Man City vs Fulham: Preview

Article by e-Fulham Correspondent Barnaby Mollett

It's rare that in a relegation battle you get a free role of the dice. But this is the great big game of Jumanji that Fulham have themselves playing this weekend against the envious squad of Manchester City, in the fortress that has been the Etihad Stadium this season.

Don't get me wrong, Fulham really need to pick up points from their last eight games to stand any chance of survival, so there's no reason to disregard this game entirely, like some kind of smoked-out cigarette, flicked to the gutter with not a second thought. It's just nobody expects anything of Fulham against the possible champions-elect - even the most conservative of odds have the Cottagers at 16/1 for a win of any kind against City. Which, even in a two horse race where one of the nags is a stationary rocking horse is still generous.

However, this lack of expectations should be utilised by the Fulham players and management. Taking a few attacking chances and trying a few training ground moves against Man City wouldn't be such a bad strategy - the Whites' goal difference can't get much worse, and anything other than a loss (or even going down fighting) could provide further momentum to the safety train that the team boarded with the win against Newcastle last week, and are ever so possibly pulling away from Grand Central Relegation. The story that Felix Magath put pictures of home fans up around the Craven Cottage dressing rooms to inspire the players at least has created a positive sense about the team spirit - as has every one of Lewis Holtby's apposite post-match interviews.

Do Manchester City have any hint of a weakness? Well, this match up is as close as an all-Premier League 'David vs. Goliath' situation could ever be - in terms of both league position and squad. City have scored more freely than Zach Morris from 'Saved By The Bell' this season - netting 71 times in the league. Fulham have managed just 80 league goals since August 2012. The biggest concern, as we all know, is that the shipping rate of goals against the Cottagers is alarmingly high.

That said, a first clean sheet in aeons - potentially since the word selfie entered the dictionary - against the Magpies last week must fill the team with some confidence. Also, the chances are that Sergio Aguero won't be dancing the Argentinian Tango this week, and as good as Negredo and Dzeko can be at kicking balls for monetary compensation, they have on a couple of occasions struggled to fill the striking void this season. Perhaps more invitingly, Vincent Kompany is due to serve a ban for his sending off against Hull Not-Tigers-City last Saturday, and although they aren't facing the kind of defensive dilemmas that have faced all three of Fulham's managers this season, it's often been apparent when City are missing their defensive rock and captain in the past.

Do Fulham have the attacking ability to get something out of the game? Well, like having a Scrabble rack with the letters 'QFVBXRE', it's going to be difficult. If our defensive-minded players can keep City at bay, Fulham will have to take any half-chances they get in a match where possession will be at a premium. Steve Sidwell and Holtby certainly have a long-range screamer in the locker, which certainly wouldn't go amiss, and since his arrival, John Heitinga has looked a reasonable threat at corners. I wouldn't put it past Magath to spring a few surprises in the starting XI, or to shuffle his squad slightly.

The final roll of the dice might lead to former Southend-loanee striker Cauley Woodrow. He had a good game against Newcastle last time out, and more importantly than anything, it looked like he was enjoying himself. He, and the rest of Fulham (even the Chelsea fans), will be enjoying themselves a lot more if the 16/1 horse comes in on Saturday and the Cottagers conquer the Etihad.

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