Premier League preview: Fulham v Norwich

Fulham will be hoping to snap a three-game losing run and jump ahead of Norwich when they host the Canaries on Saturday.

Martin Jol’s side return to Craven Cottage for the first time since being embarrassed 3-0 by Swansea City two weeks ago, and the Dutch manager will be looking for a much improved performance from his side.

They were unlucky not to come away with a point from their trip to Manchester United on Monday, having been denied what looked like a clear penalty against Jonny Evans late in the match when trailing 1-0.

And defender Aaron Hughes believes that effort at Old Trafford puts them in good stead for the visit of Norwich.

“It certainly will give us a confidence boost going into the Norwich game, especially coming off the back of the defeat to Swansea,” Hughes said.

“We know we didn’t play well that day, everyone held their hands up and for whatever reasons we just had a bad day at the office and they had a very good one.

“We wanted a good reaction (against Manchester United) and we got that with a good performance.”

However, Fulham have not scored since their 5-0 rout of Wolves in early March, and will need to rediscover that scoring touch if they are to beat a Norwich side who have defied the critics to be in contention for a top-halffinish this season.

After earning promotion through the playoffs last season, Brendan Rodgers’ side were tipped for a quick return to the Championship this term.

Instead, they have regularly punched above their weight, claiming draws against Chelsea and Liverpool and a 4-2 win over Newcastle as they battled to 11th spot on the table with eight games remaining.

Their 2-1 win over Wolves last week broke a five-game winless run, but the victory came at a cost, with top scorer Grant Holt suspended for the trip to Fulham after being sent off for a second bookable offence.

Holt had scored both goals in the win, and has 12 for the season, meaning the Canaries will have to look to the likes of Steve Morrison and Simeon Jackson as their route to goal.