Match Preview
Fulham vrs Barnsley
Championship Match Day 18 21/22 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 20th November 2021, KO: 15:00
Referee:
Josh Smith (Cambridgeshire)
|
Fulham head into Saturday's fixture with Barnsley looking to extend their winning streak in the Championship to seven matches.
Meanwhile, the Tykes, who will not have new boss Poya Asbaghi in charge until next week, are eager to reduce the deficit to safety with an unlikely result at Craven Cottage.
Throughout September, Marco Silva must have wondered what had happened to his Fulham side with just two wins coming from six outings in all competitions.
However, the Portuguese has certainly rediscovered the right formula, the Cottagers claiming a maximum 18 points from six games and scoring 21 goals in the process.
Aleksandar Mitrovic netted 10 of those strikes, taking his tally for the season to a remarkable 20 from 17 appearances.
Fulham are also on a run of five successive clean sheets, arguably the most important trait as they bid to remain at least six points clear of rivals West Bromwich Albion.
While Fulham have collected the fourth-most points during home games this campaign, they have played one match fewer than the clubs who have claimed more points.
At the start of the month, Barnsley finally made the inevitable decision to part ways with Markus Schopp, who had delivered just one win all season.
Caretaker boss Joseph Laumann has since delivered three points from important matches against Derby County and Hull City, an acceptable return in the circumstances.
Nevertheless, club officials have since handed the reins to Sweden Under-21s boss Asbaghi, who will take a watching brief as Laumann takes his place in the dugout for the final time.
Barnsley head into the contest with the second-worst away record in the division having failed to win any of their eight matches on the road.