Saturday Fulham Stuff - 06/03/20...

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Bilic's Hegazi update could impact promotion push

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that Ahmed Hegazi's injury is not as bad as first feared and that could be a big boost for the club's promotion hopes as they look to stay ahead of Leeds, Fulham and the rest of the chasing pack.

Hegazi was replaced at half-time during last weekend's Championship defeat to Wigan Athletic but Bilic has calmed concerns about the severity of the issue.

Speaking ahead of his side's clash with Swansea City, the manager said:

    Hegazi did his scan, it's not bad. He should be back in a minimum of two weeks.



https://readwestbrom.com/2020/03/06/bilics-hegazi-update-could-impact-promotion-push/

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Two changes, Eliasson returns: The Bristol City XI we expect Johnson to name v Fulham

Bristol City welcome Fulham to Ashton Gate on Saturday, as they celebrate the club's 125th anniversary.

The Robins will be wearing a special kit to commemorate the occasion and will be hoping to christen it with a victory against Scott Parker's side.

City were held to a 1-1 draw against Millwall at the Den last weekend and may be frustrated by the way they let the Lions back into the game after a strong start.

That draw moved them one point closer to the top six and they will be looking to close the gap further and kick-start their play-off push against Fulham on Saturday.

The Cottagers sit third in the Championship and are fresh off consecutive victories against two other sides chasing the play-offs, Swansea City and Preston North End.

It looks set to be a tough test for the Robins and with that in mind, here is the XI we expect Lee Johnson to name at Ashton Gate...

City assistant manager Jamie McAllister revealed earlier this week that Dan Bentley is back in training but it doesn't appear he'll be ready for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, so it seems as if Niki Maenpaa will start in goal.

The Finnish shot-stopper was relatively solid at the Den last weekend but did show some signs of rust. You'd imagine they'll need him to be at his best against the likes of Aleksander Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro.

Mitrovic is the top scorer in the Championship this season, having found the net 23 times already, and Johnson will need a find a way to keep him quiet.

He is likely to go with the physical and experienced duo of Nathan Baker and Tomas Kalas to try and do just that.

Pedro Pereira found the net last weekend but Johnson will likely opt for the nous of Jack Hunt at right-back on Saturday, with the ever-reliable Jay Dasilva on the left.

The midfield duo of Adam Nagy and Korey Smith looked as if they were starting to form a real understanding last weekend, so it seems likely they will reprise their roles once again.

You'd imagine Johnson will stick with the 4-4-2 that nearly provided them some success last against Millwall but he may look to change up his options on the flanks, with Jamie Paterson starting on the right and Niclas Eliasson on the left.

Callum O'Dowda failed to impress after a bright start against Millwall, so Johnson will surely opt for Eliasson, who is the Championship's joint-top provider of assists.

In the forward line, Famara Diedhiou's defensive work may be just as useful as his attacking play on Saturday, while Andi Weimann appears to be one of Johnson's favourites and is unlikely to miss out in this key game.

That may mean there is no place for January signing Nahki Wells, though if it's tight he could prove vital from the bench.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/two-changes-eliasson-returns-the-bristol-city-xi-we-expect-johnson-to-name-v-fulham/

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From the opposition stand – Bristol City

Ahead of tomorrow's big lunchtime meeting with Bristol City, I asked City fan Euan (@euanbcfc_) a few questions about his side's season so far.

What do you make of Bristol City's season so far?

    "It's an odd one. On paper it should be seen as a success; seventh place, just two points off the play-offs. But compare that to a negative goal difference, a recent winless streak of four games, a period after our away win at Craven Cottage where we only beat teams in the bottom three until late January, plus that Cup defeat to Shrewsbury and it suddenly seems a bit disappointing."

Do you see yourself being in a play-off spot come May?

    "Personally, I'm not all that confident we can. I just don't feel Johnson is able to get it done with you, Preston, Blackburn, Swansea all seemingly more up for it. But that being said, if we can get Wells scoring again and re-introduce Kasey Palmer as well as tightening up at the back a bit as well, I'd say we have a very decent chance."

You mentioned Lee Johnson, what do you make of his season so far?

    "In terms of the fanbase as a whole, I can't remember a time when it's been as split as it is now in regards to him. Personally, I wanted him gone months ago, but a lot of fans would definitely disagree. It just seems like he's coached all flair and excitement out of our game this season, and if some of the dressing room rumours are true he's most certainly lost it, which isn't ideal when you're pushing for the top six."

