Manchester United travel to take on Fulham in the Barclays Premier League, but if the Reds are to get all three points from this match, they will need to reverse their recent hex at Craven Cottage.
However, United should be full of confidence following their convincing 3-0 win over Newcastle United in the opening round of Premier League fixtures, but going to west London has not been very easy for Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
Under their new manager, Mark Hughes, Fulham visited the Reebok Stadium as they battled the Bolton Wanderers, but neither team could muster enough chances to find a breakthrough in the goalless draw.
Previously
In the last two seasons against Fulham, United have lost 2-0 and 3-0, respectively, but in each match they either showed up or finished short-handed.
In 2008/09, United, coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford the week before, went to Craven Cottage, and look very subdued against a very motivated Fulham team, but they finished the match with just nine men as both Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were sent off by Phil Dowd.
The following season, United matched up against a very determined Cottagers' side with only one defender, and the power and enthusiasm of Fulham was too much and they suffered a very heavy defeat.
About
In the off-season, Fulham were forced to change managers when Roy Hodgson, who was voted the 2009/10 League Managers Association's Manager of the Year, decided his work was done at Craven Cottage was done and departed for Anfield to become the new boss of Liverpool.
Hodgson, who guided Fulham to their first-ever appearance in a European final last season, has been replaced by Hughes who was sacked from Manchester City in December of 2009.
Hughes now faces the daunting task of not only replicating the success of Hodgson both domestically and abroad, but hanging on to some of Fulham's key players - especially Mark Schwarzer who is being targeted by Arsenal.
Schwarzer sat out the match against Bolton after failing a late fitness test, but there is clearly something going on between the player and the new manager.
As Danny Murphy was quoted this week, it is imperative for him to lock up the stars on long-term deals if the club wants to continue their success from last season.
Who
Murphy, who has retained his captaincy despite the change in managers, has a knack for scoring goals against United - a team he had a trial with as a youngster.
Having scored in the two recent Fulham victories, Murphy scored on three goals on three different occasions at Old Trafford during his Liverpool playing days.
Like Newcastle, Fulham are led by a powerful center forward - Bobby Zamora - which will likely test Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans. Zamora, who won his first cap with England, combines quite well with American Clint Dempsey and the well-traveled Damien Duff.
Fulham also have a very formidable back-four - John Paintsil, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes and Paul Konchesky - so they will make life difficult for Wayne Rooney and the rest of the United attackers.
Moussa Dembele, a £5 million signing from AZ Alkmaar, has been the only arrival under Hughes, but he insists that there are more to come.
Manchester United are in a different frame of mine since their last two trips to Craven Cottage, but that still does not mean that Fulham will not push them to limit to get the maximum points from this match.
Treatment
Out: R. Ferdinand (knee), Anderson (knee), O. Hargreaves (knee), G. Obertan (ankle); Doubtful: G. Neville (groin); Probable: P. Evra (knee)
Projected
E. van der Sar; J. O'Shea, N. Vidic, J. Evans, P. Evra; A. Valencia, R. Giggs, D. Fletcher, Nani; W. Rooney, J. Hernandez
Prediction
Fulham 0, Manchester United 2
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
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