It's a tough business if you're looking for stand-out fixtures this coming weekend. A scan of the games taking place right across Europe turns up nothing even approaching a mouth-watering Christmas feast, although there's plenty of potential for damp, neglected sprouts on the side.

Strained yuletide analogies aside, the only game that looks even remotely interesting to us as neutrals this weekend is Man Utd's trip to Craven Cottage to take on an always-watchable, if not always reliable, Fulham.

In Roy Hodgson the Cottagers have an excellent manager, blooded internationally and the mastermind of the club's dramatic survival in 2007/2008. But while he's created a team of talented individuals capable of attractive football since then - finishing an admirable 7th last season - Fulham's continued progress this season has stuttered with inconsistency. If the right Fulham turn up on Saturday, anything could happen - especially if Bobby Zamora keeps firing on all cylinders up front.

Manchester United, on the other hand, are coming off the back of a shock defeat at home to Aston Villa last weekend. For their meeting with Fulham on Saturday, much will depend on their midweek performance against Wolverhampton. They'll be looking to rediscover their cutting edge and send the Wolves packing in style, but a Wanderers side fresh from victory over Spurs may put up a big enough fight at Old Trafford to blunt the edge of Man Utd's confidence going into the Fulham game. Well, you never know... And let's not forget that Fulham did Man Utd 2-0 in this corresponding fixture last season.

We Played It!



Forget all that talk of an upset for Manchester United. They'll walk all over Fulham at their historic Thames-side ground - at least according to our simulation. United will enjoy the lion's share of possession, pop six times more shots at goal than Fulham, and actually have one of those go in.

While Fulham will fail to get any shots meaningfully on target, Wayne Rooney will rise to meet a cross from an impressive Luis Antonio Valencia on 10 minutes. And Rooney will enjoy quite a lot of other chances, too, although will fail to find the back of the net.

The final scoreline will be tight but unreflective of the game: A match that Manchester United will boss from beginning to end, their only regret being that their other seven gilt-edged chances didn't find the back of the net.

FINAL SCORE: Fulham 0 - 1 Manchester United

But what do YOU think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments thread below. And get a match going between Fulham and Manchester United on FIFA 10 and post links here to the best goals you can score.