Preview: Fulham vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Fulham play host to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon looking to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship standings.

While their six-point lead may have been halved by the time that they take to the pitch at Craven Cottage, the West Londoners will move 17 points clear of Huddersfield if they can end the long undefeated streak of their fifth-placed opponents.

Match preview

© Reuters

Ahead of facing Hull City last weekend, Fulham would have expected to have defeated their struggling hosts by more than a 1-0 scoreline.

Nevertheless, the result was all that mattered, and Aleksandar Mitrovic's 31st league strike of the campaign has moved the Cottagers 10 points clear of third-placed Blackburn Rovers having played two games fewer.

Despite his side's unbeaten streak in the league being extended to seven games, Marco Silva will not be getting carried away, but the inconsistency of the teams behind them will not be going unnoticed.

Mathematically, the West Londoners remain far away from confirming promotion, although winning half of their remaining 16 matches should prove enough to earn an immediate return to the second tier.

For the first time since the November international break, Fulham have posted successive clean sheets in the Championship during their wins over Millwall and the Tigers.

© Reuters

At this stage of the season, few people would have been tipping Huddersfield to put together a 12-match unbeaten streak in the Championship, but such a run has kept the Tigers in playoff contention.

With an eight-point gap to second-placed Bournemouth and having played two games more, a bid for automatic promotion feels unrealistic, but Carlos Corberan's team deserve huge praise for their recent form.

Goalless draws at home to Preston North End and Sheffield United have been frustrating, particularly the latter given that the Terriers had a goal controversially chalked off during the first half.

That said, it kept things ticking over in the right direction, while three clean sheets have now been recorded in a row for the first time since October.

Huddersfield's last away defeat back on November 24 came in the capital as they went down by a 1-0 scoreline to Queens Park Rangers.

Team News

© Reuters

Barring any injury issues, Silva may be prepared to name the same Fulham XI which started the game at Hull.

The form of Nathaniel Chalobah has been keeping Harrison Reed and Jean Michel Seri out of the midfield, with Tom Cairney getting the nod alongside him.

Bobby Decordova-Reid is an alternative to Neeskens Kebano if Silva wants to freshen up his team in the final third.

After Josh Ruffels and Jonathan Russell both impressed on their first Championship starts of the season last weekend, Corberan must decide whether to stick with the pair at left-back and in midfield.

Harry Toffolo and Carel Eiting are alternatives if the Spaniard opts for experience, while Duane Holmes and Daniel Sinani are pushing for a return in the final third.

Chelsea loanees Levi Colwill and Tino Anjorin are expected to remain out of contention.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Williams, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Cairney, Chalobah; Wilson, Carvalho, Kebano; Mitrovic

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Pipa, Pearson, Lees, Ruffels; Russell, Hogg, O'Brien; Thomas, Ward, Koroma

We say: Fulham 2-0 Huddersfield Town

Fulham will respect Huddersfield's credentials ahead of this contest, aware that defeat has the potential for a clutch of clubs to close the gap. However, that should bring the best out of the home side, who we are backing to record a win and clean sheet.

Previews by email