Europa League 
/ Michael Lintorn / 13 July 2011 / Leave a Comment 
"They are yet to concede, have fired more than once in only one of their last nine away matches in Europe and had the joint-best travelling defence in the Premier League in 2010-11."
Fulham's relentless pre-season continues on Thursday with a Europa League qualifier in Northern Ireland against Crusaders. Michael Lintorn makes a case for laying the Cottagers....
It didn't receive too much attention because their 3-0 first-leg lead rendered it fairly irrelevant, but Fulham's failure to win or even score against NSI Runavik in the Faroe Islands was something of a shock given the latter's dreadful European home record.
The minnows had lost five of their previous six continental contests in front of their fans, conceding 15 times in the process, so their clean sheet against a team that reached the final of the competition in 2009-10 was a fairly significant upset despite the lack of pressure that was on the Cottagers.
Martin Jol's side will be as relaxed about the prospect of going to Belfast to face IFA Premiership runners-up Crusaders, a streak of six straight Europa League victories at Craven Cottage sure to breed confidence that they will get the job done there even if they fail to deliver in Northern Ireland.
On their run to the final two seasons ago, Fulham won just twice on the road from the group stage onwards, while their best domestic away campaign in seven years last term featured only three triumphs. That and the result in the Faroe Islands render their odds of [1.23] surprisingly short.
That indicates that another draw is an attractive proposition at [7.2], especially as four of Fulham's last six Europa League games outside of west London have been level after 90 minutes, and additionally because Crusaders have lost both legs of just two of their last six European ties.
For those that expect the visitors' class to shine through, another above-evens bet to look at is under 2.5 goals at [2.22]. They are yet to concede, have fired more than once in only one of their last nine away matches in Europe and had the joint-best travelling defence in the Premier League in 2010-11.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ [2.22]
Other Recommended Bet: Lay Fulham @ [1.24]
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