Good afternoon and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of this afternoon’s Premier League meeting between Fulham and Swansea City at Craven Cottage.

The Premier League makes a welcome return following the international break and both of these two sides are in desperate need of a win.

In the past week, Fulham have made a change to their backroom staff, with Rene Meulensteen appointed as head coach to work alongside Martin Jol.

Fulham are currently 18th in the table, having lost seven of their first 11 games. They have not won in their last five games and suffered a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in their last outing.

The Swans are also struggling for form and they too have not tasted a victory in five games. In their last match before the international break, they were held to a 3-3 draw by Stoke City.

The line ups for both teams have been announced and I can bring them to you now, starting with the home team.

FULHAM XI: Stekelenburg, Zverotic, Hughes, Amorebieta, Ricahrdson, Parker, Kasami, Boateng, Ruiz, Berbatov, Bent

FULHAM SUBS: Stockdale, Senderos, Sidwell, Taarabt, Dejagah, Kacaniklic, Dembele

SWANSEA XI: Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies, Canas, De Guzman, Dyer, Lamah, Pozuelo, Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Tiendalli, Amat, Taylor, Britton, Shelvey, Vazquez

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup makes three changes to the side from their last game against Stoke, with Michel Vorm, Jose Canas and Nathan Dyer coming in for Gerhard Tremmel, Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge.

Fulham are without the injured Brede Hangeland and Damien Duff, while Sascha Riether is suspended. Scott Parker captains the hosts for the first time this afternoon.

Despite Swansea being 13th in the table, they are only two points above Fulham, having picked up twelve points from their opening 11 games.

Should the home side win today, they would leapfrog Swansea in the table and climb out of the relegation zone.

Should the home side win today, they would leapfrog Swansea in the table and climb out of the relegation zone.

The last time these two sides met, Fulham claimed a 3-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium. The scoreline may not tell the whole truth, as the game took place on the final match day of last season, with both teams safe from relegation and able to play without any pressure.

Swansea had previously won all three of the Premier League meetings between the two teams, including a 3-0 win at Craven Cottage two seasons ago.

UPDATE: In today's early Premier League match, Everton and Liverpool have shared a 3-3 draw in the Merseyside derby. Daniel Sturridge scored an equaliser one minute from the end to rescue a point for the visitors.

Back to game ahead at Craven Cottage and both sides have struggled defensively in the league this season. Swansea have conceded 15 goals so far, slightly better than the 19 Fulham have leaked.

Despite being poor in defence, Swansea have scored 15 goals this season, which is the eight highest amount by a team in the Premier League. Fulham have averaged nearly a goal a game, scoring 10 times.

Although it is by no means certain, the fact that Fulham have kept just two clean sheets and Swansea have shut their opponents out only four times, we may witness a few goals at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

PREDICTION: With both teams struggling for form, each manager will see this game as a perfect opportunity to get their seasons up and running. It will be interesting to see the effect new head coach Rene Meulensteen has on the Fulham team, but we may not see the results of his appointment straight away. It is always hard to predict what sort of game we will see after an international break, but most of the players will be raring to get back into league action. I think we will see some goals, with a 2-2 draw my prediction of the outcome.

There isn't long left to go until kick off here at Craven Cottage, and the players are lined up ready to make their way onto the pitch.

REFEREE: Andre Marriner is in charge of today's match.

The teams are out, with Fulham and Swansea both making the long journey across the pitch.

KICKOFF! Fulham get the game underway at Craven Cottage!

The home team have seen a lot of the ball in the early stages of this match without posing a real threat on their opponents goal so far.

Fulham win an early corner when Parker's long ball looks to have taken a deflection as it went wide.

They are unable to make their set piece count, as the ball into the middle fails to beat the first man.

CHANCE! If there's one man on the pitch capable of the spectacular then it's Berbatov! A long cross field pass finds him in the box, with the striker attempting an audacious bicycle kick. However, his attempt lacked the required power to beat the keeper and Vorm is able to easily hold on.

Swansea have a won a free kick in a promising position on the edge of the box after Parker bundles Dyer to the floor.

De Guzman stepped up to take it, but it hit the wall and has gone out for a corner.

