By Steve Pass Last updated: 27th November 2009
Hodgson: Sure to get a great reception on Saturday
Fulham take on struggling Bolton on Saturday looking to extend their winning streak at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers have won their last three top-flight games at home, the latest the fine 3-0 success over Blackburn on Wednesday.
Add to this the scalps of Liverpool and Hull, and Roy Hodgson's side will go into this game full of confidence.
Hodgson himself confirmed a new contract with the club this week - a just reward after keeping the Cottagers in the top flight and then guiding them into Europe - and the canny boss is sure to get a great reception from the Fulham faithful.
But the Fulham fans' adoration of Hodgson is in stark contrast to how some Bolton supporters view Gary Megson.
Despite pulling off heroics like Hodgson and keeping the Trotters in the top flight, some of the supporters have never taken to the Bolton boss.
Following a summer of strengthening, Megson's side still find themselves at the wrong end of the table after losing their last three games on the bounce in the top flight - including the 2-0 home derby loss to Blackburn last time.
But, ahead of the trip, Megson can at least take heart from the fact that his team have picked up more points on the road than at home this season and he will be looking for a positive performance at Craven Cottage.
Bobby Zamora is struggling to be fit to play against Bolton after picking up a groin problem during the victory over Blackburn.
Fulham boss Hodgson is hoping fellow striker Andy Johnson could be available after returning to training and may take his place, but forward Diomansy Kamara (knee) remains out.
Apart from this potential problem upfront, Hodgson may be tempted to stick with the same side which comfortably beat Rovers last time.
For Bolton, midfielder Tamir Cohen could return to Megson's squad following a groin injury which forced him to sit out the derby defeat by Blackburn.
Ricardo Gardner suffered a calf strain in that match and Jlloyd Samuel took a knock but both are expected to be available at Craven Cottage.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Baird, Hangeland, Konchesky, Greening, Duff, Dempsey, Zamora, Nevland.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Knight, Cahill, Samuel, Muamba, Cohen, Gardner, Taylor, K Davies, Lee.
Fulham v Bolton. Click here to bet.| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Arsenal vs Liverpool |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | West Ham vs Birmingham |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Tottenham |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 16th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Man City |
| Wednesday 17th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Bolton |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Everton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Chelsea |
| 17:30 | Portsmouth vs Stoke |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Liverpool |
| 16:15 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| Monday 22nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Bolton |
| Tuesday 23rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs West Ham |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Chelsea vs Man City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Sunday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Stoke 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Burnley 2 - 1 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 3rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 2nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Arsenal 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 1 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 25 | 58 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 25 | 56 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 25 | 49 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 25 | 44 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 24 | 44 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 43 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 24 | 41 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 24 | 37 |
| 9 | Fulham | 26 | 34 |
| 10 | Everton | 24 | 32 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 24 | 30 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 28 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 25 | 26 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 24 | 24 |
| 15 | Hull City | 25 | 24 |
| 16 | Burnley | 25 | 23 |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 | 22 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 24 | 21 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 21 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 25 | 16 |
Confidence will be in short supply when the Merseyside derby kicks off on Sunday, says Andy Gray.
For Liverpool and Everton it's a 'can't-lose' derby but does anyone else care, asks Paul Merson?