Fulham are 14th with 23 points and their highest achievable position after Match Day 22 is 11th while the lowest could be realistically 16th.
- FULHAM take on fellow mid-table Newcastle, knowing that a win would be enough to leapfrog their Tyneside opponents. Chris Coleman's side are smarting from an embarrassing FA Cup defeat by League Two Leyton Orient. That followed a 2-1 home win over the Premiership's whipping boys Sunderland, so the Cottagers are hoping to complete back-to-back victories for the first time in 21 top flight outings.
- A third of Fulham's League goals conceded this season have been shipped in the last 15 minutes (10 of 30), but 20 of their 23 points have been secured at Craven Cottage - the widest such dichotomy in the highest League. In home League games with Newcastle, Fulham have won double as many times as they've lost (12 to six), but overall in league contests the Cottagers hold a narrow 18-17 lead with 12 drawn.
- The Cottagers have won one of the last five Premiership clashes with Newcastle. They achieved a 1-4 triumph on their last but one visit to St James' Park when Steed Malbranque scored twice, one from the spot, and Collins John and Luis Boa Morte were also on target.
- Their last home maximum over the Magpies was 2-1 on 19 April 2003.
- Last recorded successive victories in the Premiership against Blackburn (3-1 h) and Norwich (6-0 h) in the closing two games of last season on 7 and 15 May.
- The victory over Sunderland in the most recent Premiership game was Fulham's first in four League outings.
- Managed one clean sheet in 11 top flight matches, and none in the last six.
- Gone 11 highest League encounters since a win by more than one goal (2-0, home to Liverpool on 22 October).
- Completed 18 top division contests since a loss by more than a solitary goal margin (4-1, away to Arsenal on 24 August).
- The Cottagers' 25 League goals have been scored by seven different players.
- Scored just once in the last 15 minutes of Premiership matches this season.
- Undefeated in six home Premiership games.
- Won five of the last six League games at the Cottage.
- Claimed 16 points from a possible 18 at home, since losing 2-3 to Manchester United on 1 October.
- If he participates, Alain GOMA will be facing his former club.
- If he plays, GOMA will be making his 150th English League appearance (Newcastle and Fulham).
- If involved, Leroy ROSENIOR will be making his 50th career League appearance (Bristol City, Fulham and Torquay).
- If on the field from the outset, Zat KNIGHT will be making his 100th League start for the Cottagers.
- If he lines up for the opening whistle, Moritz VOLZ will be making his 100th start for an English club.
|
LAST CORRESPONDING GAME -
04 May 2005
Fulham 1-3 Newcastle |
|
Newcastle are 11th with 26 points and their highest achievable position after Match Day 22 is 9th while
the lowest could could be 14th
- NEWCASTLE UNITED striker Alan Shearer finally equalled Jackie Milburn's club goal scoring record with the only goal in last Saturday's FA Cup victory over Mansfield. Now the former England skipper is striving for 201st goal in a black and white shirt to make him the most prolific marksman in Magpies history.
- But Newcastle traditionally struggle on their visits to the capital. On four previous trips this season they've only got points from one. They failed to score and lost at Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs but beat West Ham 2-4 at Upton Park. Opponents have scored first in nine of the Magpies' 20 League games, and the only one of those not lost was the reverse fixture with Fulham four months ago, which finished all square.
- The Tyneside club could only manage a 1-1 draw in that reverse fixture in September on Michael Owen's debut. American striker Brian McBride stole Owen's thunder when he put Fulham ahead on 13 minutes, and teenager Charles N'Zogbia upstaged Owen with a 78th minute equaliser. Despite that, the Magpies are bidding for a third maximum in succession on Fulham turf, having scored three goals in each of the last two visits. They won last season's corresponding fixture 1-3, taking full advantage of some dismal defending from Fulham with Darren Ambrose, Patrick Kluivert and Shola Ameobi on target before Tomasz Radzinski slashed the deficit when the outcome was already decided. It was a welcome three points for the Toon, and came as a relief to manager Souness.
- The FA Cup victory over Mansfield last weekend was Newcastle's first win in four League and Cup matches.
C
- laimed one point out of a last possible nine, from a 2-2 home draw with Middlebrough in their last League game.
- Conceded two goals in each of the last four Premiership matches.
- Completed a dozen top flight engagements since a goalless draw (at Portsmouth on 1 October).
- Lost four of the last five away top League matches, including the last two (both 2-0 at Liverpool and Tottenham).
- The 2-4 win at West Ham on 17 December is the Magpies' only maximum and only goals in five games on the road.
- Failed to score in eight of their 11 away League games this term.
- Alan SHEARER is the Premiership's leading scorer of all time with 254 goals.
- The former England skipper is tied with Jackie Milburn on 200 goals for the Tyneside club. (Milburn's club record total consists of 177 League goals and 23 in the FA Cup. It does not include the goal he scored in Newcastle's 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the 1951 FA Charity Shield).
- Nol SOLANO is a one shy of 50 career goals for English clubs (Newcastle and Aston Villa).
- If he figures, Lee CLARK will be facing his former club.
- When he next plays, Scott PARKER will be making his 200th club career appearance (Charlton, Norwich, Chelsea and Newcastle).
|
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
|
Fulham |
Draw |
Newcastle |
| League |
18 |
12 |
17 |
| Premier |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
| HEAD TO HEAD at FULHAM |
| |
Fulham |
Draw |
Newcastle |
| League |
12 |
5 |
6 |
| Premier |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
|