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Revealed: What superstitions Fulham fans have been following on this 20 game unbeaten run

As it's Friday 13 - we thought we'd find out what superstitions Fulham fans have been following on this 20 game unbeaten run

Football fans are a superstitious bunch.

After the 1-0 victory over Reading on Tuesday night, Fulham made it 20 games unbeaten, forcing themselves into second place in the process after Aston Villa beat Cardiff City by the same scoreline.

There's still a long way to go until May 6 and that final game against Birmingham City, with a lot of twists and turns yet, but going that many games unbeaten is something to admire.

And, of course, an unbeaten run like that is bound to raise some superstitions amongst football fans (and players) alike.

Seeing as it's Friday 13, an unlucky day for some, we thought we'd find out what routines and rituals Fulham fans have been doing since this run start on December 16 - five months ago now.



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-what-superstitions-fulham-fans-14525790

 
"Everyone has to be ready for it"

Neal Maupay looks ahead to tomorrow's derby trip to Fulham

Brentford top scorer Neal Maupay admits The Bees are still in a must-win situation as the team prepares to make the short trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday evening.

Three straight 1-0 victories, two of them coming after goals from the Frenchman, have left Dean Smith's side four points outside the Play-Offs with four games to play. The 21-year-old feels The Bees haven't been at their best in recent weeks but as long as they keep grinding out the wins, like they did on Tuesday night at Nottingham Forest, that's all that matters.

"It was a difficult game; I don't think we played well but we just need three points," admitted Neal to iFollow Brentford, speaking about Tuesday's victory. "That is what we did. We deserved the win but I think we can, and have, to do better. However, if we win every game and don't play well then it doesn't matter. We are confident at the moment as we are in a good way. We have to keep going because if we want to make the Play-Offs we have to win all our games. We can only think about one game; when we are on the pitch we will fight to the end to get the win. We know that if we don't win it is probably finished for the Play-Offs so we have to go and play hard, and try to win."

Those two winners in recent weeks, against Bristol City and Ipswich Town, were Neal's 11th and 12th strikes of his debut season in England. Coming from France, Neal admits the congested nature of the Championship fixture schedule has been tough to adapt to but said he's doing everything he can to be in the right shape to add to his tally during the final run-in.

"I have already played 40 games whereas in France, if you played every league game, you would only play 38 games," said Neal. "It's crazy but I think I am doing a great job in training, and with the physios, to be fit. I am young so I am not really tired but when you play three times a week for three weeks it is hard at the end. However, I do a great job to feel good and feel fresh on the pitch. I am pleased with my goals and my confidence at the moment but I think I can do more for the team. I am always thinking that I can be better and improve. However, I've scored twice in the last three games so I am confident. Hopefully there are a few more goals coming."

Neal was suspended for The Bees 3-1 victory over Fulham at Griffin Park back in December but has derby experience, after featuring in both games against Queens Park Rangers so far this campaign. With both sides needing the points for their own promotion ambitions, Neal is expecting an epic encounter at Craven Cottage in front of the TV cameras tomorrow. 

"It will be a big derby," admitted Neal. "A lot of fans will be there. They are fighting to get into the Premier League and targeting second place while we are fighting for the Play-Offs. It will be a very good game and everyone has to be ready for it. When you are struggling in the game and hear the fans behind you, pushing you to give everything you have, it helps you. It will be good to have a lot of fans there on Saturday. Playing Queens Park Rangers, the Brentford fans were noisy and it was a really good atmosphere. I also scored against QPR in the cup which was a good feeling. I expect the same on Saturday and I hope that we can get the win."



https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/april/neal-maupay-pre-fulham/

 
West Brom and Fulham eye Cunningham

HITC Sport understands duo are tracking Preston defender Cunningham.

West Bromwich Albion and Fulham are eyeing moves for Preston North End defender Greg Cunningham this summer, HITC Sport understands.

Cunningham has established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the Championship after impressing in the past three seasons for Preston.

The former Manchester City youngster is entering the final year of his contract at Preston and as yet there has been no new deal agreed at Deepdale.

The news has alerted a number of Cunningham's suitors who are ready to test Preston's resolve to hang onto the left-back this summer.

West Brom are expected to make wholesale changes to their squad this summer once their inevitable relegation from the Premier League is confirmed.

The Baggies expect to lose a number of their key stars who will not want to drop down into the Championship and the club's scouting staff are already looking at players who have experience of playing in the Championship for next season.

Fulham are also in the market for left-back reinforcements with Matt Targett expected to return to Southampton following his loan spell at Craven Cottage, while speculation continues to surround the long-term future of Ryan Sessegnon with a host of the Premier League's top clubs chasing the teenager's signature.

Preston are keen to keep hold of Cunningham with the Republic of Ireland international a key member of Alex Neil's side, but they are bracing themselves for offers this summer.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/04/13/por-west-brom-and-fulham-eye-cunningham/

 
Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock predicts when Fulham will slip up in promotion race

The Cardiff boss delivered a brilliant tongue-in-cheek response when asked about the Cottagers' incredible run of form

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has jibed that Sunderland are the most likely side to end Fulham's blistering run of form in the Champonship.

The Cottagers leapfrogged the Bluebirds into second place in England's second tier in midweek as they extended their unbeaten run to 20 matches with a 1-0 victory over Reading at Craven Cottage while Cardiff were beaten by Aston Villa .

Despite suffering back-to-back defeats, Cardiff's destiny remains in their own hands given that they boast a game in hand over Fulham who are just one point clear of the Bluebirds .

Slavisa Jokanovic's men end the campaign with games against Brentford, Millwall, Sunderland and Birmingham City while the Bluebirds face Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Hull City and Reading between now and the end of the campaign.

And Warnock quipped that Chris Coleman's Sunderland - who are six points adrift of safety with just four games left to play - will probably be the side that dent Fulham's automatic promotion bid.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to Carrow Road, Warnock said: "It'll probably be the Sunderland game they'll slip up in!

"You just don't know with four games to go. Every game's difficult you've just go to go into it and do the best you can.

"You look at the games and they're (Fulham) expected to win every game really.

"It's got to be us and if we can't then good luck to them 20 odd games unbeaten in this league is fantastic. They've got great players and a great squad and we're actually competing with them.

"They've gone 20 odd games unbeaten and it's neck and neck. It shows how far we've come really."

Warnock's men started their league campaign with five consecutive victories while they also secured eight wins on the bounce prior to their 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane earlier this month.

And Warnock believes his side are more than capable of going on another winning streak in the remaining weeks of the campaign, although he admits Fulham deserve immense praise for their remarkable run of results.

"We're capable of doing it," said Warnock when asked if the Bluebirds can win all five of their last five league games.

"Whether we will I don't know. It's been our fault really as we've not won the games. We've played pretty well in the last two games. It's been a lesson for us and we've moved on and we're a good side. You don't get this far if you're not a good side.

"Everyone knows I'm after that eight promotion. Nothing's changed on that and even if it didn't happen I couldn't have asked for any more from the players and the fans, who've been incredible in the last few weeks and months."



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-fulham-championship-promotion-14526250

 
Fulham v Brentford preview: West London derby live on Sky Sports Football

Fulham will again be without Floyd Ayite when they aim to take another step towards promotion against local rivals Brentford.

The forward sustained a hamstring injury at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and could also miss next Friday's test at in-form Millwall. Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic could name the same side that earned a 1-0 victory over Reading, although he does have options in the likes of Neeskens Kebano and Oliver Norwood.

The midweek win moved Fulham a point above Cardiff in their battle for automatic promotion.

Alan Judge could miss the short trip as he continues to struggle with a hamstring problem. The issue forced Judge to miss Tuesday's victory at Nottingham Forest and he did not train on Thursday.

Fellow midfielder Ryan Woods is available after completing his three-match ban while winger Florian Jozefzoon is back in training and could feature. Brentford are 10th in the Sky Bet Championship, four points adrift of the play-off places with four games remaining.

Opta stats

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Fulham have only won one of their last 17 home matches against Brentford in all competitions (D9 L7), a 1-0 win in April 1990.

The Bees have won four of their last seven Championship meetings with Fulham (D2 L1).

The Cottagers have won 12 home league matches this season, their best tally in a season since 2005-06 when they won 13 in the Premier League.

Brentford have won their last three league matches, all 1-0 - only three of their previous 30 wins had been 1-0 before this run.

Fulham are now unbeaten in 20 league matches (W16 D4) - only three teams in second tier history have gone unbeaten for 20 or more matches during a season and not finished in the top two, most recently Brighton in 2015-16 (the others are Preston in 2005-06 and Blackburn in 1987-88).

The Bees haven't won four Championship matches in a row since October 2015 under Lee Carsley.

Prutton's prediction

What a job Fulham have done to get themselves above Cardiff and into the top two. It's 20 games unbeaten now for Slavisa Jokanovic's side and 16 of those have been wins. What a remarkable run it's been.

Brentford are a tough proposition for them, however. The Bees still have a shot at the play-offs and they turned Fulham over at Griffin Park in December. I think this will be close, but I fancy Fulham to just about edge it.

