Thursday Fulham Stuff - 19/12/19...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's weekend clash has plenty riding on it for important figure: Comment

This article is part of Football League World's 'Comment' series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

Scott Parker has had a rather indifferent first-half of the season, and in recent weeks has come under immense pressure from his own supporters.

Fulham have now lost three Championship fixtures in a row, and this weekend they face one of the best sides in the league in Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United.

A defeat in this fixture could well knock the Cottagers out of the play-off positions and spell some serious trouble for manager Parker.

All three defeats over the last couple of weeks have come to sides who are also fighting for a place in the top six, which makes them even harder to take for supporters of the club. Understandably, many are now voicing their frustration not just at the players, but also at the manager.

A defeat in this fixture could well knock the Cottagers out of the play-off positions and spell some serious trouble for manager Parker.

All three defeats over the last couple of weeks have come to sides who are also fighting for a place in the top six, which makes them even harder to take for supporters of the club. Understandably, many are now voicing their frustration not just at the players, but also at the manager.

Parker will know how crucial these next few games are, and with pressure mounting the game against Leeds almost becomes a 'must not lose' type of fixture. This could seriously go against the West London side, especially with Fulham being at home, an early goal for the opposition could really start to turn some of the supporters within Craven Cottage.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulhams-weekend-clash-has-plenty-riding-on-it-for-important-figure-comment/

[WhiteJC]

Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper bullish over Aleksander Mitrovic challenge

Leeds United are up against the Championship's leading goalscorer on Saturday afternoon

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper will be hoping to return to action after a three-game lay-off when his side visit promotion hopefuls Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

A calf injury kept Cooper out of the wins over Huddersfield Town and Hull City, plus last weekend's draw against Cardiff City, but Cooper has confirmed that he should be available for selection this weekend.

If the Scotland international does return to Marcelo Bielsa's starting XI, he will be thrown back in a the deep end as he will be pitted against the Championship's leading scorer in Aleksander Mitrovic.

The Serbian international has netted 16 times for the Cottagers this term - almost half of his team's goals in the league this season.

While the 25-year-old has got the better of plenty of Championship defender so far this term, Cooper insists that he will be ready for the challenge.

"We work every day on ourselves," the Whites skipper told LeedsLive while helping out at the Cash for Kids' Mission Christmas campaign this week .

"We know what we need to do to nullify Mitrovic. He's an unbelievable player, he plays for his country, he's proven at that level, he scores goals at this level and I think we've got to do everything we can to nullify his attributes and then concentrate on us. How we're going to hurt them.

"We know the work we do every day and it leaves us in good stead going into the games."

Fulham have lost their past three matches and will go into the clash in sixth place, 12 points behind Marcelo Bielsa's side.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-skipper-liam-cooper-17441721