Friday Fulham Stuff - 29/11/19...

[WhiteJC]

Leeds United set sights on £13m rated midfielder

Leeds have been guilty in recent years, of allowing youth prospects to leave Elland Road without really being given a chance. This only really gets highlighted when said player goes on to become a player that the club could really do with.

Players such as Aaron Lennon and Danny Rose are good examples of this, players that have had incredible careers after leaving West Yorkshire with no real benefit, apart from a minimal transfer fee, for Leeds United.


Fulham midfielder, Tom Cairney (10) dribbling during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage, London, England on 30 July 2016. Photo by Matthew Redman.

One player, who is perhaps not as high profile as the previous two mentioned, but has nevertheless crafted an excellent career for himself so far, is Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney.

Cairney started his career in the youth echelons at Elland Road between 1998 and 2007, but was released to pursue a career with Hull City, where he stayed until 2014 and managed seventy appearances. Following a brief loan move to Blackburn Rovers, he signed for them and stayed for a year where he played fifty three games, scoring seven goals... this captured the attention of the Cottagers and the 28-year-old attacking midfielder was signed pursued and captured by the Londoners.

Since then, Cairney has gone from strength to strength, now captaining Fulham and is one of their most influential and consistent players, this has attracted glowing reference from most, not least Leeds United's Marcelo Bielsa.

In an article from Lancashire Post today, it is suggested that Bielsa admires the player greatly, although it is unclear as to whether a move will be made by The whites, especially seeing as he is valued at around £13m.

It would certainly be a coup for the West Yorkshire outfit, but will the fact that he was once rejected by the club, along with that price tag be the main stumbling blocks?



https://the72.co.uk/150181/leeds-united-set-sights-on-13m-rated-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

M4 Closed This Weekend

Fans driving to Swansea are advised that the M4 will be closed from 8pm on Friday for the entire weekend.

This is due to two bridges over the motorway being demolished.

Supporters will be able to use the M4 to get to Swansea, but after the match it will be closed between junction 6 for Slough and junction 8/9 for Maidenhead.

A fully signed diversion route will be in operation so the journey remains doable, but will take longer.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/28/m4-closed-this-weekend

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Football Club owner and chairman Shahid Khan unveils plans: I want to bring this stretch of the river to life

Fulham Football Club has unveiled plans to brand the projected riverside walkway at the back of its Thameside stadium as Fulham Pier.

The club is in the process of rebuilding the quaint but archaic Riverside Stand, which is now totally demolished, and piling of the riverbed has started.

The idea is that the new stand will sit inside a gleaming new Fulham Pier, which will be open to the general public all year round – with cafes and bars and a wooden boardwalk, making it possible, for the first time, to amble the entire length of the Thames from Hammersmith to Bishop's Park and Putney.

The project is due for completion by the summer of 2021.


Piling in the Thames has begun. Pictures: Fulham FC

Although the walkway scheme had already been made public, the official rebranding as Fulham Pier this week has given the project extra publicity which could lure potential businesses and tenants wanting to take advantage of the newly-created riverside location.

Fulham owner and chairman Shahid Khan, the billionaire businessman who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars in America's National Football League, said the idea of Fulham Pier had been his dream from the moment he became chairman in July 2013, succeeding Mohamed Al-Fayed.

In 2014, he obtained a river works licence from the Port of London Authority – one of the potential obstacles to realising the project.

"Never has this stretch of the Thames been brought to life, and its full potential realised, until Fulham Pier," he said.

"I am confident [it] will be everything that everyone had asked or hoped for, and much more.


An artist's impression of the new pier development.

"This will be open to all on non-matchdays, providing a picturesque and uninterrupted stroll along the river for the first time ever.

"It will be here that you will find places to eat, drink, meet, exercise, learn new activities, take in special events or simply enjoy the waterfront.

"I envision a vibe that will blend nostalgia with contemporary, always alive, and always respectful of the club, neighbourhood and city."

He added the new construct would be: "Nothing less than a signature destination befitting our world-class city."

Fulham's new Riverside Stand will swell the capacity of Craven Cottage stadium to around 29,600.

The new stand will have 8,650 seats compared to 4,689 in the old stand.