David Prutton predicts: 1-0 with Aleksandar Mitrovic to score (20/1 with Sky Bet)



http://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-brentford/preview/375126

 
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock tries to ramp up pressure on Fulham ahead of the promotion run-in

Cardiff and Fulham are near enough neck and neck in the race for promotion and he thinks that fact shows how far his side have come

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has had his say on when he thinks Fulham will slip up in the promotion race, but has hailed the side's 20-game unbeaten run.

The two teams are neck and neck in the charge for the Premier League, with the Whites finally overtaking Cardiff on Tuesday night thanks to a 1-0 win over Reading, while the Bluebird lost by the same scoreline to Aston Villa.

It has been a fantastic battle between the pair, with Fulham going 20-games unbeaten, while a determined Cardiff have defied all the odds to go into the final few games of the season with promotion firmly in their sights.

And Warnock has tried to ramp up the pressure ahead of the last few games of the season, saying Fulham are expected to win every game left.

He said: "It'll probably be the Sunderland game they'll slip up in!

"You just don't know with four games to go. Every game's difficult you've just go to go into it and do the best you can.

"You look at the games and they're (Fulham) expected to win every game really.

"It's got to be us and if we can't then good luck to them, 20 odd games unbeaten in this league is fantastic. They've got great players and a great squad and we're actually competing with them.

"They've gone 20 odd games unbeaten and it's neck and neck. It shows how far we've come really."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-boss-neil-warnock-tries-14526562

 
Brentford midfielder reveals what he expects from Fulham contest

The Bees, who have won their last three games by a goal to nil, are four points off the top six while the Whites are second having played a game more than Cardiff

Nico Yennaris is expecting a lively atmosphere at Fulham on Saturday as Brentford look to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Bees, who have won their last three games by a goal to nil, are four points off the top six while the Whites are second having played a game more than Cardiff.

And that sets up an electric atmosphere at Craven Cottage with Dean Smith's side looking to complete a double over their rivals after a 3-1 win in December.

Yennaris said: "It (the win over Nottingham Forest) sets up Saturday for a nice atmosphere. It should be a great footballing game as it's two teams who want to play.

"We beat them earlier on this season and we can get another result against them."

Last year saw Brentford eschewed in mid-table with pride to play for and having something riding on it makes it more enjoyable.

Yennaris added: "It's all to play for. It makes Saturday's game even more exciting. They'll be at home and they'll have the crowd on their backs if it's not going their way.

"I think we've got to go there, express ourselves and play with the freedom. We'll have a great backing from our supporters. Hopefully it'll be a great game."

If the season were to finish as it is now, Brentford fans would be torn between viewing the campaign as a good season and a missed opportunity, given the points dropped in the opening months of the campaign.

But, after not winning in their first eight games, Yennaris is delighted to be in a position where the Bees can fight for something still.

He explained: "We still have something to play for and that's what we're fighting for and we'll keep going until the last game.

"We're not in the position we feel we deserve to be in. That's down to ourselves and we're the only one that can change it.

"Hopefully we get that luck now. Who knows what can happen, it's a funny league."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brentford-midfielder-reveals-what-expects-14527309

 
Fulham v Brentford
SAT 14 Apr 2018   Championship
Venue: Craven Cottage


Fulham forwards Floyd Ayite (hamstring) and Sheyi Ojo have been ruled out of the west London derby against Brentford at Craven Cottage.

The home side are on a 20-match unbeaten run in the Championship, which has lifted them from 12th to second in the table.

Bees midfielder Ryan Woods is available to return after a three-match ban.

Midfielder Alan Judge will be assessed but Florian Jozefzoon is fit to feature after missing the last two games.

Left-back Rico Henry is a long-term absentee, and is working his way back from a serious knee injury.

SAM's prediction
Home win 52%   Draw 25%   Away win 23%

SAM, the Sports Analytics Machine, is a super-computer built by @ProfIanMcHale of the University of Liverpool.

Match facts
    Fulham have only won one of their last 17 home matches against Brentford in all competitions (D9 L7), a 1-0 win in April 1990.
    The Bees have won four of their last seven Championship meetings with Fulham (D2 L1).
    The Cottagers have won 12 home league matches this season, their best tally in a season since 2005-06 when they won 13 in the Premier League.
    Brentford have won their last three league matches 1-0 - only three of their previous 30 wins had been 1-0 before this run.
    Fulham are now unbeaten in 20 league matches (W16 D4) - only three teams in second tier history have gone unbeaten for 20 or more matches during a season and not finished in the top two, most recently Brighton in 2015-16 (the others are Preston in 2005-06 and Blackburn in 1987-88).
    The Bees have not won four Championship matches in a row since October 2015 under caretaker boss Lee Carsley.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43677858

Mitrovic Reborn
by Lydia on April 13, 2018

When Aleksander Mitrovic signed for Fulham on loan from Newcastle I had a cautious excitement about the deal. History has shown that the Serb has the sort of tenacious aggression that we had been missing in attack, but it also showed that the 23 year-old could be a hothead and a liability. By the age of 21 he had already amassed over 20 senior career yellow cards and 3 red cards. Interestingly, or perhaps just shockingly, each of his red cards in his senior career have been straight reds for stamps, head butts or similar. In his first season with Newcastle in 2015/16 his first four games included two yellow cards and then his first red in English football for a studs up challenge/stamp on Arsenal's Francis Coquelin. On the final day of that season, with Newcastle already relegated, Mitrovic got a straight red for a horror challenge on Tottenham's Kyle Walker. He is very fortunate that he didn't effectively end Walker's career, it was THAT bad. For the Coquelin challenge Mitrovic earned himself a three-game ban, for the Walker challenge it was a four-game ban that was carried on to their first four games back in the Championship for the 2016/17 season.

After then keeping his nose relatively clean for the 2016/17 season with Newcastle, Mitrovic started this season more like his old over aggressive self. He was handed a retrospective three game ban for violent conduct after an elbow on West Ham's Manuel Lanzini on the 26th August 2017. The referee missed the incident entirely but after it was caught on video, the FA charged him with violent conduct. It was that event that was most likely the final nail in the coffin of his Newcastle career. He had completely lost the trust of his manager and many of the Newcastle fans.

However, there was something that I have always liked about Mitrovic. He has an incredible desire to win and to score goals for his team. He has always been the sort of striker who needs to be loved, not just by his team mates but by his club's fans. He just didn't have this at Newcastle. In Fulham he has found a home and in Jokanovic he has found a mentor. In any interview that Mitrovic has done where Jokanovic has been mentioned, you can nearly feel the respect that he has for him. As a fellow Serb they have the relationship that has allowed Mitrovic to thrive. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Mitrovic spoke about how Jokanovic has helped to focus him and has encouraged him to put his aggression into something positive, which is exactly what he has done. In 13 appearances for Fulham he has nine goals and one assist. Additionally, since he came to Fulham he has also scored twice for Serbia meaning that since February he has managed eleven goals in fourteen games. Jokanovic has helped transform him for club and country.

Mitrovic at Fulham is a man reborn. He hasn't lost his aggression, but he has focused it into his football in a positive way. We are without a doubt seeing the best of him and he has massively improved this Fulham side and become the piece of the attacking jigsaw that we have missed.

I'm thrilled that we have been able to witness someone come in and prove that he is worth it. His raw talent is being well matured thanks to Jokanovic and his own desire to do well. Fulham have a massive chance to get promoted this year and if we do, making Mitrovic's deal permanent should be the number one thing on the summer to-do list. The Serb has been a revelation, so long may the Fulham-Mitrovic love affair continue.

#COYW



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/04/mitrovic-reborn/

 
Match Preview: Fulham

Everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's crucial West London derby

Brentford head to Craven Cottage on Saturday 14 April in the Sky Bet Championship with everything on the line.

The Bees are in search of a fourth win in four to keep chasing the Play-Off places, while The Whites are desperate to secure the second automatic promotion spot. It's all set to be a thriller on the banks of The Thames.

The Opposition
Fulham host Brentford tomorrow evening in front of the Sky Sports cameras with both sides hoping the other slips up. Should Fulham win, Brentford will need other results to go their way if they want to keep charging for the top six. Should The Bees come out on top, it's all to play for going into the final four games of the 2017/18 campaign.

A slow start to the season saw Fulham needing to clamber out of the bottom half of the table, much like their neighbours in TW8. A string of good results in the winter months, including a 5-4 win over Sheffield United and a 1-0 win against Millwall, dragged the side into the upper reaches of the league. Recruiting Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrović, as well as the form of both Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon, has gone a long way to keeping them there.

On 2 November, goals from Sergi Canos, Ollie Watkins and Romaine Sawyers saw Brentford triumph 3-1 at Griffin Park in the reverse fixture. Denis Odoi saw red that day early in the second half, allowing The Bees to cruise to three points and leapfrog Fulham in the standings.

Fulham haven't lost in 20 league games, last overcome by a shock result at Sunderland in December. Their last three games have been wins, like their opponents tomorrow. Leeds United went down 2-0 on 3 April, before two successive 1-0 wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Reading.

Team News
Ryan Woods could return for Dean Smith's side following his three-match suspension after a red card against Sheffield United in March. Florian Jozefzoon missed the trip to Nottingham Forest with an ankle problem but is also looking likely to be involved.

