Fulham vs Birmingham City - Match Preview
Mark Hughes, who took over the management of Fulham from current manager of Liverpool, Roy Hodgson, will be looking to improve his team’s dismal form of late. The Cottagers host Birmingham on Saturday and stand on the seventeenth spot, just one short of
relegation. Hughes’ men are quite lucky to have acquired that spot and hang on above Wigan Athletic by only a goal difference (both teams having acquired fourteen points). Current Birmingham City boss, Alex McLeish began managing the Blues in 2007, after he
replaced Steve Bruce in November of that year. At the time, his team inevitably dropped to being relegated, but McLeish soon brought them back to the Premier League within his first full year as in-charge.
Birmingham City sit two above opponents Fulham on the fifteenth spot, with sixteen points. The Blues have won three games this season, as opposed to Fulham’s two. The Cottagers have drawn more matches than Birmingham, a total of eight compared to City’s
seven. Both teams have lost four matches so far this season and conceded a total of seventeen goals. City have the slight advantage though, by scoring one more goal than Fulham’s fourteen this time round in the Premier League.
Fulham may find comfort in the fact that Birmingham have not managed to secure a win against them in the past three matches played at Craven Cottage. The Blues have also proved to make costly mistakes in terms of own goals- they have scored the most out
of any team in the Premier League this season, the upsetting number being three. Birmingham will be pleased to know that their opponents for Saturday have managed to gain only one win from ten of their previous matches in the league. Critics may argue that
City have not fared better, as they have not won any of their last twelve games away from home. In nine out of twelve of the away games, Alex McLeish’s men have conceded at least two goals. Statistics suggest that the defensive problem can be attributed to
the back four as opposed to the goal keeper. The Birmingham City goal keeper, Roger Johnson has managed to block a total of twenty four shots this season, more than any other keeper in the league. Johnson need not be too worried, as Fulham have not directly
threatened a goal this season from any free kick that they have received. Birmingham’s Barry Ferguson is the second player behind Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel to have made the most passes this season, adding up to 914. The Blues have a fondness for long passes,
having made a grand total of 1003 this season, the most out of all the teams in the Premier League so far this year. Alex McLeish’s men have not been successful in ‘firing in the shots’ this season. Birmingham City have managed to shoot only 117 times on target,
the fewest any team has managed to do this season.
The Cottagers suffered a pitiful defeat at the hands of Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City last weekend, the final score being 4-1. The chairman of Craven Cottage, Mr. Mohamed Al Fayed visited his team during training time on Tuesday to express his dissatisfaction
with their lacklustre performance. Mark Hughes was unwavered by the chairman’s arrival, instead made a statement to the press, saying “It’s good they heard his opinion”. He elaborated on the Egyptian businessman’s role in the club, explaining that he watches
nearly every match at Craven Cottage and often “chats” to the players. Mark Hughes pledged to the 77-year-old that his team will not put on the same performance they had against Manchester City.
Birmingham City have only three injury worries to Gardener (out with an ankle injury), McFadden (knee problem) and M Taylor (shoulder problem).
Mark Hughes’ side have Bobby Zamora out with a leg injury. Dembele is sidelined owing to his ankle. All three, Halliche, Senderos and Stoor will not be featuring against City. Andrew Johnson is suffering from a hamstring injury and may not play the match.
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