Is there a player Fulham should look out for tomorrow afternoon?

    "Normally I'd say Niclas Eliasson, but I can see him being dropped and our formation changed, so I'd probably say Dan Bentley in goal. Without him we'd be nowhere near where we are now, and I genuinely believe he's one of the top three stoppers in the league. Ten clean Sheets in a team who, as I said, have a negative goal difference, shouldn't be ignored. But again, if he plays it should really be Eliasson – his pace and ability on the ball is unreal, and he has the most assists in the league for a reason."

Finally, how do you see tomorrow's action unfolding and can you give us a score prediction?

    "I can see it going either way to be honest with you. With it being our 125th anniversary game, and live on Sky, we should theoretically be really up for it, and obviously we won the return fixture earlier on on the season. However you're simply on much better form, and of course you have two academy products in Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan who'll be eager to get involved, so I have to admit I think it's going to be an away win."

Bristol City doubts; Dan Bentley, Benik Afobe, Marley Watkins, Zak Vyner

Fulham doubts; Terence Kongolo, Alfie Mawson, Joshua Onomah, Joe Bryan

My preferred Fulham XI: Rodak, Christie, Ream, Hector, Odoi, McDonald, Cairney (c), Decordova-Reid, Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro

@euanbcfc_ score prediction: Bristol City 1-2 Fulham FC

@FFCSeb's score prediction: Bristol City 0-1 Fulham FC



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/03/from-the-opposition-stand-bristol-city/

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The likely Fulham XI Parker is set to field v Bristol City this weekend

Fulham travel to Bristol City in the Championship tomorrow.

Scott Parker's side will look for a third win in-a-row after winning their last two to nil. It's boosted them back up to 3rd-place in the Championship table after a run of three without a win, and face a Bristol City side who've not won in four.

Here we take a look at the starting line-up we expect Parker to field:

Expect a familiar 4-3-3 formation from Fulham, with Marek Rodak in goal. Joe Bryan is set to miss out tomorrow with a hamstring injury, so Cyrus Christie will likely fill in at left-back.

Tim Ream will partner Michael Hector in the middle, with Dennis Odoi on the right.

Parker has favoured Harry Arter in the anchoring midfield role of late, but Kevin McDonald seems to be the preferred choice of the fans. It's hard to know who he'll select of the two tomorrow – McDonald's steadier head should just tip it.

Either side of McDonald will be Tom Cairney on the left, with Bobby Reid on the right – he's set to face his former, and hometown team at Ashton Gate.

Up-front, Aleksandar Mitrovic will no doubt keep his place in the middle of the three, with Ivan Cavaleiro to his right.

The left-wing has a number of possibilities, but given Aboubakar Kamara's recent substitute appearances, expect him to beat fellow Frenchman Anthony Knockaert to the starting line-up.

Fulham boast the better form of the two. Both managers have come under the spotlight since the turn of the year, and both teams could yet lose out on a spot in the top-six come May.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-likely-fulham-xi-parker-is-set-to-field-v-bristol-city-this-weekend/

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Fulham team news: Wide duo could come into Cottagers starting XI vs Bristol City

Fulham manager Scott Parker will be without a host of players as his side travels to Bristol City on Saturday, with the Championship promotion-chasers hoping to add three points to their tally.

The club's official website confirmed that Terence Kongolo, Alfie Mawson, Josh Onomah and Joe Bryan are unavailable for Saturday.

Fulham will be without the first three for a prolonged period of time, with the trio working their way back to fitness.

Left-back Bryan is expected to miss the match against Bristol thanks to a hamstring injury that he picked up last time out against Preston.

BBC Sport suggest that Cyrus Christie is set to replace Bryan in the Fulham starting line up against Bristol City.

The report also added that Aboubakar Kamara may start after impressive cameos off the Cottagers' bench and Anthony Knockaert could be set to miss out.

Fulham have won their last two matches and will be hoping to continue their good form as they aim to steal the second automatic promotion spot from Leeds.

The Craven Cottage outfit are currently in third place in the Championship, five points behind Leeds in second.