At the moment, only pitch-side dugouts for the managers and substitutes remain of the old stand, along with a temporary TV gantry and there are temporary screens around the building site.

Both the new stand, with river-facing corporate facilities, nine serviced apartments and the new businesses at Fulham Pier, are expected to generate considerable extra revenue for the club.

The club is currently in talks with potential tenants.

Details of the total cost of the project and projected revenues are confidential, the club says.



https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/fulham-football-club-owner-and-chairman-shahid-khan-unveils-plans-i-want-to-bring-this-stretch-of-the-river-to-life/

[WhiteJC]

Matt Grimes explains why he's excited for Swansea's next fixture

Swansea City captain Matt Grimes has stated that there's nothing better than a night game as Steve Cooper's side prepare to face Fulham on Friday.

The Swans have failed to win in their last three fixtures and take on a strong Fulham side on Friday night as they look to get back to winning ways.

It should be an interesting battle between the two sides with both sitting in the top six of the table after good starts to the campaign.

Swansea's home form has been questioned at times this season having lost to sides such as Stoke and Millwall. They have the perfect opportunity to hit back on Saturday as they face a team who are competing as a favourite for promotion.

Speaking to Swansea's official website, Grimes said: "We know there's nothing better than a night game under the lights at the Liberty; it's always a special occasion. We're looking forward to it and there's probably added emphasis for us off the back of losing to Millwall on Saturday.

"It's important to try to build momentum. A win would be a perfect way to kick-start another good run."

The Verdict

Grimes is spot on and night games do add a bit of edge to an occasion and give the fans a lift under the floodlights. The actual specific game itself should be a good one and there's no reason why Swansea can't find victory.

It'll be a tough game but they have the quality to hurt Fulham, and it should be a high-scoring game with both sides knowing where the back of the net is.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/matt-grimes-explains-why-hes-excited-for-swanseas-next-fixture/

[WhiteJC]

Games for the Weekend 29/11
Yet another non-Saturday 3 o'clock kick-off, this time Friday 19:45 see's us travel to Wales and the Liberty Stadium in order to take on Swansea City.

Tuesday evening saw us gain a comfortable win over Derby, always a good thing! Swansea had a tough draw away to Huddersfield so both teams will be approaching this fixture with an air of confidence.
A couple of downers were the injuries to AK47 and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, a shame for both AK would have been hoping to cement his place in the team and Bobby Reid getting his first goal.
Swansea have been something of a bogie team for Fulham with 5 wins, 1 draw and only 2 wins for us against them. Let's see if we can get a 3rd win against them!

COYW's

Games of Interest...
Friday 29th
Swansea v Fulham

Saturday 30th
Charlton v Sheff Wed
Birmingham City v Millwall
Brentford v Luton
Derby v QPR
Leeds v Middlesbrough

Monday 2nd
Preston NE v West Brom

come on over to the forum and join in the discussion...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=1.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=1000

[WhiteJC]

This Fulham star will be gunning for his spot back after being benched against Derby

Anthony Knockaert was dropped to the bench for Fulham's 3-0 win over Derby County in the Championship on Tuesday night and the Frenchman will need to work hard to get his spot back.

When he and Ivan Cavaleiro both joined Fulham on-loan for the season, fans felt that an immediate return to the Premier League was on the horizon.

Hailed as masterstrokes by Scott Parker, he also worked his magic to bring Bobby Reid in on-loan from Cardiff City, Harrison Reed from Southampton and Harry Arter from Bournemouth.

Five top-flight players arriving at Craven Cottage with the aim of promotion, but not all of them have been a hit.

Both Knockaert and Wolves' Cavaleiro started the season in prolific form but between them, they have one goal in the last 11 games. Cavaleiro kept his spot on Tuesday but Knockaert didn't, and he saw Aboubakar Kamara take his place.

It comes after the forward bagged a brace against QPR last week in the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic, and with the Serb returning from suspension for the Derby game, Parker opted to give Kamara his second-straight start, and only his third of the season against Derby.

Knockaert was likeliest to lose his spot. His form has been progressively worsening for Fulham and Parker couldn't ignore Kamara's performance against QPR.

