Ranieri can lift Fulham’s dark Clauds

ITALIAN BOSS CAN SPARK A REVIVAL AGAINST SPARKY

WHEN Leicester pulled off THE miracle, the praise was rightly heaped on their amazing strike force of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.

But League title wins are often based on a rock-solid defence. And the Foxes gritty backline partnership of Wes Morgan and Robert Huth were a key reason why Leicester lifted the trophy.

Morgan and Huth were hardly star names at the time and would undoubtedly have been rejected by many of the big teams.

But they were brilliant that year and the man who tinkered with that well-oiled machine was one Claudio Ranieri. He comes from a country that knows a thing or two about defending and Ranieri is now tasked with the job of making Fulham tougher at the back.

The arrival of Southampton today is probably the best start Ranieri could have wished for. Saints have scored with just FOUR PER CENT of their total shots – the lowest conversion rate in the Prem.

They haven’t won since September 1, while Fulham also boast a great record against the Saints, losing just one of their last 14 meetings.

Ranieri expects his new team to fight like pirates. We can see a new-boss bounce and Southampton walking the plank at 4.45pm. Fulham are 17/10 with

Betfred.