The Match
Fulham need to turn things around, and quick. Nestling in the relegation zone (courtesy of having worse goal difference than our recent opponents Stoke), they've just appointed Rene Meulensteen (who spent 12 years working under Ferguson at Old Trafford) in a bid to improve their fortunes, which have seen them struggle so far this season. That being said, they've won the same amount of games as the Swans (three) and it perhaps shows how fickle the footballing world is that, only two points behind the Swans, their performance seems to be regarded as by far inferior. At home to a team who, like themselves are short on Premier League wins, they'll be confident of a result given their 3-0 win at the Liberty at the end of last season, and will be looking to avenge the overwhelmingly comprehensive home defeats of the past two seasons.
Swansea were denied a most remarkable comeback victory by a debatable penalty decision last time out against Stoke, so it's likely they'll be chomping at the bit, and play with an urgency born from the perceived injustice done unto them. As mentioned, Fulham are being billed as a side in need of an urgent upturn in form, but this is likely to give the Swans confidence, as will the aforementioned comprehensive wins at the Cottage. The South Walian side will be well supported, having sold out their 1700 seat ticket allocation, and you can have no doubt the travelling Jack Army will be in fine voice on what will hopefully be another fine day out in SW6.
Prior Form (Most recent at top)
Team News - provided by Physioroom.com's Ben Dinnery
In a rare sight this season Swansea manage a 3pm Saturday kick-off when they travel to Craven Cottage to take on an under-fire Fulham side who are looking to secure only their second home league win of the campaign. The Lilywhites however will have to contend without influential Norwegian defensive lynch-pin Brede Hangeland as he continues to struggle with an ongoing nerve problem and winger Damien Duff who has failed to recover from an injury picked up in early November. Long-term casualties Matthew Briggs (hernia) and Hugo Rodallega (groin) remain out although the latter could return in three weeks.
Overall for Swansea the injury news is pretty good with no fresh concerns. Spanish talisman Michu is progressing well and could be back for the Newcastle game at the beginning of December while winger Pablo Hernandez (thigh) has returned to light training although this weekend is likely to come too soon. Given his recent troubles I’d suggest at least a week or two before we see him back in the Swansea squad. Gary Monk represents the other notable absentee this weekend, the defender having recently undergone knee surgery which is expected to keep him on the side-lines until the New Year.
Overall for Swansea the injury news is pretty good with no fresh concerns. Spanish talisman Michu is progressing well and could be back for the Newcastle game at the beginning of December while winger Pablo Hernandez (thigh) has returned to light training although this weekend is likely to come too soon. Given his recent troubles I’d suggest at least a week or two before we see him back in the Swansea squad. Gary Monk represents the other notable absentee this weekend, the defender having recently undergone knee surgery which is expected to keep him on the side-lines until the New Year.
Completely guessed lineups
Statistics & Trivia
- Martin Jol's side have suffered three straight league defeats, conceding nine goals and scoring just once.
- Fulham have only earned four points at home this season, the joint worst record in the division along with Crystal Palace and West Ham.
- Only Aston Villa (9) have lost more Premier League home matches in 2013 than Fulham (8).
- They have conceded the opening goal in eight of their 11 league matches this season, more than any other side.
- Dimitar Berbatov has scored one Premier League goal in 855 minutes this season. In 2012-13, he averaged a goal every 190 minutes.
- Despite what's been regarded as a slow start, Swansea are only one point worse off than at the same stage last year.
- Swansea have only scored three first-half goals - only Cardiff (2) and Norwich (1) have fared worse.
- The Swans have an average ball possession of 58.5% in the Premier League this season, second only to Manchester City (59.5%).
- Wilfried Bony has scored 10 goals in 18 competitive appearances for Swansea this season, including three in his last two games.
- Bony is involved in a goal every 106.4 minutes in the Premier League - the 13th best figure in the league.
- Four of Fulham’s Premier League goals this season have come from substitutes; including both of Darren Bent’s strikes – no side have scored more by subs.
- Swansea have averaged a league-high 568 passes per game in the Premier League this season
- Eight of Swansea's twenty-three goals conceded this season have come in the last ten minutes of matches.
- Fulham have conceded the opening goal in 73% of their matches this season, and have conceded at least once in 80% of their home matches.
Straight from the horse's mouth
Martin Jol thinks his side have perhaps received some overly-harsh criticism given prior performances:
Michael Laudrup is, despite comments about moving on, clearly looking to avenge Stoke's late leveller last time out at the Liberty:
“Swansea play in a very good way and that’s a way we would like to play in, and we did. I think over the last couple of years Swansea did extremely well. The nice thing is that over the two years we’ve got more points than them, so that’s very positive – people don’t notice that, but it’s true.
“We want to come back [to form] – we had a very good game where we scored four goals against Crystal Palace but after that, in the away games, we dropped and didn’t play with rhythm.
“We couldn’t get the ball in the final third and we looked a bit, not lethargic, but a little bit tired, and I now think we’ve got back to business and we trained well. Scotty Parker is not playing for the national team, Dimitar Berbatov was here, Darren Bent was here so I’ve had a lot of players [around over the international break] and we trained well so we are ready for Saturday.”
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/november/22/jols-swansea-preview?Ben Davies is wary of the threat posed by the Londoners:
"Everybody has seen the quality they have got in that team and they have shown they can cause any side in the Premier League problems on their day. They put a good performance in against us here last season and that shows we can't underestimate them.
"I don't know about them maybe being in a false position, they always seem to be there or thereabouts, but no-one considers them strugglers because of the quality in the side."
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/swansea-city/news/davies-predicts-fulham-survival_119522.html
Michael Laudrup is, despite comments about moving on, clearly looking to avenge Stoke's late leveller last time out at the Liberty:
"Managers always say every game is important, but some are more important than others. I look at the season in stages, and Fulham is the first of 12 we play in 43 days up to the FA Cup on January 4. I don't know if it is the most important or the second most important of those 12, but it is up there.
"It is all about the result for us. There will be other big games, but this one is so big because of what happened with the late goal in our last game. We will never get those two points back even though we deserved them so much, so now we have to move on."
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Michael-Laudrup-Fulham-clash-crucial-Swansea-City/story-20115890-detail/story.html#ixzz2lORdanda
Analysis
As usual, I'm pretty confident. Given we haven't won in five you might say that my confidence is ill-founded, however we've shown enough in recent matches to believe a return to winning ways is imminent. Despite the late goals conceded, there's a distinct feeling that this Swansea side are close to finding a formula which works for them, and we've been creating chances more freely than early in the season.
Brede Hangeland is a massive loss for Fulham - and not just physically. The guy is a quality defender, but without him I fancy the Swans to create lots of chances against a defence which includes Senderos. I've seen him make too many mistakes to not expect him to be at the centre of things once again, and with Wilfried Bony finding form I fancy us to take this one.
Whether Laudrup retains Pozuelo remains to be seen. With Shelvey fresh after not featuring in the U21 squad during the international break he'll no doubt want to start, while Canas is no doubt hoping for a recall too. As per usual, I'd prefer to see Canas partner Leon but I doubt that'll happen, with Laudrup clearing preferring Jonathan De Guzman for Premier League games.
Fulham's forwards should be our main concern. Kasami scored a complete wonder-goal the last time things went well for Fulham, while Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz are always capable of producing a bit of magic. I don't, however, fancy Steve Sidwell to score another worldy. I really hope our midfield turns up and outplays their Fulham counterparts, as we should be able to outplay Sidwell & Parker. No offence meant, but if we're serious about the kind of football we play we need to be aiming to outplay a central midfield pairing like that. That's assuming they line up like that, of course...
So, keep Berbatov quiet (and he has been quiet this season) and secure the three points. Sadly, not as easy as it sounds...