On-loan from Brighton & Hove Albion for the season, Knockaert would've been hoping that he'd be the man who fired Fulham back into the Premier League. He's good experience in both the Championship and Premier League and he along with his teammates are regarded by most, on paper at least, the best squad in the Championship.

He'll no doubt be upset to lose his spot in the starting line-up but being an experienced pro, Knockaert will use it to spur him on – there's still plenty of football left for him to play at Fulham and injuries and so on will crop up to give him his chance.

Kamara is a good player but he's not got half the experience and class of Knockaert on his day, and expect to see the latter earn his spot back, and become the player that Fulham fans believe he can be.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-fulham-star-will-be-gunning-for-his-spot-back-after-being-benched-against-derby/

[WhiteJC]

Swansea City wait on fitness of trio

Swansea City are waiting on the fitness of a trio of players ahead of Friday night's meeting with Fulham at the Liberty Stadium.

Wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge, plus defender Mike van der Hoorn are all doubts for the clash with the Cottagers.

Dyer and Routledge picked up knocks in the defeat to Millwall, while van der Hoorn was forced off after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge in the midweek draw at Huddersfield.

And head coach Steve Cooper says it is too early to know if the trio can play a part against Scott Parker's in-form side.

"Nathan and Wayne are touch and go," said Cooper.

"They missed the other night and it's inconclusive (if they will be fit), at the moment. We want to give them as much time as we can.

"They both had kicks. Nathan did it early in the Millwall game and it flared up when he took his boot off and with the quick turnaround it has been bad timing for an injury like that.

"For Wayne it might be a bit of muscle soreness.

"Mike is the same – touch and go - and they need a final check before we know.

"We hope he will be okay, but it was a bad tackle and a disappointing one I have to say.

"He felt the effects of it but everyone is desperate to play and put some wrongs right.

"We are a bit battered and bruised from what we knew would be a heavy week, but we are trying to give everyone as much time as possible to have as many selections decision to make as possible."

Joe Rodon and Jordon Garrick are long-term absentees, while Aldo Kalulu is set for another outing with the under-23s this weekend and he nears a return from an ankle problem.

"We know Joe and Jordon are out. Aldo is back training and nearly available," added Cooper.

"We want him to play one more game for the under-23s, which he will do on Saturday against Colchester.

"There is a temptation to throw him back in, but we need to be careful."



https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-wait-fitness-trio

[WhiteJC]

Swansea's Steve Cooper issues Fulham warning

Steve Cooper has warned his players about Fulham talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic ahead of tomorrow's clash between the sides, labelling the Serbian striker as a 'handful'.

Fulham's 25-year-old striker tops the goal scoring charts in the Championship, with 13 goals to his name so far this season, and Swansea will have to limit the Serbian if they stand a chance of getting a positive result.

With the Cottagers aiming to pick up their fourth win in succession, it will be a tough test for Swansea, especially when you look at the home form of Steve Cooper's side.

Fulham make the trip to South Wales knowing that the Swans' have just one win in their last six games at the Liberty Stadium.

However, Swansea will want to bounce back from three games without a win in the league. A victory will take them above their upcoming opponents from West London by a point.

Speaking in the pre-match press-conference ahead of the important clash, Cooper made it known that Mitrovic would be a big problem his players will have to deal with.

"He's done it in the PL and he's got something like 13 goals before this," Cooper said.

However, Cooper has backed his side to be able to cope with whatever Mitrovic throws at them tomorrow evening:

"He'll be a right handful but you have to deal with it. You can't shy away from it. You have to back yourselves."

The Verdict

It will be an incredibly difficult test for Steve Cooper's side tomorrow evening, as both sides come into the game on the back very contrasting patterns of form.

The Swans are aiming to win just their fifth home game all season in the league, and it will not make for good reading that Mitrovic has found the net in his last two games for Fulham.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/swanseas-steve-cooper-issues-fulham-warning/

[WhiteJC]

Heads Up

EFL Clubs have given their support to Heads Up, the football-focused mental health campaign, following an address by the HRH The Duke of Cambridge at today's EFL Club meeting.

