Match Preview
Bristol City
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Fulham
Championship Match Day 14 1516 at Ashton Gate Stadium
Saturday 31st October 2015 KO: 15:00
Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
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Fulham travel to Bristol City's Ashton Gate with the joint best attack in the division and looking to edge nearer to the playoff places with a win in the West Country.
Bristol City, however, will be looking to move away from the Championship relegation zone with victory against Fulham on Saturday.
Shahid Khan may have been distracted by his Jacksonville Jaguars team playing at Wembley last weekend, but the Fulham owner was clear with his assessment of the club's recent form.
Speaking last week, Khan demanded improvement from the Cottagers after a run of three wins in 12, but his words appear to have taken effect.
Admittedly, Fulham found themselves trailing 2-0 at home to Reading, but three goals in six minutes helped Kit Symons' men to a 4-2 win against the Royals.
That win meant that, following a barren run, the Whites are unbeaten in their last four games and lay five points off the top six.
Furthermore, striker and club captain Ross McCormack believes that his teammates will take confidence from that result and the fact that his team are the joint top scorers in the Championship.
However, the Cottagers have also conceded 19 this term, keeping only one clean sheet in 13 league games.
Robins' manager Steve Cotterill boldly claimed that his team deserved to beat Cardiff City last time, but refused to criticise his team after they were forced to settle for a goalless draw in South Wales.
City have struggled to settle back in the second tier and have won only twice in 13 league outings.
The Reds are only just above the drop zone, but have become tougher to beat in recent games, losing two of their last six.
However, while Cotterill claimed that the performance at Cardiff was "not a one-off", their victory against Nottingham Forest remains City's only triumph on home turf since gaining promotion from League One.
Since the start of the campaign, conceding goals has been a problem, with only Rotherham United having let in more than the Cider Army.
Nevertheless, City have now kept two clean sheets and, with the possible exception of Hull City's impending visit, may see their forthcoming fixtures as a chance to climb the table.
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Bristol City and Fulham will be meeting for the first time at any level since December 1997, when the pair met in League Division 2, which the Londoners won 1-0.
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The Robins have lost four of their last six league encounters with the Cottagers (W2).
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In October 88, in a Division 3 (old) clash, Fulham thrashed City at Ashton Gate
5-1 City returned the thrashing in April 1990 when they also thrashed
Fulham 5-1.
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The Robins have dropped 10 points from leading positions this season; a joint-league-high with QPR.
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82% of the players to appear for Bristol City this season have been English, the highest share in the Championship.
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Bristol City have won 55%, drawn 25% and lost 20% of their last 20 home games.
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Bristol City have conceded in 50% of their last 20 home games.
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Bristol City have scored first in 70% of their last 20 home games.
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Fulham's previous record at Ashton Gate is poor, having won only two of their last 10 visits to the West Country.
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One of the two wins came in emphatic fashion when they won 5-1 in October 1988.
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Ross McCormack has scored six goals in his last six league appearances against Bristol City.
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Moussa Dembele has scored or provided an assist for four of Fulham's last five league goals (three goals, one assist).
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Fulham have won just once in their last seven away games in the league (D3 L3).
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Fulham have won 25%, drawn 30% and lost 45% of their last 20 away games.
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Fulham have conceded in 75% of their last 20 away games.
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Fulham have scored first in 40% of their last 20 away games.