Chiedozie Ogbene gave Smith something to think about during his debut against Forest on Tuesday, the youngster impressing after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Fulham have no injury concerns to worry themselves with, but do have three players only one booking away from a two-game suspension. That includes goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and full-back Ryan Fredericks. If Jokanović opts to swap his stopper for the match, it could see former Brentford man David Button don the gloves as he did at Griffin Park in November.

The Manager
Slaviša Jokanović had a stellar playing career, winning 64 international caps for Yugoslavia and FR Yugoslavia and playing at the 1998 World Cup. He won the Spanish and Yugoslav titles and also had two seasons in the Premier League with Chelsea when he was in his 30s.

He moved into coaching and was soon appointed Head Coach at Fudbalski klub Partizan, in Belgrade, where he also spent three years as a player. He won two doubles before leaving in 2009 and has had a nomadic career since which has included working in Bulgaria, Spain and Thailand as well as England. He led Watford to promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in 2015 and nearly repeated the feat at Fulham last May.



https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/april/match-preview-fulham/

 
"Cardiff City will drop points against Reading" - Fulham manager's response to Neil Warnock's Sunderland quip

It comes after Warnock said the Cottagers would probably lose to Sunderland

Slavisa Jokanovic has joked that Cardiff City will lose their final home game of the season to strugglers Reading after Neil Warnock stated that Sunderland would probably be the side to end Fulham's outstanding run of form.

The Bluebirds go into their clash with Norwich City at Carrow Road knowing that they will climb back into second place if they secure all three points against Daniel Farke's men.

However, Fulham will remain in the Championship's automatic promotion places if they can clinch victory over London rivals Brentford at Craven Cottage in the evening game on Saturday, regardless of the result in Norfolk.

Ahead of the latest round of matches, Warnock jokingly stated that relegation threatened Sunderland pose the strongest threat to Fulham's automatic promotion bid .

And Jokanovic has responded by stating that the Bluebirds will slip up when they host Reading at Cardiff City Stadium on the final day of the 2017-18 campaign.

"They will drop points with Reading," joked the Fulham manager .

"This is a long competition, I don't know, all these teams are quality, Cardiff, all season they are in the position to be promoted, now we make one step forward but they are in control."

Jokanovic lavished praise on Warnock and admitted that he doesn't expect anyone to beat Cardiff between now and the end of the season.

But he went on to take the opportunity to lump the pressure on the Bluebirds by stating that they are "100% favourites" to beat Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.

"After the Brentford game is over, we will prepare for Millwall," added Jokanovic.

"We are in great momentum, if we perform well we can expect good result.

"They are a tough opponent, they try to play in a similar style, they won last three games and had three clean sheets.

"Everything is possible, we cannot think about Sunderland, we must push. Warnock is a great man, I don't see any opponent that can win against Cardiff too.

"They are strong, they are physically impressive. It's not easy to play against them, they are 100% favourites for tomorrow when they play Norwich.

"Surprises exist in this championship, but I don't think they'll be surprised tomorrow."



https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-fulham-championship-sunderland-14527673

 
Cardiff are feeling the heat as Championship promotion race reaches its climax, says Fulham star Ryan Fredericks

The Cottagers have overhauled an 18-point gap to reel in the Bluebirds, and climbed above the Welsh side on Tuesday

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12352323.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/Fulham-v-Ipswich-Town-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg)
Ryan Fredericks says Fulham are eyeing automatic promotion this season (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Ryan Fredericks believes Cardiff are buckling under the pressure as the Championship promotion race hots up.

Fulham have overhauled an 18-point gap to reel in the Bluebirds, and climbed above the Welsh side into second place after Tuesday's victory over Reading.

Neil Warnock's men have failed to win in their last three outings, but have a game in hand on Slavisa Jokanovic's side.

However, Cottagers full-back Fredericks believes their rivals are feeling the heat.

He said: "We've made Cardiff open their eyes and play with a bit of pressure.

"We're on the best run in the league, we go out to each game and we're fighting for every ball, every challenge we're getting stuck into, wanting to win it, and it's proven to be good in the end.

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12352325.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Fulham-v-Leeds-United-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg)
Fredericks believes Cardiff are feeling the pressure in the race for promotion (Image: Getty Images Europe)

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12352360.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Norwich-City-v-Fulham-Sky-Bet-Championship-Carrow-Road.jpg)
Slavisa Jokanovic's men are unbeaten in their last 20 matches (Image: PA)

"At the same time we are taking each game as it comes. We know how hard the play-offs are and are doing everything in our power to go straight up.

"Cardiff are a good team as well. They're not going to throw it away, it's still in their hands. We have just got to make sure we do everything in our power to win the next four games."

Fulham will look to tighten their grip on the second automatic promotion spot when they take on west London rivals Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12352356.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2017-EFL-Championship-Bristol-City-v-Preston-Nov-21st.jpg)
Fulham have overhauled an 18-point gap to reel in the Bluebirds (Image: Action Plus)

(https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12352364.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Aston-Villa-v-Cardiff-City-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg)
Neil Warnock's Cardiff have failed to win in their last three outings (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Victory would see Jokanovic's men put down a real promotion marker and potentially move four points clear of Cardiff, who take on Norwich at Carrow Road.

While defeat for Dean Smith's men would be a hammer-blow to their play-off hopes, as they look to close the four-point gap on Millwall in sixth.

Defeat at Craven Cottage would be a hammer blow to the Bees' play-off hopes, and Fredericks believes it's their neighbours who have it all on the line.He added: "They have got more to be worried about. For us, it's just as important as the last 20 games that we've not lost in."

* Ryan Fredericks was speaking on behalf of Grosvenor Casinos, main team partner of Fulham FC, for the Grosvenor Poker Cup. Watch the highlights here.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cardiff-feeling-heat-championship-promotion-12351705

 
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic 'expects good result' against Brentford

(http://e0.365dm.com/18/03/16-9/20/skysports-slavisa-jokanovic_4250711.jpg?20180413154210)

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic refuses to set his sights beyond the next game, in which he expects his side to deliver against West London rivals Brentford.

Jokanovic has overseen Fulham's 20-game unbeaten run, which he believes stands his side in good stead for their match against the Bees on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports.

"We have great momentum," Jokanovic said. "I trust we'll perform well and if we do that, I expect we'll have a good result.

"If we are focused enough we are 100 per cent capable of showing ambition and being successful. The players trust each other and trust they can win the games - trust is necessary for us to perform well."

He does recognise the challenge represented by tomorrow's derby at Craven Cottage, acknowledging it would necessarily be "different". Brentford ran out 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Griffin Park.

"They are a tough opponent. They try to play in a similar style; they won their last three games and kept three clean sheets.

"We both want to have possession, dominate and attack. It can be one of the best games of the season."

Despite their strong run of recent form, which has left Fulham second in the Championship, Jokanovic refused to speculate on his side's chances of achieving automatic promotion at the end of this season - his sights instead focused squarely on the task immediately at hand.

"We don't need to think about second place or about promotion, we must be thinking about the next chance in front of us," he insisted. "My target is only Brentford, I am not looking so far behind or ahead.

"We decided a long time ago to go step-by-step and it's positive. It's not necessary to think about where we are right now.

"We can't celebrate if we win the game. We must push forward.

"After this chance tomorrow, we will think about next steps and that's it. My ambition is always to win the next game - with this desire we can be successful.

"We'll do our job and we'll see where we finish."

(http://e1.365dm.com/18/04/16-9/20/skysports-fulham-mitrovic_4279740.jpg?20180413150256)

There is little margin for error, he suggests, with Cardiff City - Fulham's main competition for second place - breathing down their necks.

"I don't see any opponent that can win against Cardiff," he admitted. "They are strong, they are physically impressive. It's not easy to play against them.

"They are 100 per cent favourites for tomorrow when they play Norwich. Surprises exist in this championship, but I don't think they'll be surprised tomorrow."



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11328781/fulham-manager-slavisa-jokanovic-8216expects-good-result8217-against-brentford

 
HOT OR NOT: Slavisa Jokanovic has Fulham flying towards the Premier League but Israel Folau should have been punished for homophobic slurs

    Slavisa Jokanovic has helped in-form Fulham win 19 of their last 27 matches
    Peter Drury's commentary of Roma's last goal against Barcelona is worth a listen
    Australia star Israel Folau has not been punished for homophobic comments
    Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz got a big decision wrong at the Etihad on Tuesday

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

---

HOT

SLAVISA JOKANOVIC

Four wins from his first 15 games in the Championship put Fulham manager Jokanovic under pressure, but following the removal of controversial stats wizard Craig Klein on October 31 results turned round.

Nineteen victories from 27 matches since that day have placed Fulham in the promotion picture which suggests that sometimes it is best to leave the football to the football people.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/13/15/4AEA4F5700000578-0-image-m-33_1523630499604.jpg)
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has led his side to 19 wins from their last 27 league games



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-5612827/Slavisa-Jokanovic-Fulham-flying-Premier-League.html#ixzz5CcyiqCgj
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Head Coach press conference

Slaviša Jokanović has put second place to the back of his mind and is focusing solely on Brentford.

The Whites moved into the automatic promotion places on Tuesday, but the Fulham Head Coach knows a lot can happen in four matches.

"I'm not thinking about where we are right now," he insisted. "We decided a long time ago that we'd go step by step, game by game.


"We're in a positive way and right now we don't need to think about second position or promotion.

