Fulham v Everton preview

22 May 2009 13:19
Fulham will be hoping to round off their season in style on Sunday when they welcome Everton to the capital. The Cottagers head into the final day knowing that victory would secure a Europa League place for next season, while even a draw is likely to be enough to fend off the challenge of Tottenham. A top-seven finish would represent a remarkable achievement for a side that only narrowly avoided relegation out of the Premier League 12 months ago. Roy Hodgson has done a sterling job with a hard-working side and qualification for continental competition would be no more than they deserve. Fulham will enter the game in confident mood, having won four of their last six fixtures, and history suggests that as hosts they will be celebrating success again this weekend. All 15 of the top-flight meetings between the two sides have been won by the team playing at home, while Everton have mustered just one goal during their seven previous visits to Craven Cottage. The Toffees will also be looking to sign off in style, though, with David Moyes' men enjoying another eye-catching campaign towards the top of the table. A spot in Europe for next season is already safely secured, but they will want to hang onto the fifth-placed standing they enjoy heading into the game. Everton have lost only one of their last seven in the league, allowing them to climb above Aston Villa, but they have fared woefully on the final day in recent years. They have conceded more goals in their final fixture of the season than any of their Premier League rivals, while they have managed to bring the curtain down on their season with maximum points just once in their last 12 attempts. Fulham have few injury concerns ahead of the game and Hodgson will have the luxury of a virtually fully-fit squad from which to choose. Wales international Simon Davies will miss out with a back problem and Giles Barnes is carrying an Achilles knock, but they are the only absentees. The Cottagers must therefore decide whether to stick with the same side that has served them so well in recent weeks or make a few tweaks to their starting XI. Few changes would be expected were Hodgson to shuffle his pack, but Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson will be pushing for a return after being left out at Newcastle last week. For Everton, Moyes will still be without a number of his key men as the season comes to a close. Tony Hibbert will be pushing for a first-team recall and Nuno Valente (knee) could come back into contention, with the duo keen to put themselves in their manager's plans ahead of the FA Cup final. However, the likes of Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe (all knee) will not figure again until next term. Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni will also be missing at Craven Cottage and will be focusing on regaining full fitness for the start of the 2009/10 campaign. Possible starting XIs Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Kamara. Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Yobo, Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Saha.

Source: SKY_Sports