Fulham v West Ham - Match preview and team news
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Craven Cottage plays host to a London derby between two teams desperately struggling for form of late. Hosts Fulham have been on a catastrophic run that has seen them take them take just three wins from their last 18 in league and cup, a run that has seen the West Londoners drop from the Europa League positions to 14th position, just four points above the drop zone, and after their capitulation against Manchester United at the weekend, out of the FA Cup.
Meanwhile, after finding themselves in eighth position after defeating Chelsea on the 1st of December, West Ham have since taken just one win from their next eight Premier League matches. While 12th position and 27 points may not exactly spell relegation trouble just yet, Sam Allardyce will be aware that a Fulham victory would take Martin Jol’s side above the Hammers.
Jol may hand a debut to central-midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong after the Ghanian joined from Arsenal on-loan for the rest of the season, while Kieran Richardson should return after missing the trip to former club Man Utd with a calf strain. However, Kerim Frei (groin), Mahamadou Diarra (knee) and Simon Davies (thigh) remain out.
For the Hammers, Marouane Chamakh is available again after the on-loan striker was ineligible to face parent club Arsenal in his side’s last league match. Andy Carroll may be fit enough for a place on the bench after recovering from a knee problem while new signing Emanuel Pogatetz will be in the squad, as well as the highly-coveted midfield Momo Diame. Winston Reid (groin), Daniel Potts (concussion) James Collins (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) are all sidelined.
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