Match Preview
Fulham
vrs
Leeds
Championship Match Day 12 1516 at Craven Cottage
Wednesday 21st October 2015 KO: 19:45
Ref: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
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Steve Evans will take charge of a turbulent Leeds United for the first time when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Wednesday night.
The Championship clash comes just two days after Evans was appointed Uwe Rosler's replacement.
All the focus has been on the managerial and ownership controversy at Leeds ahead of the midweek game, but Fulham could go level on points with 10th-placed Ipswich Town if they get a win under the lights on home turf.
There were rumblings prior to last weekend's Middlesbrough match that manager Kit Symons could be on the verge of an axe if they did not get a result against the title chasers.
The Cottagers did not come away with a win, but they restricted Aitor Karanka's side to a goalless draw at the Riverside, resulting in their second consecutive draw in the league.
The result also pushed Fulham, who have struggled for consistency in their 11 Championship games, down to seven points off the playoff places.
It was a tough start for Symons's side as they recorded two draws and two defeats in their opening four matches, with their first win coming on August 29 in the form of a 3-1 win over Rotherham United.
From that point on, Fulham have picked up two more wins and suffered two further defeats, and there remains uncertainty over Moussa Dembele's long-term future following speculation linking the 19-year-old to Everton.
The Cottagers failed to find the back of the net in their last league game, but in the four prior to that, Symons's men scored eight goals, with the team's leading goalscorer Ross McCormack netting three.
It has been a turbulent 24 hours to say the least at Leeds United following swift managerial changes and uncertainty over the club's financial future due to the disqualification of club president Massimo Cellino.
On Monday morning, officials at Elland Road announced that manager Uwe Rosler had been sacked after just five months in charge and 11 games into the season.
A matter of hours later, Steve Evans, who left Rotherham last month, was appointed head coach in a bid to turn the team's fortunes around.
On top of that, Cellino was disqualified from acting as president of the club after failing the Football League's owners' and directors' test due to a previous court case in Italy where he was found guilty of tax evasion.
Amid all the off-field drama, the team have a game to play on Wednesday and the form books are not in their favour having recorded three league defeats on the trot.
Leeds are currently 18th in the Championship table following four defeats, five draws and just two wins, which came against Derby County and MK Dons.
One of the main issues to address for Evans is the team's poor defensive record as they have managed to keep just one clean sheet in the Championship so far this season.
The team have had 15 goals shipped past them and have only netted 10 the other way, which has left the club just three points above the relegation zone in England's second-tiered league.
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In the last 18 meetings between these two sides, there is nothing to separate them as both have grabbed seven victories each and recorded four draws.
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In terms of goals, Fulham have managed to score 25 in total, but Leeds edge just ahead with 28, and while the Cottagers have the home advantage, statistics show that the Whites are better on the road given that they have won four of their seven triumphs at Craven Cottage.
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The last time that these two sides met in the Championship in London was in March of this year when Leeds came out 3-0 winners following goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci.
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Prior to last season's meetings, the two teams last went head to head in the 2003-04 campaign when they grabbed one win apiece.
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There has not been a goalless draw at Craven Cottage in the league since August 2011. The 84 games since then have produced 271 goals (3.2 per game).
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Fulham have won 40%, drawn 20% and lost 40% of their last 20 home games.
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In their last 20 home matches, Fulham have scored 1.6 goals per game and conceded 1.9 goals per game on average.
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Fulham last kept a clean sheet at home 2 games ago.
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Fulham have scored first in 50% of their last 20 home games.
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Leeds have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine league games, losing each of the last three.
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Leeds have won 40%, drawn 25% and lost 35% of their last 20 away games.
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In their last 20 away matches, Leeds have scored 1.3 goals per game and conceded 1.4 goals per game on average.
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In their last 20 away games, 58% of the 26 goals scored by Leeds have come in open play, whilst 38% have come from set-pieces.
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Leeds last kept a clean sheet away from home 5 games ago.
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Leeds have scored first in 70% of their last 20 away games.