Match Preview
Fulham vrs Stoke City
Championship Match Day 05 2122 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 28th August 2021 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Jarred Gillett (Australia)
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Fulham and Stoke City put their unbeaten records on the line when they meet in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Both clubs have collected three wins and a draw from their opening four fixtures, the Cottagers only sitting at the top of the standings on goal difference.
Ahead of a return to the second tier, there would have been some Fulham supporters who had reservations about the appointment of Marco Silva.
However, after an indifferent start against Middlesbrough, the West Londoners have put together a four-match winning streak in all competitions, scoring 11 goals in the process.
While thrashing Huddersfield Town by a 5-1 scoreline remains the standout result, Silva will be pleased with how his side have dispatched Millwall, Hull City and Birmingham City respectively.
The latter result in the EFL Cup came with three prospects in the side, Jay Stansfield marking his first start for the club with a brilliantly-taken opener at St Andrew's.
Silva will revert back to his senior players for a game against potential title rivals, but the impact that they made on Tuesday evening only bodes well for the future.
As far as Stoke are concerned, Michael O'Neill worked wonders during the off-season to put together a squad which appears capable of challenging the best teams in the league.
The money brought in from the sale of Nathan Collins has been used to make five shrewd additions, and the ambition in the market has been rewarded with as many wins and a draw in all competitions.
Although promotion remains their sole priority this season, O'Neill will take encouragement from an entirely different team defeating Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup second round.
Six different players have already gotten on the scoresheet in the Championship, and last week's 1-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest came without top goalscorer Nick Powell in the side.