A 3-1 loss at ten-man Blackburn last Saturday won’t have pleased Martin Jol and I’m taking on Fulham again this weekend when they face Newcastle.
Yakubu’s early sending off seven days ago presented the Cottagers with an excellent opportunity to claim three points but Steve Kean’s men rallied in the face of adversity and eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Prior to the defeat at Ewood Park, Fulham had beaten Arsenal 2-1 in front of their own fans but they were extremely lucky to prevail in a game which the visitors dominated and Jol’s men have been inconsistent all term.
Usually so tough to beat on the banks of the Thames, Fulham have already lost to Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United when hosting this season, conceding 11 goals in those three reversals alone, and their performances differ wildly from one week to the next.
Jol will be hoping for a positive reaction from his men after that shambolic display in the north-west and there is every chance he’ll get one. However, Newcastle’s fantastic start to the season shows no signs of dwindling and they have rallied magnificently since a poor run of result around Christmas.
The Magpies’ 3-0 win over Manchester United at the start of the month has been the catalyst for three consecutive victories and Alan Pardew’s team have seemingly overcome the loss of star men Demba Ba and Cheikh Tiote to the African Cup of Nations.
While that pair have hogged the headlines so far this season, Yohann Cabaye, the French midfielder, has been a revelation and his influence on games is telling. Newcastle look a very decent outfit with the former Lille man pulling the strings and they remain defensively robust, too.
At a little over even money, I have to be taking on Fulham against slightly inferior opponents and this should be a decent game. It’s one in which Newcastle can gain at least a point in and, with Arsenal facing Manchester United on Sunday, they could well find themselves in fifth place come the end of the weekend.
2pts Lay Fulham (vs. Newcastle) @ 2.08 (Betfair)