In an upcoming Premier League fixture scheduled for Saturday, Fulham and Newcastle United will compete at Craven Cottage, both teams striving for a swift resurgence in their performance. Fulham recently suffered a defeat, conceding a 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, where they appeared to be outplayed throughout the match. Conversely, Newcastle United encountered frustration as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton in their recent home fixture.
Match preview
A pivotal moment orchestrated by Rodrigo Muniz proved to be the saving grace for Fulham amidst the weekend’s enthralling encounter against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. However, the effervescent performance of the Cottagers’ South American talent was neutralized at the City Ground, signaling a swift end to Fulham’s fortunes away from home during the midweek fixture.
Despite early goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood, Marco Silva opted for a drastic measure, substituting three players shortly after the half-hour mark. Nevertheless, this bold decision failed to sway the momentum in Fulham’s favor, as Morgan Gibbs-White extended Nottingham Forest’s lead just before halftime.
Although Tosin Adarabioyo managed to pull one back with a header early in the second half, Fulham couldn’t replicate the miraculous comeback witnessed against Sheffield United. Their journey towards the conclusion of the Premier League season seems lackluster, with their position at thirteenth on the table affording them a comfortable seventeen-point cushion from relegation. Despite trailing West Ham United by a mere six points for a spot in the Europa Conference League, Fulham’s resurgence mainly hinges on their performances at home, where they’ve accumulated the majority of their 39 points this season.
Their recent home fixtures have been particularly impressive, with convincing 3-0 victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion. Notably, Fulham’s proficiency in scoring at home is evident, with seven of their triumphs witnessing them scoring at least three goals, a feat unprecedented in their Premier League history.
In contrast, Newcastle United has displayed a penchant for goal-laden displays at St James’ Park, exemplified by their remarkable 4-3 comeback victory over West Ham United during the Easter weekend. Alexander Isak’s early goal seemed to set the stage for another emphatic home win against Everton, but a late error from Paul Dummett allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to salvage a draw for Everton with a penalty, despite Martin Dubravka’s valiant efforts.
Nevertheless, Newcastle’s European aspirations remain within their grasp, buoyed by their unbeaten streak in five consecutive home games. Despite occupying eighth place in the table, they trail West Ham by just one point, with a game in hand. However, Newcastle’s faltering away form continues to thwart their ambitions, with seven defeats in their last nine away matches and an 11-game drought without a clean sheet in the Premier League on their travels.
Additionally, their recent encounters against London-based teams away from home have ended in defeat, contrasting with their dominance over Fulham in recent years, boasting five consecutive victories, including a 2-0 FA Cup win at Craven Cottage in January.
Team news
In the recent encounter against Nottingham Forest, every player from Fulham, managed by Silva, was available in the squad, uninhibited by injuries. Despite this, alterations to the team seem inevitable following significant substitutions during the first half of the match.
In the 33rd minute, Sasa Lukic, Alex Iwobi, and Harry Wilson were all substituted, marking the second-fastest occurrence of three substitutions made by a Premier League manager. Silva refrained from singling out any player for subpar performance.
Subsequently, Willian, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and either Harrison Reed or Tom Cairney are expected to inject freshness into Fulham’s starting lineup. Additionally, Timothy Castagne is anticipated to replace Kenny Tete as the right-back.
While Fulham’s treatment room remains vacant, Newcastle faces significant challenges with several key players unavailable for their upcoming match at Craven Cottage. This includes Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, both recovering from ACL injuries.
Furthermore, Sandro Tonali, already suspended, faces additional allegations related to betting offenses during his initial months at Newcastle. He remains absent from the squad alongside Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Miguel Almiron, Valentino Livramento, Joelinton, Kieran Trippier, and Matt Targett, each sidelined due to various injuries.
Despite this, Lewis Hall is expected to recover from fatigue after being substituted in the second half against Everton. Additionally, Anthony Gordon’s return from suspension is anticipated to strengthen Newcastle’s depleted squad, possibly displacing Jacob Murphy in the starting lineup.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Muniz
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Barnes, Isak, Gordon