Hangeland to keep home form burning bright
Fulham play their first home game in three matches on Saturday, having only lost once at Craven Cottage since the start of 2012.
The team returns to West London after a week of mixed fortunes on Merseyside, that delivered a humiliating loss and a fine defensive triumph.
Last Saturday saw the Lilywhites crash to a 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park against a resurgent Everton, who were inspired by recent signings Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar.
But Wednesday evening saw a dramatic change in fortunes for the better, when the Cottagers delivered a fine defensive performance against Liverpool, after an early own goal by Martin Skrtel had put the Londoners ahead.
Marshalling the forces on both evenings was Brede Hangeland, the giant Norwegian who is now approaching 150 appearances for the club he joined from FC Copenhagen.
Despite a season defined by patchy away form, the Fulham defence has remained strong at their riverside home, with their only defeat at home since the New Year coming at the hands of Swansea in March.
Sunderland visit on Saturday, and the Black Cats have only scored two goals in their last five outings - and those strikes came against strugglers Bolton.
If Hangeland is to lead the Fulham defence to another home clean sheet, he will have to keep fellow Scandinavian Nicklas Bendtner quiet all game.
The Dane revelled in a hot streak of form during March, but has subsequently netted only one goal in all of April, suggesting that his mind could already be turning towards the challenges ahead at Euro 2012.
Hangeland is yet to score in the Premier League this year - a disappointment after his six goals last year.
But he still goes forward at corners and free kicks, and still has that immensely strong neck and head to power the ball home when he connects on a delivery.
He still has one last chance to grab a goal this season in front of his home faithful, so the upcoming match the perfect chance to use up one of your last few transfers of the season to steal a march on your rivals during the Fantasy League run-in.
Is Brede Hangeland worth one of your last few transfers? Will he control Bendtner or will the Dane get back to his March form? And will the Fulham faithful go home from their final home game happy? Have your say, leave a comment below.