So Boro face Fulham on Saturday, the beginning of the Christmas period that haunts the Boro like a dark cloud and a bad smell. 

Fulham have done well recently, with teams such as Arsenal, Bolton, Newcastle and Tottenham all defeated by the Cottagers.  They currently stand 2 places above us and 1 point ahead, so really this is one of those games where we need to pick up points. 

Last season we claimed 6 points out of 6, the first game Lee Cattermole grabbed our first, followed by Tony Warner I mean Mido snatching the winner, which was closely followed by a controversial goal by David Healy only to be disallowed.   The following fixture followed Aliadiere scoring the only goal adding to their relegation woe that they dodged out of. 

Fulham are currently unbeaten since November 1^st and I’m struggling to think on whether or not that is a good or bad stat for the Boro (usually it’s when teams have lost since then that we hate) or it could prove to be a difficult stumbling block with Fulham being at home.

I think that Gareth will more or less keep the same team, Aliadiere up front with Tuncay was good, with Tuncay dropping back into midfield it seemed to work as he links up with players really well.  If Gary O’Neil was fit I’d start him on the right as Johnson, although he did ok looked a little lost out there on the right as he runs to the by-line and then tries to whip it in but has no right foot. 

David Wheater will be back from suspension, but if Huth and Riggott are fit I’d start that centre back pairing after they did so well against Arsenal.  As well as that I’d play Poggy at left back and injury free Tony McMahon who did so well last week in the right back fold.

Fulham will probably have top goal scorer with 4 (As well as Mido & Tuncay for us) Andy Johnson partnered by Bobby Zamora who has 1.  Danny Murphy is doing ok this season with 3 and he’ll be partnered in midfield with Jimmy Bullard with 1. 

Obviously the player who sticks out in our minds when we look at the Fulham team sheet is Mark Schwarzer, 11 years at the Boro, he was there when we had glory and he was there when certainly did not. 

Boro will probably have to endure some home team pressure to begin with but I hope that our away day tact can come into play. 

I’m playing it safe and sticking for 1-1. 

Come on Boro!!

MarkA