Fulham vs Derby County – Match Preview – The international break gave time for both teams to reflect on their defeats just before it, Fulham losing 2-0 to Wolves and Derby County surprisingly getting beat 4-2 at home to Reading. However, before that, there was a very different trend in form for the two teams, one undefeated in seven and one winless in five.
After finishing in the play-offs last time around, The Cottagers were tipped to have another strong showing this term, but Slavisa Jokanvoic’s Fulham have not picked up a victory since September 29th.
Three defeats in that period have seen the London club fall to 17th in The Championship, but such as the nature of the division, they are nearly as close to Aston Villa in the play-offs as they are to Birmingham City in the relegation zone. In fact, there are just eight points between Middlesbrough in 5th and Hull City in 20th, so a run of form could easily see Fulham back in contention.
Vydra has been in good form for Derby so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com
Derby County, as previously mentioned, were on a tremendous hot streak that had seen four consecutive victories and no defeats in seven – form that rocketed Gary Rowett’s team into the play-off places.
Jaap Stam’s Reading spoiled the party before the international break however, as The Royals came and turned The Rams over at Pride Park. That defeat allowed Aston Villa to creep ahead of Derby into 6th, but with a game in hand on all the teams above them, The Rams will still be feeling positive and confident of beating Fulham to continue their upward momentum.
Derby’s last two visits to Craven Cottage have resulted in both teams sharing the points and as Fulham have drawn five of their eight home games so far this season, it might well just happen again.
Ryan Sessegnon is attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League Photo Credit: skysports.com
Player to Watch
Despite playing in England’s second-tier, Ryan Sessegnon is already a name known throughout the higher reaches of the game due to his constant links with some major clubs, such as Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. The left-back (who can also play in left-midfield), is already surprisingly making a name for himself as a goal-scorer.
The 17-year-old has six in his 41 appearances for Fulham to date but more remarkably, finished as the Golden Boot winner at the u19 European Championships with England in the summer – a tournament the Young Lions went on to win for the first time in history. Watch this space.
Suggested Tips
- Skybet Corners Taken Band – 8-10 Corners – 7/4
- Skybet Total Goals, Corners taken and Booking points – Over 1.5 Goals, Over 8.5 Corners and Over 25 Booking Points – 6/4
- Skybet Anytime Goalscorer – Ryan Sessegnon to Score in 90 mins – 17/2
- Skybet First Goalscorer – Matej Vydra – 5/1
- Skybet Correct Score Group Betting – 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 Draw – 100/30
