Source: Eurosport
Pulis prepared for tough Fulham test
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has hailed the balance of Fulham's team ahead of his side's Premier League clash at Craven Cottage on Saturday.Fulham are currently eighth in the Premier League and hopes are high in West London that they can pip West Ham to seventh and a likely Europa League spot.Roy Hodgson's exploits have seen him emerge as a leading contender to be named Manager of the Year and Pulis reckons his experience has been crucial to the Cottagers.However, the Potters boss also reckons his opposite number has benefited from a lack of injures in his squad this season.He said: "Roy's an experienced manager who's been around the block a few times. He's managed in the Premier League abroad, he's managed abroad and he's worked at international level so he's got great experience."He's done a fantastic job at Fulham, they are as well balanced as any team in the Premier League and their strength is that balance as a group."But he's been fortunate in that every week you look at their team it's almost the same, and the continuity and understanding that breeds within the group is fantastic."It doesn't half help if you can keep the group together and Roy has really benefited from being able to play the same team almost every week."Rory Delap has echoed his manager's comments about Fulham and admitted his disappointment that neither James Beattie nor Danny Higginbotham are available for the trip south.Higginbotham is set to undergo an operation on his back that will keep him out of the remainder of the season, and Beattie could also face an extended spell on the sidelines if he has torn his thigh muscle as is feared.Delap said: "Fulham were among the favourites to go down with us at the start of the season but Roy Hodgson has got them very organised, especially at home."They've got the results at home and he's made them very hard to beat away too, which we found when they came to our place earlier in the season."It's going to be a tough match but if we play the way we have been doing recently there's no reason why we can't get the three points."Losing Beattie is a massive blow, though. I'd say he was one of the best signings in the Premier League in the transfer window, and he's made a massive difference to us."I knew what sort of player he was from being with him at Southampton and he's been vitally important for us, not only because of his goals but because of the work he puts in."He's a team player on the pitch and a lunatic in the dressing room as well, which helps here."Danny (Higginbotham) has been tremendous for us as well. He's hade a bad back for the last couple of weeks and would probably have rested it if the games hadn't been so important, but he's had to play and has been brilliant as he has all season."[LNB]