"The only thing we must think about in this moment is the next chance that's immediately ahead of us, the next chance for us to perform well and fight for three points. We'll find this chance tomorrow afternoon.

"I don't believe it's necessary for my side to think so much about where we are right now, because nobody can guarantee you'll stay where you are.

"My target in this moment is only the Brentford game. I expect we can be successful tomorrow, we have great momentum, we trust we can perform well, and if we perform well we can expect a good result."

The Bees still harbour hopes of a top-six finish, and currently find themselves four points off the pace – something that Jokanović believes means they need to leave Craven Cottage with a victory on Saturday evening.

"It's a tough opponent," he admitted. "They try and play in a similar style to us. They won their last three games and kept three clean sheets.

"Brentford is a very good team. They are fighting for the Play-Offs, tomorrow is probably one of their last chances to catch this opportunity to get into the Play-Offs.


"We know we need the points, and Brentford need the points too. This is clear. This is one of the last chances for them to catch the Play-Off positions. We are going to have some chances after this game.

"This is part of the sport, we are under some kind of the pressure, they are under some kind of pressure. This is a normal situation and we must manage ourselves, like they are going to manage themselves.

"One point is not enough for them, with one point they can't win anything. We're playing at home, we need the points too, and we're going to see who can play better football and win the game."

Fulham are currently on a 20-match unbeaten run, and Jokanović puts that down to the unity in his squad.

"They trust each other, and they trust they can win the game," he explained. "This is very good news.

"If there's trust then this is the best way for us to perform well and try and find the way for three points. This news is very important for us and definitely encourages myself and my staff, and my team too.

"The last 12 [home] games we won 11 and drew one. We feel we are strong at home, we mark our territory, this is our home and we are going to try and be strong, dominate the situation, put them under stress and win the game."


The Whites are currently a point ahead of Cardiff City in the league standings, but Jokanović believes the Bluebirds are effectively in second position, courtesy of their game in hand.

"Cardiff is in front of us because they have played one game less, and everything is in their hands," he stated. "If they win all their games, we can do everything but it wouldn't be enough.

"We expect Cardiff to keep pushing. They have the opportunity to fight for 15 points, we are fighting only for 12. They had an impressive winning run where they won eight games, and they can do everything."

When asked if Neil Warnock is trying to unsettle him with his comments to the press, Jokanović replied: "No, he is a great man.

"I don't see any opponent that can win against Cardiff. They are strong, they are physically impressive, and it's not easy to play against them.

"They are 100 per cent favourites for tomorrow when they play against Norwich. Surprises exist in the Championship, but I don't believe they are going to be surprised tomorrow.

"Cardiff have spent all season in position to be a promoted team. We took one step forward in this moment but the situation is in Cardiff's control."

Tickets are still available for the Brentford game, starting from £15 juniors and £35 adults. Fans can buy online, by telephone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 2) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/13/head-coach-press conference

 
Confirmed: Door left open over stunning return of Newcastle outcast

Newcastle United outcast and current Fulham loanee Aleksandar Mitrovic has left the door open over a stunning return to the Magpies after finding himself surplus to requirements during the January transfer window.

The Serbian powerhouse fell down the pecking order in terms of strikers during the first half of the campaign at St James' Park and after managing just seven appearances and two goals across all competitions, he was shipped out to Craven Cottage where he has rediscovered his form quickly.

The 23-year-old has already netted nine goals in 13 outings for the Championship high flyers, playing a crucial role in their push for promotion back to the Premier League, but despite his struggles on Tyneside has left the door open over making what would be a surprise return back to the first team.

Newcastle United outcast and current Fulham loanee Aleksandar Mitrovic has left the door open over a stunning return to the Magpies after finding himself surplus to requirements during the January transfer window.

The Serbian powerhouse fell down the pecking order in terms of strikers during the first half of the campaign at St James' Park and after managing just seven appearances and two goals across all competitions, he was shipped out to Craven Cottage where he has rediscovered his form quickly.

The 23-year-old has already netted nine goals in 13 outings for the Championship high flyers, playing a crucial role in their push for promotion back to the Premier League, but despite his struggles on Tyneside has left the door open over making what would be a surprise return back to the first team.

Mitrovic has a total of 72 appearances for the Magpies under his belt, having notched up just 17 goals in his outings.

Football Insider verdict

The powerful Serbian has certainly landed on his feet after heading to Craven Cottage and the sort of form he is showing for both club and country mean that Newcastle will be having second thoughts about letting him leave. If he can come back to Tyneside and show that he has grown up from the angry young forward he was before, then there is every chance of him carving out a future at the club, something the fans would love to see. Still, a big money offer could convince the Magpies to sell up, and if that money is reinvested wisely, then it could be best for all parties. It is a tough situation and one which will have Rafael Benitez scratching his head over. Watch this space.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/confirmed-door-left-open-over-stunning-return-of-newcastle-outcast/

 
Career of Newcastle favourite as good as dead as latest comments sound death knell

The Newcastle United career of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been a dramatic one, and his time on Tyneside have left fans divided into two main camps.

One one hand, you have the members of the Toon Army who applaud the 23-year-old for his passion and enthusiasm on the pitch, willing to let his dedication to the cause mask his apparent struggles in front of goal and hoping that he can still forge a career on Tyneside.

On the other, you have the supporters who see Mitrovic as a striker who simply is not good enough for the Magpies, and that his 17 goals in 72 appearances is a record not befitting a Premier League centre forward, no matter his impassioned displays – although either way, he will always be considered a cult favourite.

As for manager Rafael Benitez, he would likely fall into the latter category, unimpressed by his performances in front of goal and lacking the trust required in his striker after a series of misdemeanours, which included a three match ban for violent conduct earlier this season.

Some would say that the Serbian's mightily impressive form for Fulham, where he headed on loan in January, would be enough to have the Spaniard scratching his head over a potential future on Tyneside.

However, Mitrovic's own comments seem to have put any hopes of that to bed, and he appears to have sounded his own death knell.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he talked about how he needed to feel confidence from the manager in order to perform at his best – and considering Benitez's lack of confidence, it does not look good.

He said: "Faith, trust and game-time – that's important if you are a striker.

"If you really feel trust from the manager, it's much easier to play. That's what I feel now (at Fulham). I know that he (Slavisa Jokanovic) believes in me and I know what he wants from me."

The Serb's fellow countryman might well trust the powerhouse forward, but Benitez simply does not, and if that is what he needs from a manager, then he needs to start looking for an exit strategy for his time at Newcastle is as good as dead.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/career-of-newcastle-favourite-as-good-as-over-as-latest-comments-sound-death-knell/

 
Opposition View: Fulham

With Ryan O'Donovan of Get West London

2018 has undoubtedly been Fulham's year as they recently made it 20 games unbeaten, leapfrogging Cardiff City into second place in the process. Can you sum up the last few months?

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster after starting the season the way they did. The last time the two sides met, Fulham lost and you didn't really have any inkling that the next six months was going to happen. It's been four months of stunning football and they are finally becoming the Fulham everyone thought they would be last season, going into the start of this season. Everything seems to have clicked and Slavisa Jokanovic's side are playing really good football; it's entertaining, you get the sense every game will have goals in it and those signings in January have really added steel and grit – they've been the missing pieces, really. If you wanted to sum it up, I suppose you'd have to say it's been sensational.


Early signs pointed to a season of mid-table mediocrity for The Whites - what was the turning point?

The main thing that fans have been pointing to is the January signings, and you can't look past them. At the same time, the fitness levels they have now is what they needed at the start. I don't think pre-season was too good and the way Fulham play football - they like to dominate the ball and hound the opponents with possession and pressing - I don't think they were fit enough to do that in the first part of the season. Everything has clicked and their fitness levels are where they should be. Then, obviously, you have to look at the signings: Mitrovic is the striker they've been crying out for the last couple of seasons, he's scored nine goals now which just shows his influence. Targett is Premier League quality and adds comfort to the left, but also allows Ryan Sessegnon to get further forward as well and to be let loose on opposing teams.


I imagine it'll be difficult to choose, but who has been the best player over the last few months?

Centre-backs aren't always going to get the headlines, but I think it's been Tim Ream – he's been absolutely outstanding this year. Fulham haven't been good defensively since they dropped down to the Championship, but over the last six months they've finally managed to add those clean sheets and grit and steel in defence. Ream is in the form of his life at the moment – I do the player ratings after the games and I've run out of ways to describe how he's playing because he's a solid eight out of ten every game. He's probably been my player of the season.

It's been a privilege to watch Ryan Sessegnon, though. You know he's going to become an absolutely quality player and when he's playing in the Premier League and Champions League you'll be able to say 'I saw him at the start of his career'. It's been great to witness his progression – to have 14 goals at 17-years-old from the left side of the pitch is just outstanding. Towards the end of last season he didn't look like a 16-year-old lad playing in a men's team and he's just gone over and above this season and looks like he's been playing men's football for the last 10 years. It's been a pleasure to see him develop into the player he is today and I'm sure there is so much more to come.


What is your highlight of the season so far?

I think the 20 games unbeaten has been a huge highlight, but personally it was the 5-4 win at Sheffield United in November. I'd never seen a game that crazy before and it was the game that kick-started the run, really. The fact that two players scored a hat-trick and it ended with nine goals was absolutely crazy. Games like that come around once in a blue moon.