The key principles of the Heads Up campaign are aligned with work that is already well underway through the EFL's ground-breaking charity partnership with Mind, which began in 2018 and aims to improve the nation's mental health and wellbeing.

EFL Clubs will now join the wider football family in supporting Heads Up in February 2020 to raise awareness and encourage conversation around mental health.

EFL Chair, Rick Parry said: "The EFL is proud of its association with Mind and aware of the impact our Clubs can have in raising awareness of such an important issue in communities nationwide.

"We are delighted to be able to extend this work in supporting a hugely significant project being led by the HRH The Duke of Cambridge in encouraging further conversation and look forward to plans being confirmed in due course."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/28/heads-up

[WhiteJC]

Pilgrims at Fulham

Premier League Cup

ARGYLE will kick-off their football weekend with a trip to play Fulham in the Premier League Cup on Friday evening.

The Pilgrims have already recorded impressive 1-1 draws with both Watford and Everton in this competition, so belief will be high for a trip to the Cottagers.

Keep an eye on your official website for reports, pictures and reaction on Friday evening, with the game scheduled to kick-off at 7pm.



https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/november/pilgrims-at-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Swansea City v Fulham
FRI 29 Nov 2019   Championship
Venue: Liberty Stadium

Scott Parker's Fulham have won their past three matches to move up to third in the Championship table

Swansea could give teenager Ben Cabango his first Championship start after he replaced defender Mike van der Hoorn during their draw at Huddersfield.

Van der Hoorn (ankle) is doubtful, while Jordon Garrick (hamstring) and Joe Rodon (ankle) are definitely out for the Swans.

Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert could be recalled if Aboubakar Kamara (ankle) and Bobby Reid (hamstring) miss out.

Both players were injured during their 3-0 win over Derby on Tuesday.

Match facts

    Swansea have won five of their past six league encounters with Fulham (L1), with this their first clash since January 2014 in the Premier League (2-0 win).
    Fulham have won just two of their past 10 away league visits to Swansea (D3 L5), although those two wins have both arrived in their past four trips.
    Having gone 14 games unbeaten at the Liberty Stadium between December 2018 and August 2019, Swansea have won just one of their six home Championship games since (D1 L4).
    Fulham will be looking to win four consecutive league games for the first time since April 2018.
    No Championship side has scored more 90th-minute goals than Swansea this season (3), however each of those has come away from home.
    Championship leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 13 goals for Fulham this season, at least seven more than any other player for the Cottagers.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50512237

[WhiteJC]

FA Youth Cup Third Round Info

The Under-18s' FA Youth Cup third round game against South Shields will take place on Wednesday 11th December at Motspur Park for a 7pm start.

The delay in confirmation comes from their second-round tie against Hartlepool being postponed and played a week later.

The draw poses an exciting tie for the visitors - being one of the lowest ranked sides in the competition. They are rewarded with a visit to our high-flying Young Whites.

Tickets will be priced at the usual rate for our youth games of £3 for adults and £1 for concessions regardless of your season ticket status. Disabled spectators should contact Charlotte Bellamy at [email protected] prior to kick-off.

All admission will be pay on the gate at Motspur Park reception upon arrival.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/28/fa-youth-cup-third-round-info

[WhiteJC]

Steve Cooper issues frank response concerning recent Swansea setbacks

Swansea boss Steve Cooper has said he is 'annoyed' about his side's recent poor home form at the Liberty Stadium, ahead of tomorrow's clash against Fulham.

The Swans have won just once in their last six home games, which is a stark contrast to their form on their travels, where Cooper's side remain unbeaten in the Championship this season.

As the Swans prepare to take on Scott Parker's Fulham tomorrow evening, the Cottagers are aiming to make it four wins in succession in the league, highlighting the danger Swansea's players have in front of them.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Fulham's visit to the Liberty Stadium, the Swansea boss did not shy away from his feelings towards the poor home form his side have shown of late, also providing potential reasons for it.

"It's annoying. Teams have set up against us to not get beat at home. That does pose a problem and it's a bit frustrating.

We've not done two things. We've not broken through defences and we've given away sloppy goals. We're aware of it, but it's in the past and the only way to deal with it is to look at the next one."

