SALFORD RED
29-02-2008, 05:55 AM
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Second bottom against second top.
Triple chasing Manchester United now have a superior goal difference of +4 on Arsenal, therefore victory at Craven Cottage, coupled with defeat for the Gunners, home to Aston Villa, will see the Red Devils return to the summit.
Even three points will not be enough to see the relegation-haunted Cottagers out of the bottom three.
Fulham have won as many Premier League games at home as Manchester United have lost away (three), and conceded as many at home as United have scored on the road (23).
United are still looking for a first win in London this season; they have drawn two and lost one of their three Premier League visits to the capital.
Fulham have won one of 27 meetings with Manchester United stretching back to 1965. The victory was at Old Trafford in 2003.
CLUB FORM
FULHAM
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 18th
Lowest could fall: 19th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Gained one win in 15 outings, two in 25, and only three in 27 all season. The next victory will be their 75th all-time in this league.
2. The 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on 3 February is their only victory in nine matches under Roy Hodgson (all competitions). It is also their only maximum this season against a club currently in the top-half of the Premier League.
3. Drawn 10; only Liverpool have finished level more often (11).
4. Dropped 62 points, kept only three clean sheets and failed to score in 11 games (including four of the last five) in this league season; only Derby have an inferior record on all three counts (72 points dropped, two clean sheets, and failed to score in 16).
5. Managed one clean sheet in 17 outings; the goalless draw with Bolton at the Reebok on 29 January.
6. Lost the lead in 11 matches, and flittered away an unequalled 25 points from winning positions. They were in front against Arsenal (a), Middlesbrough (h), Aston Villa (a), Chelsea (h) and West Ham (a), and went on to lose all five games.
7. Only 24% of goals conceded have been in the first half (11 of 45); the lowest such percentage.
8. Gained 10 points fewer than their previous lowest to this stage of the season in 2004-05, when they rallied to finish 13th. Had 13 more points going into their 28th fixture last season, from where they only gained seven more points.
9. Drawn five and lost three of their last eight against North-West clubs since their only victory this season against a club from the region; 2-1, against Bolton in the opening home fixture of the campaign on 15 August.
10. Two more fixtures against North-West opposition follow; away to Blackburn, and home to Everton. Then it's a long trip to Newcastle and not so long journey to Derby.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Lost 1 of 11 (all competitions).
2. Won five of last seven, culminating in the 1-5 demolition of Newcastle at St James' last time out.
3. Secured 19 victories, dropped 20 points and scored 55 goals; only Arsenal eclipse the latter two with 17 points dropped and 56 goals netted, having also won 19.
4. Registered the joint fewest draws, alongside Reading; four each.
5. Boast the tightest defence with 15 goals conceded in 27 matches at one every 162 minutes (two hours 42 minutes) on average.
6. Need one more clean sheet to equal last season's tally. Kept 15 shut-outs so far; only Chelsea match that.
7. Opened the scoring in an unmatched 21 games (won 18, and lost just one of them); and allowed the opposition to score first in five matches - that's fewer occasions than any other club.
8. Fourth in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 13 points. Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all have 14. (Fulham are fourth bottom with four points.)
9. Scored 15 goals in the last 10 minutes, 10 of which were in the last five minutes, seven of those being in stoppage time; that's the most in all three time sectors.
10. Next Lyon come to Old Trafford on Tuesday for the 2nd leg of the Champions League tie that stands at 1-1. After that it's the FA Cup quarter-final, home to Portsmouth, then a trip to bottom of the table Derby. March ends home to Liverpool and Aston Villa.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
FULHAM
Clint DEMPSEY is Fulham's top scorer with six Premier League goals.
Chris BAIRD, Paul KONCHESKY, Elliot OMOZUSI, Moritz VOLZ, Hameur BOUAZZA and Leon ANDREASEN have all been sent off in league matches this season. Fulham have received more red cards than any other club in Premier League competition this season (six).
