Weekend Premiership Preview (22nd December)
Fulham v West Ham (Saturday 12.45 Sky Sports 2)
Last years meeting was a fiery affair and referee Chris Foy will have to keep a lid on things at the Cottage with Sporting Index predicting 4 bookings in the game. West Ham, still in search of their first away win of the season, travel to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side who have won their last two home games. With the influential Boa Morte and Diop missing through injury, the Irons will have to keep an eye on McBride. The American has scored in the last two home victories for the Cottagers, including the crucial goal against Middlesbrough on Monday night. New Hammers boss Curbishley will look to continue his side’s recent good record against their West London rivals. They haven’t lost against Fulham in the Premiership since 2002 and were victorious in both encounters between the sides last season, winning by the odd goal in three on both occasions. Veteran Fulham defender Ian Pearce will be looking to keep a clean sheet against his former side, who still haven’t managed a goal away from Upton Park in the league since August. Last weeks victory over league leaders Man Utd may have boosted the Hammers confidence; nevertheless Sporting Index reckon this will end in a stalemate.
Wigan v Chelsea (Saturday 17.15 Prem Plus)
With just one goal in each of the two league meetings between the sides, it is perhaps a little surprising that Sporting Index predict there will be 2 goals at the JJB on Saturday evening. The champions win at Everton last week was there second in a row away from the Bridge, with the outstanding Drogba reaching double figures for the season. The Blues have problems in defence though with influential captain John Terry, who grabbed the winner the last time the two sides met, missing through a back injury. Wigan’s magnificent performance at the JJB against the champions last season will give them some heart, but with two defeats in a row at home firmly at the back of their mind and leading scorer Camera missing up front they face a tough task. The Senegalese front man has six so far this season and so the attacking burden will fall to Heskey who hasn’t scored in two months. Bookings were at a premium last year in this fixture so it’s a bit of a surprise Sporting Index predict that referee Mike Dean will caution 4 players.