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Fulham v Birmingham - Match Preview
last updated Friday 13th December 2002, 3:16 PM
Fulham entertain Birmingham City on Sunday, in the Premiership, and the two teams will be anxious to continue their climb up the Barclaycard Premiership table.
Fulham are currently lying in 13th place, with Birmingham trailing them by just two points.
Tigana's side have won two of their last three games, the most notable being last week's important victory over Leeds United.
Having played well against the big guns like Manchester United and Liverpool, Fulham tend to struggle against teams on a similar level to themselves and last month saw them play out a goalless draw with the Blues at St Andrews.
The Cottagers were forced to play last week's clash without their four main strikers, using instead Luis Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque upfront. The duo did well in their newfound positions although it was Martin Djetou's header that bagged the three points for Fulham.
Their home form serves the club well, and suggests they are settling in to their temporary abode at Loftus Road having managed five wins from their nine home games.
|
| |
Fulham |
Birm |
Div
Avg |
| Games Played |
17 |
17 |
17 |
| GOAL ATTEMPTS |
| Goals |
22 |
16 |
21 |
| Ave Goals Per Game |
1.3 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
| Shots (excluding blocked shots) |
182 |
150 |
182 |
| Ave Shots Per Game |
11 |
9 |
11 |
| % Shots On Target |
48% |
39% |
43% |
| % Goals To Shots |
12% |
9% |
12% |
| PASSING |
| Short Passes |
4511 |
3905 |
4361 |
| Long Passes |
2138 |
2184 |
2045 |
| Total Passes |
6649 |
6089 |
6406 |
| Ave Passes Per Game |
391 |
358 |
377 |
| % Overall Pass Completion |
71% |
71% |
73% |
| CROSSING |
| Total Crosses |
355 |
419 |
387 |
| Ave Crosses Per Game |
21 |
25 |
23 |
| Completion |
25% |
24% |
25% |
| DEFENDING |
| Goals Conceded |
22 |
21 |
21 |
| Ave Goals Conceded Per Game |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
| Tackles |
567 |
461 |
472 |
| Ave Tackles Per Game |
33 |
27 |
28 |
| Tackles Won % |
75% |
72% |
72% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
743 |
715 |
743 |
| Ave Blocks, etc., Per Game |
44 |
42 |
44 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
253 |
250 |
233 |
| Ave Fouls Per Game |
15 |
15 |
14 |
| Yellow Cards |
30 |
34 |
28 |
| Fouls per yellow |
9 |
7 |
8 |
| Red Cards |
4 |
1 |
2 |
| stats from opta |
|
 Birmingham's away form isn't too bad either though, with the Midlands club taking nine points from as many games on the road.
The Blues will be welcoming back Robbie Savage with open arms for this weekend's encounter. The Welsh international was suspended for the meeting with Southampton last Saturday and was sorely missed in midfield as his side were beaten by two James Beattie goals.
Also making a return, after a three-match suspension, is Geoff Horsfield. He replaces Stern John, who, after playing through the pain for some time, was forced into an operation after aggravating his knee injury last weekend.
Savage says he's well aware that the club's next few games will make or break their season and that they need to turn this weekend's clash into three points, which should hopefully set them up for the rest of the season, if not the forthcoming busy Christmas period.
Source: 4thegame
| MATCH BETTING ODDS |
Both Fulham and Birmingham are struggling with injuries and The Cottagers had a hard game on Thursday evening.
However as Fulham found up at Birmingham recently The Blues fire a lot of blanks and unless Mr Bruce is playing games he is likely to be without his wingers.
In light of the above the game could be a midfield battle royal particularly with Master Savage in the squad.
However few teams have come away with anything from Fulham's temporary home and they should have enough to send The Brummies back north pointless.
Coral's are offering the best odds for a Fulham win by far with the saver draw being best priced at Hills and Ladbrokes.
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|
Stats show that Birmingham are a bit slow scoring and have conceeded more than they have converted. Goals are sparse it seems because City's shooting numbers are low second only to Sunderland with their accuracy rate also being one of the worse in the Premiership. The Blue's passing style is clearly long ball with one of their few above average stats being for long passes. Birmingham's other above average stat figure is their cross rate and manage 20% more crosses than Fulham, when their wingers play. In terms of tackling and interception City's rate is less than Fulham on both counts.
Yellow card numbers could be high during the game as the last meeting, finished 0-0, with two Fulham players being sent off.
Matchday Referee: Andy D'Urso, Essex.
 Andy D'urso is one of the Premiership's youngest referees and was only appointed to the Premiership list three seasons ago, but soon received a welcome from Manchester United's Roy Keane. It was D'urso who was famously chased round the pitch by half the United team when he awarded a penalty against them during the 1999/2000 season.
That controversy returned at the start of 2001/02 when he failed to award Manchester United two penalties in the Charity Shield against Liverpool. But nevertheless, D'Urso is still a respected referee across the entire country - except Salford.
D'Urso took charge of 23 matches last season, and handed out an average of 3.77 yellow cards per game.
(Ed. In his 9 Premiership games so far this season Mr. D'urso has issued 31 yellows 58% to home sides!
His last Fulham game was the Premiership clash with Aston Villa in November when he booked Luis Boa Morte and Andy Melvino. Last season he reffed the home game with Southampton and only booked Saints.)
2001/
2002
stats
|
Mr. D'Urso's score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
23 |
|
16 |
|
| Fouls |
625 |
27.17 |
472 |
29.81 |
| Penalties |
3 |
0.13 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Yellows |
75 |
3.26 |
49 |
3.07 |
| Reds |
9 |
0.39 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Fouls per Yellow |
8 |
|
10 |
|
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|
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