Fulham to score once against Spurs to mark Meulensteen debut

Fulham have not lost six successive Premier League games since 2002, but this is the milestone that awaits them if Rene Meulensteen’s first fixture in charge ends in defeat against Tottenham.

Spurs have won on each of their last two trips to Craven Cottage and 4/6 may be a popular price that they do so again. A Fulham win is available at 9/2 and the draw 11/4.

However, like Fulham, Tottenham have not triumphed in a Premier League game since late October and as it is also unknown which sort of reaction Meulensteen will generate at Fulham, leaving the match-betting markets alone may prove the shrewdest strategy.

One constant relating to Fulham this season is their ability to score exactly once in their home games, which has happened on all six occasions they have walked out at Craven Cottage in the Premier League.

The Cottagers may be under a new regime now, but 7/5 looks a fair price that they maintain their record of scoring exactly once against Tottenham.

Meanwhile, there are reasons to believe that whichever of Roberto Soldado or Jermain Defoe it is that Andre Villas-Boas selects up front will return this faith with a goal.

Defoe has scored three times across his last two visits to Fulham and is 1/1 to add to this tally this time. As for Soldado, he seems to enjoy December for reasons other than Christmas, scoring seven goals in eight appearances in the month across the last two seasons.

Soldado is also 1/1 to net in the 90 minutes and 4/1 to bag the opener, as he did in three of Valencia’s four December fixtures in the last campaign.

With Tottenham scoring three on their last two Craven Cottage successes, alongside Manchester United and Arsenal leaving with 3-1 victories this season, a 3-1 Tottenham win may hold some value too at 12/1.