Fulham v City: Preview

March 19, 2010

Roberto Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will be without Wayne Bridge for the Barclays Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

The full-back will be sidelined for a month after undergoing a hernia operation and Javier Garrido is favourite to replace him.

Emmanuel Adebayor is absent through suspension while Martin Petrov has a knee injury.

Ahead of the game Mancini said he hopes Bridge changes his mind about not going to the World Cup as he believes England can win the tournament.

Bridge decided to make himself unavailable for England after John Terry’s alleged affair with his former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.

However, England manager Fabio Capello has kept the door open for the full-back.

Mancini intends to talk to Bridge once he returns to training about the importance of taking the chance, if it arises, of going to South Africa.

Mancini said: “It is always important for a player to play in the World Cup, because you can only play in it once or twice in your life.

“I hope for Wayne and England he changes his mind. If you have a chance of playing for England, they can win the World Cup.

“So for a player it is important to play in this World Cup. The England team have a big chance and I hope Wayne will change his mind.

“I think he will be ready for the last five games of the season. In the next month maybe he can change his situation.

“When Wayne returns to training I will speak with him and hope he will play in the tournament.”

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson welcomes back captain Danny Murphy and midfielder Jonathan Greening for the game

Both players were suspended for Thursday night's win over Juventus and Murphy could replace Dickson Etuhu, who picked up a knock in the shock Europa League victory.

Andy Johnson and John Pantsil (both knee) are out, David Elm is a doubt with illness while Clint Dempsey is pushing for a starting place after scoring the winner against Juve.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Baird, Kelly, Shorey, Stoor, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Smalling, Gera, Duff, Murphy, Greening, Davies, Etuhu, Riise, Nevland, Elm, Okaka, Zamora, Marsh-Brown.

Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Lescott, Boyata, Garrido, Sylvinho, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Vieira, Barry, De Jong, Ibrahim, Tevez, Bellamy, Santa Cruz.

Fulham league form: DWWDL

City league form: WDDWD

Key opponent: Bobby Zamora - not universally rated but has 16 goals for Fulham this season

Prediction: Fulham 1 City 2 - this could be the game where City really make their play for fourth place

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Click here for all the latest odds from Betfred.

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wrighty city, city (19/03/2010 at 12:26)

Going to be tough this one

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon (19/03/2010 at 12:35)

This is a big game for us its going to be tough Fulham are going to be fall off conferdence after last nights fantastic come back. Fulham is proberly one off the harders grounds to go to and get a win.

This will be my team to play Fulham

Given

Richards Lescott Kompany Barry

A.Johnson Ireland De Jong Viara Bellamy

Tevez

mark jones (19/03/2010 at 12:39)

this one is a tough one,i will be more then happy with a draw there,ok last week at the swamp they where pathetic, its obvious they where saving themselves for last night, but at home they are exellent.

Ashley Hallows, Manchester (19/03/2010 at 12:52)

Tough call they are our BOGEY TEAM

GJ (19/03/2010 at 12:57)

Fulham are there for the taking. They've nothing to play for in the league and, after a tough european match theyv'e another cup game midweek. Therefore we can expect a lot of reserve players in the team on sunday.Shame I'll be watching Dagenham rather than City tomorrow.

Shaun, At My Desk (19/03/2010 at 12:58)

We must start playing from the whistle at kick off,NOT after half-time by which point we could well be one goal down.I'll be there,and it's costing me £49!! It appears to have "draw2 written all over it,unless Mancini bites the bullet and goes for it.Three points would be like gold dust,but a draw would not be a complete disaster.2-0 City.

Gary SK13- , Glossop SK13 (19/03/2010 at 13:09)

Hoping for a subdued performance from Fulham after their efforts against Juve, we will still have to be up for this though from minute 1. If we are then i think we can take all 3 points.

mike parker (19/03/2010 at 13:20)

I'd love to see us win this one but sadly it will be 2-0 to Fulham and our 4th place hope will further diminish. Right that prediction should get us the win now!

Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (19/03/2010 at 13:30)

I really do hope your prediction is correct, but looking at the kind of performances that Roy Hodgson has coaxed out of his squad this season, and looking at some of the genuine quality in there, it's going to be a tough nut to crack.

