Friday night’s Championship fixture features an intriguing clash between play-off candidates, Fulham, and fast-improving visitors, Middlesbrough, as the two teams meet at Craven Cottage, both in search of a valuable three points.
Taking a look at Fulham first, and Scott Parker’s side have turned things around in recent times following a worrying 3-match losing streak which saw The Cottagers slump to defeats against Bristol City, Preston North End and Brentford, but the London club have since suffered just 1 further defeat from their subsequent 5 matches in the Championship.
That defeat came in a 2-1 loss at Craven Cottage against a rejuvenated Reading outfit, but Fulham have also picked up crucial wins over Leeds United, Stoke City and Hull City to maintain their bid for a top six finish at the end of the season.
⏤ Subtlety: 🚫⏤ Power: 💯 Here's a #TBT courtesy of Junichi Inamoto 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/rpb6MaHJwN— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 16, 2020
⏤ Subtlety: 🚫⏤ Power: 💯 Here's a #TBT courtesy of Junichi Inamoto 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/rpb6MaHJwN
Results at home have been reasonable enough too in recent weeks as Fulham have won 4 of their last 6 matches on home turf, and they’ve also suffered just 1 defeat from their last 7 meetings against Middlesbrough in all competitions.
Onto the visitors then, and Jonathan Woodgate’s side have really clicked into gear since Christmas as Middlesbrough bring a 5-match unbeaten run into Friday night’s clash in the nation’s capital, winning 4 of these last 5 matches too.
After enduring a dreadful start to the Championship season which produced just 4 wins out of their first 22 matches of the campaign, Boro have since registered recent wins against Stoke City, Huddersfield Town, West Brom and Preston North End which has helped lift the visitors up into a more respectable looking 16th place in the Championship.
Middlesbrough have also seemingly turned things around on their travels too as the visitors have won their last two away matches on the trot with 2-0 wins at both the league leaders, West Brom and 10th placed Preston North End respectively.
Boro had previously endured an 11-match spell without a win on the road beforehand, so these two results on their travels perhaps suggest that Jonathan Woodgate’s side are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with again.
However, with just 3 away wins out of their last 15 matches on the road, Middlesbrough are far from guaranteed the points here, while Fulham with home advantage look the more likely for the points in this one under the floodlights.