With teams around us picking up points this week we need to start picking up some of our own, but could we provide an upset with a result against Leicester?
This season so far has been a frustrating one. A lot of good performances but some defensive lapses and missed penalties have denied us the points we deserve. Leicester comes into this as current title contenders whose form in the league has been impressive. However, there is something that might give us the edge on Monday night. Leicester come into the game having played away in Braga on Thursday night meaning they have had much less time to recover. This could be a key factor in Fulham potentially coming away with a result.
In terms of the team, I would make three changes from our defeat to Everton. I would keep our keeper and back four the same with Areola in goal with Robinson, Anderson, Adarabioyo and Aina in defence. I would have Reed being partnered by Anguissa coming in for Lemina in the centre of midfield. Loftus-Cheek in attacking midfield, I don’t really want to drop Cairney but we need our players with the most quality on the pitch against a big side. Upfront I would have Lookman, Decordova-Reid and Mitrovic coming in for Cavaleiro who needs to not start ever again.
I think we will draw 1-1 with a Loftus-Cheek goal.
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 (AWAY)
- GAMES PLAYED – 37
- FULHAM WINS – 15
- DRAWS – 5
- LEICESTER WINS – 17
- GOALS SCORED – 55
- GOALS CONCEDED – 72
BIGGEST WINS
- FULHAM 5-0 LEICESTER CITY (1919/20)
- LEICESTER CITY 6-1 FULHAM (1952/53)
- LEICESTER CITY 5-0 FULHAM (1965/66)
LAST 5 GAMES
- LEICESTER 3-1 FULHAM
- FULHAM 1-1 LEICESTER
- LEICESTER 4-3 FULHAM
- FULHAM 3-2 LEICESTER
- FULHAM 4-3 LEICESTER
LEAGUE FORM
- LEICESTER – LWWWL
- FULHAM – DLWLL
COLLINS JOHN’S VIEW
In my comments before the Everton game, I predicted that we would get joy from their fullbacks and although it was a disappointing performance overall, we looked good when Lookman got in behind and assisted the second goal for Loftus-Cheek. We need to see a lot more of that going forward. The first 20 minutes was very disappointing and it’s always going to be an uphill battle when you concede within the first minute of the game and go in at half time 3-1 down.
Leicester City are a good team and they will be keen to bounce back after the defeat to Liverpool in their last league match. With the way Leicester play, I do believe we can get some joy against their back five and Bobby Reid will play an important role tonight. He’s a team player with a great work ethic and he’s started adding more goals to his game which makes him one of the positive parts of our season so far. He gives us hope at the moment.
Sadly, I think the firepower that they possess in attack will be too strong for us. It’s tight between the bottom four and we saw with Burnley losing 5-0 to Man City on Saturday that goal difference can be heavily affected in these difficult games. So it’s important if we do lose, that we don’t get hammered because our next two matches are against Manchester City and Liverpool!
PREDICTION: Leicester 2-1 Fulham
LAST TIME OUT
LEICESTER CITY 3-1 FULHAM (2018/19)
The last time we played Leicester we lost 3-1 at the King Power Stadium in March 2019. Youri Tielemans opened the scoring for Leicester before Floyd Ayite came off the bench to score his only Premier League goal. Jamie Vardy won the game for Leicester in the 78th and 86th minute leaving Fulham no time to reply.
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, Anthony Knockaert, Paul Konchesky, Frank Large, Billy Mckinlay, Simon Morgan, John Pantsil, Mark Schwarzer, Richard Stearman, David Stockdale, Tony Warner.
BATTLE TO WATCH
Youri Tielemans vs Harrison Reed
Youri Tielemans is a 23-year-old midfielder who joined Leicester in January 2019 initially on loan until the deal was made permanent in the summer. Despite his young age, Tielemans has played over 300 games at professional level as well as earning 34 caps for Belgium. He is a midfielder with tremendous technical ability and is in my opinion Leicester’s best player. Harrison Reed, who I think has the edge over Lemina for the starting spot next to Anguissa, will need to play well to make sure Tielemans cant influence the game.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