He added: "We want to be putting the home form right. We don't want to shy away from it."

The Verdict

It is an important game for Swansea, as they will not want to slip further away from the automatic promotion places, but they face a Fulham side who are flying.

This is the perfect time for Swansea to turn their fortunes around at home, against a side that have won just three away games all season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/steve-cooper-issues-frank-response-concerning-recent-swansea-setbacks/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham look to have unearthed a diamond in this ever-improving ace: Comment

As Fulham go 3rd with their third-straight win in the Championship, Scott Parker should be praised for the recent introduction of goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

Last month saw Parker make the bold managerial decision of changing his keeper midway through the season. He dropped Marcus Bettinelli for the 22-year-old Slovakian stopper Rodak and five games later, Fulham have found their new number one.

Rodak has been with the club since 2013 and having plied his trade in the National League and the Football League with the likes of Welling, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United, has finally landed a spot at Craven Cottage.

He made his league debut for the club in their 3-2 in over Luton Town last month and kept a clean sheet against Middlesbrough in the next, despite being sent-off after 17 minutes.

Rodak returned for the 1-0 win at Birmingham, before representing his country on international duty, and then putting in another fine performance against QPR.

Mark Warburton's side had taken the lead early on and at 1-0 down, Rodak made a selection of saves to keep it that way, and seeing his side comeback to win the game 2-1.

That was followed by another clean sheet in the 3-0 win against Derby County on Tuesday night, the one which took Fulham up to 3rd in the Championship table.

Rodak returned to Fulham this season after two successive loan-spells at Rotherham where he played 38 games in the 2017/18 League One season, and played all but one of their Championship games last season.

He was due to watch Bettinelli from the sidelines this season but with Fulham going through a stickier patch last month, Parker felt that a change was necessary.

It was a bold call to drop Bettinelli. The 27-year-old has both Premier League and Championship experience with Fulham and played 29 times as they reach the Premier League in 2018, so to drop him for a 22-year-old who conceded 83 goals as Rotherham United finished 22nd last season is brave.

The switch though has paid off and Parker has unearthed a diamond in Marek Rodak. Fans already love him and see him being at Fulham for a long time to come, and he's at a club who's seen a lot of top keepers over the years – Edwin van der Sar, Antti Niemi, Mark Schwarzer come to mind.

Rodak could well follow in the footsteps of these great goalkeepers before him but he's still young and relatively inexperienced, and he'll need Parker's best guidance to fulfil his potential.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-look-to-have-unearthed-a-diamond-in-this-ever-improving-ace-comment/

[WhiteJC]

Steve Cooper puts label on Fulham's squad ahead of Swansea's clash with them

Swansea boss Steve Cooper has said Fulham have a 'Premier League squad' ahead of the clash between the sides tomorrow evening at the Liberty Stadium.

It will be 6th v 3rd  in the league, and Swansea will know that a win would take them above their upcoming opponents in the table.

The Swans come off the back of a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening, but have not won in their last three league games.

Their home form has also been a cause for concern, only winning once in their last six games at the Liberty Stadium.

Fulham on the other hand are aiming to win their third game in the space of a week, following on from their 3-0 victory over Derby on Tuesday night.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash, Cooper spoke about Fulham's threat, making it known that the Cottagers could compete in the top flight with the current squad at their disposal.

"They [Fulham] play good football and they're a Premier League squad. They could compete week in week out in the Premier League," he said.

"I'm not surprised they're doing well and playing good football. I think they will try and play the way they play, but we'll focus on ourselves and what we bring to the table."

The Verdict

It will be a tough test for Swansea, as Fulham have hit a purple patch of form at the right time, winning three games on the bounce.

However, it is a chance for Steve Cooper's side to test themselves against another top side in the division and see if they can replicate their performances from the start of the season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/steve-cooper-puts-label-on-fulhams-squad-ahead-of-swanseas-clash-with-them/

[WhiteJC]

 Aleksandar Mitrovic interview: Finding happiness at Fulham, breaking records for Serbia and promotion hopes
Watch Swansea vs Fulham live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Friday night; Kick-off is at 7.45pm.



