English Premier
2012-02-01 - Fulham vs West Bromwich Albion
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
Both sides are seeking for back to back wins here when they clash at Craven Cottage as Fulham hosts West Bromwich Albion.
Fulham beat Newcastle 5-2 in their last home match while the WBA left it late to secure a 2-1 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on the same day.
Interestingly, this match will see the return of ex-Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, a man who helped transform the fortunes of the West Londoners during his two-and-a-half years at the club to Craven Cottage.
Hodgson is now with WBA and will aim to build on that success with the Midlanders, who sit a point behind Fulham in the Premier League table and seven points from safety.
Nevertheless, history is with the team playing at home as the visiting side have never come away with the three-point haul in 11 Premier League meetings between the teams. But a draw is a possibility here.
Team News :
Fulham Team News :
Interestingly, Fulham sold striker Bobby Zamora to QPR and replaced him with striker Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Russian has joined the Cottagers on an initial six-month deal from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, Moussa Dembele could make his Fulham return after missing last Friday's FA Cup defeat by Everton after returning to training following a hip injury.
Stephen Kelly could return at right-back ahead of Chris Baird while Andy Johnson is expected to lead the attacking along with Brian Ruiz.
Orlando Sa should also be available for manager Martin Jol after recently recovering from a hamstring injury.
West Bromwich Albion Team News :
Striker Shane Long and winger Jerome Thomas are fitness concerns ahead of this clash. Long is struggling with a back problem but is not certain to miss out while Thomas will undergo a fitness test on an ankle injury which he sustained in the FA Cup against Norwich before kickoff.
Meanwhile, Hodgson has been boosted by the availability of Paul Scharner, Billy Jones and Steven Reid, who have all returned to the side.
However, new Albion defender Liam Ridgewell, who completed his move from Birmingham Cityon transfer deadline day, is ineligible to make his debut against Fulham.
Albion skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle) and fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) remain long-term absentees.
Possible lineups
Fulham : Stockdale, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Dempsey, Sidwell, Murphy, Duff, Zamora, Ruiz
WBA : Foster, Olsson, Tamas, McAuley, Shorey, Thomas, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Morrison, Cox, Fortune
Predictions
Go for WBA to get a draw in this match as both teams share the spoils here.
The Pick :
Fulham 1-1 WBA
BEST BETTING TIP :
Go for the DRAW here.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Get on WBA and accept the 1/2 ball AH for Hodgson to return to Craven Cottage and steal a point here.
