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Fulham-Aston Villa combined XI: WhoScored.com pick their stats side from Championship play-off finalists

It all boils down to 90 minutes under the Wembley arch as the Championship season comes to an end on Saturday. Fulham face Aston Villa in the play-off final to determine who joins Wolves and Cardiff in the Premier League next season.

Here, WhoScored.com determine a combined Fulham and Aston Villa XI using their unique rating system to whet the appetite ahead of Saturday's showpiece…

Goalkeeper: Marcus Bettinelli, Fulham - 6.79

Edging out Sam Johnstone between the sticks is Fulham's Bettinelli. The 26-year-old has earned a WhoScored.com rating of 6.79 this season, with his save success rate (78.0%) the best in the Championship. A respectable 13 clean sheets from 28 appearances helped push his score so high and Fulham will hope he can squeeze out one more at Wembley on Saturday.

Right-back: Ryan Fredericks, Fulham - 6.97

Ryan Fredericks

Fredericks occupies the right-back spot on the back of a consistent season that has seen him linked with a host of Premier League sides. He has routinely maximised a WhoScored.com strength of 'dribbling', with 73 successful dribbles second to Joe Bryan (74) of defenders in the Championship this season. An additional seven assists ranks among the top 20 players in England's second tier.

Centre back: James Chester, Aston Villa - 7.15

The first Aston Villa player to make the cut is Chester. A pillar of consistency, the Wales international has played every minute this term, and that has seen him make the third most headed clearances (240) in the Championship. Arguably one of the best centre-backs in the league, Chester's good form has seen him gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.15.

Aston Villa v Fulham

Centre back: Tim Ream, Fulham - 7.03

Partnering Chester at the heart of the defence is Fulham fans' favourite Ream. The American boasts a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'passing' and with good reason too. He's made more passes (2741) than any other Championship defender this season, while his solid displays at the back helped gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.03.

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Left-back: Matt Targett, Fulham - 7.21

 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on April 3, 2018 in London, England.

Targett proved an inspired January arrival for more than a number of reasons. The 22-year-old left-back scored one and added two assists in 20 Championship appearances on the back of his loan signing from Southampton and he reinforced a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'key passes', having made more key passes from open play (24) than any other defender in 2018. With a WhoScored.com rating of 7.21, Targett has done more than enough to guarantee his place in this XI.

Central midfield: Jack Grealish, Aston Villa - 7.31

A key man in Aston Villa's promotion push was Grealish, whose WhoScored.com rating in the playoff semi-finals (8.55) was better than any other player. All in all, the 22-year-old has earned a rating of 7.31 across the season, with three goals and six assists contributing to this score. He came into his own in 2018 having made more key passes from open play (42) than any other Championship player, while 3.7 successful dribbles per 90 was also one of the better returns in the league.

Central midfield: Conor Hourihane, Aston Villa - 7.10

Aston Villa's Conor Hourihane celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the Second City derby

Hourihane has been a key man in the middle of the park for Steve Bruce's outfit this term, with two tackles per game ranking highly for the Midlands side. It was his goal-getting ability that drew the eye, however. Only James Maddison (14) has scored more goals of central midfielders than Hourihane (11) in the Championship this season. Of those 11, four were from outside the box, the second best return in the league.

Central midfield: Tom Cairney, Fulham - 7.30

Cairney ranks highly for key passes (70) in the Championship this term, while 2931 passes is top in the Championship. Not only are his ball retention qualities rarely called into question, but opponents find it difficult to shake off Cairney when he breaks forward in possession. Of the 101 Championship players to have attempted 50+ dribbles this season, the Fulham star boasts the best success rate (83.5%) reinforcing a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'dribbling'.

Right wing - Robert Snodgrass, Aston Villa - 7.40

Aston Villa winger Robert Snodgrass, who is on loan from West Ham United

Snodgrass proved to be an inspired loan capture by Bruce, though that shouldn't come as a surprise with the former Hull pair reuniting to good effect. The Scot's best attribute is his set-piece capability and he showcased this on a weekly basis with his return of 46 key passes from set-piece situations second only to QPR's Luke Freeman (50) in the Championship. No player has registered more assists than Snodgrass (14) in England's second tier this term.

Left wing - Ryan Sessegnon, Fulham - 7.20

Targett's January arrival allowed Slavisa Jokanovic to push Sessegnon further upfield and he has gained a WhoScored.com rating of 7.20 when starting as a left winger. Of the 31 players to have scored 10 or more Championship goals this season, the 18-year-old's conversion rate (26.7%) is the second best. Since the turn of the year, he's scored more clear-cut chances (9) than any other Championship player.

Striker - Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham - 7.57

Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after giving Fulham the lead

Fulham worked tirelessly to land Mitrovic in January and were duly rewarded for their efforts. In 19 appearances, the on-loan striker has scored 12 league goals, a fine feat given the season's top scorer Matej Vydra netted just 21 times in the Championship this term. He may have failed to score in his last three matches coming into Saturday's final, but he's done enough this season to warrant a WhoScored.com rating of 7.57 and a place in this XI ahead of Lewis Grabban.

Don't miss the Sky Bet Championship play-off final between Fulham and Aston Villa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event from 4pm

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