Friday 11th May 2018 Kick off 1945hrs Derby County v Fulham Football – England – Championship Although both Derby and Fulham finished in the playoffs, they both ended their seasons and come into this playoff in very different fashion. Derby beat out both Preston and Millwall on the final day of the regular campaign to ensure they recovered from an end of season wobble whilst Fulham had to deal with narrowly missing out on automatic promotion and, for the second straight year, have to make do with a place in the end of season feature. Will the two different mindsets have an impact on who reaches Wembley later this month?!
Many, including myself, were expecting yet another collapse from Derby at the business end of the season. They’re a club who have become synonymous with performing so well for much of the campaign, getting themselves into contention for both automatic promotion and a playoff position, only to fall out the race at the last hurdle. Three straight defeats in April appeared to suggest similar was happening once again, but to their credit the Rams showed tremendous grit and character to recover and take seven points from their final three matches. Considering one was against now promoted Cardiff and fellow promotion hopefuls Aston Villa, that’s no mean feat. Manager Gary Rowett will be stressing to his players that the job is not even near half done, though, with what he hopes will be three massive games ahead of them this month – starting on Friday at home to Fulham. Aiming to play top flight football for the first time since 2007/08, they’ll be well aware that they will be the most unfancied of the four playoff teams but that’s probably a tag that will suit Rowett and his players who will happily do their talking on the park.
Fulham were in Derby’s position 12 months ago when finishing in sixth and securing their playoff spot in the fourth and final place. They came undone to Reading in the semi-finals despite being the better team over the two legs and that disappointment was being used to spur them on this term to ensure they didn’t have to go through the same route. Unfortunately they fell just short despite an incredible unbeaten run in the second half of the season which was ended by a spirited Birmingham City on Sunday. In the end the loss was felt even more by the fact that Cardiff themselves could only draw in their final game which would have meant a Fulham win would see them win automatic promotion and send Cardiff into the playoffs. The Cottagers cannot concern themselves with those thoughts any longer, though, and will be looking to respond immediately. With such little time between games and the pressure placed upon them, the playoffs are as much about mentality as ability and that’s something that Fulham now have to prove they have – especially on the back of their defeat to Reading last year. They’ll be favourites to reach Wembley but that will count for little when the whistle goes on Friday.
Derby County v Reading Betting Tip
Thirteen points separated these two at the end of the regular season but the mindset now changes from playing league matches to cup finals. We all know the drama that is associated with the playoffs but that also brings with it heartache and the fact of the matter is despite the efforts of all four teams who will be contesting them over the previous 46 games, it has absolutely no bearing on who will be playing in the Premier League next season. Derby managed a point at Craven Cottage back in November but it was Fulham who took the spoils when the two clashed at the iPro at the beginning of March.
I have been very impressed with how Derby have recovered in the last couple of weeks as I had virtually written them off following the home defeat to Middlesbrough. For Fulham, they somehow have to get their heads round the fact that despite going unbeaten from the middle of December to the last game of the season they still fell short. Their style of football is attractive and easy to watch but they have to prove it’s effective in this sort of high-pressure environment. Momentum is a word often overused in sport but the feeling Derby have and how they have come into the playoffs may just see them take a lead into Monday’s second leg.
Derby County 2/1 @ Bet Victor
