MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 16:18:47| >> :120:14262:14262:
[monks data]
Stoke logo
Premier League
May 3, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Fulham logo

4-1

Odemwingie (39'), Arnautovic (54'), Assaidi (73'), Walters (82')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Stoke City vs. Fulham

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Stoke and Fulham at the Britannia Stadium as the Cottagers try to reignite their survival campaign.

Only time will tell how much Fulham will live to regret the two late goals conceded to Hull City last weekend.

The Whites were 2-0 up with 75 minutes of the action played at Craven Cottage when Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long, three minutes from full time, struck to deny them vital points in their battle against the drop.

Felix Magath's side have still picked up seven points from a possible 12 to stay within one point of safety, but a survival campaign ignited by consecutive wins over Aston Villa and Norwich City is threatening to fall short due to their failure to correct long-standing defensive problems.

Their total of 79 goals conceded is by far the worst in the Premier League and sloppy mistakes at the back have cost them against both Tottenham Hotspur and Hull, recent matches in which they given accomplished performances in all but one area.

It is too late for Magath to make radical changes in personnel, but it remains to be seen whether the German, an experienced escapologist across Europe, sticks with a 3-5-2 formation or reverts to 4-5-1.

Iranian winger Ashkan Dejagah, who scored off the bench against the Tigers to take his tally to four goals in nine games, may be used as an impact substitute again as Fulham set up to frustrate a Stoke side known for keeping the ball under Mark Hughes.

A central midfield three of Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell and Mahamadou Diarra will make up the visiting engine room, allowing Lewis Holtby greater freedom to support lone striker Hugo Rodallega.

Club-record signing Kostas Mitroglou, who cost the Cottagers £12m from Olympiacos in January and has only started once since, is still injured, as are Damien Duff, Dan Burn and Giorgos Karagounis.

Hughes spent one successful year at Fulham before a failed spell at Queens Park Rangers, but he is now rebuilding his managerial reputation at the Potters, who could still achieve some Premier League bests.

They have not finished in the top half in six seasons since their promotion in 2008, and currently sit 10th, while two wins from their final two games will be enough to set a record-high points total.

Ryan Shawcross is suspended after being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham, and joins fellow centre-back Robert Huth, who has not played since November, on the treatment table.

Marc Muniesa could be asked to deputise, with Erik Pieters returning to play at left-back. Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and Oussama Assaidi are all pushing for recalls in the attacking midfield positions.

There will be no Britannia Stadium sendoff for Matthew Etherington, who intends to end his five-year spell with the club in the summer, but is sidelined this weekend with a serious muscle strain.

Fulham could be relegated this weekend, if they lose and both of Norwich and Sunderland are winners.

Recent form

Stoke: LDWLWW

Fulham: DLWWLL

Possible starting lineups

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Wilson, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, N'Zonzi; Arnautovic, Adam, Odemwingie; Crouch

Fulham: Stockdale; Heitinga, Hangeland, Amorebieta; Riether, Diarra, Sidwell, Parker, Riise; Holtby, Rodallega

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:152822: cacheID:152822:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6889:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Felix Magath, Manager of Fulham looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on March 15, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Fulham vs. Hull
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!