How are Fulham likely to set up at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening?

It'll be 4-3-3 and I reckon it'll be the same back five that have played the last few games. It'll be Bettinelli in goal, Targett left-back, Ream, Odoi and Fredericks across the backline and the midfield won't change at all – it'll be Cairney, Johansen, McDonald and that's their staple, what gives Fulham the ability to play football in the way they do. Cairney has come back from injury and has been absolutely outstanding, so much so that he's on the Player of the Year award list despite having missed so much of the season. Mitrovic will be leading the line, Sessegnon will be out on the left and who plays on the right will be anyone's guess. He likes playing Piazon at home and Ayite is out injured so it'll either be Piazon or Kebano, I think.


What's your score prediction for the game?

I think I sat on the fence last time out, but this time I'm going to have to go for a 2-1 Fulham win just on the basis of the form they are on.




https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/april/opposition-view-fulham/

 
Brentford striker heading to Fulham full of confidence

Victory for Dean Smith's side would see them right in the mix for the top six with their play-off rivals all facing each other, while defeat would see their hopes end for this season

Neal Maupay will be heading to Fulham full of confidence but the Brentford striker knows that victory is the only option at Craven Cottage.

Victory for Dean Smith's side would see them right in the mix for the top six with their play-off rivals all facing each other, while defeat would see their hopes end for this season.

The Bees have won their last three games by a goal to nil and confidence is high at Griffin Park ahead of the crunch fixture.

"We are full of confidence at the moment. We are in a good way. If we want to make the play-offs we have to win the next game," Maupay said.

"I think we have to go one game at a time. When we are on the pitch we fight to the end to get the win. If we don't win, it's probably finished for the play-offs so we have to go hard to get the win."

Maupay will be looking to add to his tally of 12 goals for the season by adding another in west London derbies to go with his strike at QPR in the League Cup.

He added: "I'm pleased with my goals and with my confidence at the moment. I think I can do more for the team.

"I'm always thinking I can improve. I'm confident and hope a few more goals are coming."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brentford-striker-heading-fulham-full-14529398

 
Fulham star Ryan Sessegnon fit to face Brentford

(https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/03/06/22/fulham-060318g.jpg?w968h681)
Ready and raring | Fulham will be able to call on Sessegnon Getty Images

Fulham have Ryan Sessegnon available to face Brentford after the teenager felt no adverse reaction to a bad tackle he suffered against Reading this week.

Leandro Bacuna was sent off for a foul on Sessegnon in injury time of Fulham's 1-0 win at Craven Cottage on Tuesday that moved the club into the automatic promotion places in the Championship.

Sessegnon had to leave the pitch to receive treatment but Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed the 17-year-old did not suffer an injury. Fulham are unbeaten in 20 matches and tomorrow's derby at Craven Cottage could be key to their automatic promotion hopes.

Second-placed Fulham are one point above Cardiff but the Welsh club have a game in hand. Brentford are four points outside the play-offs and still hope to gatecrash the top six.

Bees head coach Dean Smith said: "There is obviously an added spice to it. Given the run that Fulham are on it makes it tougher but we still believe that we are a good team as well."

Florian Jozefzoon is fit for Brentford after recovering from his ankle injury but Alan Judge has a hamstring strain and is a doubt.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-star-ryan-sessegnon-fit-to-face-brentford-a3813866.html

 
2 quality replacements for Tom Cairney who Fulham can target should he leave the club in the summer

2 quality replacements for Tom Cairney who Fulham can target should he leave the club in the summer

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney seems to be a man in demand. The Scotland international is being chased by Premier League outfit Leicester City according to a report from the Sun (h/t Leicester Mercury), along with fellow top-flight club Newcastle United. 

The 27-year-old has been one of Fulham's top players in the past couple of seasons under Slavisa Jokanovic and his performances in the EFL Championship haven't gone unnoticed. 

Newcastle United tried hard to recruit Cairney last summer but were rebuffed by Fulham. However, they could test Fulham's resolve once again but will face competition from the Foxes this time out.

Fulham currently sit 3rd in the EFL Championship and look certain for a playoff spot finish. It is unlikely to see Cairney leave Fulham if they manage to earn promotion to the Premier League. However, if they fail to make it through, the lure of top-flight football could prove too hard to turn down for the Scottish playmaker. 

In case that happens, here are two replacements that Fulham could look to sign.

Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers)

The 31-time capped Australian international is playing some of his best football for QPR this season, which has led to interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Fulham too should consider him as an option should Cairney depart at the end of the season. 

Luongo has grown into a pivotal player at the Loftus Road since moving to the club in 2015 and is enjoying his best campaign to date. So far, the 25-year-old has contributed 6 goals and 3 assists in 36 appearances for QPR. Capable of slotting in anywhere in the midfield, Luongo has gathered a fair amount of experience in English football and has proven himself at this stage.

Alejandro Pozuelo (KRC Genk)

The 26-year-old Spaniard is enjoying a fine season in the Belgian top-flight with Genk and could prove to be an able replacement for Cairney at Fulham.

Pozuelo, in the ongoing campaign, has come up with returns of 6 goals and 7 assists in 35 appearances across competitions and has established himself as a key player for the Belgian outfit. Primarily a central attacking midfielder, the Spaniard relishes the No.10 role and can also be effective in a withdrawn role in the middle or on the left flank.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/04/14/2-quality-replacements-for-tom-cairney-who-fulham-can-target-should-he-leave-the-club-in-the-summer/

Jokanovic: Fulham totally focused on Brentford
by Dan on April 14, 2018

Slavisa Jokanovic has told the press that he isn't considering the impact this weekend's west London derby could have on the promotion picture and is completely focused on taking all three points against Brentford.

Fulham haven't beaten the Bees at Craven Cottage since April 1990 and the Serbian head coach told his pre-match press conference at Motspur Park that he has put the prospect of putting more pressure on Cardiff City to the back of his mind.

    I'm not thinking about where we are right now. We decided a long time ago that we'd go step by step, game by game. We're in a positive way and right now we don't need to think about second position or promotion.

    The only thing we must think about in this moment is the next chance that's immediately ahead of us, the next chance for us to perform well and fight for three points. We'll find this chance tomorrow afternoon.

    I don't believe it's necessary for my side to think so much about where we are right now, because nobody can guarantee you'll stay where you are. My target in this moment is only the Brentford game. I expect we can be successful tomorrow, we have great momentum, we trust we can perform well, and if we perform well we can expect a good result.

The Fulham boss acknowledged that Dean Smith's side will prove difficult opposition in front of the television cameras.

    It's a tough opponent. They try and play in a similar style to us. They won their last three games and kept three clean sheets. Brentford is a very good team. They are fighting for the play-offs, tomorrow is probably one of their last chances to catch this opportunity to get into the play-offs. One point is not enough for them, with one point they can't win anything. We're playing at home, we need the points too, and we're going to see who can play better football and win the game.

Jokanovic also believes his players are high on confidence after extending their unbeaten run to twenty games in the 1-0 win over Reading on Tuesday night.

    They trust each other, and they trust they can win the game. This is very good news. If there's trust then this is the best way for us to perform well and try and find the way for three points. This news is very important for us and definitely encourages myself and my staff, and my team too.

    We feel we are strong at home, we mark our territory, this is our home and we are going to try and be strong, dominate the situation, put them under stress and win the game. The last 12 [home] games we won 11 and drew one.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/04/jokanovic-fulham-totally-focused-on-brentford/

 
Smith admits Brentford feeling pressure of Fulham clash

Brentford manager Dean Smith admits this weekend's London derby against Fulham carries extra weight with both clubs fighting for promotion.

The Bees secured a third straight victory in mid-week against Nottingham Forest and now sit just four points outside the top six.

The club will rue their missed opportunities at the beginning of the season, not winning a game in their first eight matches.

With only four points between fifth and tenth place, Smith's men understand the importance of earning a victory away at Craven Cottage.

Yet this weekend's fixture produces its own set of challenges, as Fulham are unbeaten their last 20 league games.

Their victory on Tuesday against Reading pushed them into automatic promotion position, one point ahead of Cardiff City.

Both sides have earned plaudits for their style of play this season, but their most recent encounter in December saw Brentford come out on top in a 3-1 victory.

Smith said: "It does make it easier knowing you have to win but, as I've said before, we have to perform. The only thing we can control is our performance.

"If we can control that, individually and collectively, then there's every chance we can win the game.

"Given the run that Fulham are on it makes it tougher but we still believe that we are a good team as well.

"We have given ourselves a chance by winning these three games and performing well.

"The fact that we will have a very good following there, and that they have broken into the top two, will make it that bit spicier.

"I have heard people say that we are two of the better footballing teams in the league, which is nice to hear, but we want to hear people talking about us as a top six team.

"The only way to do that is to go to Fulham, put in a performance, and hopefully get the result.

"We are just about keeping that Play-Off dream alive by winning football games."



http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/sport/16158616.Smith_admits_Brentford_feeling_pressure_of_Fulham_clash/

Up next: Brentford (h)
by Dan on April 14, 2018

Not since Steve Milton's winner in April 1990 have Fulham beaten Brentford at Craven Cottage. That win was enough to see Ray Lewington's side successively avoid relegation from Division Three – and this evening, in front of the Sky cameras, would be a good time for the Whites to end that miserable 28 year run and take another step towards claiming the second automatic promotion place back to the Premier League. The fact that a 20-match unbeaten run hasn't been enough to carry Slavisa Jokanovic's side clear of their challengers shows just how crazy the Championship really is and, for all Neil Warnock's protestations to the contrary over the last week, Cardiff remain in charge of their own destiny.

