Match Preview
Fulham vrs AFC Bournemouth
Premier League Match Day 10 1819 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 27th October 2018 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
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Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has played down the significance of Fulham owner Shahid Khan's show of support ahead of his side hosting Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Last week's damaging 4-2 defeat at Cardiff left Fulham in the bottom three and followed reports the manager's job was already at risk.
Fulham host Bournemouth on Saturday when they will again be expected to secure three valuable points, despite Khan's move to ease the pressure on Jokanovic by insisting he remains convinced of his abilities.
The fact that Fulham spent large sums of money on new players following their promotion contributed to perceptions their manager was struggling, but Khan wrote in his programme notes for the Bournemouth fixture: "Don't believe anything you read.
"The sensational and fictional headlines related to Slavisa; I'm in equal parts amused, astonished and disappointed (by them).
When asked about Khan's comments on Thursday, Jokanovic said: "It's great. (But) generally I'm not the kind of person who needs a shoulder for support.
"I am calm, I do my work and live in the present but they are great words from the owner's side."
Bournemouth's good start to the season was checked last time out by the stalemate with Southampton and manager Eddie Howe expects an improved performance in west London.
"Last week was a really good reminder that we have to be at our best to win games in this league," he said.
"We're pleased to this point. It's been a pleasant start but that's all it is. We know how quickly football can change.
"Everyone is very closely knit together at this football club - it's a special club. I love working with the players - their attitude is second to none.
"I have a lot of respect for Fulham and their manager, their style of play draws a lot of praise and I have a lot of respect for that way of working."
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Fulham and Bournemouth have never met in the English top-flight - their last league meeting was in the Championship in March 2015, with the Cherries winning 5-1.
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Fulham have won just two of the last 16 encounters in all competitions, drawing five and losing nine.
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Fulham have won just two of their last 16 games against Bournemouth (D5 L9) - their last win against them was in a third tier game in January 1994.
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Fulham have conceded a league-high 25 goals this season - the second highest tally at this stage of a Premier League season, after Southampton's 26 in 2012-13.
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Fulham have afforded their opponents more shots on target than any other Premier League team in 2018-19 (61).
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The Premier League record after 10 matches is 28, set by Barnsley in 1997-98 and Saints in 2012-13.
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Fulham could equal their Premier League club record of 14 consecutive matches without a clean sheet on Saturday.
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They are one win shy of 300 in the top flight.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic is without a goal in three Premier League games, having scored five in his first six appearances in the division.
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Bournemouth have won four of their last eight Premier League games against sides from London (W4 D2 L2), as many as they'd won in their previous 25 such clashes (W4 D6 L15).
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Bournemouth have taken 23 points from the last 33 available (W7, D2, L2).
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They have won four of their past six games in all competitions, drawing one and losing one.
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The Cherries have won three of their last five league away games, as many as in their previous 19 attempts.
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However, they have only won one of their eight Premier League away games against promoted opposition.
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With three goals and four assists, Callum Wilson has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than any other Englishman.