Recent entries in Premier League
Premier League Betting: Fulham v Everton
Dan Fitch / 12 September 2009 Free Bet
David Moyes' side need a win after a poor start.
Recommended Bets: Back the draw at half time @ 2.04; Back Under 1.5 goals @ 2.92, Back Everton @ 2.9.
Fulham host Everton on Sunday at Craven Cottage and even at this tender stage of the season, it's fair to say that both sides are in need of a victory to kick start their campaigns.
Roy Hodgson's side claimed their first win on the opening day when they defeated Portsmouth, but have since lost to Chelsea and Aston Villa. Despite the slow start, Hodgson has bought himself time to deliver results, having over-achieved last season.
This may be just as well, because Everton will be in no mood to be defeated, having suffered a dreadful start to the season. The Joleon Lescott saga contributed to a 6-1 defeat to Arsenal, followed by a surprise loss to Burnley.
Even when Everton did eventually win, it was far from convincing, taking a penalty in the fourth minute of injury time to defeat the out of sorts Wigan. Just when David Moyes would have wanted to build on this momentum, along comes an international break and disrupts everything.
Before the transfer window closed Moyes brought in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, a left-winger who had a decent goalscoring record of one in every five games for Lokomotiv Moscow.
Perhaps more importantly, the experienced Premier League campaigner Sylvain Distin was recruited, as well as the versatile John Heitinga. If any manager could be trusted to spend the Lescott transfer fee wisely then Moyes is the man and in time Everton could prove to be a stronger team without the England defender.
Equally shrewd has been Roy Hodgson. He swooped to sign Damien Duff and Jonathan Greening before deadline day and though these signings may not seem that inspiring, just look at the way that Hodgson has rejuvenated the careers of the likes of Danny Murphy and Mark Schwarzer.
So all in all we have an intriguing match ahead, in which both sides need the win and with plenty of new faces on view. Fulham in particular may have to throw their new boys in at the deep end, as they have injury concerns over Simon Davies and Danny Murphy, with keeper Mark Schwarzer also doubtful.
Definitely available again after an absence, will be strikers Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora. Fulham's only league goal this season was scored by Zamora (off his backside) and he can be backed at [8.2] to score first and [3.05] to score at any time.
Andrew Johnson is [7.4] and [2.04], with Clint Dempsey [9.4] and [3.0]. For Everton, Louis Saha is [8.0] and [2.1], with Tim Cahill at [9.2] and [2.6].
Everton have no injury worries, other than the long-term absentees Arteta and Jagielka. Last season, Everton won both of their games against Fulham without conceding a goal, though prior to that Fulham had won the fixture at Craven Cottage for three consecutive seasons, all of which ended 1-0.
Only three out of the last ten games between the sides have broken the 2.5 goals barrier. Under 2.5 goals can be backed at [1.62], with overs at [2.52]. Given that neither side have been prolific this season, it's reasonable to assume that this trend will continue. Under 1.5 goals at [2.92] might be worth a bet.
Fulham are [2.78], with the draw [3.3] and Everton [2.9]. I think that this will be a very tight game that Everton may just nick, especially if Fulham are without several key players.
I like the price of the draw at half time at [2.04], with the draw/Everton at [7.2]. The 0-0 draw is [9.6], with 1-0 Everton at [8.6] and 1-0 Fulham at [8.2]. Everton have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and are available at [3.1] to reverse the trend, with Fulham at [3.0] to record their second shut out this term.
With two of the Premier League's best managers going head to head, I expect a cautious affair, but am backing Everton to start to fulfil their potential this season with a second successive win.
Live on Sky Sports 1, 4.15pm.
