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West Ham v Fulham - Match Preview
last updated Tuesday 24th December 2002, 3:32 PM
Fulham and West Ham, two sides in miserable form, meet at Upton Park on Boxing Day, hoping that the magic of Christmas will turn their seasons around.
West Ham have still not won a home game in 2002/03 and Fulham have just one away win, back in September, so if there is a winner they will be breaking a bad habit.
West Ham last met Fulham on the 23rd of October and they won 1-0, but have not managed a single victory since, in any competition. Fulham have managed just two wins in the Barclaycard Premiership since then, so they are hardly doing much better.
The main problem for both teams has been the failure to find a consistent goalscorer. The Cottagers have not scored in their last three games and have not managed more than a single goal in a match since beating Liverpool over a month ago.
Jean Tigana said: "It's very hard, but I knew that when we started in the Intertoto Cup. I said the hard time for us would be in November and December because there are so many games and we have no-one to play. That's the problem. We have to keep working and I hope it's possible to get back a few players.
"I had only one striker in my team and in midfield. I have five strikers out as well, so it's difficult." He said that the West Ham match was vital for their season: "It's very, very important for the club and one of the biggest games we have to play."
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| Upton Park - 26 Dec 02
|
West
Ham |
Fulham |
Div
Avg |
| Games Played |
19 |
19 |
19 |
| GOAL ATTEMPTS |
| Goals |
18 |
22 |
23 |
| Ave Goals Per Game |
0.9 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
| Shots (excluding blocked shots) |
230 |
197 |
206 |
| Ave Shots Per Game |
12 |
10 |
11 |
| % Shots On Target |
39% |
46% |
43% |
| % Goals To Shots |
8% |
12% |
11% |
| PASSING |
| Short Passes |
4949 |
5144 |
4877 |
| Long Passes |
2231 |
2413 |
2290 |
| Total Passes |
7180 |
7557 |
7167 |
| Ave Passes Per Game |
378 |
398 |
377 |
| % Overall Pass Completion |
71% |
71% |
73% |
Ave pass completion
per game
|
268 |
282 |
275 |
| CROSSING |
| Total Crosses |
438 |
415 |
434 |
| Ave Crosses Per Game |
23 |
22 |
23 |
| Completion |
29% |
24% |
25% |
Ave cross completion
per game
|
7 |
5 |
6 |
| DEFENDING |
| Goals Conceded |
35 |
25 |
23 |
| Ave Goals Conceded Per Game |
1.8 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
| Tackles |
497 |
621 |
531 |
| Ave Tackles Per Game |
26 |
33 |
28 |
| Tackles Won % |
75% |
74% |
72% |
Ave tackle completion
per game
|
20 |
24 |
20 |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
950 |
786 |
841 |
| Ave Blocks, etc., Per Game |
50 |
41 |
44 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
263 |
280 |
264 |
| Ave Fouls Per Game |
14 |
15 |
14 |
| Yellow Cards |
35 |
35 |
31 |
| Fouls per yellow |
8 |
8 |
9 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
5 |
2 |
| stats from opta |
|
It will be even more important for West Ham and especially under-fire boss Glenn Roeder, especially as his team are looking to become the first to be bottom of the league at Christmas and avoid relegation at the end.
He said: "That is a great motivation for my players to prove everyone wrong," said Roeder. "We are not getting the rub of the green, but I believe we shall finish the season outside the bottom three. We don't know how many points will be needed but we have our own gameplan. There are 19 games to go but we feel confident we can finish out of the bottom three in May."
Source: 4thegame
| MATCH BETTING ODDS |
What odds would you have got at the start of the season on West Ham failing to win at Upton Park before the end of the year?
Well, unless they beat Fulham on Boxing Day that will be their fate. So can the Hammers finally pull one out of the bag? Out-of-form Fulham could be the ideal fall-guys although Jean Tigana's men managed a 2-0 win at Upton Park last season and that was when home wins came easily to the Hammers.
Glenn Roeder will point to West Ham's 1-0 win at Loftus Road earlier in the season as evidence that his team have the beating of Fulham but the matchwinner that day was Paolo di Canio who is still absent with injury. Ian Pearce is doing a gallant job up front with two goals in his last three starts but the very fact he's had to take on striking duties shows what a mess the Hammers are in.
Fulham's situation is only a little better of course and they have lost their last four away from home in all competitions. It is difficult to see a lot of light between the two squads at the moment and a draw may be the most likely result.
|
|
Stats extract shows that the Hammers have the worst defence in the Premiership having conceded 35 goals in all and have not won a home game since the start of the season. In their 10 home games they have scored 8 and conceded 15! Despite a low scoring rate West Ham have the same shots on target rate as The Cottagers. The biggest difference between the two clubs is in tackling, West Ham 25% worse, and in blocking, West Ham 20% busier. Even with injuries Fulham must dominate the midfield to have a chance of repeating their 2-0 win of last season..
Matchday Referee
Dermot Gallagher(Banbuy, Oxon)
 Dermot Gallagher is a Premier League veterans, having established himself on the country's top referee list back in 1992. He made the FIFA roster two years later in 1994. Gallagher is one of the few top referees that actually earns a living through football, albeit at a lower level. The 42-year-old Banbury resident is commercial manager for non-league Thame United.
Gallagher began refereeing in the Banbury Junior League back in 1978 and progressed remarkably quickly through the ranks, becoming a Football League linesman in 1985. Gallagher's career highlight so far was taking charge of the 1996 FA Cup Final - the year he also officiated at the African Cup-Winners Cup final and the Euro '96 tournament.
(Ed. Mr. Gallagher last reffed Fulham during the away defeat at Middlesbrough in February of last season when he booked Legwinski, Saha)
2001/
2002
stats
|
Mr. Gallagher's score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
16 |
|
16 |
|
| Fouls |
429 |
26.81 |
472 |
29.81 |
| Penalties |
1 |
0.06 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Yellows |
40 |
2.50 |
49 |
3.07 |
| Reds |
2 |
0.13 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Fouls per Yellow |
11 |
|
10 |
|
In 7 games so far this season Ref Gallagher is whistling more when he did last year and he is now nearly twice as likely to give a caution. He is the 3rd busiest Ref in the Premiership although he has not given out any reds yet. |
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