Preview: Fulham vs Villa

Aston Villa know that a win today will help keep the pressure on fourth placed Everton in the battle for Champions League qualification, and Fulham boss Roy Hodgson must certainly feel uneasy after a difficult start to life back in the Premiership. For him, the pressure is certainly mounting.

Injuries and Suspensions

xx1946314xl New signings may struggle to play, Paul Stalteri has a dead leg, Jari Litmanen is not match fit and Eddie Johnson could be jet-lagged after crossing the Atlantic but Erik Nevland could make an apperance. Ashley Young will miss his first Premier League game of the season through suspension.

Squads

Fulham (from): Niemi, Volz, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Andreasen, Bocanegra, Stefanovic, Seol, Healy, Smertin, Bullard, Murphy, Davies, Dempsey, Baird, Brown, Milsom, Leijer, McBride, Nevland, Keller.

Aston Villa (from): Carson, Taylor, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Knight, Bouma, Routledge, Gardner, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Berger, Osbourne, Agbonlahor, Carew, Harewood, Moore, Salifou, Maloney.

O'Neill: Fulham have added good players

"I saw Fulham in midweek and I thought they passed the ball very well indeed.

"They have added a couple of new players that will give them a bit more strength and, if anyone can haul them out of trouble, it will be Roy Hodgson.

"He has been an excellent manager. It is a big challenge considering they are down in the bottom three but he wants to do it. I wouldn't know Roy well enough to know his reasons but managing in the Premier League is still pretty exciting."

Eyefootball Premiership Predictor

Fulham 0-2 Aston Villa

The odds are stacked fully against Fulham today as Aston Villa come to Craven Cottage ready for another push towards Champions League qualification. Fulham are sat rooted in the bottom two of the Premiership, and today's huge game will not be a helping hand.

Goalscorer: John Carew