It’s time for the Premier League game at Craven Cottage, in week 19, when Fulham host West Ham, on December 26.
With their game against Liverpool postponed in week 18, Fulham’s last game was a 0–0 draw against Sunderland the week before. Fulham’s problem this season has been the avalanche of draws. The draw against Sunderland was Cottagers’ tenth draw in 17 games played, a feat that has seen them plummet to 17th in the table, on the verge of relegation mine.
And while Fulham had the best of exchanges against Steve Bruce’s men, their missed chances hurt them with Dempsey leading the way when his eighth-minute shot found Mignolet between the Sunderland posts equal to the goal-saving task. . Likewise, a cross from Salcido on 55′ could have put the Cottagers ahead, had Dempsey managed to catch up.
Another chance was lost when Bardsley prevented Etuhu’s header from entering the Sunderland net. A Hangeland corner in the 68th minute was another missed opportunity that neither Gera nor Dempsey took advantage of point blank.
The equalizer was all the more regrettable given that the Black Cats were faded on the day and had a shot on the Fulham goal either side of the interval.
West Ham is coming off a 1-1 draw against Blackburn. And Grant will be happy with the result after Junior Stanislas equalized with 12 minutes to go after the Ewood Park side had gone 1-0 up on 51 minutes.
The game was monotonous before the break, but the Hammers put on a better show after the interval. Cole and Stanislas, both coming on as substitutes, had the biggest impact, and the result should earn embattled Grant, rumored to be on the verge of ouster at the helm, a few more games. West Ham are at the bottom of the table and would need to show a lot of character from now on if they are to avoid relegation this season.
Fulham have been tough to beat at home this season, losing just two of nine games hosted. That being said, they have just won two of those games at Craven Cottage, while drawing five. West Ham are yet to win away from home, drawing three and losing five of the eight played away from home.
West Ham win 8-2 in the last 15 league games between the two sides. The last game between the sides was hosted by the Hammers in October, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. But in its current form, that story makes no sense, and West Ham’s lack of a potent attack will be a handicap against arguably the most defensive team this season, Fulham.
Fulham’s starting eleven against Sunderland consisted of Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera and Kamara. Baird and the two Johnsons, Eddie and Andy, were substitutes.
West Ham had the following men in their starting XI against Blackburn: Boffin, Ben-Haim, Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon, Barrera, Parker, Dyer, Spector, Piquionne and Boa Morte. Stanislaus, McCarthy and Cole were used as substitutes.