Fulham @ Bristol City

Quick turnaround for this Wed. match. Bristol has coughed up a 3 goal and a 2 goal lead (both draws) in their last two so it should be interesting to see where their psyche is. Fulham needs to also have the right mindset and have that Villa match squarely in their rear-view mirror.

 

Bristol City has had just about the opposite start to 2018 as Fulham. They have won just once in 2018. In the first half of the season they had only three losses. In the second half they already have four. Some of those losses came against tough competition: Wolverhampton, Aston Villa, plus a Norwich side that is on a hot streak, but Bristol City is no longer playing like a playoff caliber team. We should beat them and avenge one of only two losses at home this season. With that said, I'm not going to be surprised if we get our first loss of 2018 with this match following a stirring performance against Villa and before our toughest matchup against Wolverhampton on Saturday.

 

I am ashamed to admit that I just remembered Cauley is on loan to Bristol City. What does this mean for Don's shirt?! At least he won't be playing for the opposing side, but I'm terrified this is going to mess up the shirt mojo.

 

Bristol City will be without the suspended Marlon Pack when they host fellow Championship play-off hopefuls Fulham.
Pack received his 10th yellow card of the season during the 2-2 draw with Leeds on Sunday and must now serve a two-match ban.
Fellow midfielder Josh Brownhill was nursing a slight injury following the game at Elland Road but he trained on Tuesday and is expected to remain in contention.
Central defender Nathan Baker is available again after serving his three-match ban as City look for a first league win in four outings.
Fulham will assess captain Tom Cairney as his knee injury continues to be managed.
The midfielder missed two matches with the problem but returned as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Bolton before starting the home win against Aston Villa on Saturday, playing the entire game.
Boss Slavisa Jokanovic has no other injury concerns but may make changes as he looks to extend Fulham's 10-match unbeaten run in the Championship.
The likes of Oliver Norwood, Lucas Piazon, Rui Fonte and Cyrus Christie could come into Jokanovic's thinking.

 

Cyrus Christie gets his debut with Fulham and Odoi and Piazon come into the starting XI:
Bettinelli
Christie, Odoi, Ream, Targett
McDonald, Johansen, Cairney
Piazon, Mitrovic, Sessegnon

Subs: Button, Fredericks, Kalas, Norwood, Ayite, Kebano, Kamara

 

A useful point, the Cauley Shirt streak lives!!!! Without seeing highlights it’s hard to say much other than Mitrovic scoring is great for his confidence.

 

Like Fulham, Bristol City no longer posts highlights to YouTube so you'll have to watch these illicit highlights while they are available:


In over five minutes of FFCTV highlights there were only four clips that showed Fulham attacking the Bristol City goal. Somehow we got 59% of possession, but it didn't feel that way at all. Whatever possession we had seemed to be wasted poking the ball around mid-field or making shoddy clearances.

I was able to listen to most of the match, but missed a large chunk of the second half (and 2 minutes in the first half when Fulham scored *sigh*). GJ said in the first half that Sessegnon was hardly involved and I hardly remember hearing about him until that pass that Mitrovic should have put into the net in the second half.

Targett was subbed off late with an injury. That's concerning because he's done well so far. Hopefully he'll be ready for Wolverhampton.

On the plus side, the Christie to Mitrovic goal was perfect. Christie put the ball the only place it could go without being taken by Bristol City and Mitrovic timed his run perfectly. Plus, everyone else in the playoff spots got a draw too so we didn't lose much there (although I was really hoping for a Derby loss until they drew even in the 92nd minute).