Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Sky Bet Championship
Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sky Bet Championship.
Craven CottageAttendance23,510.
Fulham v Wolves preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports Football
Saturday 24 February 2018 08:06, UK
Ryan Fredericks could be recalled when Fulham host Sky Bet Championship leaders Wolves on Saturday evening.
Fredericks was rested for the 1-1 draw at Bristol City on Wednesday and his replacement Cyrus Christie impressed on his debut. Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has a full squad to choose from for the showdown between fifth and top.
But Jokanovic might decide to rotate as the Cottagers will play their second game in less than 72 hours, with Tomas Kalas and Floyd Ayite among those hoping for possible recalls.
Wolves will be without their influential midfielder Ruben Neves. The Portuguese collected his 10th yellow card of the season against Norwich in midweek and must serve a two-game suspension.
Romain Saiss could therefore return to the starting line-up after being on the bench for the last two games following injury. Benik Afobe and Leo Bonatini are challenging for places in attack as Wolves seek to get back to winning ways following draws with Preston and Norwich.
Opta stats
Fulham are winless in nine matches against Wolves in all competitions (D3 L6) since a 5-0 win in the Premier League in March 2012.
Since that 5-0 loss, Wolves have only conceded one goal in four visits to Craven Cottage in all competitions (W3 D1).
Fulham have won seven successive home league games, keeping clean sheets in each of the last three - they last won four consecutive league games without conceding at Craven Cottage in April 1999.
Wolves have dropped nine points in their last seven league games (W3 D3 L1); more than in their previous 16 (seven points dropped - W13 D2 L1).
Ryan Sessegnon has scored 17 league goals since August 2016; eight more than any other current teenager in the English top four tiers in this period.
Alfred N'Diaye has scored in two of his last three Championship appearances after scoring just once in his first 20 this season.
Prutton's prediction
Wolves are still a good amount clear at the top of the league but that gap can close quickly if they keep letting results slip like they did against Norwich in midweek. The job's not done yet.
Fulham's momentum has been ever-so-slightly halted by a couple of draws lately, but they'll still be an extremely tough proposition for Wolves, who are yet to drop points in three games in a row this season. I fancy an entertaining draw.
David Prutton predicts: 2-2 with Aleksandar Mitrovic to score first (66/1 with Sky Bet)