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[monks data]
Fulham logo
Premier League | Gameweek 31
Apr 9, 2021 at 8pm UK
Craven Cottage
Wolves logo
Fulham
0 - 1
Wolves
FT(HT: 0-0)
Traore (90+2')

Preview: Fulham vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Premier League clash between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two teams in disappointing form will lock horns at Craven Cottage on Friday evening as relegation-threatened Fulham host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Fulham are currently 18th in the table, three points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United, while Wolves occupy 14th position, nine points clear of the bottom three heading into the next set of fixtures.


Match preview

Fulham's Mario Lemina celebrates scoring against Liverpool in the Premier League on March 7, 2021© Reuters

A run of just two defeats from 10 matches between January 27 and March 7 saw Fulham move to within the brink of escaping the bottom three, but the Cottagers are now on a worrying run of form, losing four of their last five matches in England's top flight.

Indeed, since beating Liverpool at Anfield towards the start of March, Scott Parker's side have lost three straight matches to Manchester City, Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Fulham actually took the lead away to Villa on Sunday, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring just past the hour, but the strugglers conceded three times in the final 12 matches to suffer a damaging defeat.

The Cottagers are currently 18th in the table, three points behind 17th-placed Newcastle, who have a game in hand, meaning that the London club have plenty of work to do if they are to stay in the top flight.

Parker's side have the worst home record in the Premier League this season, picking up just 10 points from 16 matches at Craven Cottage, while they have lost their last two matches against Wolves, including a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Molineux back in October.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo pictured on March 2, 2021© Reuters

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing season for Wolves, who are currently 14th in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone with eight games left.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have finished seventh in the last two Premier League seasons but will not challenge for a possible European spot this term unless something incredible happens over the next few weeks.

The 2017-18 Championship winners are on a run of five matches without a victory in the league, including defeats in three of their last four games.

Wolves picked up a point against Aston Villa in their last away fixture on March 6 but have lost their last two at Molineux to Liverpool and West Ham United; Nuno's side threatened to snatch a point against the Hammers on Monday after falling 3-0 behind but were unable to score a third as they suffered a 3-2 defeat.

The last Premier League meeting between these two sides at Craven Cottage came in December 2018, when Romain Saiss cancelled out a Ryan Sessegnon effort as it finished 1-1 in the capital.

Fulham Premier League form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L



Team News

Ademola Lookman celebrates scoring for Fulham against Sheffield United in the Premier League on February 20, 2021© Reuters

Fulham will again be without the services of Tom Cairney and Marek Rodak through injury, while Ademola Lookman is facing a spell on the sidelines with the hamstring problem that he picked up against Villa.

Ivan Cavaleiro is expected to replace Lookman in the starting XI, but Parker might otherwise decide to select the same side that took to the field at Villa Park.

Josh Maja is pushing for a spot in the final third of the field, but Mitrovic's goal against Villa could see the Serbia international retain his position in the starting side.

As for Wolves, Willy Boly will again be unavailable as the centre-back self-isolates following a positive coronavirus test, while Jonny is facing a long period on the sidelines with another serious knee injury.

Fernando Marcal and Raul Jimenez are also still unavailable for selection, but experienced midfielder Joao Moutinho could potentially recover from the minor issue that forced him to miss out against West Ham.

Fabio Silva came off the bench to score against the Hammers last time out, and the Portuguese might now be given the nod over Willian Jose in the final third of the field.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina; Reed, Lemina; Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Semedo, Coady, Saiss, Ait Nouri; Dendoncker, Neves; Neto, Podence, Traore; Silva


SM words green background

We say: Fulham 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

No Premier League team has drawn more league matches than Fulham (11) this season, and we can see the points being shared once again on Friday evening. Wolves will be desperate to halt a losing run, and a tight and cagey affair at Craven Cottage could ultimately end in a low-scoring draw.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Wolverhampton Wanderers win with a probability of 37.1%. A win for Fulham had a probability of 34.93% and a draw had a probability of 28%.

The most likely scoreline for a Wolverhampton Wanderers win was 0-1 with a probability of 11.38%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (7.89%) and 0-2 (6.83%). The likeliest Fulham win was 1-0 (10.96%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.15%). The actual scoreline of 0-1 was predicted with an 11.4% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 0-1 win for Wolverhampton Wanderers in this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Fulham vs Wolves

Fulham
30.1%
Draw
25.2%
Wolverhampton Wanderers
44.7%
282
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

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