Fulham v Newcastle
Craven Cottage
Saturday, 3 February
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
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Fulham team news to follow later.
Newcastle new boy Oguchi Onyewu is in the squad, while Nolberto Solano also figures after suspension.
Midfielder Nicky Butt suffered a knee injury in the midweek win over Aston Villa, but he could yet play.
Newcastle (from): Harper, Srnicek, Carr, Solano, Edgar, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Huntington, Butt, Parker, Milner, Duff, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Martins, Dyer, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
FULHAM take on in form Newcastle searching for a first win in eight Premiership matches. The Cottagers drew six top flight games prior to Tuesday's 2-0 loss at Sheffield United, and have been waiting since 18 December to record an elusive 50th League victory under Chris Coleman.
The Londoners are three places and nine points above the relegation zone. It's easy to see why they are not in a more elevated position, as 44% of their League games this term have finished level. They've drawn 11 of the 25.
Two goals in the last eight minutes stole all three points in the reverse fixture in September, to give Fulham the chance of a first ever League 'double' over Newcastle.
NEWCASTLE UNITED are yet to lose a League game in 2007, and being unbeaten in four Premiership outings, are making a belated challenge for Europe. Wednesday's impressive 3-1 home victory over Aston Villa took them back into the top half, having been in the relegation zone in mid-November.
Glenn Roeder is entering his second year in charge, eager to add to a tally of 16 wins in 40 Premiership outings, and nine in 25 since he was officially promoted from the caretaker role.
The Magpies have not beaten Fulham since their visit to west London on 4 May 2005, when they won 1-3 with goals from Darren Ambrose, Patrick Kluivert and Shola Ameobi.
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
FULHAM
15th 29 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 11th
Lowest could fall: 16th
1. Gained six Premiership victories this season.
2. Lost one of seven in the top tier, but not claimed a maximum since the 2-1 home victory over Middlesbrough on 18 December.
3. The current tally of 29 points after 25 games is on a par with last season, when they eventually finished 12th.
4. Scored nine goals in the last 10 minutes of Premiership matches this season - only Arsenal are more lethal in that time segment (10 goals).
5. Conceded eight times in the first quarter (22 minutes) of top flight games this term - a statistic only Bolton match.
6. Undefeated in five home Premiership matches.
7. Won two and drawn three League games at Craven Cottage, since losing 0-1 to Reading on 25 November. Drawn the last three top tier fixtures on the banks of the Thames, against West Ham and Watford (both goalless), and Tottenham (1-1).
8. One of three clubs to have scored just 10 home goals in this Premiership campaign. The others are Manchester City and Watford.
9. An away trip to Bolton follows this, before the FA Cup fifth round tie, home to Tottenham, and the Premiership clash with leaders Manchester United at the Cottage.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
9th 33 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 8th
Lowest could fall: 12th
1. Won two and drawn two in the Premiership, since losing 3-0, away to Everton on 30 December.
2. Completed 14 matches without keeping a clean sheet - 11 in the Premiership.
3, Kept only four clean sheets in this Premiership season. Only Tottenham have also managed so few block-outs.
4. Lost the lead nine times in top tier encounters this term, and effectively dropped 15 points from matches in which they in a winning position. Drawn three (home to Everton and Manchester United, and away to Arsenal) and lost three (home to Fulham, and home and away to Bolton) in which they held the lead.
5. Failed to score in a total of seven away League games, as have Liverpool. Only West Ham (nine) and Watford (eight) have missed the target in more matches on their Premiership travels.
6. Must host Liverpool before the Uefa Cup fixture to Belgium to face Zulte-Waregem.
