EPL 2011-12: Sunderland Vs Fulham Preview
Premier League action is set to brighten the Stadium of Light when Sunderland host Fulham, on Saturday, November 19, 2011, in match week 12.
Sunderland are coming off a fighting 1-0 loss away at Manchester United where they managed to keep the defending champions at bay for the most part, in match week 11. Despite dominating possession, the Old Trafford squad could not turn into goal-scoring proficiency against the Black cats who showed patches of brilliance, going forward. Barring Brown’s own goal, Steve Bruce’s squad should have deservedly come away with a point from a game they were expected to lose. Especially, in defence, they were solid on the day, and kept United’s first half aggression under check.
Fulham lost 3-1 to Tottenham in a home game, at Craven Cottage, in match week 11. The score-line does not do justice to Fulham’s brilliant aggression in the second half after they went into the break 2-0 down, on the back of goals by Bale and Lennon. The Cottagers subjected the visitors to relentless pressure and it had a telling effect when Kaboul’s own goal, 12 minutes into the second half, served to reduce the margin. Fulham poured forward in numbers in search of an equalizer, and the Tottenham defence, though shaken, survived the onslaught, to leave the Cottagers ruing a home loss.
Head to head, in the last 14 years, Sunderland and Fulham have met in 14 league games, with the Cottagers having won on 6 occasions and the Black Cats winning on 3 others, with the remaining 5 matches ending in stalemates. The last time these teams met was in April 2011; that match hosted by the Black cats was won 3-0 by the visitors.
Sunderland have won 2, lost 5, and drawn the remaining 3 of their last 10 league matches, while Cottagers have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 5 of their last 10.
Currently in 15th place on the league table, Black Cats have hosted 5 home games, this season, winning 1, while drawing and losing 2 each, while Cottagers, who are in 16th place have had 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses in their 5 away games.
This promises to be an intriguing match between well-matched sides that have not lived up to their fans’ expectations this, season, with a slight edge to Sunderland, on the back of home advantage.
Sunderland’s starting eleven against Manchester United: Westwood, Bardsley, Brown, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham
Fulham’s starting eleven against Tottenham: Schwarzer, Grygera, Baird, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Murphy, Sidwell, Dempsey, Dembele, Zamora
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports.
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