2021-22 EFL Championship Betting Preview – Fulham

Fulham 2021-22 betting odds & predictions

John Arne / Fulham ©IMAGO / IMAGO / Sportimage 05/03/2014

Fulham 2021-22 EFL Championship Preview
Can Cottagers secure instant return?

Marco Silva’s Fulham are the bookies’ favourites to win this season’s EFL Championship. However, with so many top teams in the second tier this year, the title race will no doubt be as captivating as ever.

Silva has made some shrewd signings, and the Cottagers’ team looks as strong as anyone’s in the Championship. After suffering relegation from the Premier League last term, can Fulham bounce back at the first time of asking? Read on for the latest 2021-22 Championship odds and predictions.

Premier League Bets at Paddy Power

 

2020-21 Review: Fulham drop back down

After beating rivals Brentford in the 2020 Championship play-off final, Fulham were back in the Premier League after just one year away. However, the Cottagers’ season got off to a poor start when they beaten 3-0 at home by fellow London side Arsenal at Craven Cottage. Fulham lost five and drew one of their opening six.

Scott Parker’s men picked up their first victory of the season with a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion on 2nd November, with Bobby Decordova-Reid and Ola Aina getting the goals. Their second victory came later in the month, as they shocked Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City with a 2-1 success at the King Power Stadium. However, that was their last win until mid-February.

Our betting prediction:
Fulham top relegated team
3/2

Bet at Paddy Power

 

(odds taken 1751 GMT, Monday 26 July)

 
Fulham were languishing in the bottom three and looked certain for an instant return to the Championship, but they had a huge upswing in fortunes from February. After a 2-0 loss to the Foxes, Fulham went five games unbeaten, beating Everton and Sheffield United and drawing with West Ham United, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Fulham’s biggest moment of the season came when they won at Anfield in early March. Mario Lemina’s effort on the stroke of half time was enough to give the Cottagers a 1-0 victory against Jurgen Klopp’s bruised Liverpool. However, that proved to be their last win of the campaign, as the London side lost eight and drew two of their final ten.

Fulham had a real go from January, but their luck run out after the famous win at Liverpool on 7th March. They went down on 28 points, 11 points behind 17th-place Burnley. Parker’s troops won just five times, drew 13 and lost 20. In late June, Parker left Craven Cottage and subsequently joined Bournemouth.

Our betting prediction:
Fulham to finish in the top two
5/2

Bet at 22Bet

 

(odds taken 1753 GMT, Monday 26 July)

 

 

2021-22 Fixtures: Cottagers kick off campaign against Boro

Silva starts life at the Cottage with a home match against Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough on 8th August. Warnock is the most experienced manager in the Championship, and his Boro side will provide a stiff test to Silva and his talented team. After the season opener, Fulham have back-to-back away games at Huddersfield Town and Millwall.

December is a tough month for the west London outfit as Parker’s Bournemouth visit the Cottage before they face Sheffield United and travel to Reading. 2022 starts with a trip to the Liberty Stadium in South Wales to play Swansea City.

Fulham’s final home match of the season will see them go up against Luton Town in late April. By the time they travel to Bramall Lane to face the Blades on the final weekend, Fulham will be hoping to be a Premier League team once again.

Fulham Key Facts

  • Fulham’s last two seasons in the Championship have ended with promotion
  • The Cottagers were UEFA Europa League runners-up in 2010
  • The London club won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002
  • Fulham picked up just five wins in last season’s Premier League

 

Fulham Transfer News: Any more big names coming to the Cottage?

Fulham signed Liverpool’s Harry Wilson for a £12m fee recently. The winger impressed during loan spells with Hull City and Derby County a few years back but never managed to nail down a place in Klopp’s squad at Anfield. Wilson was on loan at Cardiff City last term, scoring a hat-trick in his penultimate appearance for the Welsh club.

