Manchester City v Fulham betting preview

Manchester City: League Position: 1st, League Form: LWWWL

The blue moon is still on the rise, but Manchester City have struggled a little lately, as much as any table topper can do. January started with defeat at Sunderand and has ended with defeat at Everton, with cup defeats to Manchester United and Liverpool in both domestic competitions along the way.

Man City vs Fulham odds

With this they are now level on points with Manchester United, and still without the wonderful Yaya Toure in centre midfield as the African Cup of Nations continues. At least Vincent Kompany has finished his suspension, and City can go back to a back four that brought them much of their early success.

They must hope Sergio Aguero can rediscover where the goal is, as he has failed to score in their last five games. Edin Dzeko’s inconsistency has left the striker looking little more than the man he was last season, whilst Mario Balotelli is suspended for a stamp on Scott Parker.

Fulham: League Position: 13th, League Form: DWLWD

Nine points away from the relegation places, three points from eighth place, this is probably another reasonable season for a rather reasonable club that, aside from their European adventure, seem to continue to exist to be reasonable. This may sound harsh, but there is little to suggest Fulham will ever be more than they are, yet you would always expect them to survive, always place them in a different bracket to the likes of Wigan.

Their side does contain some real quality. Clint Dempsey has become a high class midfield goal scorer, where once Tim Cahill was the master of goals from midfield, now Dempsey is the man to expect that from in the Premier League.

Martin Jol has also made a lot of changes. Out goes England international Bobby Zamora in this transfer window, in comes Pavel Pogrebnyak from Stuttgart.

However, whilst the team may change, their position is still average, and although they were the first team to take points off City this season in a 2-2 draw at home, Fulham have won only one away game.

Match Prediction: Manchester City Win – 1.3 Bet 365

Manchester City may not have been at their emphatic best lately, but they are still top of the league and better than most teams in the division. Facing a Fulham side who have won only one of their eleven away games, scoring only seven goals, they should find themselves with three points come the end of 90 minutes.

Their lack of sharpness in attack may see this one a dull affair, and Mancini will have been livid to see them lose so miserly at Goodison Park in midweek. If Aguero can end his five game drought the floodgates could open, but champions find goals from all positions. Micah Richards has been moved back to right back with Kompany’s return, and will maraud forward at regular intervals. He is also a massive threat in the air, and could be due a goal.

Fulham’s less than stellar away form will probably see them line up a little defensively, and with City less than electric, a low scoring victory seems to be on the cards.

Highlighted Bets:-

Over/Under: Under 2.5 Goals – 2.38 Blue Sq

First Goalscorer: Micah Richards – 26.00 Sky Bet

Correct Score: 2-0 Man City – 7.00 Boylesports

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