Zoltan Gera’s 200th Match

It’s last year’s sixth placed Premier League finishers against the team that finished one place below them in seventh, as The Cottagers travel to Villa Park this afternoon.

Nine points separated the sides at the end of last years league campaign, but both teams secured qualification for The Europa League, although Villa’s campaign is over almost before it began.

Martin O’Neill’s men failed to overcome Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna over two legs in their qualifying game for the group stages and were dumped out of the competition at the first hurdle.

Fulham themselves rather stumbled over the line when they edged out Amkar Prem 3-2 on aggregate to reach the competitions first stage proper. But it’s all about three points this afternoon as both sides look to kick start their league campaign.

The Villains, like their visitors, have won one and lost one of their two opening fixtures. The loss at home to Wigan was quickly forgotten with a superb away win at Anfield last week, but confidence is sure to be low in the camp after the catastrophic loss to Vienna.

Fulham will be buoyed by their midweek advancement in Europe despite them losing the tie, and Hodgson will be looking for his side to be more positive than they were in the home defeat against Chelsea last weekend.

He will have to contend with a number of injuries however. Key players such as Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey and hitman Bobby Zamora are all sidelined for the trip. Midfield ace Zoltan Gera is all set to make his 200th appearance in English football.

Villa meanwhile should hand new signing Stephen Warnock his full debut, as Martin O’Neill looks to shore up what has been a leaky defence. Richard Dunne is poised to complete his switch from Man City also.

Curtis Davies faces a late fitness test, while Luke Young is still unavailable following a family death.

The home side will look to continue a record that has seen them never lose at home to Fulham in the league, while Roy Hodgson will be desperate to avoid a third straight defeat in all competitions.