Fulham v West Ham - Match Preview
last updated Wednesday 23rd October 2002, 9:22 AM
Fulham's Intertoto Cup run meant this game was postponed in August, something that has gone in West Ham manager Glenn Roder's favour - as his team are finding form on the road.
Jean Tigana will be equally happy with Fulham's home form, unbeaten this season, culminating in the near win draw against Man Utd on the weekend.
The clash with West Ham kicks off Fulham's hectic spell of eight games in just three and a half weeks, which will also decide whether their UEFA Cup adventure continues and if they are to avoid the potential banana-skin of Bury in the Worthington Cup.
However at the moment the Fulham squad should be at the top of their form and ready to punish west Ham for their victory in the same fixture last season.
Over the years Fulham have won won 17 of the 34 home games with West Ham while losing 10.
So far this season Fulham are 7th in the Premiership with 15 points in comparison to West Ham in 17th place with 8 points. In Fulham's last 3 home games they have beaten Charlton 1-0 drawn 1-1 against Man Utd and 2-2 with Hajduk Split in the UEFA Cup.
In their last 3 top flight away games West Ham have won twice and drawn once!! |
| |
Fulham |
West
Ham
|
Div
Avg |
| Games Played |
9 |
9 |
10 |
| GOAL ATTEMPTS |
| Goals |
14 |
9 |
11 |
| Ave Goals Per Game |
1.6 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
| Shots (excluding blocked shots) |
106 |
105 |
99 |
| Ave Shots Per Game |
11.8 |
11.7 |
9.9 |
| % Shots On Target |
44% |
34% |
42% |
| % Goals To Shots |
13% |
9% |
11% |
| PASSING |
| Short Passes |
2471 |
2385 |
2446 |
| Long Passes |
1211 |
1016 |
1101 |
| Total Passes |
3682 |
3401 |
3547 |
| Ave Passes Per Game |
409 |
378 |
355 |
| % Overall Pass Completion |
72% |
72% |
73% |
| CROSSING |
| Total Crosses |
200 |
216 |
216 |
| Ave Crosses Per Game |
22 |
24 |
22 |
| Completion |
30% |
33% |
26% |
| DEFENDING |
| Goals Conceded |
9 |
16 |
11 |
| Ave Goals Conceded Per Game |
1.0 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
| Tackles |
315 |
246 |
259 |
| Ave Tackles Per Game |
35 |
27 |
26 |
| Tackles Won % |
74% |
75% |
72% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
384 |
435 |
388 |
| Ave Blocks, etc., Per Game |
43 |
48 |
39 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
129 |
136 |
131 |
| Ave Fouls Per Game |
14 |
15 |
13 |
| Yellow Cards |
16 |
19 |
15 |
| Fouls per yellow |
8.1 |
7.2 |
8.7 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| stats from opta |
|
West Ham manager Glenn Roeder’s message to his players now they have finally fought their way off the bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership table is simple - “Don’t go back there!”
Roeder wants his team to follow up Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Sunderland - which lifted them off the foot of the table for the first time this season - with a result at Fulham.
“Now we are off the bottom it is simple as this: we don’t want to go there again,” said Roeder.
“We have had two full days concentrating on playing a Fulham team who are having an excellent season and playing excellent football, and we are looking forward to the game on the back of three points on Saturday.
“It was only our second clean sheet of the season and we want to build on that - it is the way ahead for us, and we have got to be defensively sound to give our creative players in the front half of the team a chance to score a goal or two.”
Roeder is pleased with the attitude of his players, who held a team meeting on the eve of the Sunderland match which boosted morale
Although Hammers frontman Frederic Kanoute looks like losing his battle to be fit for the trip across London defender Sebastian Schemmel returns after missing the weekend win at Sunderland with a foot injury.
It could be a very tight game at Fulham tonight. |
Matchday Referee: Rob Styles - Waterlooville
 38-year-old Rob Styles is now in his third season in the Barclaycard Premiership, having developed a reputation as a disciplinarian. Styles dished out an average of 3.8 yellow cards per game last season, but only issued one red in his 18 matches in charge.
Styles, a company director, started refereeing in 1987 and became a football league assistant in 1994. The Premier League came calling in 2000 and Styles became an international FIFA approved official in 2002. His "biggest" match to date came in 2000 when he refereed the Division Two play-off final.
(Ed. Mr. Styles has started off this season as he finished last season blowing his whistle less than average, flashing yellow nearly 20% more than the average, no reds in sight but 100% more likely to give a penalty. Last year and so far this season he is averaging a penalty every two games. As he gave one in his last Premiership game he presumably won't give one tonight!!
The last time Mr. Styles officiated at a Fulham game was in the West Brom away game when he booked 4 Baggies and 3 Cottagers. Shame he didn't give us a penalty. His only Fulham game last season was the away game at Leeds where he booked 3 Fulham players including van der Sar.)
2001/
2002
stats
|
Mr. Styles's score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
18 |
|
16 |
|
| Fouls |
494 |
27.44 |
472 |
29.81 |
| Penalties |
8 |
0.44 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Yellow cards |
70 |
3.89 |
49 |
3.07 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
0.06 |
3 |
0.19 |
|
|
|
| MATCH BETTING ODDS |
It seems the Bookies are having to review their attitude to Fulham following the near win against Man Utd who were quoted as odds on favourites to beat The Cottagers.
For tonight's game Fulham are clear favourites to retain their unbeaten home record and statistically the odds are right. However the two games West Ham have managed to win so far are both away games, Chelsea and Sunderland and their victory at Sunderland was last weekend so they will arrive at Fulham with their tails up. Fulham's midfield will be without Sean Davis while West Ham striker Kanoute is doubtful
If anyone is keen to back Fulham to win they should take the evens on offer at Betfair or if you want to stick to the old fashioned approach, the 5/6 on offer at Stanley.
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