West Ham v Fulham preview

Cottagers out to stop the rot

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 11th January 2008

Bullard Jimmy

Bullard: Possible return

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: West Ham 1 Fulham 1

SKY BET odds: West Ham 4/6, Draw 12/5, Fulham 7/2

One to Watch: Dean Ashton

Bet on Saturday's game

Related links

Teams

Also see

West Ham entertain Fulham with the visitors hoping to improve their dismal Premier League record against the Hammers.

Despite drawing the previous two fixtures - the Cottagers haven't beaten their London opponents in the league since November 2001.

The neutral spectator will be hoping for a similar result to the one exactly a year ago to this weekend when Fulham snatched a 3-3 draw courtesy of an injury-time Phillipe Christanval strike.

Dilemma

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has plenty of options to choose from as he prepares for the Upton Park meeting.

Luis Boa Morte, James Collins, Calum Davenport and Julien Faubert all safely negotiated a reserve team fixture in midweek - with Boa Morte in particular champing at the bit for a starting place against his former club.

Also pushing for a starting spot are defender Danny Gabbidon and midfielders Matthew Etherington, Lee Bowyer and Freddie Ljungberg as all have been training well this week.

Strikers Craig Bellamy (stomach) and Bobby Zamora (knee) will definitely miss out, while midfielders Nolberto Solano (hamstring) and Scott Parker (knee) are also unavailable.

Return

Newly appointed Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has also received a timely fitness boost with a number of key players resuming full training this week.

Midfielder Jimmy Bullard could feature for the first time since he sustained a horror knee injury against Newcastle in September 2006.

Defenders Christanval and Aaron Hughes have also been back in training this week and could return to shore-up the Cottagers backline.

Definitely missing are defenders Ian Pearce (calf) and Elliot Omozusi (ankle) while striker Hameur Bouzza is doubtful after not fully recovering from a dislocated shoulder.