Most Fulham fans would have been delighted with a pressure-free, safe mid-table finish this season, staying comfortably clear of any relegation dogfights after the dramas of last season’s late escape.
However, Fulham are Fulham, and it again looks like their loyal supporters are in for another campaign going into each game wondering just what side will turn up. Impressive home wins over Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers have been mixed with losses on the road to newly promoted Hull City and West Bromwich Albion, with the only consistent factor in The Cottagers’ season so far being inconsistency itself.
Indeed recent results have been concerning for the Craven Cottage faithful, and a defeat tomorrow will be their fourth in succession in the Premier League, which would be their worst run since Roy Hodgson’s appointment in West London. Coupled with a recent Carling Cup exit, defeat will not be warmly received tomorrow, particularly given the new faces that arrived at the club during the summer months.
Sunderland picked up a comprehensive 3-1 win in the corresponding fixture last season, although Fulham have the historical advantage in Premier League football, having won 4 matches to the Black Cats’ 2, with two draws.
All three results are certainly possible tomorrow and a hard-earned victory would be crucial for Fulham and their fans, who could then rest easy, at least for another seven days.
Not Got Going
Like at Fulham, optimism was high at the Stadium of Light after a summer which saw manager Roy Keane add a number of experienced Premier League players to the club’s ranks.
But since the opening day 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, a result inspired by a late Fernando Torres goal, which seemed to take the wind out of Sunderland’s sails before the season was properly underway, the Black Cats have been unable to get themselves going, and find themselves in the lower reaches of what is, admittedly, an incredibly close early season Premier League table.
Form has picked up recently with a win over Middlesbrough and a home draw with Arsenal, which would have been a win if it hadn’t been for a last gasp Cesc Fabregas leveller, but those improvements from recent games will count for nothing if the Mackems are unable to beat the teams around them in the table.
Both sides will be desperate for a victory to catapult them towards the top ten, where fans of both outfits want to be at the end of the season. Keane admitted a win was crucial at his pre-match press conference, but did not underestimate the size of the task his team have in front of them.
"They will be desperate for a win but so are we,” he said.
"A lot of clubs, when they see Sunderland come to town, think they have a good chance of getting three points. We're trying to change that mentality, to make teams see us as a serious threat.”
Keane continued: "We're in for a tough game, but we'll have three or four thousand of our own supporters there and I think it will be a cracking game, we're confident against most teams now."
Sunderland have players with the experience and quality to deliver impressive results in the Premier League, but as yet it remains to be seen if they can actually go on to do it, especially on a regular basis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Fulham – Zoltan Gera
Despite their poor form, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has been extremely consistent with his team selection this season with 8 players having played in every Premier League game so far. One of those is Zoltan Gera; a player who has the ability to pull the strings from behind the strikers and create an opening for his side in what should be a tight, competitive encounter.
Sunderland – Djibril Cisse
In a game where the odd goal could be crucial, the onus will be on the forwards of both sides to take any chances that may be forthcoming and in Djibril Cisse Sunderland have a player who, on his day, is capable of scoring goals for fun. With two Premier League goals to his name already this season, the Frenchman will be eyeing another at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
FORM GUIDE
Fulham
October 4 v West Bromwich Albion (A) LOST 1-0
September 27 v West Ham United (H) LOST 2-1
September 23 v Burnley (A) LOST 1-0 [League Cup]
September 20 v Blackburn Rovers (A) LOST 1-0
September 13 v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 2-1
Sunderland
October 4 v Arsenal (H) DREW 1-1
September 27 v Aston Villa (A) LOST 2-1
September 23 v Northampton (H) DREW 2-2 (Won on penalties) [League Cup]
September 20 v Sunderland (H) WON 2-0
September 13 v Wigan Athletic (A) DREW 1-1
TEAM NEWS
Fulham
Fulham forward Andrew Johnson returns from his suspension and is expected to take to the field on Saturday. Midfielder Andranik Teymourian is a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, but other than that it looks like a clean bill of health for club boss Roy Hodgson.
Sunderland
Sunderland’s Trinidad & Tobago internationals Dwight Yorke and Kenwyne Jones are both out of action for the visitors. First-team regular Nyron Nosworthy is also out with a hamstring problem, but El-Hadji Diouf is fit and will start his 150th Premier League game if selected by manager Roy Keane.
MATCHDAY SQUADS
Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Bullard, Hughes, Hangeland, Davies, Murphy, Gera, Zamora, Johnson, Seol, Zuberbuhler, Konchesky, Nevland, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird, Stoor, Gray.
Sunderland (from): Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Whitehead, Miller, Reid, Fulop, Richardson, Malbranque, Tainio, Henderson, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Diouf, Chopra.
PREVIOUS STARTING LINE-UPS
Fulham (0-1 Away V West Brom): Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Gera, Dempsey, Zamora.
Sunderland (1-1 Home V Arsenal): Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Yorke, Reid, Richardson, Cisse.
PREDICTION
Fulham and Sunderland have a lot in common, they don’t tend to score many goals and they are inconsistent sides, capable of either outstanding or terrible performances on any given day.
Home advantage is an important factor to consider, the Cottagers are strong at home, and traditionally, the Mackems are not superb on their travels. However, Keane has produced a side who are making significant steps forward and have perhaps been unlucky not to pick up more points than they have done so far in this campaign.
All three results are certainly possible tomorrow; with both teams desperate to win but also determined not to lose. As a result I am predicting a cagey, tense affair that may end up with the two team’s settling for a share of the spoils.
Fulham 1-1 Sunderland
