2018-19 Premier League: Week 38 – Fulham vs Newcastle United

Fulham welcome Newcastle United to Craven Cottage for their final meeting of this Premier League season.

Both teams are playing for pride with the Cottagers already relegated whilst Newcastle could be playing their final match under Rafa Benitez. 

 

Team news

Embed from Getty Images

Denis Odoi could return for Fulham after missing their 1-0 away defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend with concussion. 

Marcus Bettinelli, Timothy Fosu-Mensah (both knee) and Lazar Markovic (calf) are all ruled out. 

Newcastle could be without Fabian Schar due to a muscular injury as DeAndre Yedlin (groin) and Ki Sung-Yeung (knee) seasons come to an early end. 

Miguel Almiron (hamstring), Florian Lejeune and Sean Longstaff (both knee) are all long-term absentees. 

 

Form

Fulham’s three match winning run came to an end last time out with a one goal defeat at Wolves but the Cottagers have netted in five of their last seven home games. 

Newcastle have taken seven points from their last four matches but have taken just five points from their last five away trips. 

 

Stat Attack

• Fulham are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Newcastle (W3, D1).
• Newcastle have lost their last six trips to Craven Cottage 12-4 on aggregate, including 1-0 defeats from each their last two visits.
• Rafa Benitez has won three of seven trips to Craven Cottage as manager of an English team (W3, L4).
• Fulham have conceded 77 goals this season, nine more than last season’s joint worst sides – Stoke and West Ham who conceded 68 goals each last season.
• Martin Dubravka has conceded 48 goals in 37 appearances compared to 11 in 12 appreances last season.

 

Prediction 

This might be a dead rubber but for both teams, this is a huge opportunity for two very different reasons. 

Fulham players need to show Scott Parker that they should be in his squad for next season, especially in defence which needs major works over the summer. 

As for Newcastle, they are playing for Benitez’s future here and if they can show the same fighting spirit as they showed against Liverpool then I can see an away win here. 

Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Newcastle United

Jake predicts: Fulham 2-2 Newcastle United

Result: Fulham 0-4 Newcastle United