Big match facts from BBCSport
FULHAM go into this home match against mid table Manchester City, two places and six points above the danger line, but with a game in hand on their rivals. The Cottagers still have to visit Chelsea and host Everton, as well as trips to Middlesbrough and Blackburn and a home game against Newcastle before finishing the season with a clash against Norwich at Craven Cottage.
- Chris Coleman selects a Fulham Premiership side for the 75th time. The 3-1 victory over Portsmouth in their last home match was the Cottagers' only win in seven League outings. They are still on their lowest ever points return to this stage of a Premier League season.
- Fulham are yet to beat Manchester City in the Premier League - their last three meetings have been drawn. Collins John cancelled out Robbie Fowler's overhead kick in the reverse fixture in August, which ended 1-1. The Cottagers last beat City on 14 August 1998, when they recorded a 3-0 triumph in the third tier at Craven Cottage. They've not enjoyed a top tier victory against them for 39 years, since a 4-1 success by the Thames on 26 November 1966
- Won one of the last six in all competitions.
- Not won in six of the last seven Premiership matches.
- Drawn six Premiership matches this season. Only Liverpool have finished level less often (five games).
Lost 16 games in the highest echelon. Only two clubs have lost more - Norwich (17) and Crystal Palace (18).
- Conceded the opening goal 20 times in top flight matches this term - only Norwich (23) have allowed the opposition to score first more often.
- Lost the lead only four times in top flight games this term. No club has surrendered the advantage less often.
- Third bottom in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with four points from the 18 available.
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Undefeated in seven home games in all competitions.
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Won five and drawn two League and Cup matches at the Cottage since losing by the odd goal in five to Birmingham in the Premiership on 28 December.
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Lost six home highest League duels. Only Crystal
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Palace (eight) and Norwich (seven) have lost more.
Scored 19 home goals in the top table. Only West Brom (14), Crystal Palace (15) and Manchester City (18) have netted on fewer occasions in front of the home faithful.
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Conceded 22 top flight goals at Craven Cottage. Only Norwich (31) and Newcastle (24) have shipped more home goals in the highest division.
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If he plays, Sylvain LEGWINSKI will be making his 150th appearance for Fulham.
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Should he take part, LEGWINSKI will be making his 300th appearance across the European Leagues. He played 135 times for AS Monaco, 49 for Girondins Bordeaux and so far has made 115 League appearances for Fulham).
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Should he figure, Brian McBRIDE will be making his 50th appearance for the Cottagers.
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MANCHESTER CITY are looking to record back to back victories for only the second time this season, having achieved their first maximum under caretaker Stuart Pearce last weekend in his third match in charge, and first at home. Kiki Musampa's spectacular 90th minute volley didn't only dent Liverpool's hopes of finishing fourth, it enhanced the chances of the fans favourite of being given job permanently.
- There's little hinging on this match for City, save a possible place in the top half. They're scored just one more goal than Fulham, yet find themselves five places and seven points better off in the table. At the other end, the Citizens have conceded 15 fewer goals. Should this match finish level, it will be the Mancunains 1,000th League draw.
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City were bidding to go top of the table when they last played away to Fulham. In the end they were fortunate to scrape a 2-2 draw on 20 September 2003, thanks to Paulo Wanchope's equaliser three minutes into injury time.
- Won one of the last four - all Premiership.
- Recorded two wins in nine top flight outings.
- Gone 17 games since achieving back to back victories in the highest League.
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Failed to win seven of the last eight away matches in all competitions.
- If he plays, keeper David JAMES will be making his 50th Premiership appearance for Manchester City.
- If involved from kick off, Paul BOSVELT will be making his 50th Premiership start for the Citizens.
