Match Preview: Sheffield United

4AB5CD43-4EF7-433D-AB4B-9BD73CE1F833 — Image: Fulham FC

With an unbeaten run of 11 games we should be feeling confident going into Monday’s home match with Sheffield United. However, as the saying goes there are lies, damn lies and statistics and the fact we are now winless in 4 games has left us feeling a lot less comfortable than we were a month ago…

To be fair there are reasons for the blip in form with the sickness bug arguably responsible for the lack lustre effort at Preston. We seemed recovered from that in playing very well against Bournemouth so it was concerning to see us off the pace again last week at Luton. Perhaps we shouldn’t worry too much. As they say there are no easy games in the Championship and teams do seem to be raising their game against us. Perhaps we should be giving opponents credit rather than bemoaning our efforts.

The ‘no easy game’ theme is certainly true of Monday’s fixture. I think we were all looking forward to welcoming Slavisa Jokanovic back to the Cottage but the Blades lost patience with him a few weeks back. I thought the decision premature as we have first hand knowledge that Slav’s methods take time to take effect but Paul Heckingbottom’s appointment has paid off so far . He’s won his first two games in charge and with Jokanovic being sacked after a win at Reading they are arguably the Division’s form team. Whether the Blades have changed their style since Heckingbottom took over is a moot point and it might be argued he is reaping the benefit of Jokanovic’s methods. Sheffield sit a place above us in the Championship possession table with only Swansea above them and we’re all familiar with the ‘Slavisa way’ that was so effective for us in this Division.

As a relegated team United were expected to be challenging for promotion and there are enough decent players on their books to see them forcing their way into contention. Oliver Norwood will always be welcome in these parts for his contribution to our play off success and showed what a good player he was in the Premier League in Sheffield’s first season up. The wheels strangely fell off last year but there is still the nucleus of a talented squad. One player who has looked particularly good for them in highlights I’ve viewed on TV this season is Morgan Gibbs-White . The Wolves loanee looks a very dangerous customer and we’ll need to be on high alert when he’s on the ball.

I’m sure Marco Silva is aware of the threats the visitor’s possess though and will be concentrating on what we can produce. I’m hopeful Harrison Reed will have recovered in time for Monday as the energy he brings to our midfield could be crucial. Tom Cairney has got a few 90 minutes under his belt now but he’s been a bigger weapon for us coming off the bench since his return. His impact against Bournemouth made a real difference and he’s a delicious option to have if things aren’t going to plan. We’ve played well enough in the last two home games to have achieved victories and if we can rediscover our cutting edge then there is every chance we can extend our unbeaten run to a dozen games. It won’t be easy but I fancy us to give our fans an early Christmas present on Monday with a narrow win that would see us take full advantage of West Brom and Bournemouth dropping points over the weekend.

SCORE PREDICTION: Fulham 2-1 Sheffield Utd

PREFERRED LINE-UP: 4-2-3-1

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (OVERALL)

PLAYED – 58
FULHAM WINS – 22
DRAWS – 13
SHEFF UTD WINS – 23
GOALS SCORED – 93
GOALS CONCEDED – 85

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (HOME)

PLAYED – 29
FULHAM WINS – 16
DRAWS – 6
SHEFF UTD WINS – 7
GOALS SCORED – 65
GOALS CONCEDED – 35

LAST 5 GAMES

FULHAM 1-0 SHEFF UTD
SHEFF UTD 1-1 FULHAM
FULHAM 3-0 SHEFF UTD
SHEFF UTD 4-5 FULHAM
FULHAM 3-0 SHEFF UTD (League Cup)

BIGGEST WINS AT CRAVEN COTTAGE

FULHAM 7-2 SHEFF UTD (1934/35)
FULHAM 4-0 SHEFF UTD (1936/37, 1999/00)
FULHAM 6-3 SHEFF UTD (1957/58)
FULHAM 5-2 SHEFF UTD (1961/62)
FULHAM 3-0 SHEFF UTD (2015/16, 2017/18)

PLAYERS IN COMMON

Gary Brazil, Michael Brown, Alan Cork, Danny Cullip, John Cutbush, Jeff Eckhardt, Wes Foderingham, Chris Guthrie, Jon Harley, Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Toni Kallio, Ray Lewington, Reg Mathewson, Kevin McDonald, Ollie Norwood, Paul Parker, Paul Peschisolido, Terry Phelan, Martin Pike, Bjorn Helge Riise, Andy Sayer, Richard Stearman, Alan Warboys, Gus Uhlenbeek.