Fulham welcome Preston North End to Craven Cottage in Saturday’s biggest Sky Bet Championship clash, as both teams look to consolidate their bid for a Play-Off spot.
A home win could bring Fulham to within two points of second-placed Leeds if the Yorkshire team loses away at Hull, whilst Preston could go fifth with victory if Brentford lose at Cardiff.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesJosh Onomah is ruled out for Fulham after needing surgery on a knee injury suffered a fortnight ago against Barnsley.
Alfie Mawson (unspecified), Harrison Reed (calf) and Maxime Le Marchand (back) are still sidelined.
Preston could have Josh Harrop available after recovering from a recent hamstring injury.
Darnell Fisher is also available after seeing his midweek red card at West Brom overturned on appeal, whilst Billy Bodin won’t be risked here as he nears a return from an Achilles injury.
Form
Fulham have lost just one of their last nine league matches (W5, D3, L1), but have kept just two clean sheets in their last five home outings.
Preston enter this match with two defeats in their last three games (W1, L2), although they have kept just two clean sheets in their last five away trips.
Stat Attack
- Fulham have lost just one of their last seven meetings against Preston (W4, D2, L1).
- Preston are yet to defeat Fulham in three Championship meetings (D2, L1).
- All seven Championship meetings between these teams has seen both teams score at least once.
Prediction
This is a crucial clash in the Play-Off context because both teams are currently in strong form, although Preston have shown slight wobbles lately but they haven’t lost consecutive away games since late November/early December.
We therefore should see a good attacking game as often been the case in their previous Championship match-ups, so defence will play a part but a draw seems a good result for both teams here.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Preston
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