If selected:-
David HEALY will be facing a former club. The 28 year old Northern Ireland international was a Manchester United trainee, making three appearances before joining Preston for £1.5m in December 2000.
Erik NEVLAND will be facing a club he once played for. The 30 year old Norway international made six appearances (one league) and scored one goal for United between July 1997 and December 1999.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 29 goals, including 15 in his last 13 games.
RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 21, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Carlos TEVEZ and RONALDO have scored 32 Premier League goals between them in the current campaign, and 56% of the Red Devils' entire total this season (44 of 79).
Wayne ROONEY needs one goal to total 50 in the Premier League for Manchester United.
If selected:-
Edwin VAN DER SAR will be keeping goal against his former club. The 37 year old Holland international made 154 appearances (127 in the league) for Fulham from August 2001, before signing for United in June 2005.
Louis SAHA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international made 143 appearances (117 in the league) and scored 63 goals (53 league) for the Cottagers between June 2000 to his £12.8m move to Old Trafford in January 2004.
If on the field from the outset:-
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United are vying for a seventh successive victory over Fulham.
The Red Devils have not dropped a point against Fulham since being held to a 1-1 draw at the Cottage on 13 December 2004.
The Londoners have never beaten United in a home fixture in the Premier League, and last enjoyed victory over the them on the banks of the Thames with a 2-1 triumph on 5 September 1964.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Fulham 10 wins, Man United 32, Draws 13
Prem: Fulham 1 wins, Man United 9, Draws 3
at Fulham only
League (inc PL): Fulham 8 wins, Man United 9, Draws 10
Prem: Fulham 0 wins, Man United 3, Draws 3
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Fulham 1-2 Manchester United
24 February 2007 - Ref: Peter Walton
Fulham scorer: McBride 17
Man Utd scorers: Giggs 29, Ronaldo 88
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester United 2-0 Fulham
3 December 2007 - Ref: Rob Styles
Man Utd scorers: Ronaldo 10, 58
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)
.
Second bottom against second top.
Triple chasing Manchester United now have a superior goal difference of +4 on Arsenal, therefore victory at Craven Cottage, coupled with defeat for the Gunners, home to Aston Villa, will see the Red Devils return to the summit.
Even three points will not be enough to see the relegation-haunted Cottagers out of the bottom three.
Fulham have won as many Premier League games at home as Manchester United have lost away (three), and conceded as many at home as United have scored on the road (23).
United are still looking for a first win in London this season; they have drawn two and lost one of their three Premier League visits to the capital.
Fulham have won one of 27 meetings with Manchester United stretching back to 1965. The victory was at Old Trafford in 2003.
CLUB FORM
FULHAM
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 18th
Lowest could fall: 19th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Gained one win in 15 outings, two in 25, and only three in 27 all season. The next victory will be their 75th all-time in this league.
2. The 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on 3 February is their only victory in nine matches under Roy Hodgson (all competitions). It is also their only maximum this season against a club currently in the top-half of the Premier League.
3. Drawn 10; only Liverpool have finished level more often (11).
4. Dropped 62 points, kept only three clean sheets and failed to score in 11 games (including four of the last five) in this league season; only Derby have an inferior record on all three counts (72 points dropped, two clean sheets, and failed to score in 16).
5. Managed one clean sheet in 17 outings; the goalless draw with Bolton at the Reebok on 29 January.
6. Lost the lead in 11 matches, and flittered away an unequalled 25 points from winning positions. They were in front against Arsenal (a), Middlesbrough (h), Aston Villa (a), Chelsea (h) and West Ham (a), and went on to lose all five games.
7. Only 24% of goals conceded have been in the first half (11 of 45); the lowest such percentage.
8. Gained 10 points fewer than their previous lowest to this stage of the season in 2004-05, when they rallied to finish 13th. Had 13 more points going into their 28th fixture last season, from where they only gained seven more points.
