English Premier
2012-02-04 - Manchester City vs Fulham
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
Manchester City have the chance to go three points clear at the top when they take on Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and hope that Chelsea can do them a favour on Super Sunday to at least take a point from United.
Manchester City will want to bounce back after their 1-0 defeat to Everton in midweek meant that the title race is wide open after it allowed Man United to draw level at the top of the table following their win against Stoke.
Roberto Mancini knows he has only the Premier League to fight for in England after exits in the FA Cup and Carling Cup, so a win here is a must and they must keep winning to relieve the pressure on themselves and put it back on United and third-placed Tottenham, who are slowly coming into the title race.
Their last home match was full of dramas as City needed a last-gasp penalty from Mario Balotelli to clinch a 3-2 win over Tottenham and maintain their record of winning every home game in the Premier League this season.
Manchester City will now be looking to prolong their 100% home record to 12 games on Saturday, but Fulham can cause problems here.
It was Fulham who ended City's winning start to the season at Craven Cottage in September, when Martin Jol's men came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. For the record, the Blues have failed to win in their last four league games at home to Fulham, with Fulham winning in both 2007/08 and 2008/09.
Meanwhile, Fulham have also gone out of the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at Everton, and they sold England international Bobby Zamora to QPR on deadline day so they will be short of options upfront.
However, Clint Dempsey has been in good form, scoring seven goals in the last five games, and an unlikely win here can take Fulham into the top half of the Premiership.
Team News :
Manchester City Team News :
The hosts will be without Yaya and Kolo Toure, who have helped Ivory Coast into the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals, where they face Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.
The Blues are still without suspended striker Mario Balotelli, but midfielder David Pizarro comes into contention after signing on loan from Roma on deadline day.
Captain Vincent Kompany and fellow defender Micah Richards are expected to overcome minor knocks to feature.
Fulham Team News :
Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and forward Moussa Dembele are available again for Fulham. Schwarzer has recovered from a spine injury sustained in mid-December while Dembele is fit to return after recovery from a hip injury.
Andrew Johnson (groin) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) both miss out, while Pavel Pogrebnyak will miss out as he is awaiting his International Clearance to arrive.
Possible lineups
Manchester City : Hart, Richards, Kompany , Lescott, Clichy, Johnson, Barry, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko.
Fulham Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Davies, Murphy, Dempsey, Duff, Dembele, Ruiz.
Predictions
Putting aside the rather freaky head-to-head record, everything else seems to point to the home side taking the points.
Go for Manchester City to keep their 100% record and beat Fulham here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 2-0 Fulham
BEST BETTING TIP :
Go for Manchester City to win here.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Main Bet :
Get on Manchester City to win and clear the -1 1/2 ball handicap with Pinnacle Sport at 1.88 and maintain their 100% home record.
Get on Manchester City to win and clear the -1 1/2 ball handicap with Pinnacle Sport at 1.88 and maintain their 100% home record.
