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Thursday Fulham Stuff - 16/01/20...

Started by WhiteJC, January 15, 2020, 09:43:34 AM

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WhiteJC

Fulham vs Middlesbrough preview, predictions & possible XIs

Jonathan Woodgate's in-form Middlesbrough head to London on Friday night looking to continue their extraordinary run of results.

They take on Scott Parker's Fulham outfit who are teetering on the edge of the title race. It will be an intriguing match-up as Boro have taken three points from both the Hawthorns and Deepdale in recent weeks and will not be daunted by a trip to the Cottage.

Fulham are a side on the cusp of the title race but have just lacked the consistency of Leeds and West Brom despite having, arguably, a squad to match both.

A battling win at Hull has kept them on the coattails of those above them but have they got enough to take down a resurgent Boro? Read on for our preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Fulham vs Middlesbrough and where can I watch live?

Competition: EFL Championship

Venue: Craven Cottage, London

Date: Friday, 17 January 2020

Kick-off: 7:45 PM (UK time)

TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Football and live online via the Sky Sports app.
Last five meetings: Fulham vs Middlesbrough

26 Oct 2019: Middlesbrough 0-0 Fulham (EFL Championship)

13 Jan 2018: Middlesbrough 0-1 Fulham (EFL Championship)

23 Sep 2017: Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough (EFL Championship)

24 Aug 2016: Fulham 2-1 Middlesbrough (League Cup)

27 Feb 2016: Fulham 0-2 Middlesbrough (EFL Championship)

Aggregate Score: Fulham (DWDWL) 4-4 Middlesbrough (DLDLW)
Ones to watch

Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic is such an important player in this Fulham side. When he is not playing you can immediately see the difference. His strength and ability to finish make him one, if not the, best striker outside the Premier League and his 18 goals this season just go to prove it.

Only Brentford's Ollie Watkins can match the Serbian for goals in the Championship in 2019-20 and the big forward will play a huge role if the Whites are to return to the top-flight at the end of the current campaign.

Key stat: Mitrovic has scored 18 of Fulham's 41 league goals this season, a percentage contribution of 44%.

Middlesbrough: Ashley Fletcher

Ashley Fletcher has been immense since Woodgate moved him from wide on the left to a more central role. He has the ability to hold up the ball and press hard while Britt Assombalonga is more of a natural finisher.

Fletcher's athleticism has been crucial in Boro playing a more intense level of football that is getting results on the pitch.

Key stat: No Boro player has been involved in more goals for the club this season than Ashley Fletcher (10 — six goals, four assists).
Team news
Fulham

Tom Cairney overcame a calf injury to make the bench in the win at Fulham and he could be back in the starting XI for the visit of Middlesbrough.

However, Parker may wish to keep faith in the side that bagged an important three points on the road with Ivan Cavaleiro netting an important winner.

Harry Arter is another player pushing for a start but he may have to be content with a place on the bench on Friday night.

Predicted XI: Rodak; Christie, Hector, Ream, Odoi; Onomah, McDonald, Reid; Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro.

Middlesbrough

Woodgate handed full debuts to both George Saville and new signing Lukas Nmecha in the cup against Spurs and they will be hoping to be involved again on Friday as Boro made five changes.

Aynsley Pears is likely to return in net having missed out on the game in mid-week while Hayden Coulson is expected to return at left-back in place of Marvin Johnson.

Predicted XI: Pears; Howson, McNair, Fry; Spence, Wing, Saville, Coulson; Roberts, Tavernier; Fletcher.
Squawka prediction

Woodgate's side have been much better and their run of four wins in the last five will give them a lot of confidence heading into this one. If they can continue the positive form, they have every chance of getting something from Craven Cottage.

Fulham will want to win in order to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive and Mitrovic is such a vital player, he could play a decisive part yet again.

It will be a close one and Boro could well leave London with a point.
Scoreline prediction: Fulham 1-1 Middlesbrough



https://www.squawka.com/en/predictions/fulham-middlesbrough-predictions-preview-championship

WhiteJC

Fulham dealt blow with news of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to be sidelined for up to three weeks

Fulham have been dealt a blow with the news of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to be sidelined for up to three weeks according to Sky Sports News.

Mitrovic had a scan which confirmed he has suffered ankle ligament damage which will now rule him out of the next few games.

The Serbian, who has scored 26 goals this season, limped out of Fulham's 1-0 win at Hull on Saturday prompting fears he would be set for a spell on the sidelines which were confirmed by manager Scott Parker.

Parker said at his press conference: "It's not ideal when your leading goalscorer gets injured. He's tweaked his ankle ligaments."

"When you start seeing your key players being injured, it's not nice, but that's what you have a squad for. When it initially happened we were nervous, and he left the stadium in a boot."

"But since then he's had a scan and we're hoping he'll be all right in the next two or three weeks. Mitro's a player who has had very few injuries and he's quite robust."

The powerful frontman has been a huge source of goals for the Cottagers so far this campaign and confirmation of his absence will be a major blow for the promotion hopefuls.

What will be of importance to Scott Parker and his side is that Mitrovic makes a speedy recovery and is fit for the run-in where they will need the striker to be at the top of his game as they aim to win promotion back to the Premier League.



https://the72.co.uk/154811/fulham-dealt-blow-with-news-of-star-striker-aleksandar-mitrovic-due-to-be-sidelined-for-up-to-three-weeks/

WhiteJC

Head Coach press conference

Aleksandar Mitrović's fitness was one of the biggest talking points at Wednesday's press conference.

Our Head Coach Scott Parker faced the media at Motspur Park and here's what he had to say...


On Aleksandar Mitrović:

"It's not ideal when your leading goalscorer gets injured. He's tweaked his ankle ligaments. When you start seeing your key players being injured, it's not nice, but that's what you have a squad for.

"When it initially happened, we were nervous and he left the stadium in a boot, but since then, he's had a scan and we're hoping he'll be alright in the next two or three weeks. Mitro's a player who has had very few injuries and he's quite robust.

On Middlesbrough:

"They're coming off a very good run, I think they're unbeaten in four or five in the division. Last night, they grew into the game and gave themselves a fighting chance against a very good side in Spurs. Jonathan Woodgate's done a very good job after a slow start. Early in the season, it was probably stressful for him, but he's changed things around a bit. He's a good lad.

"Middlesbrough have some athletes in their teams, so we'll need to be aware of that. It'll be another tough game for us."


On the confidence boost post-Aston Villa:

"It was a massive boost for us, beating Aston Villa, a Premier League team. It built momentum and confidence. Certainly after a bad result, there was no bigger test than Villa in a competition that I respect fully. You build on the positives."

On our promotion push:

"We've got a run of fixtures with tough games coming up, but they are games you look at and think if we can get on good run here, we can do something pretty good."



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/january/15/head-coach-press conference-boro


WhiteJC

Ibrox Exclusive: Fulham plot move to sign Rangers first-team star this month

Fulham are plotting a move to sign Rangers defender Connor Goldson this month, Football Insider can reveal.

The London-based Championship outfit are looking to strengthen their back line before the transfer window shuts on 31 January.

A Fulham source has told Football Insider that the club are keeping close tabs on Goldson, 27, after being impressed by his performances for Rangers this season.


The commanding centre-back has more than two years remaining on his contract with the Scottish giants, signed when he joined for £3million 18 months ago.

He is a firm favourite of manager Steven Gerrard, who has started him in virtually every match since he took the reins.

Rangers would value the 6ft 3in colossus at a higher price than what they paid after his outstanding domestic and Europa League performances.

It is unlikely Gerrard would be willing to let him go this month ahead of what promises to be a thrilling second half of the campaign at Ibrox.

Goldson has been a mainstay of the Rangers team since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2018.

He has barely missed a match and been integral to the team's resurgence as they look to end Celtic's bid to win a ninth consecutive league title.

Goldson has already made 36 appearances for Rangers this season, all of which have been in the starting XI.

Since signing for the Light Blues, he has remarkably already played 90 games for the club and never as a substitute.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/ibrox-exclusive-fulham-plot-move-to-sign-rangers-first-team-star-this-month/

WhiteJC

Middlesbrough handed huge boost as Fulham star is ruled out with 'ankle ligament damage'

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 Championship goals for Scott Parker's side this season


HULL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Aleksandar Mitrović of Fulham is seen to by team medical staff during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Fulham at the KCOM Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Hull, England. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) (Image: Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Middlesbrough have been handed a huge boost ahead of their clash with Fulham on Friday night after Aleksandar Mitrovic was ruled out for three weeks with ankle ligament damage.

The Serbian striker was taken off on a stretcher during the final stages of their 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.

Mitrovic has weighed in with 18 goals in 26 Championship matches for Fulham, scoring 44% of their total goals in the league this term.

Scott Parker confirmed after the match that initial "didn't look good" but has provided an injury update ahead of their Friday night match against Middlesbrough.

"Initially, we were nervous and he left the stadium in a boot but he's quite robust," said Parker.

"It is not ideal when your leading goalscorer gets injured.

"We were worried it might have be a little bit longer but, although there is damage there, we hope we can turn him around in a few weeks."

Whilst the news that the 25-year-old will be missing for weeks, rather than months, is positive news, it will prove a big blow for Fulham who must manage without their top goal-scorer.

Mitrovic is likely to miss Championship matches against Middlesbrough , Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town, as well as Fulham's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City.

With Fulham sat fourth in the Championship table, seven points behind second-placed Leeds United and three points clear of Swansea City in seventh, Parker's side are entering a crucial period of the season without their star man.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, can go six Championship matches unbeaten at Craven Cottage.

The two sides drew 0-0 earlier in the season at the Riverside Stadium, with Fulham forced to play a large portion of the match with ten men after goalkeeper Marek Rodak was sent off.



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-star-out-middlesbrough-game-17574012

WhiteJC

Fulham plot move for first-choice Rangers defender

Fulham are plotting a move for Rangers defender Connor Goldson, according to Football Insider.

The 27-year-old joined Rangers from Brighton in the summer of 2018.

He was struggling for game-time on the South Coast but found refuge up North, and he hasn't looked back since – Goldson has become one of Steven Gerrard's key players this season, playing in every game of the Scottish Premier League and scoring three goals.

Rangers are set to have an enthralling title race with Celtic in the second-half of the season – Neil Lennon's side currently lead the pack and with a two point lead over Rangers, but Gerrard's team with the game in hand.

It's also been a successful season in Europe for the Ibrox team, who've booked themselves a trip to Portugal next month where they face Braga in the Europe League knock-out stages.

Gerrard would be unlikely to let one of his star players leave this month, but Fulham could well do with a signing or two.

They finalised the signing of centre-back Michael Hetcor from Chelsea at the start of the month, and he and Goldson could well be the defensive pairing that Fulham have at the end of the transfer window.

The verdict

Goldson is a quality defender but it's always a gamble bringing a player to the Championship who's done well in the SPL – it's a different league and it's always hard to decipher how one will fare in England.

Nevertheless, Parker could move for Goldson this month, as he bids to take Fulham back into the Premier League.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-plot-move-for-first-choice-rangers-defender/


WhiteJC

Fulham reveal full extent of Aleksandar Mitrovic injury blow

Aleksandar Mitrovic is the Championship's joint top goal-scorer but was stretchered off during Fulham's 1-0 win at Hull City

Leeds United promotion rivals Fulham have been dealt a huge blow after top goal-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic was ruled out for three weeks with ankle ligament damage.

The Serbian striker was taken off on a stretcher during the final stages of their 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.

Mitrovic has weighed in with 18 goals in 26 Championship matches for Fulham, scoring 44 per cent of their total goals in the league this term.

Scott Parker confirmed after the match it "didn't look good" but has provided an injury update ahead of their Friday night match against Middlesbrough.

"Initially, we were nervous and he left the stadium in a boot but he's quite robust," said Parker.

"It is not ideal when your leading goalscorer gets injured.

"We were worried it might have be a little bit longer but, although there is damage there, we hope we can turn him around in a few weeks."

While the news that the 25-year-old will be missing for weeks, rather than months, is positive news, it will prove a big blow for Fulham who must manage without their top goal-scorer.

Mitrovic is likely to miss Championship matches against Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town, as well as Fulham's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City.

With Fulham sat fourth in the Championship table, seven points behind second-placed Leeds United and three points clear of Swansea City in seventh, Parker's side are entering a crucial period of the season without their star man.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/fulham-aleksandar-mitrovic-injury-date-17573919