Newcastle vs Fulham: The fan confidence test

Lineup prediction:

Fulham had a narrow 1-0 win on the opening weekend away to Sunderland (Getty Images)

I really would like to see Derek Boateng paired with Parker in the midfield, as I feel the enforcer mentality of Boateng will allow Parker even more space than he created himself last Saturday. Wish Matthew Briggs would get a run-out at right back but Jol is stubbornly sticking with John Arne Riise for whatever reason. So here goes:

Stockdale; Riether – Hughes – Hangeland – Riise; Kacaniklic – Parker – Boateng – Kasami; Berbatov; Bent

Match prediction:

While both teams are struggling, I do believe Fulham can scourge a point from this match. They were lucky on the road at Sunderland to come away with all three, but it wouldn’t seem either side have the cutting edge to grab the bull by the horns in this fixture. Luck could swing one way or another, but as things stand either a 0-0 or a 1-1 draw would seem fair here.

Fulham fans are upset. A win would quieten the fires temporarily, and a draw would keep the status quo. But I hate to see what a loss to a struggling Newcastle side would do for this fanbase. It has the explosiveness of an atomic bomb. Let’s hope we don’t have to pick up the pieces.