The Swans are unable to make their first corner of the match count, as they too fail to beat the first man, with Fulham clearing to safety.

Swansea are starting to see a lot more of the ball, with two dangerous crosses whipped into the middle causing panic in the Fulham penalty area.

As soon as the visitors begin to commit more men to the attack, Fulham pinch the ball, with Kasami bursting through to the edge of the area before running out of steam. He feels that he should have a penalty but it was clear that he was not fouled and had just lost his footing.

Positive play down the right hand side from Lamah, with the midfielder weaving his way to the byline, but his attempted cross cannons back off him and goes out for a goal kick.

It has been end to end so far, and now Fulham have won a corner, which Ruiz will whip into the middle.

The ball falls to Amorebieta in the middle, who attempts to hook an effort goalwards, but it goes wide of the post.

Fulham work a good crossing opportunity for Zverotic down the right hand side, but with Bent and Berbatov to find in the middle, he overhits his effort and it goes harmlessly clear of the bar.

YELLOW CARD! Boateng picks up a booking after a poor foul from behind.

In the past couple of minutes Swansea have seen a large amount of the ball, spreading the play across the pitch as they look to draw out the Fulham defence.

The Swans are starting to put a number of balls into their opponents box, but so far they have been unable to pick out Bony with their attempts.

CHANCE! The visitors are inches away from taking the lead. Lamah cuts inside from the left and unleashes a strike that takes a deflection and just goes wide of the post. They win a corner, but are unable to create a chance from the set piece.

CHANCE! The hosts come close when Parker finds Bent at the back post, but he is unable to direct his header goalwards.

YELLOW CARD! Kasami is booked and has given away a free kick in a dangerous position here.

De Guzman again takes the set piece, but his delivery into the middle is easily dealt with by the home side.

OFF THE POST! Fulham should have scored! A long ball over the top is missed by the Swansea defence, with Bent finding himself unmarked in the middle. The striker fired a shot on the half volley, but it cannoned back of the post to safety. A player of his calibre should have been tucking that away from there!

Kasami tries his luck from 30 yards, but his attempt is blocked for a corner.

CHANCE! The corner is delivered to the back post, where Berbatov meets the cross, but he can only direct his header wide.

It has been a positive spell in the match for the hosts and they will sense that a goal before half time is well within their grasp.

Lamah looks like he is going to try his luck whenever the ball comes his way today, but his latest strike is poor, as he drags his strike wide of the post.

It is Swansea's turn to put pressure on the home defence as they win two corners in quick succession, but are unable to make either set piece count.

CHANCE! Bony has a glimpse of goal as he meets Rangel's inch perfect cross, but puts his header over the bar.

CHANCE! Dyer comes close to scoring for the visitors, as he is played in wide on the right, but sees his low strike kept out by the legs of Stekelenburg.

There is going to be one minute added on to the end of the first half.

Fulham will have a free kick from the right hand side, right at the end of the first half. Ruiz will whip this one in with his left foot.

Ruiz plays a decent ball into the box, but his teammates are unable to get on the end of it and it drifts out of play for a goal kick.

So at half time here at Craven Cottage it is goalless between the two sides. Swansea have seen more of the ball and have created a number of chances, but the home side really should be in the lead, as Bent wasted the best opening of the half when he hit the post from close range.

The Swans have seen a huge 66% of the ball in the opening 45 minutes, which is no surprise considering their style of play. They have had 10 shots on their opponents goal, compared to the 6 that Fulham have had.

Despite the fact that there has been 16 shots on goal from the two teams combined, only two of those strikes have been on target!

UPDATE: In today's other Premier League games, Arsenal are leading Southampton 1-0 thanks to a goal from Olivier Giroud, Newcastle United are beating Norwich City 2-0, Stoke City are a goal ahead against Sunderland and the game between Hull City and Crystal Palace is goalless.

The players are back out and the second half is moments away.

Swansea kick off and get the second 45 minutes started.

CHANCE! The Swans have started the second half with great attacking intent. After winning a corner that Stekelenburg has to be alert to palm clear, Bony shows great skill inside the box before firing an effort across the area, but there was no one in the middle to finish.

