 Fulham,
in the big Sunday evening game, are pitted against former first division
colleagues West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
They may be a division below their opponents but the Baggies will expect
to at least give their wealthy rivals a run for their money as they bid
to take another step towards a sixth FA Cup trophy in the club's history.
Fulham will have to put the disappointment of Wednesday night's derby defeat
to Chelsea behind them. Despite restoring parity twice in the game the Cottagers
eventually went down 3-2, with manager Jean Tigana despairing of the result.
"I think we deserved a point. We had many chances - but I am used to
us missing! It is not the first time it has happened like that this season.
We have nothing and that is the most important thing", said the Frenchman
after the match.
Indeed with Fulham having failed to convert a depressing 91% of their chances
in the league this term it is no wonder that Tigana comes to expect it these
days.
A possible silver lining to the defeat by chelsea is that both the Fulham
goals were gained by last season's top goal scorer Louis Saha.
|
The Hawthorns
10th March 2002 |
WBA |
Fulham |
| Games |
38 |
29 |
| ATTACKING |
| Goals
scored - total |
45 |
29 |
| Ave
goals per game |
1.18 |
1.00 |
| Goals
scored - home/away |
26 |
11 |
| Ave
goals per home/away game |
1.37 |
0.73 |
| DEFENDING |
| Goals
conceded - total |
26 |
34 |
| Ave
goals conceded per game |
0.68 |
1.17 |
| Goals
conceded - home/away |
8 |
21 |
| Ave
goals conceded per game |
0.42 |
1.50 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls
|
584 |
421 |
| Yellow
cards |
47 |
40 |
| Red
cards |
3 |
1 |
|
Matchday Referee:NEALE BARRY,
Roxby, North Lincolnshire .
Neale Barry has officiated at a game involving Fulham just
the once this season. It was at White Hart Lane and Fulham
lost 4-0 to Spurs.
Unfortunately for Mr Barry he did not endear himself to the
Fulham faithful. Steed Malbranque fouled a Spurs player and
Ref Barry decided that someone needed a yellow card so he
discussed the matter with his Lines person. After their discussion
they agreed that the person to caution was Louis Saha! Fortunately
for Louis Saha the F.A. stepped in to rectify the situation
and gave the card to Steed Malbranque.
| Ref's
score sheet |
|
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
24 |
|
| Yellow
cards |
55 |
2.3 |
| Red
Cards |
2 |
0.1 |
|
|
|
 West
Brom hope to be playing the likes of Chelsea on a regular basis themselves
next term. The Midlanders are currently well in the hunt in 3rd place in
Division One, although recent results, including a hard-fought 1-1 draw
with Watford at home last time out, have reminded them to leave their chickens
uncounted until at least a play-off place is fully secured.
Much-travelled striker Danny Dichio has started to come good for Gary Megson's
side of late. Four goals in his first 17 matches for Albion led fans to
question whether the manager was right to fork out £1.25m for the
Sunderland man, but a further four in his last five games has gone some
way to allaying their fears.
While other first division sides, most notably Manchester City, have continued
to splash the cash in a bid to reach the top flight, West Brom haven't spend
so much as a penny since Dichio's arrival in November. A number of audacious
loan bids have been made - the most recent a failed attempt to land out-of-favour
Spurs striker Sergei Rebrov, the most cheeky an stab at getting fans' favourite
Lee Hughes back from Coventry for the rest of the season. Megson is always
on the lookout - in his own words: "All we can do is keep making the
calls and keep our fingers crossed."
Fulham of course seem to have money to burn, but even with the Al Fayed
millions behind them they have failed to turn rumour into reality in the
transfer market since Steve Marlet's £11.5m arrival last August. However,
the summer did see the arrival of a number of new faces, five of whom now
feature regularly in the first team. These new players have helped Fulham
make the step up to being a Premiership side, which could prove the difference
between the two teams this weekend.
|
Source Planet football by Chris Green