Derby v Fulham Betting Preview – Championship 11th May 7.45pm
The postseason is an intense beast for those making their way into the Championship Play-Offs. Four teams will be battling for the one remaining open spot in next season’s Premier League. The winner of this tie will face the winner of Middlesbrough and Aston Villa’s duel. Derby held themselves together at a crucial time at the end of the season to hold onto the final play off spot, while Fulham missed a golden chance of automatic promotion on the weekend. The second leg will be held on Monday, May 14th.
Derby v Fulham To Qualify Odds
Fulham 3/10, Derby 12/5* (Betting Odds taken at 2:23 a.m. on May 8th, 2018)
Derby News and Form
Derby took a good 4-1 home win over Barnsley on the final day of action in the regular season which secured their place in the top six. After a three-match losing streak which really made their play-off hopes look thin, they rallied well to go W2 D1 to finish the season with. They do have home from with three wins in their last four games there (L1) and it is going to be important for them to get as much out of this game on home turf as they can. Derby went W12 D5 L6 at home during the regular season, averaging 1.8 goals per game and they conceded under a goal per game on average. They are currently running on a nine-match scoring streak at home and their last seven have gone over 2.5 goals. Over 2.5 goals at bet365 is at even money odds* (Betting Odds taken at 6:33 p.m. on May 8th, 2018) for the first leg of this play off tussle. There was a clean sheet for Derby in 48% of their home games and they were up at half time in eleven of them. They have not taken a clean sheet in any of their last six home and away combined through which could be a worry as they take on the powerful Fulham attack.
Fulham News and Form
Fulham missed the boat on the final day of the season. They had to better whatever second-placed Cardiff managed and with the Bluebirds drawing the door to automatic promotion was open for Fulham. But they lost out at Birmingham in a bit of shock result. Fulham went down 3-1 so they missed their golden opportunity to get up, but they get a second bite of the cherry in the play offs. They were on a five-match winning streak on the road before that loss at St Andrew’s on the weekend, which just made the whole defeat even more of a shock. Overall Fulham went W12 D5 L6 for the season on their travels and they scored an average of 1.7 goals per game. They weren’t tight at the back and because of their attack they didn’t need to be, but they took a clean sheet in 26% of their away games so both teams to score at bet365 is a good option at 8/11 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 6:33 p.m. on May 8th, 2018). They will be a bigger threat back at Craven Cottage where they have been so strong for so long. The Cottagers have scored in each of their last twelve league away games and they scored 64% of their away goals in the second half of matches.
Derby v Fulham Head to Head
Fulham took four points from their two meetings with Derby this season. There was a 1-1 tie between them at Craven Cottage before the Cottagers edged a 2-1 away win at Pride Park. From the eight previous Championship meetings between them, Derby are W3 D3 L2 so are slightly up. Derby have won three of their last four home games against the Cottagers. Both teams have scored in each of the last five meetings.
Derby v Fulham Betting Odds*
Fulham 7/5, Derby 9/5, Draw 12/5* (Betting Odds taken at 2:23 a.m. on May 8th, 2018)
Derby v Fulham Predictions
Derby just got their act together on home soil at the right time to get over the finish line and into the top six. The big question is just how much confidence will Fulham have lost having had their undefeated streak snapped. The Cottagers should be good enough to go and hold out for a draw.
