Fulham – Sunderland Prediction & Picks (27.04.2018)

Fulham and Sunderland meet at Craven Cottage, in a match for the 45th day of the Championship. Sunderland won at home (1-0) the last time they met in this edition of the league, on 12-16-2017. Unlike what would be expected, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to Sunderland, since in the last 3 games between these two teams records 2 wins and 1 draw. Despite being a match between 3rd and 24th of the table, it is actually a match between the 4th classified in home matches and the 17th as a visitor.

Fulham:

The home team is currently in the 3 rd position, with 85 points won, after 24 wins, 13 draws and 7 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Brentford, by (1-1). In the last match, they won in an away match against Millwall, by (0-3). This is a team little affected by the house factor, since it conquered similar results at home and abroad.

For this competition, they have not lost any of the last 14 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent final result at halftime was 1-0 (8 out of 22 matches). Their attack has scored regularly, since they have always scored at least one goal in the last 10 matches for this competition. In 44 matches in the competition, he suffered the first goal 13 times and only managed 3 comebacks. In the last 22 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 14 of their 38 goals between minutes (61′-75 ‘).

Fulham comes to this game with a beautiful victory in the land of Millwall, by 0-3, adding in this way the twenty-second consecutive game without tasting the bitter taste of defeat. It is important to underline that the premises are very close to the second position, a place that gives direct access to the Premier League. In this home game, coach Slavisa Jokanovic is expected to play in the usual 4-3-3, benefiting possession of the ball and organized attacks: captain Tom Cairney is one of the main game organizers. On the other hand, the 17 year old, Ryan Sessegnon, is the best score of Fulham, with 15 goals scored. Everything indicates that there are no absences of important players.

Sunderland:

After 6 wins, 16 draws and 22 losses, the away team is currently in the 24 th position of the league, with 34 points won. In the last match, they have lost in an away match against Burton Albion, by (1-2), after in the previous match they have tied tied in an away match against Reading, by (2-2). This is a team that usually gets more positive results in away matches than at home, since it has 21 outs away and 14 at its stadium, with 28 goals scored and 39 conceded in away matches, against 20 goals scored and 39 conceded at home. In the last 10 away league matches Sunderland has a record of 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses, so they have won 10 points out of 30 possible. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered at least one goal in each of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 44 matches in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 28 times and never got the comeback.

Sunderland come into this game with a home defeat against Burton Albion, 1-2, adding the fifth consecutive game without beating in this competition. It is important to underline that the visitors will no longer avoid the descent to the English third division. In this game away from home, coach Chris Coleman must line up in the usual 4-2-3-1, benefiting the defensive organization and the successive counterattacks, exploring in the best way the space in the defensive line of the opponent. Aiden McGeady is the best finalist of Sunderland, with 7 goals scored. Of note that the foreigners exhibit some defensive lacunae, especially in the condition of visitor, since they suffered on average 1.77 goals per game. Everything indicates that only Watmore will be absent from this game, due to an injury.