Still homeless The Cottagers now have to search for a new manager with the news Jean Tigana's contract will not be extended in the summer. The exit of Tigana could also spark a mass exodus for the London club mirroring that of Leeds with the talented Steed Malbranque and Steve Marlet expected to be the first out the door.
Relegation looks to have been avoided by The Cottagers although another three points would ensure their Barclaycard Premiership status. However the unpredictability surrounding the West London club makes it inevitable their fans will be looking over their shoulders nervously until relegation is mathematically impossible.
Three points on Monday is surely the least the Fulham faithful deserve with such an uncertain future ahead of them.
On the pitch Tigana still has to do his job and the French coach has some interesting options at the back. Defender Zat Knight is hoping to hang on to his place in the side after being called up for last week's defeat by Manchester United.
The 22-year-old was brought into Tigana's line-up after Alain Goma was ruled out injured and he now plans to make his first-team appearances a more regular occurrence.
He said: "For the first 20 minutes I was finding my feet and getting my fitness, but after that I thought I coped with the game pretty well.
"Hopefully I've given the gaffer some food for thought when he comes to pick the team for the Blackburn game - I don't think I've done my chances any harm," he added.
With two of the Barclaycard Premiership's most unpredictable sides going head to head it is difficult to know what to expect at Loftus Road on Monday.
Source: 4thegame
|
The Cottage
on Loftus Road
-
Premiership 07 Apr 03 |
Fulham |
Blackburn |
Div
Avg |
| Games Played |
31 |
31 |
31 |
| GOAL ATTEMPTS |
| Goals |
35 |
38 |
40 |
| Ave Goals Per Game |
1.13 |
1.23 |
1.29 |
| Shots (excluding blocked shots) |
338 |
339 |
340 |
| Ave Shots Per Game |
11 |
11 |
11 |
| Ave Shots on Target Per Game |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| % Shots On Target |
44% |
42% |
43% |
| % Goals To Shots |
10% |
10% |
11% |
| PASSING |
| Short Passes |
8480 |
8561 |
7968 |
| Long Passes |
3812 |
3700 |
3714 |
| Total Passes |
12292 |
12261 |
11682 |
| Ave Passes Per Game |
397 |
396 |
377 |
| % Overall Passes Completed |
71% |
73% |
72% |
Ave passes completed
per game
|
282 |
289 |
271 |
| CROSSING |
| Total Crosses |
389 |
712 |
722 |
| Ave Crosses Per Game |
22 |
23 |
23 |
| Crosses Completed |
26% |
26% |
25% |
Ave cross completion
per game
|
6 |
6 |
6 |
| DEFENDING |
| Goals Conceded |
40 |
37 |
40 |
| Ave Goals Conceded Per Game |
1.29 |
1.19 |
1.29 |
| Tackles |
971 |
902 |
886 |
| Tackles Won % |
74% |
70% |
72% |
Ave tackles completed
per game
|
23 |
20 |
21 |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
1298 |
1399 |
1422 |
| Ave Blocks, etc., Per Game |
42 |
45 |
46 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
448 |
484 |
432 |
| Ave Fouls Per Game |
14 |
16 |
14 |
| Yellow Cards |
47 |
52 |
47 |
| Fouls per yellow |
9.5 |
9.3 |
9.2 |
| Red Cards |
6 |
4 |
3 |
 |
|
Blackburn 1 Fulham 2!!!!!!!!
Matchday Referee
Graham Poll - Tring, Hertfordshire
Graham Poll was a mere whipper-snapper when he joined the Premier League list, back in 1993, and even now, at 39, the vastly experienced Poll isn't one of the League's oldest officials.
The previouslyself-employed sales consultant began refereeing in 1980, joining the football league list in 1991 and gaining FIFA approval in 1996. His career highlights include the 1998 Charity Shield and 2000/01's FA Cup final. When the F.A. introduced "professional" referees Poll was a founder member.
Having been made an official FIFA referee, Poll was also in charge of a handful of Euro 2000 matches and officiated between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League final of the same year.
Referee Graham Poll was named among the match officials selected by FIFA for this the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
2002/2003
FA Cup Fulham 1-1 Burnley 16-02-2003
Bookings: West (Burnley)
Sean Davis had claims for a penalty soon after, teaming up with Malbranque for a neat one-two and going down under Graham Branch's challenge in the area Referee Poll, much to the derision of the home support, ignored the claims and awarded a free-kick to the Clarets.
