Burnley v Fulham - Match Preview
last updated Wednesday 26th February 2003, 6:17 PM
Tough French defender Martin Djetou is ready to put his courage where his mouth is to help Fulham boss Jean Tigana through an injury and fatigue crisis - and hopefully into the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Former Strasbourg and AS Monaco star Djetou, 28, is set to face First Division Burnley in a daunting fifth round replay at Turf Moor - despite being carried off on a stretcher spitting blood in the Premiership clash with Tottenham on Monday.
But Djetou was back in training on Tuesday, travelled north with the squad and is rated a good bet to start the match which will decide who visits outsiders Watford in the last eight.
Tigana, who had Djetou under his command at Monaco and moved in to sign him in the summer when he became available, said: "I don't know if he will be able to play for sure but we are running out of players.
"I will need to assess them all before the match because this will our fourth game in 12 days and I'm worried about the players' condition."
This will be their 48th competitive game of a season which started with an Intertoto Cup tie in early July.
"My concern is that the players are very tired and there could be extra time at Burnley. We played 10 against 11 against Tottenham for a long time and that makes it very difficult. Another big problem is the travelling."
Tigana is also battling personal flu symptoms and travelled separately from the team to avoid passing on the virus .
Source: Sporting Life |
Craven Cottage on
Loftus Road
-
FA Cup 16 Feb 03 |
Burnley |
Fulham |
| Games Played |
31 |
28 |
| HOME |
| Games Won |
8 |
8 |
|
Games Drawn
|
3 |
2 |
| Games Lost |
5 |
4 |
| Goals Scored |
23 |
19 |
| Avg goals scored per game |
1.44 |
1.36 |
| Goals Conceded |
25 |
11 |
| Avg goals conceded per game |
1.56 |
0.79 |
| AWAY |
| Games Won |
4 |
1 |
|
Games Drawn
|
5 |
5 |
| Games Lost |
6 |
8 |
| Goals Scored |
23 |
12 |
| Avg goals scored per game |
1.53 |
0.86 |
| Goals Conceded |
30 |
24 |
| Avg goals conceded per game |
2.00 |
1.71 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
434 |
448 |
| Ave Fouls Per Game |
14 |
16 |
| Yellow Cards |
60 |
48 |
| Fouls per yellow |
7 |
9 |
| Red Cards |
5 |
6 |
|
|
|
Matchday Referee
Philip Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
 Philip Dowd began his refereeing career in the Staffordshire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance before making the step up to the Football League roster back in 1992.
He cut his teeth as a referee's assistant for five years before making the step up in 1997. From there Dowd was introduced to the Barclaycard Premiership roster in 2001.
2002-2003
30-11-2002 Premier Blackburn 2-1 Fulham 3 0
Bookings: Dunn (Blackburn) Finnan, Sean Davis (Fulham)
2001-2002
08-12-2001 Premier Fulham 2-0 Everton 7 2
Bookings: Hayles, Legwinski, Melville, Boa Morte (sent off 78) (Fulham) Pistone, Simonsen, Stubbs, Weir(sent off 77 2nd yel) (Everton)
2000-2001
31-01-2001 Division 1 QPR 0-2 Fulham 1 0
Bookings: Sean Davis (Fulham)
Fulham related comments
This is the Dowd who was at Craven Cottage for the Everton melee and sent Boa off even though he sat out the whole thing, talk about not knowing what he was doing. He also has an aversion to Sean Davis who he has booked twice in three games.
2002/
2003
stats
|
Mr. Dowd's score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
|
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
10 |
|
12 |
|
| Fouls |
299 |
29.90 |
322 |
27.82 |
| Penalties |
1 |
0.10 |
3 |
0.23 |
| Yellows |
29 |
2.90 |
36 |
3.12 |
| Reds |
0 |
0.00 |
2 |
0.19 |
| Fouls per Yellow |
10.3 |
|
8.9 |
|
Ref Dowd is still one of the busiest whistlers albeit 16.5% less than last year. His yellow card rate is below the current Premiership level and is 27% less than last season. You just have to hope he gets the right man.
Burnley are not angels with 5 reds and 60 yellows so far. Gareth Taylor, Arthur Gnohere and Tony Grant are the worst with 6 or more yellows however there are another 3 players with 5 cards ans three with 4 each. |
|
 Burnley manager Stan Ternent admits he gets a surge of boyish enthusiasm when The FA Cup comes around.
The First Division club entertain Fulham with Watford awaiting the winners in the last eight.
Ternent believes the FA Cup game against Fulham carries great significance because of the tradition and history of the competition.
"We have done quite well in cups," said the 56-year-old. "We had a good game against United and one or two others.
Ternent has seen his team lose only once in 11 games and is set to name the side which defeated Derby at the weekend.
He said: "This is a massive game against Fulham and the prize at the end of it is big as well. We have a huge incentive.
"It is possible a First Division side could get to the final. There is a chance and it has happened on quite a few occasions.
"Let's hope it is us. It's the best chance we've had for a long time.
Ternent took in Fulham's 1-1 draw against Tottenham on Monday and was impressed with the way they dug in after having goalkeeper Maik Taylor red-carded.
"They have got a very good side," he said.
"Jean Tigana [Fulham coach] has already said he is taking this game very seriously and that it is more important than the [league] game at Sunderland this weekend.
"They must fancy their chances of getting to the final, but we are ready for them."
Source: Sporting Life
| MATCH BETTING ODDS |
The odds makers think Fulham look vulnerable as they meet Burnley in Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round replay - their fourth game in the space of 11 days and their second within 48 hours.
TV money no doubt helps but this looks a game too far for the Cottagers - especially as they had to play much of Monday's 1-1 Premiership draw with Tottenham with ten men after Maik Taylor's harsh sending off.
And the injuries are starting to pile up with two more added to the list on Monday.
Even manager Jean Tigana is suffering from flu and set out north ahead of his team as a result!
In fairness Fulham's recent form hasn't been bad (two wins and two draws) but their away displays have to be a concern (just one win in the Premiership this term and eight defeats).
Burnley patently aren't one of Nationwide One's stronger teams but they are on a great run of form with just one defeat since Christmas which has taken them into the top half of the table and within seven points of a play-off place.
Best High Street price for a Fulham win is 7/5 with Ladbrokes while 77/50 is available at the Betfair exchange.
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