A good omen for Everton, another Charlton collapse

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Everton have lost just one of their last seventeen games, with their only defeat over that period coming away to Manchester United. The last four teams to knock Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup have reached the final (and lost), meaning that Everton could be the team to end the Red Devils sextuple bid in the semis.

2. Arsenal have failed to score in their last three home league games but they have managed eight in their three cup games at the Emirates over the same period, winning each game to nil. The only team to have scored against the Gunners in their last eight games was West Brom.

3. Fulham’s 4-0 home loss to Manchester United was the first time since last April that they have been beaten by more than one goal at Craven Cottage.

4. Charlton’s 3-2 loss at home to Watford at the weekend marked the third time in seven games that they had led at half-time only to end up being beaten.

5. Now that they have rediscovered some form, Wolves look likely to become the sixth team in six seasons to win automatic promotion a year after finishing just outside the play-offs in either seventh or eighth.

Posted: March 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Fulham will test Manchester United’s sextuple credentials

Fulham/Man Utd, Saturday 5.15pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

On Wednesday night the task facing Manchester United this weekend looked a lot less daunting than it previously did as Hull inflicted Fulham’s second home defeat of the season. However, this is still going to be a big hurdle for the sextuple chasers. Roy Hodgson’s side remain the third best home side in the Premier League, they have a strong record against the big teams this season and Manchester United were knocked out at this stage last season, ending their treble bid. Can Fulham stop them? Here are the key facts:

Upset…

» Fulham have lost just two of their last sixteen home games, winning eleven.

» The Cottagers have played the top five on six separate occasions this season, keeping clean sheets on four and losing just once.

Posted: March 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment