Fulham v Manchester City: Will Berbatov derail the champions' title hopes?
Manchester City were knocked out of the Capital One Cup in midweek by Aston Villa and Roberto Mancini will be expecting a positive response from his players at Craven Cottage, but they will have to be on top form to get anything from Martin Jol's men.
Fulham were the first team to take points off the champions last season at the Cottage and the Cottagers have a formidable home record. Only Swansea have left the Cottage with maximum points during the whole of 2012 and Mark Schwarzer has yet to concede a goal in front of his own fans.
However, Manchester City aren't champions for nothing. With the likes of Aguero, Tevez, Toure, Silva, Kompany and Hart, City have the players who can break hearts all over the pitch. Unfortunately, Mancini's men have seemingly lost the ability to defend. They have failed to keep a single clean sheet all season. That will be music to the ears of Fulham and former Manchester United marksman Dimitar Berbatov.
The Bulgarian is on the scoring trail again following his return to the capital and looks sharp and deadly. He would love to derail the champions title hopes, but can he find a way past Kompany, Lescott and Hart? On recent form you would have to say yes.
City have only lost once at the Cottage in the Premier League - 2005 - and previous meetings have always produced a glut of goals. But who will come out on top in this one?
Fulham v Manchester
City; Kick Off 3pm
September 29 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
2 |
V |
4 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
2 |
Panel Verdict
The champions should have this.
Home: 5; Draw: 8; Away: 21.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
