Norwich v Fulham - Match preview and team news
Saturday 09 February 2013
Carrow Road will play host to a clash between two sides who are both in poor form and rapidly sliding towards the bottom three with 14th-placed Norwich fronting up 13th-placed Fulham. The Canaries will certainly hope to avoid a repeat of their clash with the Cottagers on the opening day of the Premier League season, which saw Martin Jol’s men romp to a 5-0 victory.
Chris Hughton’s men are winless in the league so far in 2013 and the former Newcastle manager is aware that three points are needed extremely quickly if his side are to maintain their comfortable return to the Premier League since their promotion to it in 2011. With that in mind, Hughton could hand new strikers Luciano Becchio and Kei Kamara their full debuts for the club, particularly with in-form wideman Anthony Pilikington doubtful with the hamstring injury that prevented him from making his Republic of Ireland debut in the week.
Meanwhile, Fulham are a thoroughly different outfit from the one that dispatched Norwich with such ease back in the sunny days of August. Having been shorn of Moussa Dembele, Martin Jol’s men have struggled to replace the big Belgian, though the latest attempt Urby Emanuelson could make his full debut after signing on-loan from AC Milan last week.
Key defender Brede Hangeland is fit to play despite being forced off at half time in his side’s home defeat to Manchester United last week while Dimitar Berbatov will be assessed on his hamstring problem. Steve Sidwell (knee) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are doubtful but Kerim Frei (groin) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee) are out.
Related Articles
|