Match Preview: Wigan Athletic

8380B5C7-5A57-4AF2-9205-A358D8256E18 — Image: Fulham FC

Fulham head into tonight’s fixture with the outside chance of gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League. But for that to happen, the Whites must win and two other games have to go our way. It is unlikely but stranger things have happened.

After a mostly dominant display on Saturday in their 5-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday, it’s likely Fulham will go into the game with little pressure on getting a result but will need to keep their wits about them as they come up against a high-flying Wigan team looking to ensure their safety in the Championship.

The Latics have a pending 12-point deduction and currently lie 10 points from safety, so they will be looking to their 3rd win in 5 games. They haven’t lost at home since early February and have only lost one game since the restart, against our local rivals Brentford. It’s likely Scott Parker will field an unchanged starting eleven after Saturday’s result but Tom Cairney is back in contention for a starting position.

Should Cairney start? It’s a key question, and given the White’s midfield have played with a new lease of life without the Club captain in the midfield trio. Onomah, in particular, has been outstanding in recent games, but with Reed out suspended for this match, Parker is probably going to start the three that played well against Wednesday.

Head To Head

Fulham Wins – 20
Draws – 17
Wigan Wins – 10
Goals Scored – 64
Goals Against – 44
Biggest Win – Fulham 4-0 Wigan (1989/90)

Last 5 Games

Fulham 2-0 Wigan
Fulham 3-2 Wigan
Wigan 0-0 Fulham
Fulham 2-2 Wigan
Wigan 3-3 Fulham

Last Time Out

Fulham 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Back in September, Fulham ran out winners under the Friday night lights at Craven Cottage after a 5-game winless run. It was a deserved victory for The Whites, with goals coming from Joe Bryan and Tom Cairney. After a dominant first-half display, it was goalless at half-time due to the heroics of ‘keeper David Marshall between the sticks. It only took two minutes of second-half action though for Joe Bryan to drive home from just inside the box with his second attempt after a poor clearance from a Knockaert freekick. Cairney’s goal came in the 82nd minute after a swift Fulham counter-attack that saw the Fulham captain receive the ball about 25-yards from goal and delightfully dispatching the ball into the top-right corner to seal the win.

Players in Common

Dave Beasant, Michael Brown, Jimmy Bullard, Dan Burn, Luke Garbutt, Mark Grew, Geoff Horsfield, William Kvist, Sheyhi Ojo, Hugo Rodallega & Ryan Tunnicliffe.