Fulham vs Blackburn: Dempsey to be the bane of Blackburn again

Blackburn have never in their lengthy history lost their opening four games of a new season, but there is a first time for everything and there is no coherent reason why they will take anything from their trip to Fulham.

Fulham’s start to the season has not been the best and the fact that they have had to qualify for the Europa League means that this is already their 12th match of the campaign.

However, they can call on the services of Clint Dempsey and Bryan Ruiz for the visit of Blackburn.

Dempsey opened his league account for the season with Fulham’s only goal at Newcastle and has netted three times in his last four games with Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Ruiz will not want to waste any time endearing himself to the Fulham fans following his big-money £10.6m switch from FC Twente.

Fulham are 8/11 in the Premier League odds to beat Blackburn, with Dempsey and Ruiz both available at 6/4 to score at any time within the 90 minutes.

The last time that Blackburn lost four times on the bounce was in December 2008 and it is 9/2 that they avoid a repeat of this sequence with a victory at Craven Cottage.

But they have lost seven of their last ten Premier League away games, with their only victory in this run being their 3-2 triumph at Wolves to secure their survival on the final day of last season.

Their chances of a first point of the campaign are boosted by Scott Dann, who should go straight into the first team to make his debut following his deadline-day move from Birmingham

Blackburn’s odds are 23/10 to draw with Fulham, which would also leave Fulham still seeking their first Premier League success of the season.