Match Preview
Fulham v Barnsley
Championship Match Day 33 19/20 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 15th February 2020 KO: 15:00
Referee:
James Linington (Newport)
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Sean Wilson at Sports Mole
Fulham will be hoping for a routine win over bottom-of-the-league Barnsley as they chase an automatic promotion spot in the Championship table.
Barnsley are in a dire run of form and the London outfit will be hoping for three points to keep the pressure on second-placed Leeds United, who are ahead on goal difference alone.
Fulham are flying at the moment, having gone unbeaten in their last six Championship games in a row and climbing into third place in the table.
Scott Parker's side have picked up 32 points from just 16 league games at Craven Cottage this season, a home record that is second only to Preston North End in the Championship.
Conversely, Barnsley have the joint-worst away record in the division, managing just six points on the road in 15 attempts, level with fellow strugglers Luton Town but having played a game fewer.
Fulham also boast the joint-third best attack in the league, with only Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion and playoff rivals Brentford managing more.
Meanwhile, Barnsley's defensive record of shipping 58 goals in just 32 games is better only than Luton's even more miserable tally of 66.
Gerhard Struber's men are winless in their last five league outings, losing four and conceding eight, while scoring just two of their own.
However, the reverse fixture at the start of the season saw newly-promoted Barnsley emerge shock 1-0 winners, stunning a Fulham side that had just dropped out of the Premier League.
Given the recent form of both sides, a repeat of that surprise result appears unlikely, particularly at Craven Cottage.
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Fulham have won their last three home league games against Barnsley, most recently winning 2-1 in December 2017.
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Barnsley are looking to complete a league double over Fulham for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
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Fulham have won five of their last six home games in all competitions (L1), winning the last three in a row. They last won four consecutively in March 2018 under Slavisa Jokanovic.
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Of the 12 league games Fulham has won at home, they scored first 11 times.
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Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 10 goals in last 14 home league appearances for the Cottagers.
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The last time Fulham failed to score at home in the league was a 0-3 loss to Hull in November 2019.
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Barnsley have won one of their last 22 away Championship matches (W1 D4 L17), a 2-1 victory at Millwall in December.
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Of the 13 away games Barnsley has lost, they conceded first 11 times.