All Fulham can do is win their remaining games and hope that the Bluebirds continue to stumble within sight of the finish line. Not that it will be easy – there's no doubting that on paper, their next two fixtures against local rivals with genuine chances of pinching a play-off spot look like the toughest of the final four tests. Dean Smith's Brentford, who will be motivated beyond belief to end Fulham's incredible unbeaten run, have won their last three fixtures whilst keeping consecutive clean sheets and sit just four points behind six-placed Millwall, who Fulham will face in another crunch clash on Friday night.

The Bees already have a record of inflicting painful defeats at the Cottage. As well as the seventeen game streak dating back to 1990, Brentford have also triumphed at Fulham since the Whites returned to English football's second tier. In 2015, Mark Warburton's side cruised to a comfortable victory secured by a Stuart Dallas double, with Alan Judge adding a free kick in stoppage time and, to coin a phrase, Jota netting the fourth in the last minute. The last two contests have been enthralling draws, with last season's stalemate effectively securing Slavisa Jokanovic's side a play-off place at the expense of Leeds United.

Jokanovic's side might be motivated to expunge the memory of the lamentable defeat at Griffin Park back in December when the Serbian decided to field Stefan Johansen as the successor to Sone Aluko in the fake forward role. His side failed to capitalise on Neeskens Kebano's opener and crumbled after half time once David Button had allowed Sergi Canos to equalise. After Romaine Sawyers had given the hosts the lead, Denis Odoi was needlessly sent off for a second yellow within a couple of minutes and, as Fulham pressed for an equaliser, the impressive Ollie Watkins put the game beyond the visitors.

The Bees are on an excellent run of form and will head to the Cottage full of confidence. Smith's men are the second best possession side in the division and that should lend itself to an intriguing battle of similar styles, with a little bit of derby day blood and thunder thrown in. Fulham completed failed to nullify Brentford's flair at Griffin Park before Christmas and should they make the same mistake again, it could be another derby disappointment. Watkins, a clever capture from Exeter in the summer, has both the pace and intelligence to trouble the best defenders in the Championship, as he showed when his surging run helped bring the Bees level in the reverse fixture. Sawyers and Canos pose potent threats as well, whilst the pair of orthodox central midfielders – Ryan Woods and Josh McEachran – are skilled at both keeping possession and shielding a tight back four.

Barring the majestic run to the Division One title by Jean Tigana's side at the turn of the century, which still seems too good to be true even now, Fulham's promotion tilts have often had a little stumble towards the end of the season. A repeat simply isn't an option now if Jokanovic's side want to avoid the lottery of the play-offs following the heart-wrenching defeat at Reading last year. The Serbian's team haven't been at their fluent best in their last two narrow wins over Sheffield Wednesday and the Royals, but did enough to claim all three points. A repeat is in order this evening, although Jokanovic will be after a much more convincing display from his charges.

The home side will be without the injured Sheyi Ojo and Floyd Ayite meaning the head coach's only real dilemma will centre around who to pick in the right wing spot. Lucas Piazon has the technical ability and touch to suit Fulham's patient possession style but has been a little in effectual of late, whilst Kebano's raw pace has suddenly reappeared to frighten tiring defences from the bench. Jokanovic prefers to use the Congolese winger as an impact substitute – a role he filled so successfully towards the end of last season. The big difference between the Fulham side that wilted at Griffin Park and this team is made by Matt Targett and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who have added Premier League quality at both ends of the pitch. The on-loan Newcastle striker could make himself a real cult hero with a big goal against the Bees tonight.

MY FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Fredericks, Targett, Odoi, Ream; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney; Kebano, R. Sessegnon, Mitrovic. Subs: Button, Christie, Kalas, Norwood, Piazon, Fonte, Kamara.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/04/up-next-brentford-h/

 
Slavisa Jokanovic hails Fulham medical department for keeping side fresh during 20-game unbeaten streak

Fulham have suffered very little injuries in their 20-game unbeaten run and Jokanovic has credited his medical staff

Slavisa Jokanovic has hailed his medical department for the work they've done in keeping his players fit and ready over the 20-game unbeaten run.

Fulham have suffered from a remarkably low amount of injuries since starting their unbeaten run back in December, with key players like Tom Cairney, Kevin McDonald and Marcus Bettinelli all keeping fit throughout the past 20 games.

That has meant that Jokanovic has been able to play the same team, by and large, with a constant XI creating a stable environment that the players have thrived in, with the 1-0 victory over Reading the 20th unbeaten game in a row.

And ahead of today's tie with Brentford, the head coach has given credit this medical staff for the work they've done with the players.

He said: "Me and my staff, the medical department, we try to make our job - we are professional.

"It's not a question about be lucky or don't be lucky, it's a question about sometimes we need the luck, sometimes we need the quality too.

"Credit to the people around me, who prepare this team to be ready for the competition."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/slavisa-jokanovic-hails-fulham-medical-14528514

 
"It's a totally different game this year. Brentford won't beat us" – Fulham Fans' View

With the West London Derby approaching and with many Brentford and Fulham Fans disgusted at the £35 ticket price being charged by both sets of fans for this match – some so disgusted they will be making sure they buy no food or drink inside the ground in protest –  we put those thoughts aside for one minute to catch up with Fulham fan The Magic Mod to find out of he is getting nervous before todays match.

There's no denying Fulham have been on brilliant form as of late. What do you put that down to??
The Gaffer and the new players are gelling together.There is a real buzz about the place at the moment and teams hate coming here. The Cottage is a fortress again

When we spoke to you on the Beesotted show on Love Sport Radio (below), you admitted to being a bit nervous – after last season when you were certain you would get promoted but failed at the second-last hurdle against Reading, this season you must be praying you get that second place?
Totally different ball game this year. The team are so strong. I really believe this is it. Last year we were lucky to get there. No one expected it to happen. I really hope we nick second spot. We really deserve it.

You haven't beaten Brentford at Craven Cottage since 1990. Does that worry you at all?
That's mostly because we have not played you that many times (8 times to be precise. That's quite a lot of non-wins – Ed). We were busy in the Premier League for a while 😉

You said earlier on in the season, you struggle against the more direct teams. But if anyone wants to play you in football, you'll match them toe to toe. Didn't quite go to plan when we met in December. Do you have anything up your sleeve.
We though we would do something for charity so we gave you 3 points. Not gonna happen again

Now that Jota is off to Birmingham, there's no chance of him scoring in the last minute on Saturday again ... except he might do it against you on the final day of the season of course after you have spent three days walking up there.
No chance they are p!ss poor and I don't expect him to get a sniff at goal at all. Hopefully we will have sealed promotion by then. Which will be extra sweet as I'll have sore feet after walking from London to Birmingham with a load of Fulham fans to raise money for CALM charity.

You're a esteemed magician. Paul Weller and the late great Paul Daniels have given you major props. What tricks do you and your Fulham team think you'll be pulling out of the hat on Saturday then?
3 points a clean sheet and 3 goals. You have heard it here first mush

How do you think the game will pan out?
This season we have taken the p!ss out of teams and dominated.  On both half's all I'm gonna say is watch out – we have a few hot shots.

Up the Fulham

Score prediction
3-0 to the mighty Fulham



http://beesotted.com/fulham-fans-view/

 
Familiar Faces: Fulham

A look at those who have played for both sides ahead of this afternoon's west London derby

Today's Fulham squad includes two players who have swapped red and white for black and white in west London.

David Button spent three years at Griffin Park as number one, making 141 appearances. The tall stopper played 45 games, keeping 20 clean sheets, during our 2013/14 promotion season. He followed that up with 49 appearances as Mark Warburton's side then reached the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off's the following year. During his final season with The Bees he added another 47 appearances before moving on to Fulham in July 2016. An injury late on in the season saw him lose the number one shirt just before last season's Play-Offs and he's made 21 appearances this campaign, the most recent coming in January.

Also returning to Griffin Park this afternoon is Ryan Fredericks. The pacy full-back spent two months on loan with The Bees in the autumn of 2012, making just four appearances. He returned to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur and spent further loan spells with Millwall and Middlesbrough before signing for Bristol City in the summer of 2015. Homesickness brought him back to London just 25 days later and he has been with Fulham ever since, notching up 107 appearances.

David and Ryan are just two of 98 players who have represented both sides. Among those famous names to have played for both include Jimmy Hill and Marcello Trotta. Hill spent his entire playing career with the two clubs, making more than 350 league appearances, before making his name post-retirement as an administrator, manager, broadcaster, and chairman. Despite playing just 69 times for The Bees, Trotta's legacy comes from his infamous penalty miss against Doncaster Rovers which denied Uwe Rosler's side automatic promotion. However, the Italian frontman returned the following season, scoring 14 goals, including the vital winner away at Leyton Orient, as automatic promotion was secured 12 months later. 



https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/april/familiar-faces-fulham/

 
Dean Smith discusses the differences between Brentford and Fulham

Parachute payments and a strong academy have helped Fulham get into a position where they can challenge for promotion to the Premier League, according to Dean Smith.

