Bettorlogic's Injuries and Suspensions Column: Andy Johnson

Premier League / Bettorlogic / 28 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Without Andy Johnson, Fulham have struggled - falling to seven defeats in 11 games (W4-D0-L7)."

Bettorlogic explain how bettors can benefit from Andy Johnson's absence from Fulham's trip to Villa Park this weekend. Plus how the absences of other key Premier League players can help us selects our bets this weekend.

Fulham's recent Europa Cup first leg against Amkar Perm could prove quite costly over the next few weeks due to the absence of Andy Johnson, who suffered a bad shoulder injury during the game. Johnson has been a key player for Fulham since his arrival from Everton at the start of last season for just over £10 million.

The former-England striker has played 29 of Fulham's 40 games while he has been at the club, with the Cottagers earning an average of 1.52 points per game with him in the side (W11-D11-L7). However, without him Fulham have struggled - falling to seven defeats in 11 games (W4-D0-L7). On the road their stats are equally damning as they have lost as many times in the five matches he has missed - four - as they have in the 15 he has played. Home or away, Fulham have lost five of their seven matches against top-half teams without the former Crystal Palace striker compared to two of 10 with him.

With seven goals in his 29 appearances, Johnson is also Fulham's leading scorer since the start of last season and without him Fulham's average goals scored have fallen from 1.07 goals per game to 0.82.

Matches between these two teams have tended to be close affairs in recent years but with Andy Johnson missing, we think Aston Villa's [1.79] win price has added value.