FULHAM v EVERTON
Football : England : Premiership
Sunday 23rd October - Kickoff 13:30pm

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Fulham

Jol's Fulham currently occupy 15th position in the league with 7pts from 8 games played. With the club having to balance playing in the Europa League as well as keeping the domestic form going it's no surprise to see Fulham down the table. Still, it's Jol's job to ensure this side stays in the Premier League and this Sunday they face a very good Everton side at Craven Cottage.

I've mentioned the Europa League is a distraction but fatigue won't be a problem this week as Fulham rested a lot of their stars ahead of this Sunday's game with Everton. However, this hasn't always been the case this season and it's worth monitoring when betting on Fulham straight after a Europa League tie.

With just 1 win all season it's not hard to see why they are so low in the table. Jol's side went winless for 7 games eventually trouncing QPR at home 6-0 only lose all the momentum by losing away at Stoke in the next match.

When focusing on the home from in particular you know it won't make for great reading but it's surprisingly ok, especially when you consider the side has just 1 win all season. Craven Cottage is the 11th hardest ground to visit with Fulham winning 1 and drawing the other 3 of their 4 home games.

The win as I mentioned was against QPR came in empathic fashion, whilst Fulham produced a super comeback from 2-0 down to draw with Man City, this being City's only dropped points of the season. The other 2 draws have come against Villa (0-0) and Blackburn (1-1) in two very quiet games from Fulham's perspective with them struggling to find the back of the net.

If I ignore the 6-0 win over QPR, Fulham has only scored 4 goals in 7 games which is shocking. The side has failed to score in 4 games this season, however only once have they been shut out at Craven Cottage. Everton is a solid defensive side and they wont let in 6 like Rangers did, if Fulham score they may need 2 to win this game. Unfortunately for them only twice have they done this, but both have come at home.

Team news is that Davies, Riise and Sá miss out for the home side but other than that, Jol has all his squad to choose from. Zamora and Johnson will be recalled upfront with Sa injured, whilst Dembele's red card midweek won't count in this domestic game. Playmaker Murphy was rested midweek and will also start along side Dempsey and Sidwell in a fluid attacking 4-4-2.

Predicted Fulham Lineup :
Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Dempsey, Murphy, Sidwell, Dembélé, Zamora, Johnson.

Everton

Once place below Fulham in the league sit Everton and their notorious slow starters tag has struck again as Moye's side have struggled to really get going this season. This weekend they play their second West London club inside a week having lost to Chelsea last time out. This is a much more favourable match for Everton and with the side losing their last 3 a point would very much be welcome for the Toffees.

Everton's season started in the worst possible fashion going down by a goal to nil at home to QPR. This was followed by an away win at Blackburn 1-0 after the home side missed 2 penalties in the game. The only win at home to Wigan followed another draw this time at home to Villa but since then the club has lost its next 3 games to Liverpool (2-0), Man City (2-0) and Chelsea (3-1).

When looking soley at the away games, Everton have been pretty poor so far with 1 win and 2 defeats. The win was at Blackburn back in August which was fortunate after as mentioned above Rovers missing 2 penalties and Everton scoring their sole goal via a last minute penalty themselves.

In the other 2 games they held out until HT against City only to eventually cave in and lose 2-0 at the Ethiad. The score did flatter Everton as they offered virtually nothing going forward and there was only 1 side trying to win the game. A similar story applies to the recent loss at Chelsea as the Blues went 3-0 up and only a late consolation goal could be savaged from the visit to West London.

Everton are struggling for goals but an asset of theirs is keeping it tight. In the 3 away games only 1 has been overs, whilst 5 of their 6 away games have ended unders. With Fulham struggling to score this season (apart from that one off game) this looks like being a very tight game settled by the odd goal.

Team news is that Everton will be without Anichebe and new signing McFadden whilst Heitinga is a doubt for the game. The back 5 picks itself whilst the midfield is solid with Rodwell, Osman, Coleman and Fellaini a very competitive midfield 4. Up front Cahill will as ever support lone man Saha who will want more service this week after he was starved of it last time out at Chelsea.

Predicted Everton Lineup :
Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Osman, Cahill, Saha.

The Betting Verdict

Head to head is really against Everton with Fulham winning 8 of the last 10 with Everton taking the points just once back in 2009.

I think the price is a fair one for Fulham but Everton's defensive shape can frustrate Fulham's strikers who are not that great in my opinion.

Everton are a much better side than the results are showing right now and I will take a chance on them to keep Fulham at bay and claim a point in this one.

There are no real stats to back this bet up other than in Fulham's last 10 home games they have drawn 5 of them and I think the bookies have underestimated the Toffees here.

The Asian +0.25 on Everton appeals but with Fulham only losing 1 of their last 10 at the Cottage if Everton do get a result here I think it will be a draw. It's also worth mentioning that after losing 3 in a row Everton will just be happy to stop the rot and with this all square late on I can't see them looking for the winner. Take the draw.

Good Luck.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Fulham 1-1 Everton

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Fulham 45% - Draw 35% - Everton 20%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Draw priced at 3.40 at Stan James