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Aston Villa: Do not sleep on Fulham as promotion contenders

By Josh Tonti

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Tom Cairney of Fulham celebrates scoring his sides first goal with his Fulham team mates during the Sky Bet Championship Play off semi final 1st leg match between Fulham and Reading at Craven Cottage on May 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Harry Hubbard/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Tom Cairney of Fulham celebrates scoring his sides first goal with his Fulham team mates during the Sky Bet Championship Play off semi final 1st leg match between Fulham and Reading at Craven Cottage on May 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Harry Hubbard/Getty Images) /
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The Cottagers barely missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season. With that, and the club’s scintillating form this campaign, Aston Villa will need to be at 100% to defeat Fulham on Saturday.

Saturday’s match-up between Aston Villa and Fulham represents a titanic game with league table implications on the line. In fact, Craven Cottage shall see the two hottest clubs competing in the EFL Championship. Villa’s 7 league match winning streak is well-documented by now, but the Cottagers too have been on a hot streak.

They drew away from home at Bolton last weekend by a score of 1-1, but before that they had won four matches consecutively. Fulham have not lost a league match since the 16th of December against Sunderland.

Moreover, to add to Villa’s upcoming challenge, the Londoners return Scotland attacking midfielder Tom Cairney from injury. Fulham have perhaps the most talented first eleven in the Championship, save Wolves’ influx of Portuguese aces. It is part of the reason I had them finishing 4th in pre-season, just behind the claret and blues.

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Aston Villa’s backline will be extremely busy on the road. Ahmed Elmohamady has to deal with 17-year old sensation Ryan Sessegnon on the left wing. He is not only having an historic season as a teenager, but one of the best overall in the Championship – a definite Player of the Year candidate. His switch this year from left back to primarily left wing only adds to the allure for nosy top-six Premier League clubs come summer. Alongside Cairney, Lucas Piazon, and the on loan Aleksandar Mitrovic from Newcastle United, Villa have a lot to deal with.

Fulham’s starting lineup on Saturday could look something close to this: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Targett; Norwood, Johansen; Piazon, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic.

Talented players riddle the bench as well. Fulham manager Slaviša Jokanovic has Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo, Republic of Ireland international Cyrus Christie, the assured Kevin McDonald, and young forward Aboubakar Kamara to call upon.

Strong indeed.

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