Fulham play host to Blackpool on Saturday afternoon looking to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship standings.

At a time when the Cottagers are searching for their fifth successive win, the visitors have ended an indifferent run of form with back-to-back victories of their own.

Match preview

Without the services of Harry Wilson and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham boss Marco Silva may have had concerns about his side as they went up against Stoke City in the Potteries.

However, despite two goals being conceded for the third successive match, the Cottagers came through with flying colours, posting a thrilling 3-2 win to move one step closer to earning an immediate return to the Premier League.

Solving Fulham's defensive issues will be of increasing concern for Silva, but he would have been satisfied with the impact of Rodrigo Muniz, who scored his fourth goal of the Championship campaign.

The big-money summer arrival has needed to become accustomed to playing backup to Mitrovic, although that only seemed to motivate the Brazilian to make a statement against Stoke.

With five of their next seven league games scheduled for Craven Cottage, Fulham have a window of opportunity to move to the brink of promotion, but they cannot afford any complacency against their next opponents.

Not only did Blackpool prevail when the teams met at Bloomfield Road in September, they have also got back on track with two wins in succession.

Although those victories were three weeks apart, head coach Neil Critchley will be delighted with back-to-back 1-0 triumphs over Hull City and Millwall respectively.

Sitting eight points adrift of the playoffs with 19 matches remaining, there is still scope for the Seasiders to make a bid for the top six.

However, Critchley will realistically be focusing on reaching the 50-point mark as soon as possible, one which would guarantee survival and give them the leeway to play without pressure during the closing weeks of the campaign.

Team News

Fulham will be forced into at least two changes with Antonee Robinson and Bobby Decordova-Reid away on international duty.

Joe Bryan should return at left-back, while either Wilson - subject to recovering from illness - or Anthony Knockaert will replace Decordova-Reid.

Like Wilson, Mitrovic will hope to return from illness in time for this game, while Denis Odoi is in line to replace the injured Kenny Tete.

Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel is likely to deputise at left-back for Blackpool after Luke Garbutt was ruled out for over two months with a knee injury.

Barring any other selection issues, Critchley may stick with the rest of the team which started the Millwall game, providing that he does not switch to a five-man midfield.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Odoi, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan; Cairney, Reed; Kebano, Carvalho, Wilson; Mitrovic

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Sterling, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Lawrence-Gabriel; Bowler, Connolly, Dougall, Hamilton; Madine, Lavery

We say: Fulham 3-0 Blackpool

A week off at this stage of the season has been ideal for Fulham, and we expect to see the benefit at the weekend. While Blackpool have also enjoyed a rest, the home side should have more than enough quality to cruise to victory in West London.

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