Tips on Fulham vs Chelsea this Sunday

Fulham entertain their illustrious neighbours Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Sunday in the knowledge that, despite eighteen subsequent attempts, they haven't beaten their arch rivals since the 1979/1980 season. The Cottagers have played some good football this season and their current berth in the table - they are currently fifth from bottom - doesn't accurately reflect the ability of Chris Coleman's charges. However, they have been leaking goals with disastrous frequency recently - they have conceeded twelve times in their last three matches, albeit two of those games were away ties - and they'll have to buck the ideas up when Jose Mourinho's men come calling at the weekend. Despite this disconcerting goals-against ratio, Fulham do actually boast a sound record on home soil, winning nine, drawing two and losing three - against West Ham, Man Utd and Arsenal. When these two sides met at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, Fulham punched pound for pound with the Blues for much of the game, and they were all square at 2-2 until Hernan Crespo scored a 74th-minute winner. Indeed, chelsea should win this, and well. But, although they will be playing for pride, they have a lot less to play for compared to Fulham, who will be desperate to elevate their position in the league before season close, and they will be equally desperate not to look like the poor relations in this SW London clash. I reckon that, at 6/1 with bet365, it's worth chancing this match being level at the interval and half-time - thus backing draw/draw in the double result market. Chelsea score an average of 1.6 goals per match on their travels, while Fulham score approximately 1.7 goals-a-game at the Cottage. With this in mind, I'd recommend risking a small stake on a 2-2 draw at a tempting 22/1, also with bet365.