As the games pass by, the need for 3 points becomes greater, and Wednesday night’s fixture at Craven Cottage is no different, as the Whites look to do the double over Leicester…
After a brilliant first half performance on Saturday, Fulham nearly came away with nothing from the Hawthorns, had it not been for Ivan Cavaleiro’s diving header in the 76th minute. Leicester meanwhile, come into this game after defeat at home to Leeds leaving them 4th in the table, 5 points off leaders Manchester City who have played a game less. The Foxes will be looking to bounce back from disappointment at the King Power with a win on the road to close the gap on the league leaders.
The biggest talking point for Fulham fans recently has been the lack of goals, and despite scoring two on Saturday, there could have, and definitely should have been more. Bobby Decordova-Reid scored and hit the post, and the key misses came back to haunt us.
Going into this fixture, our 4th placed opponents have conceded only 4 less that us this season, however, their 37 goals scored in the league compared to our 17 could prove to be the difference, as Fulham need to be clinical to be in with a chance of taking all 3 points at the Cottage.
PREDICTION: FULHAM 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
PREFERRED LINE-UP: 5-2-3
HEAD TO HEAD
LEAGUE RECORD (OVERALL)
- GAMES PLAYED – 74
- FULHAM WINS – 37
- DRAWS – 15
- LEICESTER WINS – 22
- GOALS SCORED – 131
- GOALS CONCEDED – 112
LEAGUE RECORD (HOME)
- GAMES PLAYED – 37
- FULHAM WINS – 22
- DRAWS – 10
- LEICESTER WINS – 5
- GOALS SCORED – 76
- GOALS CONCEDED – 40
BIGGEST WINS AT CRAVEN COTTAGE
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FULHAM 5-0 LEICESTER CITY (1919/20)
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FULHAM 0-4 LEICESTER CITY (1965/66)
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FULHAM 5-1 LEICESTER CITY (1907/08
LAST 5 GAMES
- LEICESTER CITY 1-2 FULHAM
- LEICESTER CITY 3-1 FULHAM
- FULHAM 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
- LEICESTER CITY 4-3 FULHAM (LEAGUE CUP)
- FULHAM 3-2 LEICESTER (LEAGUE CUP)
LEAGUE FORM
- FULHAM – DDLLD
- LEICESTER CITY – LDWWW
COLLINS JOHN’S VIEW
Leicester are a good side and have a fantastic manager in Brendan Rodgers. He has a track record of turning individuals into better players and that is exactly what he’s done with this Leicester side. They come into tonight’s game off the back of a defeat to Leeds at the weekend and they have some key players injured and unavailable. Jamie Vardy will be an especially big miss for them and a huge boost to our chances. They aren’t the same side without him running in behind.
As for Fulham, to draw with WBA after controlling the first half so comfortably was very disappointing. I know Big Sam changed things in the second half, but you’ve got to expect that to happen and be ready for it. Unfortunately we were very poor and paid the price for missing key chances when we were on top. The only thing I can put this down to is a lack of experience. There aren’t many players in the team who have played in the Premier League before and there seems to be a lack of understanding of how to kill games off.
I know it sounds crazy but I think we are going to draw again! We are capable of competing but I just can’t see us beating Leicester after failing to win the games with Brighton and West Brom. Let’s hope that our new signing Josh Maja can be the difference and give us some more conviction in the 18 yard box. He’s young, with potential and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a Fulham shirt.
PREDICTION: FULHAM 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
BATTLE TO WATCH
ANDRE FRANK ZAMBO ANGUISSA VS YOURI TIELEMANS
The battle in the middle of the park will be something for fans to look out for in this one. Tielemans is currently in his best goal scoring season since arriving at Leicester, scoring 5 goals in 21 games, compared to 3 goals in 37 games for the Foxes last season. The Belgian also has 2 assists to his name, and has the ability to control the game from midfield. Tielemans however, will have his work cut out if he is to help Leicester avoid defeat to Fulham for the second time this season, and will have to help shore up if they are to stop the Whites breaking through the midfield line.
Anguissa meanwhile, has 3 assists to his name this season, with 1 of those coming in the victory at the King Power in November. That particular assist highlighted Anguissa’s ability in carrying the ball and using his strength to his advantage, before playing a delightful through ball to Ademola Lookman. Anguissa has also been solid defensively for Fulham, constantly winning the ball back and ready to turn defence into attack and lead Fulham on the counter.
Both players will have to be at their best in both attack and defence if they are to get the better of one another, and it will make an interesting battle in the middle of the park at Craven Cottage.
LAST TIME OUT
LEICESTER CITY 1-2 FULHAM
It was a magnificent Monday evening at the King Power in November, as we took our second and currently most recent win in the Premier League this season. The Whites were solid in defence and clinical in attack, with the latter being something of a rarity these days. Anguissa showed exactly why he’s loved amongst Fulham fans with a marauding run and a delicious through ball to set up Ademola Lookman who calmly slotted the ball in, to give the Whites a 1-0 lead. Leicester, who could’ve gone top with victory over Fulham, conceded a penalty in the 36th minute after Christian Fuchs brought down Bobby Decordova-Reid. After a VAR check, Ivan Cavaleiro stepped up two minutes later to score the resulting penalty, something we’d struggled with before this one. Harvey Barnes got one back for the hosts with 4 minutes to go to put Fulham on tenter hooks, but the Whites managed to hold on and take all 3 points back to SW6.
PLAYERS IN COMMON
Rufus Brevett, Paul Brooker, Danny Cadamarteri, Allan Clarke, Stan Collymore, Nick Cusack, Steve Earle, Elvis Hammond, Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Diomansy Kamara, Kasey Keller, Paul Konchesky, Frank Large, Billy Mckinlay, Simon Morgan, John Pantsil, Mark Schwarzer, Richard Stearman, Tony Warner.
