Match Preview
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham
Championship Match Day 20 1617 at Molineux
Saturday 10th December 2016 KO: 15:00
Referee:
James Linington (Newport, IOW)
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Relegation-threatened Wolves host a Fulham team who are still pushing for a play-off place.
Wolves are currently struggling in the battle to stay above the relegation zones as we draw nearer to Christmas and the intense period of fixtures that come with it.
They will be looking to at least sit a few points clear of the drop at Christmas time as this will put them in good stead for the season to come.
They currently sit in 20th place on 21 points, just two points clear of 22nd placed Cardiff.
Wolves have lost their last four home games in a row, scoring just three times in those games and conceding eight.
When they host Fulham on Saturday they will be looking to get their home form back on track and come away with an important three points in their battle for survival.
Additionally, they haven’t kept a clean sheet at home since August and it will be a key factor if they can shut out the Fulham attack that put five past Reading last weekend.
Fulham picked up a convincing win at the weekend to keep themselves in the push for promotion.
Defeat could have seen them slip down to as low as 15th, however, they came out on top against Reading and sit in 10th place on 28 points.
Fulham have +9 goal difference, the highest outside the top two, showing that when they win, they win convincingly, only suffering minor defeats alongside.
Whilst Wolves have been struggling at home, Fulham have been the third-highest performing team away from home, losing just twice, both of which have come in their last three away games.
They will be looking to exploit a poorly performing Wolves side and take a three points that will be pivotal in their push for promotion as the Christmas fixtures draw nearer.
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Wolves have won their past four league games against Fulham, netting exactly three goals in each of the last three.
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Fulham are winless in their last nine league visits, since a 4-0 victory in April 1985 - but the Cottagers did knock Wolves out of the FA Cup at Molineux in a third-round replay two seasons ago.
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Wolves have conceded 10 goals in the opening 15 minutes of Championship matches this season - the highest of any side in the division.
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Wanderers have lost four consecutive league matches at Molineux for the first time since April 2012 (during a run of nine games without a win).
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Wolves have scored 1 goal or less in 12 of their last 20 home games, going on to win 0, draw 6 and lose 6 of these matches.
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In their last 20 home games, 6 of the 20 goals scored by Wolves have come from forwards, 10 from midfielders and 3 from defenders.
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Wolves have conceded in 70% of their last 20 home games while scoring in 60% of their last 20 home games.
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Wolves have kept a clean sheet in 30% of their last 20 home games.
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Fulham have completed the most passes of any side in the division this season (8575).
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Fulham full-back Scott Malone has attempted the most crosses from open play of any player in the league this season (92).
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Fulham have scored 1 goal or less in 13 of their last 20 away games, going on to win 1, draw 7 and lose 5 of these matches.
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In their last 20 away games, 14 of the 25 goals scored by Fulham have come from forwards, 10 from midfielders and 1 from defenders.
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Fulham have conceded in 85% of their last 20 away games whilst scoring in 75% of their last 20 away games.
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Fulham have kept a clean sheet in 15% of their last 20 away games.