The Whites have had the financial strength to resist interest in Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon, while they have also been able to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan from Newcastle.

Brentford, on the other hand, have had to rely on player sales, and subsequent investment, and the generosity of Matthew Benham to succeed in the second tier.

Smith said: "They've had parachute payments that have been able to fund moves to get the likes of Mitrovic in.

"We're very reliant on Matthew (Benham) to make investments into the football club to help us.

"They've got good players who have come through the system. They've got Ryan Sessegnon who has been fantastic this season.

"It's unfortunate for young Rico (Henry) as I saw him on a similar pathway to Ryan Sessegnon.

"Unfortunately he gets that injury at Middlesbrough which curtailed his season for us and halted his progression for the season."

Henry is on the road to recovery and Smith has previously said that he hopes to see him back in time for the start of next season.

The head coach added: "He's back working with the medical staff. He's on the road to recovery.

"Hopefully we have him back as soon as possible. We're hoping to have him back at the start of next season.

"We've had a right back or a centre back in that position. It shows the difference between the clubs at the moment."

It appears that Smith has preferred Clarke against pacey wingers and Barbet against more technical players but the head coach denied this.

He said: "I haven't looked at it that way. It's just the way I've seen them in training and in previous games has determined who I have selected for the next game."



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dean-smith-discusses-differences-between-14529401

 
The Sean Davis Column

The momentum and the confidence that we've got at the moment is fantastic. Seeing Cardiff miss two penalties in the last minute against Wolves last Friday probably just gave us that little push going into Sheffield Wednesday, and we did what we had to do. We won that one and the next match against Reading, which put the pressure on Cardiff, and now we find ourselves in a great spot, so let's see how they react.

This is where confidence plays a big factor. Our players are going into matches knowing how difficult they are to beat, they all work hard, they're all on the same page, and we're grinding out results. At this stage of the season it doesn't matter how you play, it's just about getting across the line. When you are getting clean sheets it builds confidence because you know at the other end you've got people who are going to put the ball in the back of the net. Four clean sheets in a row is excellent. Special praise should go to the goalkeeper and the defenders for that, but everyone puts a shift in. Aleksandar Mitrović puts himself about up top, so the defending begins from the front, and continues all the way down.

That Reading win made it 20 games unbeaten, and it's fantastic to go that long without defeat. We didn't even manage that when we won the league 17 years ago, so everyone at the Club should be proud of creating a new record. It's testament to, not only the first XI, but the whole squad, Slaviša and his coaching staff, the medical staff, everyone. So credit to the players, but let's not forget about those behind the scenes.


We're riding that crest of the wave and, while I know it's a big ask, if we win the next four matches I'm pretty sure we'll end up back where we belong, in the Premier League. We are certainly capable of doing that. Cardiff have had blips this season and bounced back, and Neil Warnock has that formula of getting out of this league, so we can't take anything for granted. We have to go into every game with the same mentality that we've had of late, and we'll see where that takes us.

Brentford are going to be desperate to be the side that ends our unbeaten run, but anyone who faces Fulham is going to want to be the ones to do that. On top of that, Brentford have got an outside chance of making the Play-Offs. I'm looking forward to a cracking game on Saturday. It's a 5.30 kick-off so fans are going to be in good voice by that point. The fixtures at 12.30 feel a bit early for me and I think people don't get in the mood as much as they might when it's a bit later in the day.

The Cottage has been rocking this year, and the fans have got a massive part to play between now and the end of the season. The atmosphere recently has been buzzing, and quite often you can't hear what your mate next to you is saying, it's that loud.

Cardiff are playing at 3 o'clock so we're going to have an extra motivation ahead of our game as we're either going to want the win to move back above them, or the win to put further daylight between us. We could have a four point cushion come 7.30 Saturday night, so fingers crossed that's the case.


Finally, I want to pay tribute to Ray Wilkins. His death was very, very sad news. Ray came in as First Team Manager with a guy called Frank Sibley in 1997. He'd always come to the youth games and give us advice. He was so friendly, he'd sometimes join in training with us and you could see he still had the ability. All in all, a great man who I learnt a lot from, especially as we played in the same position. He always had words of wisdom for us, and my heart goes out to his family and close friends.

He loved football and he always had a lot of time for us kids in the youth team. He could have easily not got that involved but he always went above and beyond for us. Ray was very good with the constructive criticism. He'd say, "that was good what you did, but how about trying it this way?" He was a great coach, someone I learnt a lot from, but an even greater man.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/12/the-sean-davis-column

 
Fulham to battle Premier League strugglers for impressive Championship defender

Championship promotion hopefuls Fulham are hoping to sign Preston North End defender Greg Cunningham, according to a report by HITC Sport.

The impressive defender has been one of the standout performers for the Lancashire club over the past few seasons, and has caught the eye of Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic. However, the Cottagers will face competition for Cunningham, with West Brom also interested in landing the former Manchester City man.

The 27-year-old made the move to Deepdale back in 2015, and has established himself as a key performer for the club after establishing himself in the second tier and below with former club Bristol City.

His showings this season have not gone unnoticed once again, as Preston have made an unlikely challenge for a playoff spot under manager Alex Neil, and this has seemingly drawn admiring glances from those watching on, with both Fulham and the Baggies keen.

Cunningham will have as big decision to make on his future. Fulham could potentially swap places with West Brom in terms of league, but Cunningham will also know he has regular first team football at the moment, something which he might well be keen not to jeopardise.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-to-battle-premier-league-strugglers-for-impressive-championship-defender/

 
Sess Up For PFA Young Player of the Year

Ryan Sessegnon has been nominated for the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award.

The 17-year-old has made history by becoming the first player on record outside of the top flight to have been nominated for the accolade.

Recent winners include current holder Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale, while the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Scott Parker, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham have also taken the trophy home.

The nomination is nothing new for Sess who was a double winner at the London Football Awards earlier in the year, and is up for a plethora of accolades at this Sunday's EFL Awards ceremony.

The PFA Awards will take place at Grosvenor House on Sunday 22nd April.

PFA Chief Executive, Gordon Taylor OBE, said: "The PFA Awards is always a special occasion and one of the biggest nights in football's social calendar.

"For the winners who are honoured at the awards, there can be no greater personal accolade than that of being recognised by your peers; an honour to be cherished."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/14/ryan-sessegnon-nominated-for-pfa-young-player-of-the-year

 
Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon included on PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist

Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon has been included on PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist.

The six contenders are Ederson, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Sessegnon, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.

The inclusion of Sessegnon is something of a shock, with the 17-year-old playing in the Championship.

He's enjoyed a superb campaign for the Cottagers, scoring 14 goals in 38 appearances to help the West London club into the automatic promotion places. There has even been talk of him being included in the England squad for the World Cup, despite him never having played in the Premier League.

(https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/sei_1647045.jpg?w=620&h=435&crop=1)
Sessegnon won the Young Player of the Year and EFL Player of the Year trophies at the London Football Awards earlier this year (Getty)



http://metro.co.uk/2018/04/14/fulham-youngster-ryan-sessegnon-included-pfa-young-player-year-shortlist-7466995/

 
Fulham's 17-year-old sensation Ryan Sessegnon shortlisted for PFA Young Player of the Year alongside Man City duo Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Harry Kane... who is 25 in July!

Ryan Sessegnon is the shock name on a shortlist of six to win the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, despite playing in the Championship for Fulham.

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stunning season at Craven Cottage which could still end with the west London outfit earning promotion to the Premier League.

The left-back's name appears among Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane who are the leading candidates to claim the award.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/12/4AEB441600000578-0-image-m-63_1523706216843.jpg)
Ryan Sessegnon has emerged as a shock contender to win PFA Young Player of the Year

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B25605900000578-5615539-image-m-74_1523707580415.jpg)   (http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B255F8600000578-5615539-image-a-75_1523707592092.jpg)
Manchester City duo Rahem Sterling and Leroy Sane are among the favourites to win the prize

City keeper Ederson is also on the shortlist following an impressive first season at the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane completing the top six.

Kane just scrapes in as a young player as the age cut-off point required players to be 23 on July 1. Kane's 24th birthday was just 27 days later.

Sessegnon is a product of Fulham's youth academy and has attracted attention from Premier League clubs since making his debut for the Cottagers last term.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B14976900000578-5615539-image-a-77_1523707761258.jpg)
Despite being 25 in July, Harry Kane is named on the Young Player of the Year shortlist

This season the England Under 21 international has merged as a key player for Slavisa Jokanovic's side, scoring 14 goals in 42 league games and adding six assists in the process.

Sessegnon's chances of winning appear slim however with City team-mates Sterling and Sane set to go head-to-head for the award which has been won by Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli for the past two seasons.

The senior award also features Kane and Sane on the shortlist that is led by Mohamed Salah and Kevin de Bruyne.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B25A12800000578-5615539-image-a-80_1523708356181.jpg)
Kevin d Bruyne voted for Mohamed Salah for the main award, which he is favourite to win

David De Gea and David Silva complete the six players looking to claim the men's senior prize.

Players across the top four divisions vote for their player of the year via ballot forms that are delivered to training grounds across the country by the PFA.

