MX23RW : Friday, April 26 04:03:48| >> :120:14392:14392:
[monks data]
Attendance: 18,779
Fulham logo
Championship | Gameweek 20
Dec 7, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Bristol City

1-2

Kamara (86')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Brownhill (26'), Diedhiou (76')

Preview: Fulham vs. Bristol City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Fulham and Bristol City, including predictions, team news and potential lineups.

Scott Parker's high-flying Fulham welcome Bristol City to Craven Cottage on Saturday as they look for their fifth win in a row.

Lee Johnson's Robins picked up a resounding 5-2 win over Huddersfield Town last time out and they are currently fifth in the table, two places and three points behind their West London opponents.


Match Preview

Jubilant Fulham manager Scott Parker pictured on September 27, 2019© Reuters

The Cottagers have really hit their stride in recent weeks, winning four on the spin and another victory on Saturday will help them keep pace with Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion in the race for automatic promotion.

Parker has introduced a possession-heavy style of play since taking permanent charge and Fulham's sheer dominance of the ball is evident, especially when you consider that they have had 92 attacks this season featuring more than 10 passes that culminated in a shot or touch in the box - 48 more than any other side in the division.

That style has ensured that Aleksandar Mitrovic gets regular service and the big Serb's brace against Swansea City last weekend took him to 15 for the season.

However, one downside to Fulham's style of play is that they are very susceptible to being hit on the counter, something that has been a strength for City in this campaign.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson pictured on September 28, 2019© Reuters

One key to Bristol City being so effective on the counter has been their use of a 3-5-2 formation, which allows them to work a low block before springing forward with pace in the wide areas.

They did opt for a more traditional 4-4-2 against Huddersfield but given Fulham's approach and home advantage, Johnson is likely to switch to three at the back for Saturday's game.

The Robins have not been particularly consistent this season but they can record back-to-back wins for the first time since August if they triumph at the weekend.

Despite Fulham's impressive form of late, their recent record against City implies that the away side will have more than a good chance on Saturday; Johnson's men have won their last four trips to Craven Cottage in all competitions.

Fulham recent form: DLWWWW

Bristol City recent form (all competitions): DDWDLW


Team News

Fulham's Bobby Decordova-Reid celebrates scoring their first goal on November 26, 2019© Reuters

Fulham have a mostly fit squad for Saturday's game, although Harry Arter, Maxime Le Marchand and Bobby Decordova-Reid are all doubts.

Should none of them be fit enough for a first team return, Parker is likely to field a similar side to that which beat Swansea last time out.

Bristol City are definitely without Benik Afobe, who is a long-term absentee, while Tomas Kalas and Jay Dasilva are both still a couple of weeks away from being able to start.

Nathan Baker is also a doubt, having gone off in last weekend's game with a dead leg.

As aforementioned, Bristol are likely to opt for a 3-5-2 on Saturday, with Ashley Williams probably being partnered by Taylor Moore and Bailey Wright in defence.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Bryan; Johansen, Cairney; Knockaert, Onomah, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic

Bentley; Wright, Williams, Moore; Eliasson, Brownhill, Massengo, Nagy, Rowe; Weimann, Diedhiou.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Fulham 2-1 Bristol City

Although Bristol City have the resources and the nous to take something from this game, Fulham's superior form and home advantage should help them secure a fifth straight league win.



ID:381878: cacheID:381878:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7778:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Bristol City's Famara Diedhiou celebrates scoring their second goal against Millwall on April 30, 2019
Read Next:
Famara Diedhiou back in Bristol City squad
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
11.30am
Altmaier
Fils
11.30am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
11.30am
Alexandrova
Krueger
11.30am
Bucsa
Kasatkina
11.30am
Dolehide
Kalinina
11.30am
Jimenez Kasintseva
Paolini
11.30am
Linette
Sabalenka
1pm
Baez
Van Assche
1pm
Hurkacz
Draper
1pm
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
1pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
1pm
Kostyuk
Sherif
2pm
Zheng
Putintseva
2.30pm
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
2.30pm
Darderi
Fritz
2.30pm
Boulter
Montgomery
3pm
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
3.30pm
Vondrousova
Rogers
4pm
Griekspoor
Daniel
4pm
Munar
Struff
5pm
Navone
Rune
7pm
Coric
Zverev
8.30pm
Collins
Danilovic
11.30am
Shang
Davidovich Fokina
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!