Saturday 18 August 2007

Fulham v Middlesbrough Prediction n Analysis




Player News

Fulham keeper Antti Niemi (wrist) remains sidelined, so Tony Warner continues in goal.
Defender Philippe Christanval has returned to light training but will not be considered and Ian Pearce (ankle) is still sidelined.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is rated as 50-50 with an injured thigh.
Mido is in the squad after a £6m move from Spurs, but Luke Young (thigh) will be out for another week and Fabio Rochemback is still suspended.


Quote

Fulham striker David Healy:
"We were disappointed to lose 2-1 against Arsenal last weekend but won against Bolton in midweek.
"The lads struggled a bit last year but with what they had last year and the new players, there's going to be more then enough to compete in this league.
"We're looking forward to the challenge and there's a big game on Saturday against Middlesbrough and hopefully we can have the same outcome."


Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate:
"What we will have to do is play in a way that suits the personnel that we've got.
"I'm looking at exactly how we want to play at Fulham, in terms of the style we play because we're away from home and we've got certain people missing that bring different things to the team.
"We weren't happy with our performance at Wigan when we lost 1-0 but we've got this game just three days later to try and put things right."


Match Fact

Gareth Southgate's 50th match in charge of Middlesbrough.

The Teessiders have lost their first two matches of a Premier League season for the third time in their history. They last suffered such a fate in 2003, but two years earlier they failed to pick up a point from the first four fixtures.

Victory for Fulham would equal their best start to a Premier League season.


Key Player

FULHAM

David HEALY has scored two of Fulham's three goals so far. One was the quickest in this Premier League season so far, timed at 52 seconds (against Arsenal).
If on the field from the outset:-
Brian McBRIDE will be making his 100th start in a Fulham shirt.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Stewart DOWNING has scored Middlesbrough's only goal so far.
Last season, only YAKUBU and Mark VIDUKA scored more than two Premier League goals for Middlesbrough.

If he plays:-
Robert HUTH will be participating on his 23rd birthday.
Andrew TAYLOR will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for the Teessiders.


Head 2 HEad

Although evenly matched in the Premier League head-to-head standings, Middlesbrough have only taken points off Fulham once in London. They won 0-2 on 25 August 2004, courtesy of goals from Mark Viduka and Szilard Nemeth.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Fulham 21 wins, Middlesbrough 24, Draws 7
Prem: Fulham 5 wins, Middlesbrough 5, Draws 2

at Fulham only
League (inc PL): Fulham 14 wins, Middlesbrough 9, Draws 3
Prem: Fulham 5 wins, Middlesbrough 1, Draws 0



My Prediction

I tipping for Fulham for this match, i think their unlucky lost to Arsenal in the opening match n their grab a win against Bolton.

David Healy is very confidence for this match, i believe he can score tonight.

Middlesbrough side are very weak now, their defence just don't seem strong. i think their will be battling di relegation zone this season.

Asian Handicap
Fulham vs Middlesbrough 1.825 0 : 1/4 2.075
Pick : Fulham

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