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Match Stats - Birmingham v Fulham 21.01.05

last updated Friday 21st January 2005, 9:47 AM
Big match facts from BBCSport FULHAM ended 2004 with three consecutive losses, but they're yet to lose in 2005 - winning two and drawing one in the Premiership. They cruelly took all three points off fellow strugglers West Brom courtesy of Pape Bouba Diop's last ditch winner at the Cottage last Sunday. They've since beaten Watford at home, 2-0 in a FA Cup third round replay. The Cottagers most recent Premiership defeat, and Birmingham's most recent top flight victory was the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage three weeks ago.
  • As far as points return is concerned, this is Fulham's least successful of the four seasons they've been playing Premier League football. But their matches have not been short on goals at either end. Their 23 outings have produced 68 goals (29 for, 39 against). That's the third highest ratio at top level behind Arsenal (77 goals) and Newcastle (75).
  • The Londoners are yet to beat Birmingham in the Premiership. The two previous League trips to St Andrews were drawn, although they have already won there this season, 0-1 in the Carling Cup on 27 October. Fulham last enjoyed a top flight victory on Birmingham turf 45 years ago. They won 2-4 on 24 October 1959.
  • Claimed seven points out a possible nine from a 3-1 home win over Crystal Palace, 3-3 draw at Southampton and 1-0 victory over West Brom.
  • Not lost in the League since the 2-3 reverse by Birmingham on 28 December.
  • Won all five League games when clean sheets have been kept.
  • Lost all seven top flight contests in which failed to score.
  • Recorded the equal lowest number of draws in the Premiership (four).
  • Lost 12 times in the top tier. Only Crystal Palace have been beaten more often (13).
  • Not managed an away win in four League and Cup outings.
  • Drawn two and lost two away, in the Premiership and FA Cup, since beating Norwich 0-1 at Carrow Road on 4 December.
  • Picked up one point on the road (at Southampton), since that victory in Norfolk.
  • Luis BOA MORTE is a double shy of 50 goals for English clubs (four for Arsenal, one for Southampton and 43 for Fulham).
  • If on the field from the outset, Zat KNIGHT will be making his 99th career club start.
  • Should he play, Andrew COLE will be making his 550th club career appearance.
BIRMINGHAM against Fulham is the Brummies' 100th match in the Premiership and 50th at home. It brings together two sides adjacent to each other in the table, 10 and nine points respectively above the relegation zone.
  • Steve Bruce's side are aiming to avoid a fourth successive League defeat. In September and October they drew five on the spin - the longest such sequence in the top division this term. In December they won four on the bounce. Now they've undone that advance with three defeats.
  • The Brummies were in sparkling festive form when they beat Fulham 2-3 at Craven Cottage last month. But they've not beaten Fulham in a home League match since the 3-1 triumph in the old Third Division on 21 December 1991 - the last time they completed the 'double' over the Cottagers for the fifth time in their history. The Brummies have not managed a home maximum in the top flight over Fulham since a 4-1 success over 42 years ago on 22 September 1962.
  • Picked up no points from a last possible nine, losing 2-1 at Newcastle, 1-2 home to Bolton and 3-1 at Charlton.
  • Prior to that, won four out of four culminating in a 2-3 victory at Fulham on 28 December.
    The last victory was 3-0 to Leeds in the FA Cup on 8 January.
    Chasing a 32nd victory in their 100th Premiership match (all under Steve Bruce).
  • Last home League win was 2-0 against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
  • Failed to score in four of 11 home top flight encounters. Only Crystal Palace and West Brom have missed the target more often at home (five each).
  • Managed four clean sheets in Premiership matches at St Andrews.
  • Maik TAYLOR and Matthew UPSON are the only remaining players to have figured in every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premiership games.
  • If he figures in this one, Maik TAYLOR will be making his 400th club career appearance.
  • Muzzy IZZET needs a brace to total 50 career club goals.
  • If involved from the opening whistle, David DUNN will be making his 150th career League start.
OPTA Stats from Premiership games
  Birm C Fulham +/-
Games Played 23 23 0
 
Goal Attempts
Goals 26 29 +3
Ave Goals per game 1.13 1.26  
Shots (excl blocked shots) 216 235 +19
Ave Shots per game 9 10 +1
% Shots on Target 45% 44%  
% Goals to Shots 12% 12%  
Passing
Short Passes 5296 5209 -87
Long Passes 2590 2362 -228
Total Passes 7886 7571 -315
Ave Passes per game 343 329 -14
Overall Pass Completion % 73% 68%  
Crossing
Total Crosses 632 461 -171
Ave Crosses per game 27 20 -7
Cross Completion % 25% 27%  
Defending
Clean Sheets 6 4 -2
Goals Conceded 28 39 +11
Ave goals conceded per game 1.22 1.70  
Tackles 778 731 -47
Ave Tackles per game 34 32 -2
Tackles Won % 72% 74%  
Discipline
Fouls 354 332 -22
Yellow Cards 33 33 0
Fouls per Yellow Card 10.7 10.1  
Red Cards 2 4 +2
 
SkySport by Paul Townley
Top Opta Teams (after 23 games)
Aspect Top Team Birm Fulham
Goals Scored Arsenal 52 14th 26 10th 29
Shots onTarget Arsenal 137 11th 98 10th 103
Shots Attempted Man Utd 312 16th 216 12th 235
Passes Made Man Utd 11176 13th 7886 15th 7571
Crosses Man Utd 749 3rd 632 17th 461
Goals Conceded W.B.A. 44 12th 28 4th 39
Tackles Made Charlton 813 3rd 778 9th 731
Tackles Won Charlton 583 6th 559 8th 540
Clean Sheets Chelsea 17 10th 6 13th 5
Fouls Conceded Blackburn 382 3rd 354 8th 332
Yellow Cards Blackburn 45 2nd 34 3rd 34
Fouls per yellow Man Utd 16.2 13th 10.4 17th 9.8
Red Cards Blackburn 4 6th 2 2nd 4
HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS
  Birm Draw Fulham
League 25 21 19
Premier 2 3 0
HEAD TO HEAD at BIRM CITY
  Birm Draw Fulham
League 14 11 7
Premier 0 2 0
Fulham year on year Opta Stats comparison
(after 23 games)
Aspect 04/05 03/04
Goals Scored 10th 29 4th 36
Shots onTarget 10th 103 3rd 125
Shots Attempted 12th 235 6th 256
Passes Made 15th 7571 8th 8491
Crosses Attempted 17th 461 19th 422
Goals Conceded 4th 39 13th 33
Tackles Made 9th 731 1st 798
Tackles Won 8th 540 1st 597
Clean Sheets 13th 5 12th 7
Fouls Conceded 8th 332 10th 322
Yellow Cards 3rd 34 10th 40
Fouls per yellow 17th 9.8 9th 8.1
Red Cards 2nd 4 - 2
LAST CORRESPONDING GAME 14th September 2003 Birmingham 2-2 Fulham
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