55.
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Both these clubs have won six Premiership games on their own patch and just one on the road so far this season. Villa have chalked up just one maximum in 20 away, and have lost the last five in a row since sharing four goals with Sheffield United on 11 December.
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Villa have only been beaten by Fulham once in a Premiership game in the capital, when a Jon Harley goal proved the difference between the sides in a 2-1 defeat on 8 February 2003. Twelve months later, the visitors registered their only Premiership victory on Fulham turf. Juan Pablo Angel and Darius Vassell scored in a 1-2 triumph on 11 February 2004.
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- Won seven and drawn 11 Premiership games, as have Villa.
- Lost four of the last five in League and Cup.
- The last two Premiership outings were both defeats by 1-2 margins.
- Not lost three League games on the trot, since succombing to Bolton (a), Arsenal (h), Everton (a) and Liverpool (a) between 26 February and 15 March last year.
- Completed 40 top flight encounters since winning by more than a single goal (6-1 v West Brom on 11 February 2005).
- Two away fixtures in the north-west at Wigan and Everton follow this, separated by a home clash with Portsmouth.
- Brian McBRIDE is Fulham's leading scorer, with 12 goals - nine in the Premiership.
- Only Liam ROSENIOR has been on the field for every minute of every one of Fulham's Premiership matches this season.
- Mark PEMBRIDGE needs one more appearance to total 400 in his English League career (Luton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Everton and Fulham).
- If he plays, Heidar HELGUSON will be making his 50th Premiership appearance in a Fulham shirt.
- Suspended: Vincenzo MONTELLA
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| HEAD TO HEAD at FULHAM |
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FULHAM |
Draw |
A. VILLA |
| League |
11 |
8 |
3 |
| Premier |
1 |
3 |
1 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
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FULHAM |
Draw |
A. VILLA |
| League |
15 |
15 |
15 |
| Premier |
1 |
5 |
5 |
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- Won seven and drawn 11 Premiership games, as have Fulham.
- Lost six consecutive matches away from home, in all competitions.
- The 0-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park on 11 November is the clubs' only victory on the road in this Premiership campaign.
- Without an away League victory in eight (three draws, five defeats).
- Not managed a clean sheet in seven on their top flight travels, since a goalless draw at Wigan on 19 November.
- The next three Premiership matches are all at home, to Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton.
- Gareth BARRY is Villa's leading scorer with nine goals - eight of which were Premiership goals.
- If he keeps goal as usual, Thomas SORENSEN will be making his 300th English League appearance (Sunderland and Aston Villa).
- If selected in the 11, Gary CAHILL will be making his 50th career League start (Aston Villa and Burnley).
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LAST CORRESPONDING LEAGUE (Premiership) FIXTURE
Craven Cottage on 28 Dec 2005
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McBride 13,
Helguson 32 pen,
McBride 61 |
Moore 29,
Ridgewell 60,
Ridgewell 76 |
Crossley, Leacock (Niclas Jensen, 57 ), Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior, Christanval, Legwinski (Elrich, 78 ), Boa Morte, Radzinski, McBride, Helguson (John, 84)
Subs not used: Warner, Pearce |
Sorensen, Hughes, Delaney, Ridgewell, Bouma (Bakke, 76 ), Milner, McCann, Davis, Barry, Baros, Moore (Angel, 70)
Subs not used Taylor, Whittingham, Gardner |
Yellow card:
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Yellow card:
Baros, Hughes, Moore, Ridgewell |
Attendance:
20446 |
Referee:
A. D'Urso (Essex) |
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