Fulham welcome Luton Town to Craven Cottage in a May Bank Holiday clash in the 2021-22 Sky Bet Championship.
Victory would see already-promoted Fulham seal the 2021-22 Sky Bet Championship title, whereas Luton can stay fifth and secure a play-off spot with a win.
Team News
Terence Kongolo is Fulham’s only absentee as he continues to recover from a knock with the Cottagers looking to bounce back from last Tuesday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Manager, Marco Silva though could rotate his squad as he continues to assess his players in preparation for the club’s return to the Premier League, with Neeskens Kebano amongst those looking to start this match.
Luton could be without Elijah Adebayo as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Sonny Bradley (ankle) is also a doubt but Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (knee), Fred Onyedinma (groin), James Bree (ankle), Jed Steer (Achilles), Reece Burke, Gabriel Osho (both hamstring) and James Shea (cruciate) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Fulham have lost just one of their last five league meetings against Luton (W2, D2, L1).
- Luton are unbeaten in three of their last five league visits to Craven Cottage (W2, D1, L2).
- Fulham are yet to lose to Luton in three meetings since the turn of the millennium (W1, D2), with all three meetings this century having come in the Championship.
- Luton’s Elijah Adebayo has converted 16 of his 32 shots on target into league goals this season.
- Tosin Adarabioyo is the only Fulham player to have been red carded at home this season, having been sent off in October’s win over West Bromwich Albion.
Prediction
With promotion virtually sewn up since mid-March before being officially confirmed a fortnight ago, Fulham feel like they’ve taken their foot off the gas pedal with just three wins in their last nine matches but I want to see them get back on gear and build momentum ahead of next season now.
Last Tuesday’s defeat to Forest however is a game where they really should of gotten at least one point if they had been clinical enough up front, especially given their attacking dominance compared to their visitors who dug in defensively once they got the opening goal.
Luton meanwhile have had an incredible season and it would be a shame to see the Hatters hit a snag now, although they will know they can secure a play-off spot here with a win which would be a huge relief heading into the final day with their lengthy injury list.
Nathan Jones’ Hatters though have scored in 14 of their last 15 matches in all competitions with 10 different goalscorers – of which one player is currently a doubt and three other players are definitely absent, so I expect Luton to believe that they can get a result here.
Fulham’s mindset though will be crucial because if they’re again not at the races mentally and Luton can get an early goal then defend deep, they should believe that a huge win is possible as long as they stay focused and don’t concede like they did against Blackpool last weekend.
Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Luton
Result: Fulham 7-0 Luton