Fulham Away Preview!

United travel to West London this Sunday, for another televised fixture, taking on a Fulham side now managed by an old United hero in Mark Hughes. It`s a fixture that we`ve lost on the last two occasions; can we stem the tide and take three points, for a change?

Surely we can`t lose three times on the trot at Craven Cottage can we?

Ahead of the fixture, this Sunday, Sir Alex has spoken about the challenge this Sunday, remarking,

"We`ve had a bit of a tough time at Fulham."

"The good point for us is that we are going there at the start of the season. Normally we go there in March when the pitch is starting to go a bit. I was at the game against Werder Bremen. It was a good pitch so we should be okay."

And on meeting up with Sparky again,

"Mark had a small squad at Blackburn and his experience there should be ideal for Fulham. You could say they are similar in terms of size."

Not sure Blackburn and Fulham supporters will agree with that sentiment though!

Mark Hughes will be without the injured Philippe Senderos, Andrew Johnson and Diomansy Kamara. Last time out Mark Schwarzer and Paul Konchesky were both injured and missed the 0-0 draw up at Bolton. If fit they`re likely to take the places of David Stockdale and Stephen Kelly.

Watch out for Zoltan Gera and Damien Duff, two fine players who could be our undoing if we`re not at our best.

Perhaps somebody can tell me what all the fuss is about regarding a player who looks to us, to be nothing more than an average striker - now watch him dazzle us!

United travel to Craven Cottage without the injured Ferdinand, Anderson and Hargreaves. Evra is expected to undergo a fitness test after picking up a knock on Monday. But Sir Alex`s biggest dilemma will be which of his squad to leave out.

Will he rest Scholes after two impressive performances or does he persist with him knowing he`s on a fine run of form. Could Giggs start after coming off the bench on Monday?

We`ll just have to wait and see and be patient for the release of the team sheet Sunday afternoon!

Having not scored for so long, over a thousand minutes of competitive action, the eyes of the world are watching Wayne. We suggest they keep them focussed on the young striker because one goal could well lead to several more and this Sunday could be the catalyst for such a run.

Overall we seem to do very well against Fulham having won 10 of our last 12 competitive fixtures against the Cottagers. But, the two we didn`t win were, unfortunately, our last two fixtures against them. Last time out, with a dodgy defence, we got turned over big time and the time before that, two red cards, saw us overwhelmed.

Time to reverse the current trend we think!

Peter Walton is the man in the middle trying to keep law and order, ably assisted by his two assistants - Dave Bryan and Andy Newbold. Lee Probert is the fourth official.

It seems strange contemplating a trip to Craven Cottage trying to reverse a run whereby we`ve lost on our last two visits. Anyone would think Fulham were a top team looking at that record. But, this Sunday, I`m confident that we`ll end up victorious down by the river and that it`ll be another comfortable victory, but not quite as comfortable as the 3-0 of our first fixture - I`ll go for 2-0!

After a trip to London we entertain another London side next weekend when West Ham United travel to Old Trafford.

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