Aston Villa travel to Craven Cottage after a trip to Saint Mary’s where Aston Villa took all 3 points in an unlikely fashion. Villa scored three goals from three shots on target and won the game despite only having 27% of ball possession. Will it be a similar story against Fulham? That might be unlikely, with two key defenders suffering injuries, Vlaar and Luna. Lambert will likely revert back to a back 4. What will likely stay the same is the forward partnership of Agbonlahor and Kozak, both strikers scored against Southampton and that will leave out-of-form forward Benteke on the bench.
Fulham suffered another defeat on Wednesday but new manager Rene Meulensteen will be encouraged by Fulham’s performance against Tottenham in their 2-1 defeat. Melensteen will be searching for his first victory as Fulham boss against Aston Villa.
Team News:
Fulham are hoping that centre-back Brede Hangeland will be fit enough to return to the first team. The defender has missed the last seven fixtures with a sciatic nerve problem. Darren Bent can not face his parent club, Aston Villa.
Paul Lambert may be without key defender Ron Vlaar and Antonio Luna. Both defenders suffered injuries during the Wednesday game against Southampton.
Match Facts:
Fulham have won just one of the last eight Barclays Premier League games against Aston Villa (W1 D4 L)
Villa are unbeaten in their last five Barclays Premier League games; only Everton (7) are currently on a longer run.
There have been just four goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between Fulham and Aston Villa.
Fulham have trailed in 11 games this season, more than any other side. They have lost 10 of these matches (W1).
In midweek Dimitar Berbatov assisted a Premier League goal for the first time in over a year (since November 10th 2012)
American ‘keeper Brad Guzan has made 45 catches, 18 more than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League this season
Predicted Lineups:
Stekelenburg
Reither-Senderos-Hughes-Risse
Dejagah-Sidwell-Parker-Kacaniklic
Kasami
Berbatov
Agbonlahor-Kozak
Tonev
Delph-Westw00d-El Ahmadi
Luna-Baker-Clark-Bacuna
Guzan
Match Prediction:
Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa
I reckon it’ll be a draw this week, Aston Villa pulled off a fantastic win against Southampton but can Lambert do it again? I don’t think we can play the same tactics against Fulham simply because their aren’t as strong as Southampton. Villa will go for it this weekend but I reckon Fulham will get something from this game, simply because theres a new manager in charge.
I wonder if we’ll see Andi start behind the two strikers?
if vlaar misses out I think a change of formation will be needed a 442 ~ I like 2 see lowton back in thou as full/wing back, bacuna deserves a crack on the wing with tonev on the otherside and feed kovak and benteke 🙂
I reckon Benteke will be straight back in, if he’s deemed fit.
I don’t know why.
And I don’t see us going for it either.
Indeed, I don’t believe we ever do, regardless of what Lambert says.
Prediction?
Draw, 1-1
I agree with Nath…Lowton RB with Bacuna ahead of him…more solid down that side. Bacuna was constantly out of position against the Saints.
So, 19 points from 14 games is pretty good IMO given the opposition we have faced. Replicating that in the next 14 games will leave us virtually safe on 38 points with still 10 games left to push on. Significant progress could therefore be made. Then its down to Randy to loosen the purse strings in the summer.
I think if we show progress this season Lerner will splash a bit of cash, but not till the summer.
I am also liking the more positive attitude everyone seems to be showing
I was thinking the same, the reason why we are spending little now is because there saving up money for one-season where Villa really push on.
In January we might see one player come in and perhaps one defender on-loan if any one sustains any injuries
0-7 THE VILLA get in there.fulham are shite.UTV
Sober up Giddy 🙂
Come on giddy that’s a stupid prediction 10.0 villa lol
Not a chance.SOTC
SOTC,SOTB We know what we are
I reckon we will do em fuckin smash em at craven 2-0 Villa
Realistically, I’m thinking we may see Bacuna at LB and the return of Lowton at RB, maybe even Sylla for El Ahmadi. Is Herd still at the club? Lambert mentioned he was planning to use everyone this month. So who knows, if we are lucky maybe we will see an appearance from the mysterious Helenius?
Predictions – I expect a scrappy game with a lot of tired legs for both sides, nevertheless 2-1 Villa.
id really like to see us win here, its a game we should win as Fulham have been god awful this season.
going against us we’ve got vlarr and luna possibly missing out and Fulham with a new manager, they looked much better against spurs mid week.
going for us is the fact that they are poor at the back, ive read hangeland is defo out too, also at home they will, and the fans will expect them to take the game to us and go for there 1st win in 8 and they will look at it as a game they can win which may play straight into our hands, if we get the 1st goal they may crumble.
think we should defo go 4 at the back, Keep It Simple Stupid, wing backs and 3 CB’s is a difficult formation to play and if were missing a couple of 1st choice defenders in vlarr and luna then its not advisable.
would like to see benteke come on and score, once he gets one he’ll get more, so score, Christian score!
Berbatov looks disinterested atm so he’s no threat.like you say NM they have a dodgy defence which we should exploit,3pts happy days.utv
Berbatov’s a class act Giddy, I think you underestimate him at your peril.
Berbatov is a luxury player on his day he’s as good as anyone but more often than not he dosnt give a toss.
Could say the same about Brian Little mate.
Berbatov’s agent also claimed Berbatov’s unhappy at Fulham, so he probably couldn’t care less what happens against Villa.
yeah, I meant to mention berbatov upsetting the apple cart and his agent saying he wants out of Fulham, the actions of a total tosser, no team spirit there eh?
Tosser sums him up nicely mate.utv
I feel this game is a trickier proposition than the Southampton game, Fulham have better players, are better technically (imo) and this new manager supposed to come highly rated (you can’t be a mug to be Fergy’s no 2) plus new manager syndrome.
I still think we’ll get a draw out of it, 1-1.
Sidwell,hughes come on bws do they come under the category of better players ffs.lol
Better than Southampton yes.
Then the league table is bollox.
Giddy I’ve really missed your deep and meaningful insight.
Lol mate.
Fair play mate, still predicting 7-0?
Nah bws that was the piss talking 1-3 villa,& before you state it im not pissed atm.lol
Ps may i add as the day progresses that prediction may change mate.
I’m fairly confident we won’t get beaten, hope for the best.
Strongly recommend the Coat and Badge Putney for a pre-match pie and pint, that’s where I’ll be mulling over the team news no doubt.
If vlaar plays tomorrow we will win 2.0 if he dosnt I’m going for 3.2 to us.