Fulham manager Marco Silva knows how vital Saturday’s lunchtime meeting with Aston Villa is, as the Premier League run-in gathers pace.
Just five points separate ourselves and sixth place Brighton, but in order to close that gap Fulham will need to do something we’ve not managed before in six attempts – get a result against Unai Emery’s Villa side.
Asked in his pre-match press conference if this weekend’s fixture is one we simply cannot lose, Silva replied: “It’s one that we need to win. More than talking about not to lose, it’s one that we need to win.
“We need to do everything that we can to win the game, for us to beat a very well organised side.
“Apart from their individual quality they have been showing season by season, that is the reason why they are in Champions League spots again, and they have been doing a great job again in the European competitions.
“It’s not enough for you to be in a good day or very good day, you have to be close to your best, because they are capable of punishing you in any moment, and definitely the recent results for us against them, they are not what we wanted.
“It’s a chance for us to change completely that recent record against them, and we are aware of the importance of the game.
“Playing at home is always a great opportunity for us to bounce back, and we have to do the maximum we can, definitely, with the support from our fans, make the Cottage our fortress again, because they are a key three points for us.”