However, Parker's men will need to be close to their best if Fulham are to record three points as Ashton Gate is a tricky place to play.



https://ninetyminutesonline.com/fulham-team-news-wide-duo-could-come-into-cottagers-starting-xi-vs-bristol-city/

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Worrying Leeds news for massive clash v Fulham emerges

Jean-Kevin Augustin has already been ruled out of the Championship clash against Huddersfield on Saturday.

However, more worrying news has emerged about the striker who signed in January and who fans hoped would have a promotion-winning impact at Elland Road.

Football Insider has claimed that Augustin "faces a battle" to be fit for the games against Cardiff the following Sunday and then the massive game against Fulham.

That would only leave seven games left in the season and FI have also claimed that Leeds coaches are now wondering if Augustin will be fit to feature at all this season, let alone start a game.

That's a big blow for the club, although Leeds have come out of a slump of form and won the last four games.

We don't want to get ahead of ourselves but the game against Fulham is on everyone's mind at the moment.

Two wins against Huddersfield and Cardiff would put Leeds in an incredibly strong position, and a victory against Fulham would leave them on the brink of promotion.

When Leeds signed Augustin in January, the thinking would definitely have been that he would be match fit by mid-March.

Unfortunately, that's looking almost impossible now. He wasn't match fit before his hamstring injury so it could be a while before he's seen on the bench again.

The one good thing for Leeds at the moment is the re-emergence of Tyler Roberts, who scored two off the bench against Hull.

However, he has never been able to put a big run of games together for Leeds because of fitness issues.

If anything happens to Roberts, Leeds United will be left with just one striker again and that would be something – given Bamford's record – that fans will be hugely worried about.



https://motleedsnews.com/matchday/worrying-leeds-united-news-for-massive-clash-v-fulham-emerges/

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Fulham's plans for Jean-Michel Seri detailed in new report

The Ivory Coast international is currently on loan at Galatasaray.

A report in Turkey has detailed Fulham's plans for midfielder Jean-Michel Seri in the summer.

The Cottagers paid a reported (The Telegraph) £25 million to sign the Ivory Coast international from Nice in the summer of 2018. He was part of the club's big financial outlay designed to keep them in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, it failed, and Fulham went straight back down to the Championship.

Seri had no desire to play in the Championship and he was therefore loaned out to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

The 28-year-old has been in good form in Istanbul, helping Gala to an eight-game winning streak which has pulled Cimbom back into the Turkish title race with Istanbul Basaksehir and Trabzonspor and Sivasspor.

But he could return to Fulham. According to Aslan Arenasi, Seri is still on Fulham's radar and they will want to bring him back should they earn promotion back to the Premier League this season. Currently, the Cottagers sit third in the Championship, five points off Leeds in second.

If Fulham come up short, then Seri is likely to be loaned out once again.

Fulham fans will no doubt be hoping they get to see the Seri who has been in fine form recently should he make a Craven Cottage comeback.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulhams-plans-for-jean-michel-seri-detailed-in-new-report/

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'It kind of is that close' – Phil Hay predicts how many wins Leeds need to get promoted

There are some Leeds United fans who don't want to think any further ahead that the game against Huddersfield.

That's understandable, given the collapse that Leeds suffered at the tail-end of last season.

Athletic journalist Phil Hay is made of sterner stuff and gave a very direct answer when asked how many games Leeds would need to win to go up.

Talking on the latest episode of the Phil Hay Show podcast, Hay said, "I think six wins would be enough given what the teams behind them would have to do.

"It kind of is that close now."

There are 10 games left in the season and Leeds are currently five points ahead of Fulham in third, eight points ahead of Forest and 11 points in front of Brentford.

Another six wins for Leeds would leave them on 86 points – quite a way behind the two points a game target the club set itself at the start of the season.

However, luckily for Leeds, the chasing pack hasn't been as strong as last season, when Sheffield United put up a brilliant run-in to thwart the Whites.

Leeds' goal difference is vastly superior to that of Fulham and Forest, but worse than Brentford's.

So, given 86 points, what would other teams have to do?

Fulham would need 24 points from the remaining 30 – so they'd need to win eight of their remaining 10 games.

Realistically, Fulham are the only side that could catch Leeds. After Forest lost last night they'd need to win all nine of their remaining games. Brentford would need to win all 10.

So, six wins then. Five if Leeds beat Huddersfield today.

