Preview: Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Fulham begin life after Martin Jol on Wednesday when the struggling Cottagers welcome Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Saturday's 3-0 defeat at West Ham United proved to be the final straw for the powers-that-be as Jol's two-and-a-half-year spell at Craven Cottage was brought to an end following talks at the club's training ground.

His replacement, former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen, will hope that his side can get off to the perfect start against Spurs in front of their own supporters.

The home team have won only four of their last 21 league matches, however, and have collected just four points from their last 10 games on their own patch.

Goals have also been a problem for Fulham in recent weeks, with the London outfit scoring just twice in their last four league matches.

As it stands, they sit in 18th position in the table, but are just three points off bottom spot, which is currently occupied by Crystal Palace.

Spurs, meanwhile, recovered from the 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City by holding Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane in Sunday's early start.

A total of 21 points from their 13 matches has left them in ninth position in the table, although they are just three points off the top four.

The corresponding match last season ended in a 3-0 Spurs victory, but Fulham have won two of the last five matches between the two sides, including a 1-0 success at White Hart Lane towards the end of last season.

Fulham are expected to make changes to the XI that lost at West Ham, with Philippe Senderos and Bryan Ruiz among those pushing for a start.

There is still no Dimitar Berbatov, however, meaning that on-loan Aston Villa forward Darren Bent will continue as the lone striker.

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, meanwhile, is expected to keep faith with struggling Roberto Soldado in attack.

There should be changes in midfield, however, with Andros Townsend and Gylfi Sigurdsson hoping to oust Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli from the starting lineup.

Recent form

Fulham: LLLLL

Spurs: WLLWD

Possible starting lineups

Fulham: Stekelenburg; Hughes, Senderos, Amorebieta, Richardson; Sidwell, Parker, Kasami; Duff, Bent, Ruiz

Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen; Sandro, Paulinho; Townsend, Sigurdsson, Lennon; Soldado

Sports Mole says: 1-3