Fulham make the three mile trip to Loftus Road this Saturday (KO 3pm) to take on local rivals Queens Park Rangers in the Barclays Premier League.
The teams go into the game in contrasting form with Rangers managing just one win from their last 13 league matches. Fulham, on the other hand, have notched 19 points in the same period; only two less than QPR have accrued all season.
Their last two matches were both six-pointers against teams below them in the table but they failed to come away with anything to show for their efforts. Mark Hughes’ side went down 2-1 and 3-2 to Wolves and Blackburn respectively; results which put the trio of relegation candidates all level on 21 points, with Rangers out of the drop zone on goal difference alone.
Whites fans will not need reminding of the score when we last met QPR as we matched our greatest ever Premier League win with a 6-0 mauling at Craven Cottage. An Andrew Johnson hat trick (and Fulham’s first ever in this league) was the highlight, with a Danny Murphy penalty and strikes from Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora completing the rout.
The Whites have only suffered two defeats in their last eight league matches and will be optimistic that the run doesn’t end on Saturday following an impressive three points against Stoke City in our last outing.
Player statistics
Most goals
Fulham: Clint Dempsey (10)
QPR: Heidar Helguson (8)
Most assists
Fulham: Clint Dempsey/Danny Murphy (4)
QPR: Joey Barton/Shaun Wright-Phillips (3)
Avg. shots per game
Fulham: Clint Dempsey (4)
QPR: Adel Taarabt (3.1)
Avg. passes per game
Fulham: Danny Murphy (65.4)
QPR: Alejandro Faurlin (57.4)
Pass success rate
Fulham: Dickson Etuhu (86%)
QPR: Armand Traore (84%)
Average aerial battles won per game
Fulham: Brede Hangeland (2.7)
QPR: Heidar Helguson (4.3)
Tackles per game
Fulham: Mousa Dembele (3)
QPR: Alejandro Faurlin (4.5)
Interceptions per game
Fulham: Chris Baird (2.8)
QPR: Alejandro Faurlin (2.3)
Average per match statistics
Fulham/QPR
1 Goals 1
15 Shots 14
2 Yellow cards 1
5 Corners 5
10 Fouls 10
2 Offsides 2
20 Throw-ins 24
52% Aerial duel success 46%
50% Ball possession 47%
81% Pass success 73%