Steve Evans will take charge of a turbulent Leeds United for the first time when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Wednesday night.

The Championship clash comes just two days after Evans was appointed Uwe Rosler's replacement.

Fulham

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All the focus has been on the managerial and ownership controversy at Leeds ahead of the midweek game, but Fulham could go level on points with 10th-placed Ipswich Town if they get a win under the lights on home turf.

There were rumblings prior to last weekend's Middlesbrough match that manager Kit Symons could be on the verge of an axe if they did not get a result against the title chasers.

The Cottagers did not come away with a win, but they restricted Aitor Karanka's side to a goalless draw at the Riverside, representing their second consecutive stalemate in the league.

The result also pushed Fulham, who have struggled for consistency in their 11 Championship games, down to seven points off the playoff places.

It was a tough start for Symons's side as they recorded two draws and two defeats in their opening four matches, with their first win coming on August 29 in the form of a 3-1 victory over Rotherham United.

From that point on, Fulham have picked up two more wins and suffered two further defeats, and there remains uncertainty over Moussa Dembele's long-term future following speculation linking the 19-year-old to Everton.

The Cottagers failed to find the back of the net in their last league game, but in the four prior to that, Symons's men scored eight goals, with the team's leading goalscorer Ross McCormack netting three.

Recent form: WLWLDD
Recent form (all competitions): LLWLDD

Leeds United

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It has been a turbulent 24 hours to say the least at Leeds United following swift managerial changes and uncertainty over the club's financial future due to the disqualification of club president Massimo Cellino.

On Monday morning, officials at Elland Road announced that manager Uwe Rosler had been sacked after just five months in charge and 11 games into the season.

A matter of hours later, Steve Evans, who left Rotherham last month, was appointed head coach in a bid to turn the team's fortunes around.

On top of that, Cellino was disqualified from acting as president of the club after failing the Football League's owners' and directors' test due to a previous court case in Italy where he was found guilty of tax evasion.

Amid all the off-field drama, the team have a game to play on Wednesday, and the form books are not in their favour having recorded three league defeats on the trot.

Leeds are currently 18th in the Championship table following four defeats, five draws and just two wins, which came against Derby County and MK Dons.

One of the main issues to address for Evans is the team's poor defensive record as they have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the Championship so far this season.

The team have had 15 goals shipped past them and have only netted 10 the other way, which has left the club just three points above the relegation zone in England's second-tier.

Recent form: DLWLLL

Team News

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Fulham will once again be without Tom Cairney as he continues to serve a suspension after getting sent off in the Cottagers' 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

Tim Ream is expected to continue to line up in defence after overcoming a knock that he picked up while on international duty with the USA, while McCormack is likely to lead the line.

The 29-year-old will be given the task of providing the home side's main goal threat as he has scored five already this season, and given how leaky Leeds have been at the back, the striker is likely to be on the hunt for more.

After having just two days with the Leeds squad, Evans will have little idea of his best side and will need time to get to know the players, but on Wednesday, Scott Wootton could keep his place in defence after recently replacing Charlie Taylor.

Chris Wood could start up top for the visitors, while Stuart Dallas is likely to provide support behind him.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Lonergan; Richards, Stearman, Ream, Garbutt; Christensen, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle; Dembele, McCormack

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Silvestri; Wootton, Cooper, Bamba, Berardi; Adeyemi, Cook, Mowatt, Botaka; Dallas, Wood

Head To Head

In the last 18 meetings between these two sides, there is nothing to separate them as both have grabbed seven victories each and recorded four draws.

In terms of goals, Fulham have managed to score 25 in total, but Leeds edge just ahead with 28, and while the Cottagers have the home advantage, statistics show that the Whites are better on the road given that they have won four of their seven triumphs at Craven Cottage.

The last time that these two sides met in the Championship in London was in March of this year when Leeds came out 3-0 winners following goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci.

Prior to last season's meetings, the two teams last went head to head in the 2003-04 campaign when they grabbed one win apiece.

We say: Fulham 2-0 Leeds United

Steve Evans has only just got his foot through the door at Leeds, which suggests that a victory over Fulham on the road could be too much of an ask. The Cottagers are struggling for consistency and given that they have drawn their last two, playing under a home crowd in an evening game could be just what they need to push them to a victory.

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