Poll continued to officiate in a onesided fashion in favour of Burnley indulging their crude physical as if they were children playing grown-ups
Premiership - Fulham 3-2 Liverpool 23-11-2002 3 1
Bookings: Brevett , Goma (sent off 70 for second yellow) (Fulham) Traore (Liverpool)
Poll reffed the Fulham v Liverpool game, 23/11/02, which Fulham won 3-2 despite Poll consistently giving decisions against Fulham and failing to punish Liverpool players in similar situations. Liverpools first goal came from a free kick given for shirt tugging by Finnan on a Liverpool player uninvolved in an attack that Van der Sar made a save on. Poll called the play back to outside our area and gave a freekick from which Liverpool scored. Liverpool's second goal came from Baros after he poleaxed Rufus in the area and Poll extraordinarily failed to spot the event even though everyone else saw it. To finish off his unhelpful performance Poll sent Goma off in the 70th minute for a second yellow.
2002/
2003
stats
|
Mr. Poll's score sheet |
Av Premiership Ref score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
19 |
|
13 |
|
| Fouls |
554 |
29.16 |
361 |
27.95 |
| Penalties |
4 |
0.21 |
3 |
0.22 |
| Yellows |
52 |
2.74 |
39 |
3.05 |
| Reds |
2 |
0.11 |
2 |
0.18 |
| Fouls per Yellow |
10.7 |
|
9.2 |
|
Mr. Poll is whistling just as often as he did last season and is now one of the top 10 whistlers. He has decided to increase the number of yellows he gives out although he is still below the Premiership Ref average. Ref Poll appears even handed as far as home and away teams are concerned but did not do Fulham any favours in his last two visits.
The Blackburn bad boys are
Neill 12 yellows and 1 red,
Thompson 9 cards, Johansson 7 cards, Tugay 6 yellows and 1 red cards. |
|
 Blackburn midfielder David Dunn says the two-week international break could not have come at a worse time for Uefa Cup-chasing Blackburn and the Rovers are desperate to put things right at Loftus Road on Monday night.
Dunn says the players are desperate to get back to winning ways after their 5-1 mauling at the hands of Newcastle last weekend.
The Rovers star is targeting maximum points from the Fulham game to get the club's push for European football back on track.
"It's frustrating because we want to put it right," said Dunn. "A two-week break is probably the worst thing that could have happened really because, when you get results like that, you want another game straight away to get it out of your system."
Dunn, whose own season has been dogged by knee and hamstring problems, says the one plus point is that the break allows injured players time to heal.
"It gives them time to get over it," added Dunn.
The hammering Rovers suffered at St James' Park clearly hurt team morale and consequently a few teddies were thrown out of the pram. However Graeme Souness has insisted there is no problem between him and Dwight Yorke after the striker was openly unhappy at being substituted against The Magpies.
Yorke was withdrawn after 63 minutes with Andy Cole replacing him. He showed his frustration as he trudged off but Souness said: "There was no problem after the game and nothing since."
Both Yorke and Cole have fallen out with their manager in recent weeks but their disagreements appear to be water under the bridge and the formidable paring could be reunited at Loftus Road, although Hakan Sukur can count himself unlucky if he is left out.
Blackburn have had a solid season as Souness' young squad continue to improve. The foundations are being laid at Ewood Park for a promising future with a healthy mixture of youth and experience throughout the team and a committed manager at the helm.
Source: 4thegame
| MATCH BETTING ODDS |
This fixture has gone with the home side since both teams returned to the top flight two seasons ago.
And, given their impressive home form, Fulham look a decent bet at 6/4 to keep that sequence going.
The fly in the ointment, of course, is that since then Fulham have announced that Jean Tigana will be on his way at the end of the season.
Several of Fulham's players have expressed their shock at the decision and there could be a case for expecting it to show on the pitch. But I just can't see Fulham downing tools and letting Blackburn end their unbeaten home run.
For a start, despite that excellent run of results, Fulham aren't safe yet from relegation. They need another win or two and this game gives them an ideal chance.
And although there is an air of uncertainty around the club, the players all have futures to think of. The incoming boss or Tigana, if he lands at a new club and takes them with him, will not be impressed if they let their standards drop due to events off the pitch.
In games like this Blackburn have underperformed and that's why I'm passing them over at 7/4 even though many will fancy them due to the Tigana factor.
source: bettingzone
Best High Street price for a Fulham win is the 6/4 on offer at Super Soccer while 25/2 is available at the Betfair exchange.
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