English Premier
2011-09-11 - Fulham vs Blackburn
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
While Fulham are trying to register their first win of the season, the visitors Blackburn are trying to register their first point of the season.
After starting the opening day with a draw, Fulham have suffered back to back defeats and are now sitting in the bottom half of the standings. The one point collected from three games meant that they have equalled the club's previous worst start to a Premier League campaign in 2005/06.
To date Fulham have scored just once in the league so far this season, and Clint Dempsey's late goal at Newcastle last time out proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
But Fulham will hope that the American can continue his good form against Blackburn with the American American having scored three goals in his last four appearances against Blackburn.
The Cottagers will also fancy their chances now that they are back on home turf, having lost only one of their last 10 top-flight fixtures at Craven Cottage.
Blackburn will be hoping to leave London with three points this weekend, but even a draw would be a welcome relief for Steve Kean. To date they have yet to pick up a point this season, with Wolves, Everton and Aston Villa having taken maximum points off them.
For the record, Rovers have not lost four Premier League games in a row since December 2008 when Paul Ince was in charge of the side then.
Interestingly, this is the first time since 1947/48 that they have lost their opening three games of a top-flight campaign and they will be keen to bounce back.
Team News :
Fulham is expected to hand their debut to Bryan Ruiz who was their transfer deadline big money spending arrival. Much has been said of the Costa Rica international and he is expected to go straight into the thick of action.
Bobby Zamora is also pushing for a starting spot after recovering from a knock, but Simon Davies is sidelined with a knee problem. But certainly out will be John Arne Riise and his brother Bjorn Helge Riise who are nursing groin and hamstring injuries respectively.
Meanwhile Zdenek Grygera will be hoping to make his first appearance for the home side after his move from Juventus.
Blackburn also added players on the last day of the transfer signing and they will hope to feature Yakubu and Scott Dann for their debuts. Dann will slip in at centre-half alongside Chris Samba, providing cover for the continued absence of Ryan Nelsen.
Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn are out with hamstring injuries but Simon Vukcevic is in line to start.
Possible lineups
Fulham : Schwarzer, Grygera, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird, Dempsey, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff, Ruiz, Dembele.
Blackburn : Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Dann, Givet, Hoilett, N'Zonzi, Petrovic, Vukcevic, Robert, Yakubu.
Prediction :
Take Fulham to win and give the 3/4 ball here and this will add pressure to Steve Kean and we could see the first manager casualty very soon.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Fulham 2-1 Blackburn
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Fulham to win
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Main Bet :
Take Fulham and give the 3/4 ball.
Take Fulham and give the 3/4 ball.
