http://football.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/02/19/fulham-v-birmingham-preview-phillips-on-a-survival-mission-for/Fulham v Birmingham Preview: Phillips on a Survival Mission for Blues19/2/2010 5:25 PM GMT
By Ian Winrow
FULHAM:
The mantra trotted out in the wake of Thursday's thrilling Europa League victory over Skakhtar Donetsk was that any thoughts about next week's now eagerly anticipated return in Ukraine must be put to one side until after the meeting with Birmingham.
"That's the focus now, because Birmingham are a good side and one that is enjoying a very good season so far," Aaron Hughes told the club's official website,
www.fulhamfc.com, sticking to the party line. "When Sunday's game is out of the way, then we'll start thinking about heading out to Ukraine."
Roy Hodgson and his players are undeniably professional enough to ensure their actions match their words, but it will be hard to avoid the feeling that this mid-table Premier League meeting is now something of a support act ahead of the main attraction next Thursday night.
That, of course, marks an about-turn from the long-standing view that the midweek European jaunts should play second fiddle to the more prosaic task of accumulating Premier League points.
Fulham, though, already look secure and while the league campaign and the looming FA Cup quarter final will recapture the imagination soon enough, the possibility of knocking out last season's Uefa Cup winners to set up a meeting with Ajax or Juventus is currently more alluring in the eyes of many supporters.
After such a successful month, it's important Hodgson's side maintain the winning habit no matter what the competition while striker Bobby Zamora will be keen to maintain his current scoring form that culminated in his outstanding winner against Shakhtar.
"He's [Zamora] done well ever since he arrived at the club – the only difference this year is he's had some more luck in front of goal," defender Brede Hangeland told the club's official website,
www.fulhamfc.com. "We've always known he was a good player and it's good that everyone else can see that now too.
"He's vital to the team and certainly one of our most important players. He holds the ball up well; he scores goals and gives opposition defenders a very hard time.
"He showed again on Thursday night what a massive player he is for us. He can make things happen and he scored a fantastic goal and I'm very happy for him."
Strategy: The link-up play between Zamora and Zoltan Gera, who was operating as a deep-lying second forward, caused problems for Shaktar, particularly when Damien Duff and Simon Davies pushed forward in support, and Hodgson will expect similar movement against Birmingham. Hangeland would prefer to forget some moments of torments inflicted on him by the fleet-footed Ukrainian side but he and Hughes should form a strong enough central defence to deny Birmingham's forwards.
Injury update: Nicky Shorey will return at left back in place of Stephen Kelly after being cup-tied for the Shakhtar game. Paul Konchesky could win a place on the bench after recovering from a foot injury but strikers Andrew Johnson and Clint Dempsey (both knee), midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi (ankle), and full back John Pantsil (knee) remain sidelined.
BIRMINGHAM CITY:
Kevin Phillips can inch Birmingham even higher up the Premier League table this weekend but insists he is still only thinking about survival. Phillips is on a mission to drive Alex McLeish towards the magical 40-point mark and finally end any lingering fears about relegation.
McLeish has performed superbly to guide the club to the top half and fans are still dreaming of a shock move towards a European place. Birmingham are only seven points behind Liverpool in fifth place and can edge even closer with a win here.
But ex-England striker Phillips has warned that Hull's shocking slide last season is proof that Birmingham won't be getting carried away.
He said: "I don't believe we will be in trouble but Fulham is an important game for us and, if we can manage to get the win that puts us on 40 points, you'd like to say that's definitely safe. Then you can start looking up and beyond.
"People are saying that Birmingham are probably safe now but you only have to look at what happened to Hull last season who only scraped it in the end so I don't want that to happen to us.
"It's been a fantastic season so far. I don't think anyone believed we'd be where we are. I think even a few of us didn't think we'd be where we are. It's been such a successful season we don't want to start getting blasé and complacent, we want to keep pushing on and try and get this club as high as we possibly can.
"At the beginning of the season, survival was the main thing and we're very close to that. Anything beyond that is a fantastic achievement especially as we haven't spent mega millions."
Strategy: Phillips is proving a potent weapon off the bench, after his stunning contribution against Wolves earlier this month, so McLeish will continue with Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome. But Birmingham's biggest headache will be Zamora, with the Fulham striker still being whispered about as a possible England cap in the near future.
Birmingham's success this season, however, has been built on the backbone of Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann and Liam Ridgewell and they will provide Zamora with a significant test today. Not to mention goalkeeper Joe Hart, who should be involved in England's friendly with Egypt next month.
Hart said: "The defence have been absolutely magnificent. 'Ridgey' has got two important goals for us recently and big Scotty is a presence in the air and it's nice for them to do it in the opposition box because they win everything at the back. Is Scotty getting the plaudits he deserves? That is not what he is really about. He has been in the leagues for a long time, is playing really well, and deserves everything he gets."
Injury Update: Birmingham striker Garry O'Connor is still struggling with a hip problem while Lee Carsley continues to recover from an ankle injury.