9. Drawn five and lost three of their last eight against North-West clubs since their only victory this season against a club from the region; 2-1, against Bolton in the opening home fixture of the campaign on 15 August.
10. Two more fixtures against North-West opposition follow; away to Blackburn, and home to Everton. Then it's a long trip to Newcastle and not so long journey to Derby.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 2nd
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Lost 1 of 11 (all competitions).
2. Won five of last seven, culminating in the 1-5 demolition of Newcastle at St James' last time out.
3. Secured 19 victories, dropped 20 points and scored 55 goals; only Arsenal eclipse the latter two with 17 points dropped and 56 goals netted, having also won 19.
4. Registered the joint fewest draws, alongside Reading; four each.
5. Boast the tightest defence with 15 goals conceded in 27 matches at one every 162 minutes (two hours 42 minutes) on average.
6. Need one more clean sheet to equal last season's tally. Kept 15 shut-outs so far; only Chelsea match that.
7. Opened the scoring in an unmatched 21 games (won 18, and lost just one of them); and allowed the opposition to score first in five matches - that's fewer occasions than any other club.
8. Fourth in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 13 points. Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all have 14. (Fulham are fourth bottom with four points.)
9. Scored 15 goals in the last 10 minutes, 10 of which were in the last five minutes, seven of those being in stoppage time; that's the most in all three time sectors.
10. Next Lyon come to Old Trafford on Tuesday for the 2nd leg of the Champions League tie that stands at 1-1. After that it's the FA Cup quarter-final, home to Portsmouth, then a trip to bottom of the table Derby. March ends home to Liverpool and Aston Villa.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
FULHAM
Clint DEMPSEY is Fulham's top scorer with six Premier League goals.
Chris BAIRD, Paul KONCHESKY, Elliot OMOZUSI, Moritz VOLZ, Hameur BOUAZZA and Leon ANDREASEN have all been sent off in league matches this season. Fulham have received more red cards than any other club in Premier League competition this season (six).
If selected:-
David HEALY will be facing a former club. The 28 year old Northern Ireland international was a Manchester United trainee, making three appearances before joining Preston for £1.5m in December 2000.
Erik NEVLAND will be facing a club he once played for. The 30 year old Norway international made six appearances (one league) and scored one goal for United between July 1997 and December 1999.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 29 goals, including 15 in his last 13 games.
RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 21, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.
Carlos TEVEZ and RONALDO have scored 32 Premier League goals between them in the current campaign, and 56% of the Red Devils' entire total this season (44 of 79).
Wayne ROONEY needs one goal to total 50 in the Premier League for Manchester United.
If selected:-
Edwin VAN DER SAR will be keeping goal against his former club. The 37 year old Holland international made 154 appearances (127 in the league) for Fulham from August 2001, before signing for United in June 2005.
Louis SAHA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international made 143 appearances (117 in the league) and scored 63 goals (53 league) for the Cottagers between June 2000 to his £12.8m move to Old Trafford in January 2004.
If on the field from the outset:-
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United are vying for a seventh successive victory over Fulham.
The Red Devils have not dropped a point against Fulham since being held to a 1-1 draw at the Cottage on 13 December 2004.
The Londoners have never beaten United in a home fixture in the Premier League, and last enjoyed victory over the them on the banks of the Thames with a 2-1 triumph on 5 September 1964.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Fulham 10 wins, Man United 32, Draws 13
Prem: Fulham 1 wins, Man United 9, Draws 3
at Fulham only
League (inc PL): Fulham 8 wins, Man United 9, Draws 10
Prem: Fulham 0 wins, Man United 3, Draws 3
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Fulham 1-2 Manchester United
24 February 2007 - Ref: Peter Walton
Fulham scorer: McBride 17
Man Utd scorers: Giggs 29, Ronaldo 88
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester United 2-0 Fulham
3 December 2007 - Ref: Rob Styles
Man Utd scorers: Ronaldo 10, 58
REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)
.