Big match facts from BBCSport
FULHAM and Birmingham closed out last season with impressive home results and would dearly love to kick off this campaign with something similar. The Cottagers thrashed Norwich 6-0 to send the East Anglians down. Birmingham defeated Arsenal 2-1. These clubs are embarking on fifth and fourth successive Premiership crusades respectively, having finishing adjacent to each other in mid table last season. The Londoners were 13th, and have only finished in the top half once in their four previous campaigns. They've also never beaten Birmingham in a home Premiership clash.
- The odd goal in five defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2001 is Fulham's only opening day loss in 13 years. Last season they were held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester City and only won one of their first six League matches. Chris Coleman's side ended the campaign with the unwanted tag of the worst disciplinary record in the top League (seven red cards, 58 yellow).
- The Cottagers last won a home League game against Birmingham on Boxing Day 1968. Since that 2-0 triumph, the Londoners have drawn four and lost seven times against the Brummies in front of their home fans, and have failed to score in five of the last six.
- Conceded the opening goal 24 times in last season's Premiership campaign. Only Norwich exceeded that (25 times).
- Competed on the lowest average gate in the top table of 19,838. But that was an increase on the previous season (16,240).
- Luis BOA MORTE is a hat trick shy of scoring 50 goals for Fulham.
- If he plays, Sylvain LEGWINSKI will be making his 150th appearance for the Thames-side club.
- Should he take part, LEGWINSKI will be making his 300th appearance across the European Leagues. He played 135 times for AS Monaco, 49 for Girondins Bordeaux and so far has made 115 League appearances for Fulham.
- If he plays, Mark PEMBRIDGE will be making his 50th appearance for the Cottagers.
BIRMINGHAM CITY have hovered mid table in each of their three previous Premiership crusades, ending 13th, 10th and 12th. They only recorded three away wins last season - the most recent of those being against Fulham nearly eight months ago.
- Steve Bruce's Brummies go into a top tier campaign for the 54th time looking to improve on last season's start of one win in 11 outings.
- Emile Heskey, Darren Carter and Robbie Savage were on target for the odd goal in five victory at Craven Cottage last December, but Fulham avenged that defeat a month later by beating Birmingham at the sixth time of asking in a Premiership game. An Andrew Cole penalty and late Papa Bouba Diop goal secured the points at St Andrews. These clubs last met on the opening day on 7 August 1999 in the second city. It ended 2-2.
- Scored just 40 goals in their 38 League games last season. Only West Bromwich with 36 and Blackburn, 32, fared less well.
- If on the field from the outset, Stan LAZARIDIS will be making his 150th start for Birmingham.
- When he next lines up for the opening whistle, Oliver TEBILY will be making his 100th start in British club football (Sheffield Utd, Celtic and Birmingham).
- If named in the 11, Matthew UPSON will be making his 150th club career start.
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|
| OPTA Stats from Premiership games |
| |
Fulham |
Birm |
+/- |
| Games Played |
38 |
38 |
0 |
| |
| Goal Attempts
|
| Goals |
52 |
40 |
+12 |
| Ave Goals per game |
1.37 |
1.05 |
|
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
366 |
352 |
+14 |
| Ave Shots per game |
10 |
9 |
-1
|
| % Shots on Target |
43% |
40% |
|
| % Goals to Shots |
14%
|
11% |
|
|
|
| Passing
|
| Short Passes |
8409 |
9175 |
-766 |
| Long Passes |
3862 |
4265 |
-403 |
| Total Passes |
12371 |
13440 |
-1069 |
| Ave Passes per game |
32 |
354 |
-28 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
68% |
73% |
|
|
|
| Crossing
|
| Total Crosses |
755 |
1034 |
-279 |
| Ave Crosses per game |
20 |
27
|
-7 |
| Cross Completion % |
27% |
26% |
|
|
|
| Defending
|
| Goals Conceded |
60 |
46 |
+14 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
1.58 |
1.21 |
|
| Clean Sheets |
8 |
9 |
-1 |
| Tackles |
1225 |
1256 |
-31 |
| Ave Tackles per game |
32 |
33 |
-1 |
| Tackles Won % |
75% |
72% |
|
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
1779 |
1721 |
+110 |
| Avg Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
49 |
46 |
+3 |
|
|
| Discipline
|
| Fouls |
547 |
573 |
-26 |
| Yellow Cards |
57 |
63 |
-6 |
| Fouls per Yellow Card |
9.6 |
9.1 |
|
| Red Cards |
7 |
3 |
+4 |
| |
 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
| |
Fulham |
Draw |
Birm |
| League |
20 |
21 |
25 |
| Premier |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
| HEAD TO HEAD at FULHAM |
| |
Fulham |
Draw |
Birm |
| League |
12 |
10 |
11 |
| Premier |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
LAST CORRESPONDING GAME - 28 December 2004
Fulham 2-3 Birmingham City |
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