If Leeds win the next three, including the game against Fulham, the situation would look even better, and other results could mean they're on the brink of promotion.

It's exciting, but nailbiting, times.



https://motleedsnews.com/matchday/it-kind-of-is-that-close-phil-hay-predicts-how-many-wins-leeds-united-need-to-get-promoted/

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Preview: Fulham (H)

Two teams contending for the play-offs meet again this weekend when City host Fulham at Ashton Gate.



It's set to be an afternoon of celebrations as the club uses Saturday's fixture to mark its 125th season.

While there are a number of anniversary events planned around the stadium on matchday and a commemorative brochure on sale, there is still the opportunity of three points up for grabs come the end of the day.

City had the beating of Fulham at Craven Cottage back in December, thanks to Josh Brownhill and Famara Diédhiou, the first of three losses in a row for the Cottagers, although their form since has them hunting down an automatic promotion spot.

The Robins managed to end a three-game losing streak of their own with a good point away to Millwall last weekend, and will now want to return home and build on that.

City sit two points behind sixth-placed Preston North End and so could end the day back in the play-offs.should results go in their favour.
MATCH DETAILS

    Date: Saturday, March 7th 2020
    Kick-off: 12.30pm
    Competition: Sky Bet Championship
    Where: Ashton Gate
    Officials: David Coote, Harry Lennard and Nick Hopton (assistants), Kevin Johnson (fourth official)

HEAD TO HEAD

Bristol City v Fulham:
W: 22 (35%)
D: 15
L: 25



FORM - Last five games:
Bristol City: WLLLD
Fulham: DLDWW
Club news

    All they key timings you need to know for Saturday's 125th anniversary celebration match
    Supporters are encouraged to wear their old City shirts on Saturday
    A commemorative brochure packed with the story of the club's history, newspaper cuttings, photos from the archives, interviews and other exclusive features will be sold around the ground. This will include the regular matchday programme, they will not be sold separately.
    As City versus Fulham will be shown live on Sky Sports, there will not be a Robins TV livestream
    Tickets for Forest away go on sale next week


Word from the camp

Assistant Head Coach Jamie McAllister says City must find consistency in the remaining 10 matches if they are to achieve their goals this season.

And Callum O'Dowda says three points over the Whites will top off a day of celebrations.


Memorable match

Fulham 1-2 City
Saturday, December 7th 2019
Sky Bet Championship
Craven Cottage
Scorers: Brownhill 26, Diédhiou 76
Att: 18,779

A resilient display from City helped them secure a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage, with goals in either half from Josh Brownhill and Famara Diédhiou.

The Robins had not lost on Fulham turf since 1997, so certainly history was on their side, as they faced Scott Parker's team who were on a four-game winning run.

However, that came crashing down when Brownhill headed home from Niclas Eliasson's cross, the winger's eighth assist of the campaign.

The Whites controlled much of the game in the second half, dominating the chances, but City were resolute.

There was a feeling that the next goal would decide the game it would give City some daylight with Diédhiou tucking in from close range to double the lead.

Fulham substitute Aboubakar Kamara halved the scores with five minutes to go before the woodwork denied them a late equaliser but the visitors would return to BS3 with all three points and go level on points with their opponents in the Sky Bet Championship.

City starting XI: Bentley, Rowe, Baker, Hunt, Williams, Massengo, Eliasson, Ádám Nagy, Brownhill, Weimann, Diédhiou.



https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/preview-fulham-h/

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Bristol City v Fulham LIVE Robins look to go back into the top six, 125th anniversary

Live match updates, quotes, reaction and colour on a big day for the club.

Wedlock Wall artwork to mark the Bristol City's 125th Season (Image: Rogan/JMP)

Welcome to our live match blog. The Robins have a huge match today.

Can they make it a league double over the Cottagers and back up their recent win at Craven Cottage with another victory over Scott Parker's team today?

It will be tough, but if City can get the win and reverse their recent form (three wins and a draw in their last four games) then perhaps it can rejuvenate their faltering challenge for a top six place.

Meanwhile, today is the big day for the Robins as they celebrate their 125th anniversary of the club. We'll see that special celebratory shirt in action while some 45 former Bristol City players are due back in BS3 today.

Can't make the game? We're at Ashton Gate all day and will be reporting on everything important that the club doesn't want you to know about.



https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-city-v-fulham-live-3925474

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