Kick-off: 1230, 22/04/2023
Stadium: Craven Cottage
TV: BT Sport
Pretty much all the evidence points towards Fulham being a rock-solid selection for Saturday’s early Premier League clash with Leeds.
The Cottagers are 13 points better off in the table and have already beaten the Whites in this competition and the FA Cup this season.
Punters can get 13/10 for Marco Silva’s side to prevail again and that is hard to resist with our first Fulham vs Leeds prediction.
Cottagers keen to finish strong
There were fears of Fulham fading out after a highly-encouraging campaign during a run of five straight defeats, but they bounced back to form at Everton.
With star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic continuing his lengthy suspension, Harrison Reed, Harry Wilson and Dan James stepped up to the plate in a 3-1 triumph over the Toffees.
Wilson admitted it was a relief to return to winning ways after a forgettable past few weeks, stating: “It was a massive game for us.
“We knew coming here it was a must-win game for them, but for us as well because we wanted to get back to the levels that we’ve been at for most of the season.
“Once you lose a few games, that confidence does dip and I think you can see in our performances of late. Hopefully this gives us the confidence to keep going for the rest of the season.
“For us now, it’s about finishing in that top half and as high up the table as we can.”
The Cottagers did give away quite a few chances at Goodison Park, though, so 10/3 for a home win and both teams to score appeals from the Fulham vs Leeds odds.
Last Fulham line-up: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Wilson, Pereira, Willian, Palhinha, James.
Whites look in freefall
Leeds won three of their first six league matches under Javi Gracia but have since suffered two crushing defeats at Elland Road.
The Whites were hammered 5-1 by Crystal Palace on home turf and then stuffed 6-1 by Liverpool in front of their own fans.
They have shipped 16 goals in their last four matches and now have the worst defensive record in the top flight, having conceded 60 times this term.
Having also struggled at the back for the past two seasons, that is a continuation of a problem inherited by Gracia that previous head coaches Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch failed to resolve.
Individual performances have not been up to standard and, as the pressure has mounted, the errors have got worse.
Additionally, when Leeds lose possession, Premier League opponents far too easily expose their defensive shape, especially since Tyler Adams suffered a hamstring injury.
Asked about his side’s lack of resilience at the back, Gracia said: “I don’t have – in this moment – an explanation for that.
“We need to improve that because we have seven important games left. We have to give our best face.”
With the Whites just two points above the drop zone, Gracia needs to find a solution sooner, rather than later.
Fulham loan star James is unavailable against his parent club, but Willian scored in a 3-2 win at Elland Road last October and could be a player to watch out for.
The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger can hit United on the break and 9/2 for him to net in a home win completes our Fulham vs Leeds betting tips.
Last Leeds line-up: Meslier, Firpo, Koch, Struijk, Kristensen, Aaronson, Roca, Harrison, Sinisterra, McKennie, Rodrigo.
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