Fulham (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line up and prediction
Last weekend's 3-1 victory at Southampton was just what we needed. We weren't at our best, but didn't really have to get out of second gear and recovered well from a poor start to get back to winning ways.
It's now 10 wins in 11 for Eddie Howe's Mags, who will be looking to bounce back from that 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth a fortnight ago with three points over Fulham.
Marco Silva's side are no mugs away from home, however. They've lost just one of their last seven on the road, recording wins at Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, along with a hard-fought point at Liverpool so far this season.
There'll be no room for complacency, especially with the top-four places so tight and a tough run of fixtures on the horizon, with Man City (A), Forest (H) and Liverpool (A) set to follow a cup double against Arsenal and Birmingham.
Howe’s pre-match comments
On vital run of games - "The next group of games will be important for us. Every result takes on huge importance. We have been on a run of results and doing well, so we need to carry that on.”
On Almiron's departure - "Miggy was a very special player and person, he will be greatly missed by everyone. Miggy had a bubbly and bright personality, he was ultra professional. He would always be in looking after himself, eating the right foods and recovering, he was a really good role model. Miggy is going to be greatly missed as a player and as a person. He always gave his best, in any moment."
On Fulham test - "When you play Fulham, you can see their qualities, they are very brave with every aspect, with and without the ball. They have added some players that have made their team very competitive, they were very impressive against us. We know this will be a tough game and we will never underestimate Fulham."
On January transfers - "Miggy going leaves us a bit short in that area but it was a deal we needed to do because of PSR. "As it stands, I expect the squad will remain the same. We knew this window would be one we wouldn’t recruit in. We’re not actively looking to bring players in"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPjOEU1PAmI
Team news
Callum Wilson (hamstring), Harvey Barnes (thigh) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) remain out, although it's hoped our No.9 could be back in the next week, with Barnes still 'two or three weeks' away.
For Fulham, Harry Wilson is set for a long spell on the sidelines after injuring himself in last week's 1-0 defeat to Man Utd, with right-back Kenny Tete also out.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
The majority of the team seems settled after 10 wins in our last 11, but Howe has a few selection dilemmas at the back.
Does he stick by Dubravka or recall a fit-again Pope? And will Schar keep his place at the back after Botman was benched in last weekend's 3-1 win at Southampton?
Schar hasn't been particularly convincing in his last two outings, but his ability to play out from the back can help us get on the front foot at home. Botman will be eased back in and I'm not convinced Howe will change a winning side or swap goalkeepers until Dubravka gives him a reason to do so.
The midfield picks itself and so does our front three, with Gordon, Murphy and Isak hoping for a more fruitful home game after struggling to create much at all against Bournemouth two weeks ago.
Match prediction
Hopefully that Bournemouth defeat was nothing more than a blip, where the Cherries - who just battered Forest 5-0 - were on fire and we allowed complacency to slip in after a run of comfortable wins.
That can't happen again this weekend and I don't think it will. Fulham won't be easy and have some very good players - left-back Antonee Robinson may be Murphy's toughest test of the season - but I think we'll do enough to edge them out in a solid home win.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
Howay the lads!
