When Kit Symons took over from Felix Magath early into this season – when Fulham were rock bottom – there was an immediate upturn in performances and results. The cottagers moved themselves up the table and looked for a while as though they had left their relegation fears well behind them. They have managed just two wins in the league since the turn of the year, losing five and drawing two. It leaves them five points above the bottom three but having not won a game since the 21st of January, they will certainly be looking over their shoulders and feeling the heat from the teams who are desperately trying to close that gap. It doesn’t get any easier for them either with the visit of top of the table Derby County.
Derby could be forgiven for feeling a touch sorry for themselves after the heartbreaking nature of their play-off final defeat to QPR last season. That’s certainly not been the case, though, as they look to avoid the lottery of the end of season knockout football by going up automatically. They come into this game with a two point lead over second placed Middlesbrough and are in pole position to return to the top flight for the first time since 2007/08. Their recent form has been very good with one defeat in their last 13 games. Unfortunately for Derby fans, that loss was against bitter rivals Nottingham Forest but that will be a minor frustration if they can secure automatic promotion.
Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, Fulham were favourites to bounce straight back but things have certainly not went to plan. The competitiveness of the Championship is there for all to see and the clubs in this division certainly don’t respect reputations. Survival looks like being their main aim between now and the end of the season, and that even looks in doubt such is their poor form. When you consider the money that has been spent, it’s simply not good enough.
Steve McLaren has always tried to get his teams playing attractive football and there’s no doubt that his Derby side are one of he most entertaining sides in the Championship. They have scored the second most amount of goals in the division whilst away games involving them average just less than three per game. Their last five away games sit above that average, even, with 17 goals. It’s refreshing to see a successful team playing this type of football.
These two sides have met twice already this season and there have been an incredible 13 goals scored between them. Derby have been responsible for the majority of those hitting five in both games, including at Craven Cottage in the League Cup. Fulham’s home games also average just shy of three goals per game, whilst four of the last five at the cottage have seen at least three. I expect Derby to come out on top and wouldn’t put anybody off backing Boylesports 2/1 on an away win with over 2.5 goals in the game. However, I’ll go slightly safer with the selection and take then over 2.5 on it’s own.
Over 2.5 goals 20/23 @ Boylesports
