Team news

Next four weeks crucial for Jol Martin Jol believes this next month is the most vital of Fulham's season.

The Cottagers have struggled for consistency over the course of the campaign, thanks in no small part to their attempts to juggle domestic and European exertions.

Fulham's attention is now squarely on the Barclays Premier League and they will hope to increase their seven-point gap over the drop zone when they welcome Stoke to Craven Cottage.

Jol has highlighted the match and the three that follow - QPR, Wolves and Aston Villa - as vital if they are to build momentum and further their hopes of survival.

When asked whether the next four weeks are the most crucial, the Dutchman said: "Yes, because we want to get a bigger gap over the bottom three.

"Hopefully we can do that against the teams around us. It will be a challenge because we haven't done that before because we are quite inconsistent.

"But, on the other hand, if you have nine draws that is pretty consistent. That said, I think we should have won five or six of those.

"If we would have done that and scored more goals in the right moments, we would be in a terrific position." Saturday's match will be Fulham's 42nd of a mammoth season that began in late June due to their Europa League campaign.

While the west Londoners have now exited the competition, Stoke have made it to the knockout stages and Jol was quick to praise their opponents.

"They have four wins away from home so they are quite a consistent team," he said. "They don't score a lot of goals but they score at the right moments.

"Stoke are playing in a compact English way and I think they have done a terrific job, especially as they are in Europe too. That is not easy, I can tell you.

"They are a strong team but we have home advantage and we need the points really." Jol admitted Fulham have spent extra time on the training ground this week preparing for the Potters' direct style of play.

While wary of the threat Stoke pose, the Dutchman indicated they themselves may have a physical presence to deal with in the form of Pavel Pogrebnyak.

The Russia international joined on transfer deadline day from Stuttgart and could get his first taste of English football.

"He came in on Wednesday and made a good impression, which is good," Jol said.

"Everybody is looking after him so, although it is always difficult to start in the Premier League, mentally he is up for it and he looks fit.

"I hope he brings us goals. That is always important for any team because we have other qualities around him." Pogrebnyak's chances of starting have been heightened by the news Andrew Johnson has yet to return to full fitness.

The 30-year-old has a problem with left adductor and, although showing signs of improvement, is unavailable to face Stoke.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is seeking clarity from the Football Association on tackling following Robert Huth's sending-off against Sunderland last weekend.

Potters defender Huth was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson in the first half of the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at a snowy Britannia Stadium for a sliding challenge on David Meyler.

Atkinson's decision left Pulis fuming and the Staffordshire outfit subsequently lodged an appeal with the FA but it was rejected, meaning Huth - now faced with a three-match ban - will sit out the trip to Fulham.

The Welshman intends to pursue the matter, though, and said: "We are going to put a compilation of incidents together over the next few days.

"We will do it very professionally, in a proper manner, and then we'll send it off to the FA.

"We have to clear up what is a sending-off and what isn't, because we are watching games at times and we are getting different decisions being made for different teams and different players, but similar incidents.

"Our big thing is the inconsistency of it all and how we can clear it up.

"There is no point being just negative with it - you have to be a little bit constructive with it as well.

Fulham vs Stoke

Last modified 17:27 11/02/12

Pogrebnyak shines as Fulham win Pavel Pogrebnyak's debut goal helped Fulham on the way to a 2-1 victory against out-of-form Stoke in the Barclays Premier League.

The Russia international joined Martin Jol's side from Stuttgart on transfer deadline day and quickly made his mark at Craven Cottage.

Despite training with his new team-mates for the first time two days ago, Pogrebnyak fitted in seamlessly and, at first glance, seemed a more than ample replacement for Bobby Zamora as he netted 16 minutes into his debut.

The 28-year old controlled a wayward John Arne Riise shot to rifle home, before Fulham double their advantage as Clint Dempsey's superb 30-yard drive rebounded off the bar onto goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen's back and in.

Pogrebnyak's afternoon ended in the 62nd minute as he hobbled off injured and Stoke ensured a nervy ending to the match when captain Ryan Shawcross reduced the deficit from a corner.

However, Fulham held on for a fifth win in seven home games as Stoke fell to a fourth successive league defeat.

Both sides made four changes apiece for the match, which began slowly on a bright afternoon by the Thames.

Neither team proved a real threat during the opening exchanges, although Mousa Dembele was impressing for the hosts despite playing in an unusual role alongside Danny Murphy in central midfield.

The Belgium international was leading the City defenders a merry dance and put an incisive ball behind the Stoke backline but Damien Duff's cross was stopped by Sorensen.

Fulham were soon in the ascendancy and, aside from a tame long-range Glenn Whelan that Mark Schwarzer held with ease, Jol's side were bossing possession.

The Cottagers turned that dominance into a 16th-minute goal as Pogrebnyak controlled a wayward Riise inside the box and unleashed a fierce drive into the top left-hand corner.

The Russia international was fortunate not follow up his debut goal with a booking shortly afterwards for a late challenge on Wilson Palacios, who soon dusted himself down to shoot just wide.

Kenwyne Jones was another pushing for a Stoke equaliser, although that task was made harder in the 28th minute.

Out of the blue, in-form Dempsey fired a 30-yard effort that rattled the crossbar and rebounded onto goalkeeper Sorensen - and in off his back.

The second goal left Stoke looking devoid of ideas going forward and they had Shawcross to thank for stopping a third at the other end.

Pogrebnyak was proving difficult to handle and darted down the left, before firing a cross into the six-yard box that would have been tucked home by Dempsey was it not for the Stoke defender's clearance.

Dempsey became the game's focal point as half-time approached, with Marc Wilson and Palacios picking up bookings for challenges on the American midfielder.

Murphy curled just wide from the first free-kick on the edge of the box, before the Fulham skipper's chipped ball into the box would have been tucked home by Duff had Sorensen not been alert to save.

Stoke looked rejuvenated immediately after the restart and came close to reducing the deficit through Matthew Upson, who volleyed Whelan's free-kick just wide in the 47th minute.

The visitors were by no means dominating second-half proceedings, though, and a Stephen Kelly cross almost crept inside Sorensen's near post moments later.

The match was began to ebb and flow more as the half wore on, before Fulham were forced to change things.

Pogrebnyak appeared to fall awkwardly in a challenge with Shawcross and had to be replaced in the 62nd minute by Simon Davies, which resulted in Dempsey moving into attack.

Stoke made changes of their own in a bid to change the course of the game shortly afterwards as Pulis used his full complement of substitutes.

Ricardo Fuller, Jermaine Pennant and Ryan Shotton all came on and the changes soon had the desired effect.

Aaron Hughes deflected a Fuller shot out for a corner, which was crossed in by Pennant and flicked home at the near post by Shawcross.

Peter Crouch flashed a shot over from close range as Stoke pushed for a leveller, leading Jol to bring Dickson Etuhu on for Murphy in a bid to shore things up.