Match Preview: Fulham v Aston Villa

Who are we playing?
Fulham

Where are we playing?
Craven Cottage, Sunday 1.30pm

Can I go?
Unless you've already bagged a ticket, sorry but you can't.  The away end has been sold out for a while.

Easy to get to?

We recommend the tube to Putney Bridge, where's there's plenty of pubs (though these quickly get rammed when the Villa are in town)  and then a stroll through the park to the ground. Quite pleasant if it's not pissing down.

Can I watch it live on the telly?

We are on Sky's Super Sunday. If you don't subscribe to Sky, you can get a Sky Sports Day Pass for £ 9.99 to see the game, or spend the tenner on beer and watch it in the pub.

Big game?
Certainly massive for bottom three Fulham and the sort of game we need to win if we don't want to get drawn into the relegation picture as the season limps on. In many ways a six-pointer.

A Famous Fulham Fan

Do Fulham have any famous fans?
Well there's Lily Allen - you know her off of the annoying John Lewis advert where they ruin the bear's hibernation, probably giving him hypothermia in the process  - and at least one of the James Bonds.

Impressive, but we've got Brendan Gleeson out of the brilliant In Bruge and the bloke that used to play Kevin Banks in Crossroads (ask your gran kids) so we win!

Who's playing for us?
Ron Vlaar disappearing with a calf injury is a big worry, especially as young Lowton didn't exactly cover himself in glory as his deputy. We'd be tempted to at least pop young Janoi Donacien on the bench for further emergencies. It would be a massive step up for the lad but the boy's got talent.

While Gabby gave us a fine display of how to be industrious as a striker when your midfield can't hold possession, the same can't be said of Kozak, but he did score. Lambert will have to decide to whether Big Chris did enough in his cameo half an hour to dislodge the Czech.

Tony Moon has tweeted that he is injured and won't play. El Ahmadi's place must be a risk after another ineffective display.

Who's playing for them?
Not sure they know yet. Despite another home defeat, Fulham did look something like, even taking the lead against Spurs at one point so they may soldier on with a similar line-up.

Premier League loan restrictions prevent Darren Bent from taking part.

Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

• The legendary Jimmy Hogan managed both clubs.

• Villa first faced Fulham in an FA Cup Quarter Final in 1905 at Villa Park. Villa ran out 5-0 winners with Harry Hampton netting twice.

• Fulham had to wait until 1999 to avenge that cup defeat, beating Villa 2-0 at Villa Park to knock the Lions out at the 4th Round stage.

• Villa's last win at Craven Cottage was back in January 2010, two goals from Gabby Agbonlahor securing a 2-0 victory.

• The highest scoring game with Fulham came at Craven Cottage in September 1965, Villa winning 6-3. Tony Hateley got two in that game.

He said, She said...

Paul Lambert: "The only stat you need to know is you have to try and win games. That’s the name of the game.”

Rene Meulensteen: "The one thing that stuck with me is that in life as well as football you are constantly faced with challenges.”

Prediction

We are boldly predicting a big Villa win