Fulham also brought in Paulo Gazzaniga from Tottenham Hotspur. The goalkeeper arrived at Craven Cottage on a free. Gazzaniga did not make many appearances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but was always a steady pair of hands when called upon.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been linked with a move away since Fulham were relegated, but recent rumours suggest that the Serbia international could stay at the Cottage. Mitrovic was a prolific goalscorer in his last two seasons in the Championship and would play a huge role if he stays.

Who Are Fulham’s Biggest Challengers: How will the relegated clubs fare?

Like any team that drops down to the Championship, Fulham will be after an instant return to the Premier League. As will West Brom and Sheffield United, who were relegated alongside the Whites last term. Those three are among the promotion favourites. The likes of Bournemouth and Cardiff – among others – could also have a say in the title race this season.

West Bromwich Albion Preview: Instant return for Baggies?

West Brom are now managed by Valerien Ismael, who did a remarkable job at Barnsley last term. Against all the odds, Ismael took the Tykes from relegation fodder to the semi-finals of the play-offs. The Frenchman has inherited a talented squad at The Hawthorns, and promotion will be number one priority for the Midlands club.

Before a ball has been kicked, Albion are priced at 7/1 to win the Championship title. Only Fulham are available at shorter odds (11/2). It will be fascinating to see how the Baggies get on back in the Championship.

Sheffield United Preview: Can Blades recover from horrendous season?

Sheffield United had a season to forget in the Premier League. They never got going and finished rock bottom with just 23 points to their name. Paul Heckingbottom did a respectable job after Chris Wilder left, and now former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is in the Bramall Lane dugout.

Sheffield United caused an upset when they were promoted from the Championship a couple of years ago, and the Yorkshire side could need similar heroics this time around. The bookies have them priced at 8/1 to lift the Championship trophy come May.

Bournemouth Preview: Parker to be a big hit at the Vitality?

Scott Parker did a sterling job during his spell as Fulham boss. He rebuilt the squad after their poor relegation and got the Cottagers back in the Premier League at the first time of asking. However, despite a brave effort, Parker took them down last term.

Bournemouth finished in the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship last term, but it was certainly a turbulent campaign. Eddie Howe left after the relegation, and assistant Jason Tindall lasted until February. Jonathan Woodgate then took over and guided the Cherries to sixth spot. They will be hoping to avoid the play-offs altogether this term and go up automatically.

Cardiff City Preview: Bluebirds to build under Big Mick?

Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff could be the dark horse in the race for promotion this season. The ex-Republic of Ireland boss did an outstanding job in Wales after arriving last January, taking the Bluebirds from 15th to eighth.

Cardiff have added to their squad in the summer with some sensible signings, and Wales star Kieffer Moore will be raring to go again after an excellent first season at the Cardiff City Stadium. Keep your eye on the Bluebirds this year.

Fulham players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season: Will Wilson fire Fulham back to promised land?

Fulham have signed some big players and spent plenty of cash in recent years. Parker took a more subtle approach in terms of transfer dealing last summer, but the Londoners still suffered a poor relegation.

The capture of Wilson from Liverpool in July was Fulham’s biggest bit of business this summer, and it could turn out to be their best. On his day, Wilson is capable of ripping up the Championship, and he netted seven goals and provided 12 assists while on loan in the Welsh capital last season. £12m could be a steal if Wilson’s attacking prowess can shine through at the Cottage. The Wales international could be the Fulham player to watch out for this season.

Our Fulham Predictions: Top two for the Cottagers?

Silva was popular at Hull when they were in the Premier League, but the Everton job probably came too early in his managerial career. After two years away from the game, Silva is back in management and will want to hit the ground running in the English capital.

So many clubs have promotion aspirations before every Championship season, and around half of the sides will realistically fancy their chances of finishing in the top six. We fully expect Fulham to be there or thereabouts in the race for the title this term.

Promotion will be the main aim, and our money is going on Fulham to finish in the top two. Paddy Power are offering the tempting price of 5/2 for the Whites to be automatically promoted.

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