George:
Intriguing Premiership game today between the teams of Fulham and Sunderland.
Cottagers are placed 11th in the table with 19 points.The team made pretty bad start of the season, but the play of the team gradually improved and Hodgson's side is slowly climbing the EPL table.
In midweek the team played Europa League game against CSKA Sofia at Craven Cottage and won 1:0, but the performance of the team wasn't very good.Hodgson stated that the part of the team in that competition may damage team's performance in the league, but I think it appeared to be useful for the manager as he has a chance to try some young players in official games.And after all Fulham is still in the game and can qualify for the next phase of the competition.
The team is known of the stable performance at home and they prove it once again.After the unlucky lose by Arsenal 1:0 at Craven Cottage in the end of September the team is unbeaten at home ground.
For the game today Kamara, Etuhu and Andy Johnson are still out of the squad, while Davies is doubtful.But Konchesky, Greening, Nevland, Dikgacoi, Ki - Hyeon and Eddie johnson, that all missed the game with CSKA return to the squad.
Sunderland on the other hand seems to be in the opposite condition.The team made great start of the season but recently the results are not so good.
Yes, the team is still in the top half on the table, taking the 9th place, but if they don't improve performance that won't last long.
The main trouble of the team is the bad away form.After the first few games it seemed that there will be positive change in the away shape of the team, but then the team started showing the same weaknesses as in the previous seasons.The team on only a point from the last 6 away games, and as a whole the team won only one of the last 6 games played, so the form of the black cats is far from best.
One of the reasons is the absence of Cattermole, that appeared to be the key man for the team in midfield, but he'll miss the next month or so.In addition Mensah and Gordon are injured too, while Jones is doubtful.
Here a strong hosts will meet terrible away team.Adding to that the dropped from of the Black Cats and the missing players, I give full advantage to the Cottagers.
I bet on Home win.
