Norwich vs Fulham: Cottagers to add to draw tally in East Anglia

While the likes of Bolton have been starved of draws in 2011, Fulham have helped keep the Premier League’s average up by participating in 13, and the Cottagers are generously priced to end the year with another at 12/5.

Martin Jol’s men remain in the bottom half despite losing just two of their last seven and a major reason why is their frequent spoil-sharing habit, with three of their last four away games concluding with both teams taking a point.

Given their dreadful record against the Londoners, Norwich may view a point as a decent return on New Year’s Eve. Paul Lambert’s side, who have won only two of their last ten – drawing four – are winless in eight meetings with Fulham.

Indeed, it was a 6-0 final-day thrashing at Craven Cottage in 2005 that saw the Canaries relegated, kicking off a spiral that saw them drop into League One, so they have plenty of motivation to avoid a fourth defeat to a capital club this season.

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Fulham have been an under 2.5 goal backer’s dream of late, with six of their last seven matches finishing that way, so 5/6 is a tempting price on their trip to Carrow Road following that pattern.

Though beaten on just seven occasions, Norwich haven’t managed a clean sheet in any of their 18 fixtures to date, so with that in mind 1-1 at 11/2 looks a better correct score bet for those expecting a draw than 0-0 does at 8/1.

Also worth noting is the fact that the Cottagers have scored first in three of their last five score draws, hinting at the evens on them breaking the deadlock and 14/1 on them leading at the interval then being pegged back as good options.

In the first goalscorer market, Clint Dempsey has to be considered a major contender at 7/1 having netted in four of his last six appearances in all competitions, firing the opener in three of those.