Premier League preview: Fulham v Stoke

Stoke City midfielder Matthew Etherington is hopeful his side’s impressive away form will continue when they travel to Fulham on Saturday.

Stoke have won just one of their past eight English Premier League fixtures, form which has seen them drop to 12th on the table.

But Tony Pulis’ side have won three of their past six away trips in the league, with their two defeats coming at Manchester City and Manchester United – form which Etherington believes is much better than their efforts at home.

“We’re not going to panic, but we know our form just lately hasn’t been good enough – certainly not our home form anyway, and that is something we must address,” Etherington told Stoke’s official website.

“On the road, we have picked up and started to get some good results. Disappointingly, we have slipped up at the Britannia Stadium and it is that which is letting us down a little bit now, rather than our away results.”

“We will go to Fulham in good spirits and with confidence though, because like I say we have done well on the road.”

“It will be a tough game for us but we know that it is one we can win.”

Etherington will return from illness for the trip to West London and make his 100th league appearance for the club.

Stoke’s 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland last Saturday was highlighted by Robert Huth’s red card for a lunge on David Meyler.

Huth appeared to pull out of the challenge before making impact with Meyler but he was still sent off, and Stoke’s subsequent appeal failed, meaning he will miss the club’s next three matches.

Pulis does not have many injury worries, though, while Fulham could see Andy Johnson (groin) return, leaving just Steve Sidwell (hernia), Orlando Sa (hamstring) and Zdenek Grygera (knee) on the club’s injury list.

Fulham will be pleased to return home after a 3-0 loss at Manchester City on Saturday, with Martin Jol’s side unbeaten at Craven Cottage in their last three fixtures, which included wins against Arsenal and Manchester United.

After selling Bobby Zamora on transfer deadline day, Fulham have looked short of options up front and Jol will be hopeful that Russian international Pavel Pogrebynyak – signed on a short-term deal from Stuttgart – makes his debut on Saturday.

That may be too soon though, with the Dutch manager revealing the striker has not yet received his work permit.

Of the seven Premier League meetings between the two sides, each have won on three occasions, with the only draw taking place in December 2008.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham have won two of three meetings and taking Stoke’s poor away form into consideration, they will enter the match as favourites.