Fulham are the hottest team in the Championship. The Cottagers lead the league's form table after securing 16 points from their last 18. However, the team is in the midst of their most difficult run of fixtures this term. Fulham take on sixth place Bristol City on Wednesday before battling league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Fulham head into the midweek fixture on the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend. The West London outfit put in a dominant performance that showed exactly why the club has been the best team in the league over the last two months. However, Wednesday night's match at Ashton Gate will once again test Fulham's promotion chances.
Fulham's 17-year-old sensation Ryan Sessegnon goes into the midweek match as the team's leading goal scorer. Sessegnon scored his 12th goal of the season against Aston Villa. The youngster is tied for the fifth most goals in the Championship this term.
Fulham currently lead the Championship in possession with over 57% of the ball per match. The team starves opponents of possession. Against Aston Villa, Fulham recorded 63% of the possession. Fulham also leads the league in pass accuracy with 82.7%. Not only is the team winning but it is dominating its opponents.
Bristol City come into the match winners in four of their last five matches against Fulham. The Robins have played well against Fulham over the last two and a half seasons. Bristol City's win over Fulham back in October came during a poor run of form for Slavisa Jokanovic's team. Fulham went winless in six straight matches during that late October-early November timeframe; and it is the reason the team are not in the automatic playoff places currently.
Bristol City have seen inconsistent form hurt their chances of promotion this term. The side has dropped to sixth in the Championship, three points above seventh place Preston. The Robins semifinal run to the Carabao Cup took the team's focus off of the league. Since being knocked out of the cup competition by Manchester City, the Robins have had difficulty getting their early form back.
Bristol City are currently 16th in the current form table. The team has won just once in their last six matches and have a goal differential of zero. Until Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leeds United, Bristol City's leading goal scorer Bobby Reid had hit a dry spell.
The striker, who has scored 13 goals, had gone six Championship games without finding the back of the net. Without Reid scoring or setting up a goal, Bristol City do not play well. Reid has a combined 16 goals and assists. He has combined to score or assist five match winning goals this term; and he has added two goals or assists that have tied matches.
Bristol City's success will be on Reid's shoulders. If Fulham can shutdown Reid and keep possession of the ball like they did against Aston Villa, the Cottagers should earn all three points. If Fulham keep him under wraps they will continue their push for promotion.