Manchester City v Fulham
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 4 February 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV

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Manchester City

Roberto Mancini made a startling admission on Tuesday evening when stating that he had not prepared his side well enough for the obvious battle they were going to have at Goodison Park against Everton. For a top flight manager to admit this is strange to say the least as Manchester City are having a slight wobble after a fault free start to the first half of the seasons.

City are still top of the Premier League, but they now only hold a goal difference advantage over Manchester United and are 5 points clear of 3rd placed Tottenham Hotspur in what looks a three-horse title battle. It is at the Etihad Stadium that they have looked most comfortable in the League, winning all 11 games played there while scoring 34 goals and conceding just 6.

The last month has been uncomfortable for City as they have exited both the Carling and FA Cups, while also losing their lead at the top of the table. It is telling that they have won just 2 of their last 6 games in all competitions, although they had won 3 straight Premier League games before the defeat to Everton last time out. The team were fortunate to beat Spurs 3-2 here in their last home game, but they had lost their previous 2 games, both in Cup competitions, and will look to bounce back to form.

Mario Balotelli remains suspended, while the Toure brothers are both still with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. Mancini has an otherwise full squad to choose from for this game.

Fulham

Martin Jol has rubber-stamped his mark on this Fulham team and begun to make it his own after allowing Bobby Zamora to move on in the January transfer window and the Dutchman will be judged on his results after that move. This looks like a transitional season for the Cottagers as they try to get used to new ideas being filtered to them from the manager.

Fulham are 13th in the Premier League table and will still have ambitions of finishing in the top half of the table this season. They have gained 27 points so far, giving them an 8 point buffer to those sides in the relegation zone, and fans will be looking up the table rather than down below. They have struggled away from home where they are 1-5-5, scoring just 7 goals and conceding 14.

The Cottagers have won just 1 of their last 4 games in all competitions and exited the FA Cup at Everton last weekend. Fulham have not won in 8 away games in all competitions, but they have been hard to predict on their travels. That can be seen from the fact that they have earned draws at Arsenal and Chelsea, but been beaten comfortably at Blackburn Rovers and Swansea.

Steve Sidwell was injured on Wednesday night and has been ruled out of this game. Andrew Johnson is also out, but Moussa Dembele should be back from injury and Pavel Pogrebnyak will be hoping to make his debut.

Head to Head

Manchester City have just lost at a 'bogey' team, and now they will face another who recovered from 0-2 down earlier this season to draw 2-2 at Craven Cottage.

City actually have a decent enough record when they have visited Fulham in recent seasons, but have struggled when they have hosted the West London club.

City have failed to win any of their last 4 home games in the Premier League against Fulham, and actually have just 1 win from 7 League games against them at home.

Prediction

After hearing what Roberto Mancini said following the defeat to Everton, I fully expect Manchester City to come out with something to prove in this game and to put down a statement to Manchester United who will not be playing until Sunday afternoon.

The absence of Yaya Toure has been a big blow for City, but they have enough quality in the side that they should be able to cover that issue for a few weeks, and I think they have been a little unfortunate in a couple of games where the results have not quite gone for them.

Fulham should provide a stern test, but I think they may find it difficult here as they get used to life without their talismanic forward, Bobby Zamora and I think they could struggle to contain City who have a point to prove.

With that in mind, I am going to take City to break their bad run against Fulham at home with a bit to spare and take them on the handicap to do so.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Manchester City 3-1 Fulham

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Manchester City - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.20 (Paddy Power)