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| OPTA Stats from Premiership games |
| |
Fulham |
Man C |
+/- |
| Games Played |
31 |
32 |
-1 |
| |
| Goal Attempts |
| Goals |
37 |
38 |
-1 |
| Ave Goals per game |
1.19 |
1.19 |
|
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
299 |
346 |
-47 |
| Ave Shots per game |
10 |
11 |
-1 |
| % Shots on Target |
42% |
40% |
|
| % Goals to Shots |
12% |
11% |
|
|
| Passing |
| Short Passes |
7014 |
7712 |
-689 |
| Long Passes |
3203 |
3597 |
-394 |
| Total Passes |
10217 |
11309 |
-1092 |
| Ave Passes per game |
330 |
353 |
-24 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
68% |
72% |
|
|
| Crossing |
| Total Crosses |
610 |
805 |
-195 |
| Ave Crosses per game |
20 |
25 |
-5 |
| Cross Completion % |
27% |
26% |
|
|
| Defending |
| Clean Sheets |
6 |
8 |
-2 |
| Goals Conceded |
51 |
36 |
+15 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
1.65 |
1.13 |
|
| Tackles |
999 |
1014 |
-15 |
| Ave Tackles per game |
32 |
32 |
|
| Tackles Won % |
75% |
74% |
|
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
1454 |
1586 |
-132 |
| Ave Blocks, etc., per game |
47 |
50 |
-3 |
| Discipline |
| Fouls |
442 |
430 |
+12 |
| Yellow Cards |
52 |
39 |
+13 |
| Fouls per Yellow Card |
8.5 |
11.0 |
|
| Red Cards |
5 |
3 |
+2 |
| |
SkySport by James Pearson |
| Top Opta Teams (after 32/33 games) |
| Aspect |
Top Team |
Fulham |
Man City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Scored |
Arsenal |
73 |
14th |
37 |
11th |
38 |
| Shots onTarget |
Arsenal |
199 |
13th |
126 |
8th |
139 |
| Shots Attempted |
Chelsea |
443 |
14th |
299 |
7th |
346 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Passes Made |
Arsenal |
15623 |
16th |
10217 |
9th |
11309 |
| Crosses |
Man Utd |
1038 |
19th |
610 |
4th |
805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Conceded |
Norwich |
63 |
4th |
51 |
14th |
36 |
| Tackles Made |
Charlton |
1149 |
12th |
999 |
11th |
1014 |
| Tackles Won |
Charlton |
821 |
9th |
750 |
8th |
753 |
| Clean Sheets |
Chelsea |
22 |
17th |
6 |
10th |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fouls Conceded |
Blackburn |
553 |
10th |
442 |
15th |
430 |
| Yellow Cards |
Blackburn |
62 |
2nd |
52 |
14th |
40 |
| Fouls per yellow |
Norwich |
17.0 |
20th |
8.5 |
8th |
10.8 |
| Red Cards |
Fulham |
5 |
1st |
5 |
6th |
3 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
| |
Fulham |
Draw |
Man C |
| League |
11 |
9 |
19 |
| Premier |
0 |
3 |
2 |
|
| HEAD TO HEAD at Fulham |
| |
Fulham |
Draw |
Man C |
| League |
8 |
5 |
6 |
| Premier |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fulham year on year Opta Stats comparison
(after 30 games) |
| Aspect |
04/05 |
03/04 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Scored |
14th |
37 |
7th |
42 |
| Shots onTarget |
13th |
126 |
4th |
159 |
| Shots Attempted |
14th |
299 |
9th |
332 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Passes Made |
16th |
10217 |
9th |
11171 |
| Crosses Attempted |
19th |
610 |
19th |
597 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Conceded |
4th |
51 |
11th |
40 |
| Tackles Made |
12th |
999 |
1st |
1063 |
| Tackles Won |
9th |
750 |
1st |
791 |
| Clean Sheets |
17th |
6 |
7th |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fouls Conceded |
10th |
442 |
7th |
463 |
| Yellow Cards |
2nd |
52 |
16th |
57 |
| Fouls per yellow |
20th |
8.5 |
11th |
8.1 |
| Red Cards |
1st |
5 |
11th |
3 |
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