Fulham look to move closer towards the top two as they visit Charlton Athletic at The Valley.
Charlton can move eight points clear of relegation with a win whilst Fulham will stay third no matter the result, although a win would put them to within a point of second-placed Leeds United.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesCharlton could have Lyle Taylor, Josh Cullen, Sam Field and Chris Solly back from various injuries which had sidelined them in recent months.
Solly missed Saturday’s defeat at Preston through illness whilst Cullen and Field are returning from respective ankle and knee injuries.
Fulham will again be without Aleksandr Mitrovic due to an ankle injury whilst Aboubakar Kamara is also sidelined.
Steven Sessegnon (groin) and Harrison Reed (calf) are both doubts but will be handed late fitness tests.
Stat Attack
- Charlton are winless in their last five meetings with Fulham – excluding their EFL Trophy meeting in November 2017 against a Fulham U21s lineup (D3, L2).
- Fulham haven’t won in any of their last six trips to The Valley (W2, D4).
- Both teams have scored in eight of their last nine clashes at The Valley in all competitions.
- Fulham have conceded first in three of their last four away league trips.
- Charlton have scored first in two of their last three home matches.
Prediction
With the latest round of fixtures spread out across a week with the top two not in action until next Tuesday, this is a huge opportunity for Fulham to pile on the pressure in the title race.
Charlton meanwhile have tumbled out of the play-off picture but are starting to recover many of their injured players, so I am expecting them to produce a good game given that seems to be the trend at The Valley against Fulham.
The first goal however will be crucial because if Fulham score first, I can see them sitting back a bit like they did on Friday and soaking up the pressure but Charlton should do enough for a point here.
Prediction: Charlton 1-1 Fulham
Result: Charlton 0-0 Fulham