Fulham v. Chelsea Preview

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Fulham v Chelsea


Sunday 23 August 2009,

Craven Cottage

Kick-Off: 16:00

Fulham

In spite of winning 1-0, Fulham weren’t impressive in their opening game against a Portsmouth side that looks a certainty for relegation following their fire sale in the summer amid financial and ownership turmoil.

However, we have to bear in mind Fulham’s previous poor away record and chalk this as simply as that old cliché, “a win’s a win”.

Fulham had enjoyed a fine season in 2008-09 and with wily boss Roy Hodgson utilising his experience and knowledge in the transfer market, they look to enjoy safety once again with some shrewd additions.

But they face a sterner test at home to their West London neighbours, Chelsea.

Chelsea

Chelsea come into this game on the back of a relatively convincing 3-1 midweek victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, following their last gasp 2-1 opening day win against Hull. They made hard work of the latter, coming from behind to hand Ancelotti his first’s competitive win as Chelsea boss.

Whilst they were hot favourites, they were made to work for their first win and the relief etched on Ancelotti’s face was tangible. It was simply one of those days when it would take several chances to create a goal and from previous years, nothing has changed.

However, a generally convincing win against Sunderland may have shed many of the nerves that were present on the opening day of the season for Chelsea.

The Blues' functional efficient play does not differ from the Mourinho and Hiddink regimes and whilst Roman may prefer a flashier style of play, there is no doubting that at this point in time, their style is bringing them results.

Only long term absentee Joe Cole and recent signing Yuri Zhirkov should miss out through injury and fitness concerns and Chelsea should have no further medical issues with normal luck.

Prediction

In just two games, Chelsea has been their normal functional self, grinding out an opening day home win to Hull and largely dominating with an impressive victory against Sunderland.

What Chelsea showed in their last two matches y was nothing we did not know. Under Hiddink, they had rediscovered a number of the traits prevalent during Jose Mourinho’s reign since Hiddink took temporary charge in February.

Now Ancelotti looks to have carried on the work with Chelsea looking functional once again aside from the champagne football they had flashed in the early days of Scolari’s reign.

Roy Hodgson has used every ounce of his experience and global knowledge to oversee an impressive season last year at Craven Cottage. He’s been the solid managerial hand Fulham has badly needed achieving what the likes of Kevin Keegan, Jean Tigana, Chris Coleman and Lawrie Sanchez has failed to do: comfortably achieve Premier League status whilst achieving European football.

It is a tough match to call despite not quite able to visualise Fulham having enough to defeat their derby rivals, and the two likely options to consider would be the draw or a Chelsea win.

Chelsea enter as favourites, but with Fulham holding a great home record, expect a close and passionate derby game between the two London sides.

Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

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