LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES THRICE

 City vs Fulham

 25.10.2009   Kick Off - 16:00

City's game against the Cottagers on Sunday will be a game that both sides will be confident of winning.

On a run of 8 wins, 2 draws and only 1 controversial derby defeat since the start of the season, the blues will be confident of sweeping aside a slow starting Fulham, but Mark Hughes insists his side will give them their full respect.

"They have a good work ethic," he added. "They have guys who are disciplined and work hard to frustrate you and they also have quality at the other end as well, so it will be interesting to see what team they pick.

"They made a lot of changes to their team when we played them in the Carling Cup but they were still a big challenge. We will not take them lightly by any means. We will have to be at the right level and make sure we get the job done."


Having played and lost to two of the top Premier League sides in Villa and Chelsea already, Fulham will be fully aware that a confident and in form City could easily turn that statistic into three out of three.

Fulham are the ones in Europe, yet Blues players and fans will be quick to point out that Sundays after a European game can be like Monday morning after a best friend's wedding. The Roma game will certainly have taken something out of the Londoners. 

If we look at both sides there few if any Fulham players that would grace the Sky Blue first XI, so really there should be nothing to fear, should there?

City (From)
Given, Taylor, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Sylvinho, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Ball, Weiss, Vidal, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Tevez, Adebayor, Kompany.

Fulham (From)
Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Baird, Smalling, Kelly, Hughes, Dempsey, Gera, Andranik, Duff, Riise, Greening, Etuhu, Davies, Kamara, E Johnson, Nevland, Seol, Zamora, Elm.

Reasons to fear? 

Roy Hodgson is a knowledgeable manager and knows how to win against City as Eastlands. In the last two seasons

the likeable Englishman has pulled off shock wins stunning the Blues fans and Premier League alike.

Two seasons ago Fulham were under threat of relegation and came to City as definite underdogs. City proved that this was warranted by going 2 goals up by half time and Fulham were mathematically relegated. Then the unthinkable happened with the introduction of the much maligned Diomansy Kamara. The Senagalese international heralded the start of a fantastic comeback by striking twice as Fulham registered a 3-2 famous win.



Last season City again Fulham were at it with goals from Dempsey and Dickson Etuhu (yes Dickson Etuhu!) after Steven Ireland had put the Blues ahead with a long range effort.



There is no doubt that the Fulham players will be reminding themselves of the last two seasons and the fact that City have won only two games at home against them since 2002.

Man. City vs Fulham - results at home:
2008/2009		Man. City - Fulham	1:3
2007/2008		Man. City - Fulham	2:3
2006/2007		Man. City - Fulham	3:1
2005/2006		Man. City - Fulham	1:2
2004/2005		Man. City - Fulham	1:1
2003/2004		Man. City - Fulham	0:0
2002/2003		Man. City - Fulham	4:1

 

Brede Hangeland :

'It should be a really good match. They have signed a lot of big-name players so they have done well like they expected so it will obviously be a tough game. We have won two years in a row up there so if we can do it again that would be fantastic but they have a fantastic side and we will try and get something from there.'

Fulham fans might point out that they have another strong case this season, after their reserve side almost came away with a win in the last round of the Carling Cup after Zoltan Gera's piledriver had given them the lead against a full strength City side.

So City may hold all the cards on Sunday, with a 100 % home record, fresher players, a much better team on paper and new found confindence that should see us breaking that top four this season. Fulham on the other hand might just put Kamara on the bench for the first 70 mins and then unleash the Blue terminator, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Can lightning strike thrice for the love of God I hope not? Otherwise there might be a repeat of these scenes.





                                                                     On Sunday

     Every City fan's nightmare      



Dangermen
Clint Dempsey and Diomansy Kamara - Both know how to score against City

Prediction 3-1

Key Battles
Can Damien Duff role back the years to trouble Micah Richards? Probably not
Will The Kamara strike again? Probably at least once
Will Bridge deal with Dempsey's pressure game? No, but Bellamy will make sure he isn't over-powered.