Sam Allardyce felt like he'd had his presents taken from under the Christmas tree the last time Blackburn Rovers played in the league and the aggrieved boss can expect no gifts of any sort either from an in-form Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
A two-point haul over the festive period represented slim pickings indeed after Jason Roberts' inexplicable late miss at Sunderland and an equally inconceivable comeback from Manchester City at Ewood Park.
| Team |
Fulham |
Blackburn |
| Games Played |
19 |
20 |
| Goal Attempts |
| Goals |
18 |
22 |
| Ave Goals per game |
0.95 |
1.10 |
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
187 |
183 |
| % Shots on Target |
44% |
41% |
| % Goals to Shots |
10% |
12% |
| Passing |
| Short Passes |
6,643 |
6,142 |
| Long Passes |
1,174 |
1,216 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
75% |
72% |
| Crossing |
| Total Crosses |
432 |
445 |
| Cross Completion % |
24% |
25% |
| Defending |
| Goals Conceded |
14 |
36 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
0.74 |
1.80 |
| Tackles |
427 |
456 |
| Tackles Won % |
71% |
74% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
1237 |
1268 |
| Discipline |
| Fouls |
225 |
294 |
| Yellow Cards |
18 |
40 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
2 |
Allardyce need not wallow too long in the post-Christmas blues though, with an unbeaten start, comprising two wins and two draws, a more than encouraging start to his Ewood Park tenure.
Rovers' new-found resolve will be required if they are to get anything from a venue which is less a cottage and more a fortress. Roy Hodgson's side are unbeaten in a club-record nine league matches - a statistic that only leaders Liverpool can match.
Fulham, the Premier League's draw specialists, have finished all square in six of their last seven league matches and, with Rovers making slow but steady progress, that may be become seven in eight by Saturday evening.
Ryan Nelsen and Andre Ooijer are available again following suspension, but Roque Santa Cruz, who looks increasingly likely to have played his final match in a Rovers shirt, is unlikely to be risked after making slow progress with a calf injury.
Matt Derbyshire and Martin Olsson, two of the 11 changes made by Allardyce for Monday's FA Cup win over Blyth Spartans, are both suffering from illness.
The Cottagers must check on the fitness of Jimmy Bullard and Zoltan Gera before Hodgson is able to finalise his selection. Bullard is struggling with a hip problem, while Gera is carrying a calf complaint.
Prediction: 1-1