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DATE:
Tuesday
25th October 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Dale Brookes So here we are with a break from league
action as we take on Fulham at the Cottage. It’s going to be a
tough game no doubt about it as Chris Coleman I’m sure will be sending out
a strong side because I bet he too like Robson has his sights set on a cup
run and If we play the negative rubbish we have
been playing all season then I am sure they will have no problem turning
us over. I do have a feeling though that we will play better tomorrow because I simply cannot see us playing any worse
than Saturday. Well at least I hope not anyway. So prediction time
then and although I am hoping that we will not lose I think realistically we
will because Chris Coleman’s sides are hardworking and play some
decent football, we simply cannot do either at the moment so therefore I am going for a
2-0 Fulham victory. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! ALBION
Manager Bryan Robson
has been hit with major selection problems going into the match. Curtis
Davies is cup-tied while Chris Kirkland (ribs), Martin Albrechtsen
(hamstring), Steve Watson (groin), Nathan Ellington (knee) and Kevin
Campbell (ankle) are all massive doubts.
FULHAM
Boss Chris Coleman will
be without Thomasz Radzinski, Claus Jensen, Niclas Jensen, Brian McBride
and injured goalkeeper Mark Crossley for the game. Zat Knight is likely to
return after a short term absence with Tony Warner likely to take
Crossley’s place in goal.
THIS SEASON
Fulham
currently lie in 14th place in the Premiership with nine points from ten
games. Brian McBride is the club's leading scorer with four league and cup
goals. Chris Coleman's men won their last game by beating Liverpool 2-0 at
Craven Cottage thanks to goals from Collins John and Luis Boa Morte. LAST SEASON Finished 13th in
the Barclays Premiership, were knocked out of the FA Cup in the 5th round
by Bolton Wanderers and beaten in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup by
Chelsea. Andy Cole finished the season as Fulham's top goalscorer
with 13 league and cup goals. THE MANAGER Born in Swansea in 1970, Chris Coleman started his
playing career at Manchester
City, signing as a junior in 1986 although it wasn’t
until he signed for his home town club Swansea City in 1987 that he made
his professional debut. He spent four seasons with the Swans making just
under 200 appearances for them before moving to Crystal Palace for
£275,000 in 1991. After spending four years with the Eagles, during which
time he won his first cap for Wales, Chris moved to Premiership Champions
Blackburn Rovers for £2.8million. However, due to a persistent Achilles
injury Chris only made 32 appearances for Rovers. In November 1997 Fulham manager Kevin Keegan persuaded
Coleman to drop two divisions to join the Cottagers for a then club record
fee of £2.1million. Chris made his Fulham debut at home to Brentford on
December 2 1997. By May 1998, Chris had captained Fulham to the Division Two
title. In the summer of 2000, Jean Tigana took over as Fulham manager and
re-affirmed Coleman as Captain. In January 2001, Chris suffered a horrific car crash;
he shattered his right leg and needed a string of operations to repair it.
In September 2001 and despite a short-lived comeback
Chris received a devastating blow when doctors advised him to hang up his
boots.
In October 2002
Chris took up a coaching role with Fulham and in April 2003 he was appointed
temporary manager when Jean Tigana departed the club. In May 2003
Chris became the Premiership’s youngest manager when he was rewarded for
saving Fulham from relegation by being appointed full-time boss on
a
one-year rolling contract. In his first season in charge he led the team to
9th place in the Premier League. The following season he would
lead Fulham to 13th place.
SQUAD LIST (Squad numbers in brackets)
Goalkeepers: Defenders: Midfielders: Strikers: ONES
TO WATCH Heidur Helguson - Big strong striker who will always cause
problems in the air, not a bad finisher on the floor for a big man either. Steed Malbranque - Creative midfielder who on his day can be
absolutely awesome, his constant hard work and natural ability makes him one
of the most under rated Premiership midfielders around at present. Collins John - Always
a threat when balls find him in the penalty box, potent finisher. THE GROUND Fulham have spent over 100 years
at Craven Cottage, moving there in 1896. The ground has a current capacity of 22,400. The record attendance for the
ground was set in October 1938 when 49,335 attended Fulham's League
Division Two fixture with Millwall. A number of photos of the ground
can be found
here
The first meeting came during the 1975-76 season in the
2nd round of the cup, the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw at The
Hawthorns, Willie Johnston the Albion scorer. The London side won the
replay 13 days later at Craven Cottage 1-0.
The next meeting of the two sides came in August 1979
in what was now a two-legged 2nd round. In the first leg at The Hawthorns
the two sides again finished all-square at 1-1, current Baggies' boss
Bryan Robson the scorer. Robson was again on target a week later as Albion
came back from West London with a 1-0 win on the night.
The last time both clubs met in the competition came in
October 1999 in a 3rd round clash at The Hawthorns. A Lee Hughes goal was
not enough for Albion as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat, ex-Albion striker
Paul Peschisolido and Stan Collymore the Fulham scorers.
LAST MEETING AT CRAVEN COTTAGE
Fulham
1-0 Albion
Fulham: Van Der Sar, Volz, Knight,
Rehman, Bocanegra, Malbranque (Clark 22), Bouba Diop, Pembridge, Radzinski,
John (McBride 80), Boa Morte. Subs
not used: Crossley (gk), Legwinski, Rosenior Goalscorer: Bouba Diop 91
Albion: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Wallwork,
Johnson (Scimeca 70), Greening,
Campbell, Earnshaw. Subs not
used: Kuszczak (gk), Horsfield, Kanu, Koumas
Referee:
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Half-Time:
Fulham 0-0 Albion
Attendance: 16,180
Conditions: Clear and cool An
injury time strike from Papa Boupa Diop stole all three points for Fulham
as they somehow ran out winners against struggling West Brom. The Baggies
had been by far the better side for virtually the whole 90 minutes but
failed to put away their chances as Campbell, Earnshaw and Wallwork all
had opportunities to break the deadlock. Instead the men from the Midlands
paid the price as Boupa Diop rose highest to head home in stoppage time
and clinch an undeserved victory for the Cottagers. CURRENT CONNECTIONS Junichi Inamoto spent two years on loan at Craven Cottage from Japanese side Gamba Osaka. Zat Knight was a youth player at Albion before being released by the club. PAST CONNECTIONS Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Perry Digweed, Mark Grew, Tony Lange, Stacey North, Paul Peschisolido, Martin Pike, Bobby Robson, Arthur Rowley, Kevin Steggles and Brian Talbot. Vic Buckingham and Ray Harford both managed Albion and Fulham. Ex-Albion manager Archie Macauley played for Fulham during the 1950's. Gordon Clark managed Albion from 1959-61 and later had a spell as assistant manager at Fulham. ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS FULHAM
LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST FULHAM
Tickets for this game are now on general sale. Seats cost £12 adults, £8 seniors / students & £5 juniors for season ticket holders and £15 adults £10 seniors / students and £5 juniors for NON-season ticket holders. |
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The two sides have met five times in League Cup action, Albion
have won one and lost two of those games.
