Sunday Fulham Stuff - 18/10/20...

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Sheff Utd v Fulham: Bramall Lane a fortress against Londoners

The bottom two teams are targeting their first points of the season as they meet at Bramall Lane for their first Premier League duel since 2007.

Team news

Rhian Brewster is in contention to make his Sheffield United debut after his move from Liverpool, but Chris Wilder will check on a couple of unnamed players carrying knocks.

New Fulham signing Joachim Andersen injured ankle ligaments in training and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

Harrison Reed and Kenny Tete are both still out, but Mario Lemina is available again.

Did you know?

Sheffield United have won their last 10 Premier League home matches against London clubs.

The Blades are aiming to avoid losing eight consecutive league encounters for the first time in their history. 

Fulham won both league meetings when these sides last faced each other, in the 2017/18 Championship, triumphing 5-4 at Bramall Lane and 3-0 at Craven Cottage.

Scott Parker has taken charge of the most Premier League matches without overseeing a single draw, after 14 such contests.

Match officials

Referee: Andre Marriner. Assistants: Simon Long, Eddie Smart. Fourth official: Michael Salisbury. VAR: Martin Atkinson. Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/1859056

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3 key clashes for Sheffield United against Fulham

The Blades welcome Fulham today as we get back into action following the international break.

That break hasn't been too kind to us, either. John Fleck, Oli Burke, and David McGoldrick may all miss out through injury, while John Egan is touch and go thanks to Covid-19 protocols.

However, the game will go ahead regardless and Chris Wilder will know he needs to pick the right team and get his troops up for the game in order to get that first win on the board.

Winning key battles will, as always, be vital if the Blades are to take three points. Fulham have some excellent players despite their rocky start, and added more on deadline day to try and help Scott Parker further.

So, just where are the three key battles that Wilder will be looking for his team to win today?

Sander Berge v Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The Chelsea loanee will probably come straight into the starting XI for the Cottagers and his class, experience, and ability to change a game is something we need to manage.

This job could fall to either Lundstram or Berge, but Berge is the one with the physical presence and ball carrying ability to ensure Loftus-Cheek doesn't influence things too much.

George Baldock v Joe Bryan

A lot of Fulham's good attacking play comes through Bryan and it will be a fascinating battle to see two wing-backs who love to bomb forward trying to get one over each other.

We all know what Baldock is capable of. In fact, we'll more than likely leave it to Chris Basham to mop up Bryan's forward runs.

I fancy us in this area. Fulham's defending has been woeful and Baldock could get some joy if Bryan does keep pushing on.

John Egan/Ethan Ampadu v Aleksandar Mitrovic

This battle is massive. Mitrovic is one hell of a striker on his day and his physical presence and ability in the air makes him dangerous regardless.

United will hope to have Egan available. On the surface, the Irishman looks more suited to being able to deal with the physicality 'Mitro' will bring to the table.

Failing that, Ethan Ampadu will need to step up to the plate. He's been impressive so far and should cope fine, but most Blades fans will probably feel more comfortable with Egan in there.



https://www.sheffieldunited.news/analysis/3-key-clashes-for-sheffield-united-against-fulham/

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Sheffield United handed John Egan and Oliver Burke selection boost ahead of Fulham clash

There were fears Egan could miss today's Premier League fixture against Fulham due to an issue regarding Covid-19 while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland

Sheffield United have been handed a selection boost ahead of today's midday kick-off with Fulham.

Manager Chris Wilder revealed on Friday he was 'unable to confirm' if John Egan was available to play due to an issue regarding isolation.

The defender came into contact with a member of the Republic of Ireland team while away on international duty this week.

Although Egan had tested negative himself, there were some doubts over the protocol regarding Egan's availability and United were in discussions with the relevant authorities about whether he could play.

However, he has arrived at Bramall Lane this morning along with Oliver Burke, which suggests the pair will be involved in today's game.

Egan will most definitely start and retain his position at the heart of United's three-man defence, while Burke's availability is not yet known.

He was the first of three United players, including John Fleck and David McGoldrick, who returned home from international duty injured.

However, the sight of Burke in his United colours this morning implies that he has been deemed fit enough to take part in some shape.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-united-fulham-team-news-19123971

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Brewster not immediately drafted into Sheffield United starting line-up

Rhian Brewster (£4.5m) is on the Sheffield United bench for the Blades' home clash with Fulham this afternoon.

The budget forward was brought in by over 175,000 managers ahead of Gameweek 5 but has to settle for a place in Chris Wilder's matchday squad.

Sheffield United have managed just one goal so far this season, a David McGoldrick (£5.4m) strike against Arsenal during a 2-1 defeat in Gameweek 4.

The Ireland striker and his international colleague John Egan (£4.9m) both start at Bramall Lane. McGoldrick was an injury doubt, while centre-half Egan has been cleared to play after being noted as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case in the Ireland squad.

Another Irishman in Enda Stevens (£5.4m) sees a positional change to left centre-back, meaning budget defender Jack Robinson (£4.4m) only makes the bench.

That sees a start for summer signing Max Lowe (£4.4m) at left wing-back, while Oliver Norwood (£4.8m) returns to the starting line-up in midfield.

McGoldrick is joined up front by Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) in Wilder's familiar 3-5-2 system, with £4.5m midfielder Oliver Burke – who had been carrying a knock – dropping to the bench

Fulham have scored three times so far this season, all during a 4-3 defeat to Leeds in GW2, with both sides desperate for a win at Bramall Lane today following four consecutive defeats apiece.

New signings Tosin Adarabioyo (£4.5m) and Chelsea loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) both come straight into Scott Parker's XI.

Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) also earns a starting spot after impressing on his off-the-bench debut in GW4 as the Cottagers lost 1-0 to Wolves.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.9m) again leads the Fulham line, while Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) is favoured at left-back over Joe Bryan (£4.9m).

Joachim Andersen (£4.5m), another new centre-back addition at Craven Cottage, is set for a spell on the treatment table with damaged ankle ligaments.

On the defender and other injury issues, Scott Parker explained:

    We've had some pretty bad news with Andersen, who's obviously only just come into the football club. He's damaged his ankle in training so he'll be out for the foreseeable future.

    I wouldn't want to put an actual timescale on it but it's going to be some weeks. It's disappointing of course, because we had him for two days, we saw his quality, but we're going to be without him now for a little time.

    Hopefully we'll get him right, get him rehabbed, and get him back as part of the team.

    Kenny Tete's still struggling and will be out for a few weeks. Mario Lemina's back, he's been training now for 10 days. Harrison Reed is getting there, but the weekend will come too early for him.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Stevens, Egan, Basham; Lowe, Lundstram, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McGoldrick, McBurnie.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Robinson, Ream, Adarabioyo, Aina; Cairney, Anguissa; Cavaleiro, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman; Mitrovic.



https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2020/10/18/brewster-not-immediately-drafted-into-sheffield-united-starting-line-up/