Among the rules is that they cannot vote for a player that is at the same club. After deciding on their winners, players sign, fold and give their envelope to a PFA representative.

The 45th PFA Awards to be held in the Grosvenor House in London on Sunday April 22. Here is a lowdown on the six candidates hoping to land the Young Player of the Year award prize...

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B0DA3C500000578-5615539-image-a-78_1523708318074.jpg)
Harry Kane is hoping to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award for a second time

HARRY KANE (Tottenham)

At the age of 24, Kane remains eligible for both awards three years after he was named young player of the year.

Did you know? After his traditional scoreless August, Kane scored 13 goals in eight games for Spurs and England in September.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B06920200000578-5615539-image-a-81_1523708650457.jpg)
Ederson has been a major hit at Manchester City since arriving in the summer from Benfica
EDERSON (Manchester City)

After a difficult season for Claudio Bravo last time around, the Brazil international has solved Guardiola's goalkeeping worries after his summer arrival from Benfica.

Did you know? If successful, Ederson would become the first Brazilian to win any of the PFA awards other than Merit award, won by Pele in 1996.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B255CA300000578-5615539-image-m-83_1523708752652.jpg)
Marcus Rashford is hoping to become the first Manchester United player to win in 11 years
MARCUS RASHFORD (Manchester United)

The 20-year-old England forward has continued to impress when called upon this term, scoring six Premier League goals including two in last month's 2-1 victory over Liverpool.

Did you know? If victorious, Rashford would become the first Manchester United player to win this accolade since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B070B0300000578-5615539-image-a-85_1523708806457.jpg)
Leroy Sane has proved crucial in Manchester City's attack as thy cruise towards the league title
LEROY SANE (Manchester City)

Sane scored six goals in City's top-flight record 18-match winning run from August to December and has continued to impress.

Did you know? Sane has been nominated for this award in both of his first two years in England.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B0A1E2300000578-5615539-image-a-87_1523708878855.jpg)
Despite playing in the Championship, Ryan Sessegnon has won admirers across the game
RYAN SESSEGNON (Fulham)

The full-back has kicked on from his involvement in England's victorious European Under-19 Championship squad to score 14 goals so far in Fulham's promotion push.

Did you know? Sessegnon is the first player on record outside of the top flight to be nominated for this award.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/14/13/4B070D8D00000578-5615539-image-a-89_1523708906626.jpg)
Raheem Sterling's improvement under Pep Guardiola has made him narrow favourite to win
RAHEEM STERLING (Manchester City)

The England forward established his importance with three late winners during City's record winning run and is a firm favourite of Guardiola.

Did you know? Sterling ranks joint fourth alongside Leicester striker Jamie Vardy in this season's Premier League scoring charts.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5615539/Fulhams-Ryan-Sessegnon-shortlisted-PFA-Young-Player-Year.html#ixzz5CeRzeSwq
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Pay On The Gate

Tickets are still available for today's London derby against Brentford at 5:30pm.

With limited availability across certain areas of the ground, secure your ticket in advance now. Cash sales will be available from the Putney End turnstiles.

Matchday prices start from £15 juniors and £40 adults, and are available online, by telephone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 2) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

See you at the Cottage - COYW!

Buy online

All tickets are subject to availability. Terms & Conditions and booking fees apply



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/april/14/pay-on-the-gate

 
Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon makes history as he's shortlisted for PFA Young Player of the Year award

The 17-year-old has 14 goals this season and is the first player on record outside the top flight to make the shortlist

Ryan Sessegnon has made history by becoming the first player outside the top tier to be nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year award.

The 17-year-old Fulham man has been named alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, Manchester City's Ederson. Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.

Sessegnon, who has scored 14 goals for the Whites, has already won a double gone at the London Football Awards and is up for a number more at the EFL Awards later this month.

It's been a fantastic season for the wonderkid, who is Fulham's top scorer this season and has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Slavisa Jovanovic.

The awards take place at Grosvenor House on April 22.

Meanwhile, Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Sane, David Silva, Kane and David De Gea are up for the PFA Player of the Year award.



https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-wonderkid-ryan-sessegnon-makes-14530819

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 43 vs. Brentford
Are Fulham seriously going to gain automatic promotion?

This is a complete fairytale! There's no other way to describe it. While Fulham has not lost in 20 games, everyone else in the league has crumbled enough to surpass them. Most recently, Cardiff may have had two of the toughest back-to-back fixtures in the whole Championship with Wolves at home and Aston Villa away. But to come away with no points in any of those two games was enough for Fulham to pass them on the table. Now Cardiff still has a game in hand, but that's not an easy one either as it will be against a Derby County side needing every point they need to confirm a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Fulham has to take full advantage of their position, but it will not be easy whatsoever.

But before we look ahead, let's recap how they have continued their ludicrous unbeaten run. Just like last weekend, Fulham was able to handle Reading quite comfortably despite a 1-0 scoreline. With complete revenge on their mind, Slavisa Jokanovic's squad never gave their former playoff foes any chance to have the ball for long periods of the game and they were only able to create two shots all game! Even with Fulham creating just 14 shots of their own, the quality was oozing out of every one of them with 0.135 expected goals per shot according to Ben Mayhew of experimental361.

As a result, the club has now shut out the opposition in four straight games and have generated enough attack where they are actually due to have a field day in any one of their upcoming fixtures. I mean, when was the last time Fulham were ever this good in defense. However fun pounding middling Championship teams to submission was, they will have to keep those performances up against some of the better clubs in the league. Whether Fulhams disagree with this statement or not, Brentford is one of them as they sit just four points out of the top six.

As mentioned before Fulham faced them last time, the Bees had the underlying numbers to show that they have what it takes to be one of the best clubs in the league. However, their finishing was so poor that it made them struggle to maintain even midtable status. But since their win over Fulham in the reverse fixture, Brentford have picked up 12 wins and four draws in 22 games: which is good enough for an 84-point pace if their form were to take place throughout the entire league campaign. Sure, Fulham fans can ignore such a fact considering they have not lost in 20 games themselves. All I'm saying is that Brentford is no longer underachieving and have shown to do things a tad better than Fulham with their style of play when they are at their best.

Even through 42 fixtures, Brentford is still top of the league with 17.5 total shots per 90 minutes and with 13.4 chances created per 90 minutes. Unlike Fulham, Brentford also incorporates the long ball to full effect thanks to a third best 35.7 of that type of pass per 90 minutes as well as a strong 48.5% completion rate. They are also second in the league in dribbling at 12.4 events per fixture, but most of that comes from the well-rounded mastermind that is Ollie Watkins.

Since we've already written about him last time, you kind of already know about him. Let's go ahead and look at the key contributors to Brentford's season and who may be the cause to spoil Fulham's hopes and dreams if tonight comes to it.

John Egan

First up is Brentford's captain and a two-time capped Ireland International. Things haven't been easy for Evans after signing a youth contract with Sunderland. The now 25-year old never got a run with his boyhood club and was sent on loan four times before signing a permanent contract with League One side Gillingham. After making a strong impression in his two seasons at Prestfield Stadium, Egan signed with Brentford on a three-year contract.

Rather than being aggressive in the tackle, he tends to prefer a more conservative approach in preventing the opposition from scoring. But Egan certainly knows what he needs to do with the ball at his feet and will make the most of his 6'2" frame to claim what is airborne. If anything else, he is the ball playing center back that will know how to advance it towards midfield and attack, so Fulham will have to shut him down for them to contain Brentford's goal-scoring prowess as a whole.

Ryan Woods

Next up is another of Brentford's long ball merchants in Woods. With 204 of those types of passes, no other Brentford outfield player has more. Beyond that though, Woods doesn't offer that much by way of attack or defense and he isn't even one of Brentford's most trusted takers in corner kicks. However, that one skill by Woods is enough to have given him the "special one Pirlo" nickname at his previous club at Shrewsbury Town. With such a moniker, it is quite clear that Fulham can not afford to give him any time and space for him to pick them apart.

Before joining Griffin Park, Woods helped his first professional club climb their way towards League One status and was awarded as a member of the PFA League Two team of the year in 2015. His talents were recognized by Brentford and their analytically-inclined boardroom and were able to sign him on a three-year contract the season afterward. Woods' talents did not go unnoticed as he was nominated as Brentford's players' player of the year last campaign. At 24, there is still plenty more awards and accolades to be won in the near future.

Romaine Sawyers
All data from whoscored.com

Lastly, we go to Brentford's closest answer to Tom Cairney in Romaine Sawyers. Like Cairney, the Saint Kitts and Nevis International like to sit in the center of Brentford's attacking midfield whenever they play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Unlike Cairney, he is only second to that man Watkins with 70 chances created. However, Sawyers doesn't provide much else in attack as he only averages 1.07 dribbles per 90 minutes and is only to get his shot on target 21.7% of the time. That being said, he is among the best in the Championship with through-ball passes, so that is a wrinkle that Fulham must pay attention to.

Like Egan, Sawyers needed to leave his first professional club that wanted to continue Premier League aspirations in order to make a name for himself. It took him to playing for League One Walsall to do so before joining manager Dean Smith at the hip and signed for Brentford. This all came after the 26-year old started his career in West Bromwich Albion's academy.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/4/14/17237584/three-players-to-watch-matchday-43-vs-brentford