Title contenders Fulham host Bristol City at the Craven Cottage in a Championship game on Friday. Bristol City will play their second consecutive game against Fulham within a week.
The two teams met in the 3rd round of the FA Cup last weekend. Fulham clinched a 0-1 win to knock Bristol City out of the cup competition. A goal from Harry Wilson in the first-half of extra time was enough to seal Fulham a birth in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
The Cottagers stand 2nd on the table with 48 points. They are a point behind league leaders Bournemouth but also have a game in hand. Boss Marco Silva will want to keep the pressure on the top spot with a win in this game.
Fulham played their last game against Reading where they annihilated the home side 0-7. This was the second time the Cottagers have registered a 7 goal win in the league this term.
After a poor run of games to end the year, this could make them rediscover their form from early on in the season.
Fulham Championship form: D D D L W
Bristol City have been knocked out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup by their host Fulham. So now they can turn their attention towards the league entirely. With 30 points from 25 games, Bristol sit 15th in the table.
The away side ended their run of two defeats with a 3-2 win in their last game against Millwall. Areas Weimann completed his hattrick in the 85th minute to secure the three points for the Robins.
Manager Nigel Pearson will attempt to get back to back wins in the league for the first time. But Fulham will do everything in their power to stop him.
Bristol City Championship form: W D L L W
Fulham vs Bristol City: Team news
Fulham
It is hard to imagine Marco Silva will make many changes to the team that hammered Reading 7-0 in the midweek, provided they do not have any absentees.
Jean Michael Seri will remain unavailable for the Cottagers as he represents his nation at the African Cup of Nations.
Ivan Cavaleiro has been ruled out of the game due to an injury but there are no other noticeable injuries in the squad.
Possible Fulham starting line-up
Rodak; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Cairney, Reed; Wilson, Carvalho, Kebano; Mitrovic
Bristol City
Nigel Pearson might stick to the back five that worked well to cope with the Fulham attack in the last game. Despite their loss, Bristol had a decent performance.
There will be changes in the middle of the park and upfront. Hattrick hero Andrea Weimann is likely to return to the starting line-up.
Bristol City will be without Nathan Baker and Joe Williams who are both sidelined due to injury.
Possible Bristol City starting line-up
O’Leary; Kalas, Atkinson, Pring; Scott, Massengo, James, O’Dowda; Benarous, Weimann; Martin
Our Prediction
Fulham 2-0 Bristol City
The home side have found their feet back in the recent games. Their morale will be on a high after a 7-0 thumping win in the league. Despite Bristol’s performance against the same opponent last week, they will struggle to get anything from this game.
The away side will keep it compact at the back but with the likes of Mitrovic, Fulham will find a way past the Bristol City defence.
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