Oh well, hope springs eternal and all that. Get into 'em City!!!

bubba, cleethorpes (19/03/2010 at 13:41)

West London focus continues. Mourhino, Ancelotti, Hodgson, now Mancini. Should be capable of getting 3 points. Hope that we do, even though Murphy and Greening may return. Everybody knows what Fulham can do, if they are allowed to play. Dont think that they are that solid at the back, and especialy vulnerable down the flanks (sounds familiar). Let Fulham dictate the play, and its obvious the likes of Dempsey, Zamora, and Gera are capable of scoring. Need to 'boss it', keep possession, take charge of each flank. May be an idea to try Toure at Right Back. Pip.. Pip..

carrick16 (19/03/2010 at 13:49)

I have never seen Stuart`s predictions come true. It means City's lose.

Howard (19/03/2010 at 13:53)

There is only the Rags with a better goals against record at home than Fulham... So will be very tough!!!

blueballs (19/03/2010 at 13:54)

They didn't turn up at Sold Trafford then they thrashed Juve 4-1. Sunday's game has got DRAW written all over it. 2-2

I am not a number (19/03/2010 at 13:55)

I cringed when I heard Sylvinho was going to be up against Lennon when we played Spurs & the prospect of Garrido v Duff is just as scary, but if we go for them with our forward options we could just nick it 4-3.

Drew Peacock (19/03/2010 at 14:06)

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon,
19/03/2010 at 12:35

Quite like that line up....Would still drop richards for Zableta though.

CTID_2010 , Manchester (19/03/2010 at 14:19)

Shame I'll be watching Dagenham rather than City tomorrow.
GJ,
19/03/2010 at 12:57

Thats funny because City dont play till sunday!!!!

Delboy, York (19/03/2010 at 14:37)

If you want a banker for this weekend, it has to be City for an away win...after their win against Juventus, Roy Hodgson said "They'll be celebrating in the dressing room but I'll be nailing their feet to the floor again tomorrow."....they are bound to have sore feet after that at the very least!!!

I'm just like Stewie Griffin, Fictional Quahog, Rhode Island (19/03/2010 at 14:45)

"I'd love to see us win this one but sadly it will be 2-0 to Fulham and our 4th place hope will further diminish. Right that prediction should get us the win now!"
mike parker
19/03/2010 at 13:20

We can't win there either, so I wouldn't worry too much. Knowing you lot, you'll bet them 3-0.

After all, they might just be a little tired after their fantastic win againt Juventus.

ireland7 (19/03/2010 at 15:20)

It seems Santa Cruz and Garrido will start.

Red Afro, Derby (19/03/2010 at 15:47)

Oh! By the way we have to pay City back by winning against Liverpool on Sunday. Not only did they drub poor Chelsea for us, but they knocked their confidence off, completely ripping their season apart to leave the title charge in our own hands. This surely is time to return the favor so City have a chance to finish 4th. But when City gets there we'll be quick to remind them how they achieved it.

trubluTaplow, Taplow Bucks (19/03/2010 at 16:11)

If as much effort is put in for the FULL ninety minutes, as was put in during the last twenty, of the Sunderland game, we may get a draw, or even a w

IF (big if) as much effort is put in for the FULL ninety minutes, we may get a draw, or even a w.. no I
can't say it. Fulham are below us in the table, but bear in mind what they did to Juve ! ! ! !

www.justgiving.com/garryhardingmarathon (19/03/2010 at 16:53)

Hi all fellow blues, I'm a season ticket holder at city and I would like support from my fellow citizens.

On 25th april I am running the london marathon for Christies Cancer Hospital after my dad was treated there for multiple myeloma, and would ask everyone to please check out my webpage (address below) Thanks CTID

Sorry for the shameless plug but I hope to raise as much as possible...

arthur sixpence, wythenshawe (19/03/2010 at 17:12)

not at all easy - but last nights win could work in citys favour also fulham have another cup game next midweek v spurs so may have bigger things to focus on , for once us city fans would not be too upset to see the rags win

70s prominent mufc, Blackley (19/03/2010 at 19:19)

TO RED AFRO DERBY at 15:47
Like i said on our site city beat chelsea for themselves not for us.

ted knott, droylsden (19/03/2010 at 20:17)

Red Afro --football has the uncanny knack of kicking you back in the teeth so try not to be so cock sure with United's chances it could come back to haunt you. Have you not realised Arsenal might just win the title and not your beloved hype merchants?

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