Generally, around this time of year, Championship clubs start to feel a little nervous. The period just before January is when struggling Premier League clubs start to look around for players that may well bolster their hopes of survival.

Fulham, however, have no need to worry. A couple of minutes in the company of Aleksandar Mitrovic at their Motspur Park training ground in south-west London and you know he's going nowhere. There were opportunities for him to leave in the summer after the club were relegated, but the Serb was quick to sign a new contract.

"It was easy," Mitrovic tells Sky Sports of his decision to commit his future to Craven Cottage until 2024. "I love this club and the people who work here. Everyone and everything here makes my family happy and I feel at home here.

"On the pitch I am playing games and scoring goals, which is why I play football. I found my happiness here."

It took a while for Mitrovic to find his true home in England. He was always adored by the Newcastle fans for his passion, having arrived there from Belgian club Anderlecht in 2015, but never had the smoothest of times on the pitch.

Since joining Fulham in 2018, initially on loan, he has matured and grown as a player and a person. So far he has netted 36 goals in 76 games in all competitions, including 13 in the Championship so far this campaign.

"I came from Belgium to England to the best league in the world," Mitrovic remembers. "It wasn't an easy beginning and it was tough to adapt. The Premier League is so physical and I was a young boy, I didn't expect it and I needed time to settle.


Mitrovic was the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for October

"I had a good first season with Newcastle but then I hit some bad moments. I didn't play a lot, so I came here to Fulham and started playing more and scoring goals.

"I was on the pitch and that is why I am so happy here, they know how to play me and it's a club who really want me. There are people around me who love me and that's what makes me happy. That's why I decided to stay."

Mitrovic's form for Fulham has also transferred to his performances for Serbia. He is closing in on becoming the top scorer in the nation's history, having netted 34 times so far in just 55 caps. He needs five more to overtake Stjepan Bobek at the top of the rankings.


Mitrovic is close to breaking Serbia's goalscoring record

Serbia could certainly do with a few of those in March as they tackle the qualifying play-offs for Euro 2020. They need to win in Norway and then face either Scotland or Israel for a place in the finals next summer.

At a time when the international game seems a waning priority for many, Mitrovic's attitude to playing for Serbia is extremely refreshing. He initially joined Fulham on loan in 2018 to ensure he was in good condition for the World Cup, and it is his dream to help them get to another major tournament.

"It would be the biggest thing in my career," he said of potentially becoming Serbia's top scorer in the near future. "I am always really proud to play for my country and to wear the shirt is the biggest honour, so to break that record would make my family and everyone around me proud.

"I look forward to every game with the national team. It was my dream as a kid and now it's unbelievable that I'm really close to achieving something in Serbian football history. There are some really big players and some really big names in the football world on that list and I will be next to them. I will just keep working to score more goals."

And Mitrovic hopes that he will be playing for Serbia at Euro 2020 as a Premier League player once again with Fulham.

"That's why I stayed because I think I can help this team," he said. "My job is to score goals and in every game I try to do my job. I hope I can help the team to get promoted. Automatic promotion is what we are aiming for and at the end I hope we will be there. I'm sure as the season goes on we will get better and better.

"It's a really hard league against teams who work really hard. I think it's the best second league in the world for sure, it's really exciting to play in and to watch and enjoy. In the Championship we have more possession, we create more chances than in the Premier League and we are more dominant.

"It's still the early part of the season but with the quality of the team and manager we have, I'm sure we will be back in the Premier League next season."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11871863/aleksandar-mitrovic-interview-finding-happiness-at-fulham-breaking-records-for-serbia-and-promotion-hopes

[WhiteJC]

Matchday Preview

Swansea City v Fulham - Liberty Stadium - Friday 29th November 2019 - 7.45pm

The opposition

Steve Cooper has enjoyed a promising start to his first job as a club manager, with Swansea City currently occupying a Play-Off spot. They are the only side in the Championship still unbeaten away from home, but have found points at the Liberty Stadium more difficult to come by, drawing one and losing four of their nine outings on home soil.
Swansea doubts

Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Mike van der Hoorn, Aldo Kalulu, Joe Rodon, Jordon Garrick
Fulham doubts

Harry Arter, Harrison Reed, Aboubakar Kamara, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Steven Sessegnon

Tickets

Tickets for this fixture can be purchased over the phone until 12pm on Friday by calling the Fulham FC Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (option 3).
Weather

It will be a crisp, dry night in Swansea with temperatures of around four degrees at kick-off.
Travel disruption

Fans driving to Swansea are advised that the M4 will be closed from 8pm on Friday for the entire weekend.