It's a third attempt on goal for Lamah, but again his effort goes wide of the post. He has looked very lively for the visitors today and clearly his belief in his shooting ability is high as he is willing to keep trying his luck.

The hosts try to work an opening after committing a number of players to the attack, but Ruiz's ball into the middle is well dealt with and the Swans clear.

Swansea work a great shooting chance for De Guzman on the edge of the area, but his attempt lacks any power and trickles through to the keeper.

Ruiz gives away a poor foul out wide on the right that gives Swansea a chance to get the ball into the box.

Fulham are made to pay for giving away that free kick! The ball is played short down the line to Pozuelo before being delivered low into the middle. It is missed by the Swansea attack, but hits Hughes at the back post and rolls into the back of the net.

CHANCE! Dyer shows some wonderful skill inside the box to work a shooting chance, but he puts his low effort just wide of the goal.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make a change with Shelvey replacing Dyer.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make a change of their own with Sidwell coming on for Boateng.

YELLOW CARD! More misery for Hughes in this match, as he is booked just minutes after scoring an own goal.

CHANCE! Golden chance for Fulham to score. Bent is played in on goal down the right hand side, but he attempts to play it across to Berbatov instead of shoot. The attempt is blocked and Fulham will have a corner.

Fulham have drawn level with a goal from their captain! The corner was taken short by Ruiz to Parker, who attempts to cross the ball into the middle, but it ends up sailing into the far corner. It is a complete fluke but Fulham won't care, and it is the midfielders first goal in over three years!

CHANCE! Bony comes close to restoring the visitors lead. He is slipped in behind the Fulham backline, but his low effort on goal is well held by Stekelenburg.

The game has really come to life with both teams pushing for the next goal. It has livened up the Craven Cottage crowd who are making a huge amount of noise!

Bent does well to win a corner after good work down the right hand side. Ruiz puts a great delivery into the middle, but Swansea manage to clear their lines.

Bony has another sight of goal for the away side after a fine passing move, but he slices his attempt on goal and it goes wide.

Swansea are still dominating in possession but the home side are showing real purpose whenever they attempt to get forward, as they look to search out Bent and Berbatov.

Almost a chance for Swansea as Davies gets to the byline, but his ball across the box can't find Bony and Fulham are able to scramble it clear.

Swansea commit a number of players forward to the attack, but Shelvey tries his luck on goal with a curling effort from the left hand side that is straight at the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make their second chance of the afternoon with Kacaniklic replacing Ruiz.

Fulham lose the ball in a dangerous area deep inside their own half and they are lucky to clear De Guzman's attempted cross away for a corner. The visitors are unable to create anything from the set piece though as the home side clear.

What a stunning goal by Shelvey! The midfielder weaves his way to the edge of the area, before firing a stunning strike into the top right hand corner. It was a wonderful goal by the substitute and the visitors lead with 10 minutes left to play.

That goal looks to have sucked the energy out of the home team. They are looking to get the ball quickly into the box but Swansea have held firm so far.

SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make their final change with Taarabt on for Parker.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make a change of their own with Tiendalli replacing Lamah.

Bent is inches away from connecting with a loose ball in the middle. The ball was headed back into the box, evading the Swansea defence, but there was just enough pace on it to run through to Vorm.

We are going to have four minutes of time added on.

We are going to have four minutes of time added on.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make their final change with Pozuelo going off and Alvaro coming on in his place.

CHANCE! Swansea break after Fulham commit a number of players forward, with Shelvey finding himself free at the back post. He takes the ball round the keeper, but is stopped by the covering defenders. He really should have scored his side's third there!

The final whistle is blown and Swansea have won the game 2-1. Shelvey's stunning goal proved to be enough to hand the visitors the three points and move them into the top half of the table.

It was an exciting second half full of chances after a goalless first 45 minutes, with the Swans dominating in possession and goal attempts today. Today's defeat leaves Fulham in the relegation zone and their management will have a tough job on their hands to keep the side up.

That's all we've got time for from Craven Cottage. Please stay with Sports Mole for all of the weekend's action, but from me, it's goodbye!