Fulham host Aston Villa this week in what is only the Cottagers’ fifth Premier League game on a Thursday. So, what is the east London natives’ previous record with Scott Parker key?
Aston Villa’s trip to Craven Cottage is also Fulham’s second Premier League home game on a Thursday. They played their first home game on that day of the week in March 2021 with Tottenham Hotspur. But the encounter returned the Cottagers’ second defeat in a 1-0 loss.
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Parker was key as Fulham got their only top-flight win on a Thursday since the division was reformed in 1992. The midfielder helped the side he would go on to manage edge Norwich City at Carrow Road in 2013. The fixture was also Fulham’s third away game on a Thursday.
Marco Silva will hope his Fulham team can repeat what Rene Meulensteen’s men achieved at Norwich when Aston Villa visit. The Cottagers are without a win in their last three games to sit 12th in the table. But the Villans travel from Birmingham on a similar run to sit in 16th.
Recent history would favour Aston Villa, though, as the claret-and-blue side have won their past two games against Fulham. The Villans did the double in the 2020/21 Premier League season. The Cottagers last beat the Villa Park outfit in the top-flight 2-1 back in April 2014.
So, with Fulham eying a first top-flight win over Aston Villa in eight years in only their fifth Premier League match on a Thursday, what is the Cottagers’ previous record on that day?
Fulham took their only Premier League win on a Thursday at Norwich in 2013
Fulham’s record in Premier League games on a Thursday stands at one win in four ahead of hosting Aston Villa. The Cottagers claimed their only three points on the fourth day of the week away at Norwich in 2013. A late goal from Parker secured a 2-1 result on Boxing Day.
Gary Hooper broke the deadlock for the Canaries in the 13th minute of the festive fixture. The forward got a slice of fortune when his 30-yard strike deflected off Aaron Hughes into David Stockdale’s net. Parker then thought he had equalised, but his effort was ruled out.
Referee Jonathan Moss spotted Parked handle the ball whilst closing John Ruddy down as the goalkeeper attempted a clearance. But Fulham rallied just after the half-hour mark as Pajtim Kasami drilled a low free-kick through a poor Canaries wall into the back of the net.
Norwich responded after the break and re-emerged from the tunnel as the stronger team. Leroy Fer came close to restoring the host’s advantage only for Sascha Riether to head his header away. The momentum then swung in Fulham’s favour as Ruddy was put to the test.
Hugo Rodallega also tested the goal-line technology the Premier League had introduced in the 2013/14 season. The Colombian forward believed he had scrambled the ball across the line after Ruddy saved his header. But the technology did not signal for Moss to give a goal.
Parker would ensure Fulham left Norwich with three points to celebrate the festive period with, though. The midfielder dribbled up to the edge of the area and left Ruddy without hope of saving his fierce 87th-minute strike. It was his second and final goal of that season.
Fulham played their first Premier League game on a Thursday in 2002
Fulham’s Premier League record on a Thursday started in less favourable circumstances in 2002. The Cottagers visited their London rivals West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on Boxing Day 20 years ago. But the west Londoners returned from the east after a 1-1 draw.
Facundo Sava broke the deadlock for Fulham in the 49th minute to start the second half as they meant to go on. But the Cottagers would not build on the Argentine striker’s fifth and final goal of the term. Instead, Fulham gave West Ham a penalty to draw level in the 65th.
Trevor Sinclair converted from the spot with his fourth of nine goals for the top-flight term to save a point for West Ham. Yet the result was not enough to move Glenn Roeder’s Irons off the bottom of the table. Jean Tigana’s Cottagers ranked in 15th at the full-time whistle.
Sunderland dealt the Cottagers their first defeat on a Thursday in 2006
Sunderland dealt Fulham their first Premier League defeat on a Thursday in May 2006. The Black Cats beat the Cottagers 2-1 at the Stadium of Light with Tomasz Radzinski only able to give Chris Coleman’s Craven Cottage natives hope of inspiring a comeback on Wearside.
Anthony Le Tallec had put Sunderland ahead just after the half-hour mark and Chris Brown later doubled their gap on 57 minutes. Sunderland going two goals to the good would have been a frustrating surprise for Fulham as the Black Cats had not won their past 14 fixtures.
Sunderland’s last top-flight win prior to edging Fulham came in January with a 1-0 result at West Bromwich Albion. Even then, the result came through a Steve Watson own goal. The Black Cats’ previous Premier League win taken through their own doing was in September.
Those three wins were also Sunderland’s only wins all term as they endured relegation to the Championship on 15 points. Their fate was also sealed long before Fulham travelled to the North East in the penultimate match of the season. West Brom in 19th had 30 points.
Tottenham won the only Premier League match on a Thursday at Craven Cottage
Tottenham beat Fulham in the only Premier League match to be held at Craven Cottage on a Thursday prior to Aston Villa’s visit this week. Spurs travelled from north to west London in March 2021 under Jose Mourinho and beat Parker’s Cottagers 1-0 through an own goal.
Tosin Adarabioyo inadvertently took the decisive touch as Dele Alli sought a breakthrough in the 17th minute. The midfielder turned the ball toward Alphonse Areola’s goal and the Cottagers’ centre-half after meeting Son Heung-Min’s low cross from Alli’s pass out wide.
Joachim Andersen’s header forced a strong save from Hugo Lloris at the other end that the Frenchman had to tip onto his crossbar. Adarabioyo also kept the Tottenham captain busy during the closing stages. But Fulham ought to have already been level through Josh Maja.
Referee David Coote denied Maja an equaliser just after the hour mark after a VAR review. The assistant deemed Mario Lemina to have handled the ball even though his arm was by his side. The decision would cost Fulham a point in their last top-flight game on a Thursday.
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