FFCtv coverage

As the match has been selected for coverage on Sky Sports, we are unable to screen it on FFCtv. Live commentary will, though, be available to all subscribers.
Dafabet match odds

Swansea: 15/8

Draw: 12/5

Fulham: 7/5

To take advantage of Dafabet's various price boosts for this fixture, follow this link.

Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ only. begambleaware.org
He said

"They play good football and they're a Premier League squad. They could compete week in, week out in the Premier League, so I'm not surprised they're doing well and playing good football. I think they will try and play the way they play, but we'll focus on ourselves and what we bring to the table." – Swansea head coach Steve Cooper
Form

Swansea: WWDLD

Fulham: DLWWW



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/november/29/matchday-preview

[filham]

Good to read about a happy Mitrovic but really we should stop printing that nonsense about Cairney and Leeds.

[WhiteJC]

Freddie Woodman ready to lock horns with former team-mate Mitrovic

Freddie Woodman will face off against a former Newcastle team-mate tonight knowing their personal duel could have a big impact on whether Swansea City or Fulham emerge victorious at the Liberty Stadium.

Goalkeeper Woodman, 22, has been enjoying an excellent campaign for the Swans while on loan from the Magpies.

He has shown his impressive shot-stopping prowess, along with a calm command of his area, conceding just 18 goals in 18 league games.

His old Toon colleague Aleksandar Mitrovic, meanwhile, has been in fine form at the other end of the pitch.

The Serbian striker has scored 13 goals so far this season for the Cottagers, and is currently the second tier's leading marksman.

And Woodman knows better than most the quality and threat the 25-year-old will pose.

"Everybody can see how much quality he has. It's fair to say he is probably a Premier League player," said Woodman.

"He's obviously a handful and a very good player. I'm looking forward to coming up against him because of his quality and it will be a good test for me in that regard.

"I remember from when he arrived at Newcastle, he was just a worker. He was always in the gym, always willing to improve, and always doing extra.

"I bounced off that and it made me want to work harder because I could see how much he was putting into it.

"As with any Championship player, we will be on guard, do our homework and try to find ways to stop him."




https://www.swanseacity.com/news/freddie-woodman-ready-lock-horns-former-team-mate-mitrovic

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David Prutton provides prediction for Fulham's trip to Swansea City tonight

David Prutton has stated that he thinks Fulham will come away with all three points when they travel to Swansea on Friday night.

The Cottagers have won their last three games and will be hoping to make it four in a row when they travel to Wales. Scott Parker had been under stick after Fulham lost 3-0 at home to Hull at the start of November but since they've won every game.

Swansea have been starting to drop off in recent weeks, and will have been hugely disappointed to have picked up just one point from games with both Millwall and Huddersfield. They'll be hoping to get back to winning ways against Fulham, and cement their position in the play-off places.

Prutton has predicted that Fulham will come away with a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium, which would move them to within two points of the automatic promotion places.

Speaking in his Sky Sports column, Prutton said: "Swansea are just starting to slip a little in terms of results, but I don't think too many would have had them in play-off contention by the start of December, so Steve Cooper will still be happy.
"Fulham have climbed up the table after three wins but they still have question marks around their performances against the better sides in the league. This is a chance for them to lay down a marker."

The Verdict

It should be a really interesting game this one, both teams are sat in the play-offs and have an opportunity to really show what they're about and take a big three points.

Fulham are in the better form, and seem to be scoring a lot recently and Parker will have been happy with the way his side have responded to that home defeat at the start of the month. In many ways, it might have been what they needed.

Swansea are beginning to stutter, but it's almost December and they're competing for a play-off spot so Steve Cooper has to take immense credit for the job that he's done at the club.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/david-prutton-provides-prediction-for-fulhams-trip-to-swansea-city-tonight/