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The opening of the City of Birmingham's new big wheel, dubbed "Brum Eye", was delayed this week due to bad weather. Further evidence that the wheels of fortune appear to be against Birmingham so far this month.
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The Blues missed a penalty in their goalless draw at home to Manchester City at the start of November, while David Ngog's alleged dive denied them all three points against Liverpool at Anfield last time out.
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That said, if Birmingham avoid defeat, they will equal their best unbeaten Premier League run under Alex McLeish of four matches, achieved between February and March 2008.
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Birmingham have 12 points from 12 games to date, one more than they had managed at this stage of the 2007/08 season, when they were ultimately relegated.
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Christian Benitez's goal at Anfield is Birmingham's only strike inside the opening half-hour of any Premier League game.
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Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart has made more saves (83) than any other keeper in the Premier League, while defender Roger Johnson has made more clearances (41) than any other player.
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LAST CORRESPONDING FIXTURE
St. Andrews on 19-12-2007
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Larsson 55
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Bocanegra 8
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Maik Taylor ,Kelly ,Jaidi ,Ridgewell ,Queudrue ,McSheffrey ,Muamba ,Damien Johnson (Nafti ,46 ) ,Larsson (De Ridder ,73 ) ,Forssell (O'Connor ,77 ) ,Jerome
Subs not used: Doyle,Sadler,
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Niemi ,Omozusi ,Stefanovic ,Bocanegra ,Konchesky ,Davies ,Murphy (Smertin ,70 ) ,Davis ,Bouazza (sent off 79),Dempsey ,David Healy (Kuqi ,74)
Subs not used Warner,Kamara,Leijer,
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Yellow card:
None
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Yellow card:
Bouazza, Davies, Konchesky |
Red card:
None |
Red card:
Bouazza 79 |
Attendance:
28923 |
Referee:
M Clattenburg
(Tyne & Wear) |
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Fulham are another club enjoying recent good form and are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches. It is a run that has the Craven Cottage outfit again targeting a place in the top half of the table and saw Roy Hodgson named October's Manager of the Month.
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In a week that saw the sacking of Scotland boss George Burley, Birmingham and Fulham have on show two men who took to the international management scene like ducks to water. Alex McLeish is statistically Scotland's most successful national team boss, winning 70% of his 10 matches in charge during 2007.
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Roy Hodgson enjoyed successful spells in charge of Switzerland, the UAE and Finland. He has also been widely tipped to coach the Great British side at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Half of the 10 Premier League meetings between the two clubs have finished in draws. Birmingham have won three times, Fulham twice.
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One hundred years have passed since Birmingham first played host to Fulham. The west London side emerged 3-1 winners at St Andrews in January 1909.
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Fulham have won all three Premier League matches in which they have scored the opening goal this season.
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They are one of only three clubs to have 100% records having scored first, the others are Manchester United and hosts Birmingham City.
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Clint Dempsey could emulate Steed Malbranque's Premier League club record of scoring in four straight league games, Malbranque achieved this feat during January and February 2003.
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If selected, Paul Konchesky will be making his 300th appearance in English football. Dickson Ethuhu is in line for his 50th Premier League match.
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| HEAD TO HEAD at BIRMINGHAM |
|
BIRMINGHAM |
Draw |
FULHAM |
| League |
15 |
12 |
8 |
| Premier |
1 |
3 |
1 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
|
BIRMINGHAM |
Draw |
FULHAM |
| League |
26 |
23 |
21 |
| Premier |
3 |
5 |
2 |
|