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Fulham logo
Premier League
Apr 12, 2014 at 3.07pm UK
 
Norwich logo

1-0

Rodallega (40')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Fulham vs. Norwich City

Sports Mole previews Saturday's huge Premier League relegation dogfight between Fulham and Norwich at Craven Cottage.

Whether it was inspired by panic or genuine belief, Norwich's decision to sack Chris Hughton with just five games remaining of the season is at the very least puzzling.

Nevertheless, a new era for the Canaries will get underway on Saturday when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham under the stewardship of former Under-18s coach Neil Adams for the first time.

Whether such an inexperienced manager will be able to cope with the pressure of a relegation run-in remains to be seen, but with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal to come, it promises to be a baptism of fire for Adams.

Not that he can afford to look past this weekend. Saturday's match against Fulham is arguably the biggest yet in a fascinating relegation battle, with 17th and 18th place going head to head.

Adams has expressed his confidence that Norwich will remain in the top flight this season, but that belief will be severely tested if his side lose to Fulham at Craven Cottage for the second time this season.

The Canaries have already been thrashed 3-0 there in the FA Cup, and a similar result this weekend would put them within touching distance of the Cottagers and the bottom three.

The signs aren't good for Adams. Norwich have lost their last seven matches on the road and are without a win in nine away games, scoring just five goals in that time. Their overall form stands at just one win in their last six games, during which time they have played a number of teams around them in the table.

The new boss has already outlined his willingness to use youngsters if needed, but with Leroy Fer the only current injury doubt, he may opt for a fairly similar team to Hughton's last match in charge.

Fulham, meanwhile, breathed new life into their fight for survival with a 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa last weekend, and this Saturday's clash is arguably even more important for them.

The Cottagers hauled themselves off the foot of the table courtesy of Hugo Rodallega's late goal at Villa Park, and they now sit just five points from safety with five games remaining.

It would be a remarkable feat if Fulham were to save their Premier League status this season, but of all the bottom three it is the Londoners who look most likely to pull off a great escape. Indeed, victory on Saturday would close the gap to safety to just two points.

However, they have not won back-to-back matches since October and their goal difference - which is comfortably the worst in the league - effectively makes the gap to safety six points.

They may have already beaten Norwich here in the cup, but their Premier League form at home is one of the worst in the division with 11 defeats and just 13 points from their 16 matches in front of their own fans.

Felix Magath has described the match as a must-win encounter, and he is not wrong. Defeat could see them end the day six points from safety having played a game more than Swansea City, who would drop to 17th if both Norwich and West Bromwich Albion win.

The Cottagers will still be without Kostas Mitroglou and Damien Duff through injury, while Giorgios Karagounis, Scott Parker and Dan Burn are also doubts for the match.

Recent form

Fulham: LLWLLW

Norwich: LDLWLL

Possible starting lineups

Fulham: Stockdale; Hangeland, Amorebieta, Heitinga; Riether, Dejagah, Sidwell, Diarra, Richardson; Holtby; Woodrow

Norwich: Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong, Olsson; Snodgrass, Tettey, Howson, Hoolahan; Elmander, Van Wolfswinkel

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at White Hart Lane on April 7, 2014
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Today's games header
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Bengals
34-35
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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