Both sides briefly sat in the bottom three midwinter. After an injection of fresh blood, both now go chasing a win and mid-table respectabilty. Two sides on the up and a good game in prospect.
Not an easy one to call on current form. Villa were undone last time out at Old Trafford - no disgrace in that. Fulham finally learnt how to 'win ugly' as Danny called it to see off a weakened Newcastle. Again we go to one of our least favourite venues, no wins here in nine attempts since being promoted. 3 draws and 6 defeats is the unenviable record.
Strange to explain that. Villa have generally performed better than us over the past decade, without ever threatening to evolve into a real force. Villa Park is a great venue for football and neither the crowd nor size of the stadium should be intimidating. Plus you do by and large with the Villans get a chance to play football. Could this be the season we finally get lucky? Villa have not won back to back at home since August and concede a lot of goals late on.
Here's the key. It's a battle of the centre backs. Hangeland must shackle the over-priced but always dangerous Darren Bent, Fulham's nippy front men have to exploit the weak link I think Richard Dunne represents - the veteran will not relish being run at and forced to turn on what will be his 400th league start. Friedel, at 39, must also be made to work, so plenty of shots from midfield please. The ideal opportunity here for Sidwell to show the fans what they missed out on.
Having Bent lead the line - 13 goals this seaon so far - ups the ante considerably when compared to the likes of Carew and Heskey. Serviced by two genuine wingers in Downing and Young, from the wings comes the Villa threat. This may well see our inverted wide men forced deeper than they would like to support Paintsil and Baird. If we can get on the ball enough and play to our strengths I see us carving our opponents open down the middle, so we need big performances from AJ and Moussa up front. After glowing praise from Mark this week don't be at all suprised to see Kakuta on after half-time. As for our starting line-up, it will be same again I'm sure. Etuhu's hamstring needs extra time to heal, but the bench is packed with experience and options, more so if Eidur comes into consideration.
Nice easy train ride north from London so at least a 1,000 plus fans will be following the Whites to what could well be our 2nd away win of the season, and first league win on this ground since 1973 - when Nixon was battling impeachment and Slade ruled the UK charts...Yikes!
Your blogger is strumming tonight in London (alongside the Bayou Brothers from the USA) otherwise I would be at the Cottage cheering Kit Symons kids on to further Youth Cup glory against Watford. I went to the last round and it was excellent! Kick off 7pm. Go if you can.
Here's to another good performance at Villa Park. Let's show we can do it on the road too. COYW! Twitter@fulhamphil
Comments
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Posted by paul muldrew on 02/04/2011
will ye get on with yer bent over priced have a good look at him saturday.......tis da everly brothers for you boy ,dreammm dream dream dream.
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Posted by tom t on 02/04/2011
no chance!!!! you seem to forget that villa are superior to fulham in every way.
Blog Central: Nice balanced viewpoint there, thanks for posting
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Posted by Toby lerone on 02/04/2011
Your having a laugh.......
3-1 Villa
You have only won how many on the road in the last 5 years!!! get a nose bleed outside london... lol
UTV
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Posted by George Fowler on 02/04/2011
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Posted by Reg on 02/04/2011
God help fulam they will certainly need it ,after G Houliers put rockets up the arses of a few under performersthey will be out to prove their worth.3...1 villa
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Posted by Justin on 02/04/2011
Villa are dangerous no doubt, but hey, Fulham drew with Man U and well, you're no Man U nahmean hahaha
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Posted by doug on 02/04/2011
Be careful Villa fans, you sound an awful lot like the Spurs fans that were commenting here last week.
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Posted by Duncan on 02/04/2011
Wow, lot of Villa supporters on here. Where are all these 3-1 score lines coming from? What makes you guys think Villa will get three goals out of one of the best defenses in the Premier League (that has given up only one goal in the last four matches in all competitions)? Just curious...
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Posted by Brent on 02/04/2011
You say centre back battle, I say midfield battle. Having seen the new look Villa with Makoun, who was impressive, and Ashley Young dropping into the center to support Bent, it'll be a tough match. Kakuta was a great loan signing and hopefully, he can produce some results for Fulham. I see a 1-1 draw.
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Posted by 'Sota Dan on 02/04/2011
Yes, it is possible for the Whites to take 3 if the defense holds firm on Bent. I'm a Fulham fan, and I don't think Bent is overpriced. Heck, he's known quatity. How many goals has he scored in the Prem. in the past few years? The good thing for Fulham going into this game IMHO is that the the mids are starting play well (welcome Ginga ninja) and Demebele appears to be starting to come into form. COYW!
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Posted by Scott J on 02/04/2011
As a Fulham supporter I'm looking forward to an open and fast-paced match at Villa Park. The Whites are playing well and full of confidence so I'm hopeful we can nip 3 points off of them. Also, plenty of interesting story-lines for the game (especially as an American-based viewer): Sidwell's return to AV, Fulham's current momentum, 3 Americans with a realistic chance to be on the pitch, and 2 clubs - 1 American owned - only barely above the relegation battle. Phil, I hope you're right about Dembele tomorrow! COYW!
Posted by Justin on 02/06/2011
Well, that was a back and forth affair. I thought we got bossed around in midfield to begin the game but the second half was mostly Fulham most of the time. Sidwell played well I thought
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