Premier League Preview - Fulham Vs Sunderland
It's Premier League match time at Craven Cottage on Saturday, December 11, as Fulham get set to host Sunderland in match week 17.
Fulham are coming off a hard fought 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates, in match week 16.
Barring the brilliance of Nasri in Arsenal's forward line, Fulham could have won the game.
Their left back Briggs was simply unable to cope with Nasri and manager Mark Hughes took Briggs off after the first third.
Dempsey and Kamara were brilliant in Fulham's forward line and combined to score the equaliser on the half-hour after Nasri had put the Gunners ahead on 14 minutes.
There were several missed opportunities for the Cottagers, not least by Kamara who cut the Arsenal defence in two, just before half-time, only to see Fabianski bringing off a good save.
Another great chance was lost on 78 minutes when Etuhu shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
Sunderland beat West Ham 1-0 in match week 16, and the win propelled them into seventh place in the table.
Henderson gave the Black Cats the lead on 34 minutes and that was enough for Sunderland to bank full points.
Steve Bruce opted for an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, allowing for three strikers, Gyan, Wellbeck and Bent, to operate in tandem.
The move paid off as West Ham's defence was caught on the wrong foot.
The Black Cats took control of midfield and did not allow Scott Parker to dominate.
Cattermole and Onuoha were brilliant and set up the Gyan pass to Henderson that gave them the winning goal.
Gyan continues to underscore why he is crucial to sunderland's fortunes this season.
This was a cohesive performance by Bruce's men, where Mensah and Ferdinand were rock solid in the back line.
While Sunderland have jumped to seventh in the table and could bid for a Europa League qualification this season, Fulham are on the edge of the the relgation mine, at 17th.
Head to head, the sides have met 12 times in the Premiership, with Fulham winning 5, Sunderland winning 3 and 4 games ending without result.
Incidentally, 4 of those wins for Fulham have come at Craven Cottage with Sunderland winning one of the six games played at the venue, with the remaining game drawn.
The last game between the sides in February 2010 was hosted by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and ended in a goalless stalemate.
Fulham have been tough to beat at home this season, losing just 2 of 8 games hosted.
That said, they have just won 2 of those games at Craven Cottage, while drawing 4.
Sunderland have not had the best away record, losing 3 of 8 games on the road while drawing 4 and winning just the one.
Fulham had the following men in their starting eleven against Arsenal: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera and Kamara.
The following players featured as substitutes: Andy Jonhson, Baird and Eddie Johnson.
Sunderland's starting eleven against West Ham comprised Gordon, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Wellbeck, Bent and Gyan.
The substitutes were Malbranque, Zenden and Elmohamady.
Fulham are coming off a hard fought 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates, in match week 16.
Barring the brilliance of Nasri in Arsenal's forward line, Fulham could have won the game.
Their left back Briggs was simply unable to cope with Nasri and manager Mark Hughes took Briggs off after the first third.
Dempsey and Kamara were brilliant in Fulham's forward line and combined to score the equaliser on the half-hour after Nasri had put the Gunners ahead on 14 minutes.
There were several missed opportunities for the Cottagers, not least by Kamara who cut the Arsenal defence in two, just before half-time, only to see Fabianski bringing off a good save.
Another great chance was lost on 78 minutes when Etuhu shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
Sunderland beat West Ham 1-0 in match week 16, and the win propelled them into seventh place in the table.
Henderson gave the Black Cats the lead on 34 minutes and that was enough for Sunderland to bank full points.
Steve Bruce opted for an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, allowing for three strikers, Gyan, Wellbeck and Bent, to operate in tandem.
The move paid off as West Ham's defence was caught on the wrong foot.
The Black Cats took control of midfield and did not allow Scott Parker to dominate.
Cattermole and Onuoha were brilliant and set up the Gyan pass to Henderson that gave them the winning goal.
Gyan continues to underscore why he is crucial to sunderland's fortunes this season.
This was a cohesive performance by Bruce's men, where Mensah and Ferdinand were rock solid in the back line.
While Sunderland have jumped to seventh in the table and could bid for a Europa League qualification this season, Fulham are on the edge of the the relgation mine, at 17th.
Head to head, the sides have met 12 times in the Premiership, with Fulham winning 5, Sunderland winning 3 and 4 games ending without result.
Incidentally, 4 of those wins for Fulham have come at Craven Cottage with Sunderland winning one of the six games played at the venue, with the remaining game drawn.
The last game between the sides in February 2010 was hosted by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and ended in a goalless stalemate.
Fulham have been tough to beat at home this season, losing just 2 of 8 games hosted.
That said, they have just won 2 of those games at Craven Cottage, while drawing 4.
Sunderland have not had the best away record, losing 3 of 8 games on the road while drawing 4 and winning just the one.
Fulham had the following men in their starting eleven against Arsenal: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera and Kamara.
The following players featured as substitutes: Andy Jonhson, Baird and Eddie Johnson.
Sunderland's starting eleven against West Ham comprised Gordon, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Wellbeck, Bent and Gyan.
The substitutes were Malbranque, Zenden and Elmohamady.
