Premier League: Stoke v Fulham match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium

Dimitar Berbatov of Fulham (Getty Images)

Stoke will draw level with Fulham on 16 points if they win on Saturday but with the visitors having not won in four matches, they are due a victory.

Fulham manager Martin Jol may be keen to bring Diarra straight back into his starting line-up as his team have struggled defensively this season. Stoke held on for an impressive 1-1 draw away to West Ham last week and have picked up five points in their past four fixtures as they have moved up to 14th position.

For Stoke to win against Fulham they will most likely need to keep the visitors scoreless as Tony Pulis' side have only scored more than one goal in three Premier League matches this season with Peter Crouch Stoke's main attacking weapon.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Fulham 2 (Pogrebnyak, Sorensen OG) Stoke 1 (Shawcross), Premier League, February 2012

Stoke 2 (Walters, Delap) Fulham 0, Premier League, October 2011

Fulham 2 (Dempsey 2) Stoke 0, Premier League, January 2011

STATS

In the last five Premier League meetings between Fulham and Stoke, all six goals that the Whites have scored have been in the first hour and five of them in the opening 33 minutes, while all four netted by Stoke have been scored in the final 15 minutes of games

Stoke are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home matches, though they have won just five and drawn seven in that run

Fulham are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away games; only twice before, August 2004 (six games) and November 2006 (five games) have they been on a longer run without defeat on the road

ODDS

Stoke to win: 2.15

Fulham to win: 3.40

Draw: 3.40

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm