Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 21/01/20...

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Scott Parker sends West Brom and Leeds United promotion warning

West Brom and Leeds have permitted

If West Brom and Leeds United continue to drop points at the top of the Championship, then Fulham will be ready to take advantage, Scott Parker has indicated.

Of the last 15 league matches that either side have played in, Albion and Leeds have mustered up just two victories - both away at Birmingham City - between them, meaning their healthy lead at the top of the table has been nibbled away week on week.

With the Cottagers and Nottingham Forest, who are also attempting to chase down the longstanding top two, in action against sides in the bottom half of the table on Wednesday evening, the top of the table could look particularly congested if they both secure victories ahead of an empty weekend where the FA Cup takes centre stage.

Fulham, without talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic because of injury, have won their last two and head to Charlton Athletic this evening, while Forest - who have won four of their last five - welcome Reading to the City Ground.

The gap will be non existent if Parker's men can see off the Addicks, though despite the automatic promotion race heating up again recently he's asking his players to concentrate on their own business.

The rest will take of itself, if the Baggies and the Whites continue to surrender points.

"We're in a good position at this moment in time and we go there on Wednesday night looking for a positive result," Parker said at his pre match press conference.

"We're looking at the right end of the table, but ultimately we can only control what we control. If Leeds or West Brom are slipping up or are out of form then you need to react to that and you need to get results.

"First and foremost we need to concentrate on us, and let's see where it gets us. I realise the dynamics of this division, and as soon as you take your eye off it then this league has got a habit of biting you.

"We understand the difficulties [Wednesday] is going to bring. A London derby, a team at the other end of the table, but Lee Bowyer – who I know very well – will have them fighting."



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/scott-parker-sends-west-brom-17615105

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The XI that Scott Parker could field for Fulham v Charlton tonight

Fulham head to The Valley tonight to face Charlton Athletic in the Championship.

A tale of two London clubs, and two Londoners at the helm – Lee Bowyer and Scott Parker know each other very well from their playing days, but expect a much more subdued handshake between the two than this fracas from yesteryear:

Fulham go into this game in good form having won their last three in the Championship, and a win tonight would take them to within one point of the automatic promotion places.

Charlton meanwhile will go in search of their first win of 2020 – the Addicks sit in 19th-place of the Championship table, five points above the drop zone and having won just one of their last 17 in the league.

Here we take a look at how Parker's side are expected to line-up tonight:

Fulham shouldn't name a side too dissimilar from the one that beat Middlesbrough last time out – expect an unchanged back-five of Marek Rodak in goal, Dennis Odoi on the right and Joe Bryan on the left, with Tim Ream and Michael Hector in the middle.

Hector has answered a lot of Fulham's prayers with his commanding performances in the heart of defence, and Parker could even give a debut to Terrence Kongolo tonight alongside Hector.

The only change to expect tonight would be Harry Arter in for Kevin McDonald – McDonald has slowly worked his way back from injury and his return seems to have given the whole team and fan base a boost.

But having started the last three, Parker may well choose to rest him as to not risk injury, and give Arter a start, who's also recently returned from injury. Alongside Arter, expect to see Tom Cairney on the right and Josh Onomah on the left.

The front-three is likely to be unchanged as well, with top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic ruled out until at least next month – Anthony Knockaert has looked better in recent weeks, so expect to see him on the right and last week's goal-scorer Ivan Cavaleiro on the left, with Bobby Reid in the middle.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-xi-that-scott-parker-could-field-for-fulham-v-charlton-tonight/