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Fulham v Cardiff City. Match preview

Last updated : 28 September 2013 By Michael Morris

Early team news:

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes and midfielder Bryan Ruiz face fitness tests before Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Cardiff.

Hughes and Ruiz have been absent with thigh and ankle injuries respectively.

Ashkan Dejagah (calf), Matthew Briggs (hernia) and first-choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) are still out.

Peter Odemwingie could have played himself into contention for a starting place against Fulham.

The former West Brom striker played the full 90 minutes and scored in Cardiff's 3-2 Capital One Cup defeat against West Ham, and an impressive performance could earn him a starting berth at the weekend.

He and Fraizer Campbell are expected to battle for a spot up front. Andreas Cornelius (foot) remains Cardiff's only injury absentee.

 

The managers:

Martin Jol

 "The difference between being successful and not is nothing. If we had won the game against West Brom, we would've been in the top half of the table.

"If you look at Cardiff, they're very organised. They've got pace up front and they've always got some activity. They'd like to hurt you.

"It's not a walkover, of course not. It's a strong team with good qualities.

They've invested a few bob as well.

"It won't be easy, but how many games are easy in the league?

"You get more space and normally it's easier. If you get more space with the players we've got - and we've got some space up front now - hopefully we can make it easier for ourselves.

"If not, I can live with a narrow win as well. Hopefully we are strong enough."

Malky Mackay 

"Martin is an experienced manager who has a group who have just gone and beaten Everton on Tuesday night. It just shows you the strength of the team.

"They are a club who have been in the Premier League for a good number of years and they are very stable.

"We realise it is an away game and that's tough as you have seen every week," he said. "But we are relishing going up there even though it will be a tough task.

"I know the individual skill that at least half a dozen of their present team have got and they have five or six individual match winners and an experienced manager, so we have a task in hand but we are looking forward to it.

"Every week there is a challenge in the Premier League and there is no easy week.

"If you ever start thinking like that, then good luck, because I am not sure you will last very long.

"It's about making sure you treat everyone with the same importance and it is the same as last year."

 

The officials:

Referee: Craig Pawson. Assistants: D Bryan, A Garratt. Fourth Official: N Swarbrick.

 

Squads:

Fulham (from): Stockdale, Riether, Richardson, Hughes, Senderos, Hangeland, Parker, Sidwell, Berbatov, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Etheridge, Zverotic, Amorebieta, Karagounis, Duff, Taarabt, Ruiz, Rodallega, Bent.

Cardiff (from): Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Caulker, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Cowie, Medel, Campbell, Brayford, Kim, Smith, Gestede, Noone, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Odemwingie, Mason, Maynard, Lewis, Moore, Bellamy, Theophile-Catherine.

 


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