Big match facts from BBCSport
FULHAM head for the north east aiming to end a run of four consecutive away League defeats.
- Chris Coleman's side have only collected maximum points once in nearly three months, and have been hovering just above the danger line. They have a seven point cushion, but still have to go to Chelsea, host Everton and Newcastle, visit Blackburn and end with what might be a vital against Norwich at Craven Cottage.
- Joseph-Desire Job marked his return to league action after a serious knee injury by scoring the opener in last season's corresponding fixture. Szilard Nemeth doubled the advantage from close range and Barry Hayles grabbed a last-minute consolation.
-
Fulham have not recorded a maximum on Teesside since the 0-2 triumph in the old Second Division on 24 March 1984. Since then they've lost five and drawn one of their six subsequent visits.
- Not won in seven of the last eight Premiership matches.
Drawn seven top League matches this season. Only Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea have finished level less often (six games each).
- Lost 16 games in the highest echelon. Only two clubs have lost more - Norwich (17) and Crystal Palace (18).
Conceded the opening goal 21 times in top flight matches this term - only Norwich (24) 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.
- Lost the last five League and Cup games away from home, against Liverpool (3-1 PL), Bolton (1-0 FAC), Tottenham (2-0 PL), Manchester United (1-0 PL) and Bolton (3-1 PL).
- Drawn one and lost five away from home in all competitions, since beating Birmingham 1-2 at St Andrews on 22 January.
- Won only one of the last eight Premiership games on the road.
- Managed only one clean sheet in Premiership matches away from Craven Cottage (at Norwich).
- Luis BOA MORTE has scored in each of Fulham's last three games.
- If he plays, Sylvain LEGWINSKI will be making his 150th appearance for Fulham.
- 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.
MIDDLESBROUGH and Fulham are two sides with patchy form, and who have never met outside the League.
- One win in six League outings, and three defeats in four, has seen the Teessiders all but drop out of the race for Champions League football. Now they need points to ensure they do not miss out on a second successive season in the Uefa Cup.
- Mark Viduka made a dream debut for the Middlesbrough when these sides met at Craven cottage in August. The Australia striker broke the deadlock, and substitute Szilard Nemeth added a late second as Fulham failed to put up much resistance. Boro are now on course to do the 'double over Fulham for the seventh time in their history, but first time in the top division.
- Recorded two wins in 12 top flight outings.
- Lost five of the last six League and Cup games.
- Holding the fourth highest scoring average in the Premiership - one goal every 64 minutes.
- Scored only once in the first 15 minutes of Premiership games this season, but netted more than any other club (14) in the first quarter-hour of the second half.
- Gone 12 Premiership games since last won by more than a single goal.
- Lost the last three League and Cup games at the Riverside.
Won only one of the last six home Premiership matches.
- Szilard NEMETH has scored in each of Middlesbrough's last three Premiership matches against Fulham.
- If on the field at kick off, Stewart DOWNING will be making his 50th start in a Middlesbrough shirt.
If he plays, Mark CROSSLEY will be facing his former club.
|
|
| OPTA Stats from Premiership games |
| |
Boro |
Fulham |
+/- |
| Games Played |
32 |
32 |
|
| |
| Goal Attempts |
| Goals |
45 |
38 |
-7 |
| Ave Goals per game |
1.41 |
1.19 |
|
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
347 |
307 |
-40 |
| Ave Shots per game |
11 |
10 |
-1 |
| % Shots on Target |
47% |
42% |
|
| % Goals to Shots |
13% |
12% |
|
|
| Passing |
| Short Passes |
8278 |
7223 |
-1055 |
| Long Passes |
3825 |
3305 |
-520 |
| Total Passes |
12103 |
10,528 |
-1575 |
| Ave Passes per game |
378 |
329 |
-49 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
74% |
68% |
|
|
| Crossing |
| Total Crosses |
759 |
641 |
-118 |
| Ave Crosses per game |
24 |
20 |
-4 |
| Cross Completion % |
22% |
28% |
|
|
| Defending |
| Clean Sheets |
8 |
6 |
-2 |
| Goals Conceded |
43 |
52 |
+9 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
1.34 |
1.63 |
|
| Tackles |
1032 |
1024 |
-8 |
| Ave Tackles per game |
32 |
32 |
|
| Tackles Won % |
71% |
75% |
|
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
1475 |
1486 |
+11 |
| Avg Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
46 |
46 |
|
| Discipline |
| Fouls |
430 |
452 |
+22 |
| Yellow Cards |
39 |
52 |
+13 |
| Fouls per Yellow Card |
11.0 |
8.7 |
|
| Red Cards |
2 |
5 |
+3 |
| |
 SkySport by Graeme Bailey |
| Top Opta Teams (after 32 games) |
| Aspect |
Top Team |
Boro |
Fulham |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Scored |
Arsenal |
73 |
5th |
45 |
13th |
38 |
| Shots onTarget |
Arsenal |
199 |
4th |
164 |
12th |
128 |
| Shots Attempted |
Chelsea |
443 |
7th |
347 |
13th |
307 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Passes Made |
Arsenal |
15623 |
6th |
12103 |
16th |
10528 |
| Crosses |
Man Utd |
1038 |
10th |
759 |
18th |
641 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Conceded |
Norwich |
63 |
4th |
51 |
14th |
36 |
| Tackles Made |
Charlton |
1180 |
10th |
1032 |
11th |
1024 |
| Tackles Won |
Charlton |
847 |
11th |
732 |
9th |
765 |
| Clean Sheets |
Chelsea |
22 |
10th |
8 |
17th |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fouls Conceded |
A. Villa |
556 |
18th |
430 |
9th |
452 |
| Yellow Cards |
Blackburn |
62 |
12th |
41 |
3rd |
52 |
| Fouls per yellow |
Norwich |
16.7 |
10th |
10.5 |
19th |
8.7 |
| Red Cards |
W.B.A. |
5 |
10th |
2 |
2nd |
5 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
| |
Boro |
Draw |
Fulham |
| League |
22 |
6 |
19 |
| Premier |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
| HEAD TO HEAD at Boro |
| |
Boro |
Draw |
Fulham |
| League |
13 |
3 |
7 |
| Premier |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Fulham year on year Opta Stats comparison
(after 32 games) |
| Aspect |
04/05 |
03/04 |
|
| Goals Scored |
13th |
38 |
7th |
44 |
| Shots onTarget |
12th |
128 |
6th |
162 |
| Shots Attempted |
13th |
307 |
10th |
340 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Passes Made |
16th |
10528 |
9th |
11454 |
| Crosses Attempted |
18th |
641 |
19th |
614 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Goals Conceded |
14th |
36 |
10th |
40 |
| Tackles Made |
11th |
1024 |
1st |
1087 |
| Tackles Won |
9th |
765 |
1st |
808 |
| Clean Sheets |
17th |
6 |
5th |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fouls Conceded |
9th |
452 |
7th |
483 |
| Yellow Cards |
3rd |
52 |
3rd |
58 |
| Fouls per yellow |
19th |
8.7 |
11th |
8.3 |
| Red Cards |
2nd |
5 |
11th |
3 |
|