Fulham v Sunderland: Cottagers can keep Black Cats quiet

Fulham v Sunderland
Friday 27th April, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports

Fulham aiming for the Premier League

Fulham produced a devastating second-half display to clinch a 3-0 win away at in-form Millwall last Friday night. The hosts enjoyed the better chances in an electric but goalless opening 45 minutes before the Cottagers came to the fore after the break with three goals in a terrific performance.

Ryan Sessegnon, Kevin McDonald and Aleksandar Mitrovic all notched for the Whites; the victory extended Fulham's 22-match unbeaten streak that now stretches back to 16 December as Slavisa Jokanovic's men remain right in contention for automatic promotion.

Jokanovic fielded an unchanged team at The Den and a repeat is expected at Craven Cottage here. Forward Floyd Ayite is unavailable with a hamstring injury picked up earlier this month, with Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo also still sidelined with an unspecified knock.

Sunderland set for the third-tier

Sunderland suffered the ignominy of back-to-back relegations last weekend after leaking two late goals at home to fellow strugglers Burton in a 2-1 reverse. The Black Cats drop down to the third tier for the first time in 30 years and only the second time in their history.

Manager Chris Coleman apologised to the fans and described their fate as "brutally painful" before Sunderland released a statement, in which they admit the club is in a "period of uncertainty" and acknowledged the difficulties surrounding the potential takeover of the club.

The Wearsiders saw the defensive trio of Adam Matthews, John O'Shea and Billy Jones all return to the squad last weekend but Bryan Oviedo and Jonny Williams remain major doubts. Elsewhere, Coleman is still without the services of Donald Love, Lynden Gooch and Joel Asoro for the remaining two games of the season.

Cottagers can keep Cats quiet

Fulham 1.26 are unbeaten in 22 (W17-D5-L0) and have suffered just two defeats since the November international break (W18-D6-L2). The hosts have claimed top honours in nine of their 11 outings and also beaten the -1 handicap in 10 of their 19 encounters in 2018.

The Cottagers recorded clean sheets alongside victories in five of their most recent six contests and with nine of their 12 home triumphs seeing the Whites silence their visitors, a repeat could be on the cards for Friday night. A Fulham win 'to nil' can be backed at 5/4.

Sunderland were the last side to beat Fulham but the Black Cats have managed just W3-D7-L12 thereafter. Chris Coleman's charges have taken two points from their five previous trips to the top-six, grabbing only two goals in the process, suggesting they won't be capable of competing at the Cottage.

Back Sessegnon to score first

The market fully expects a Fulham rout considering the circumstances but with prohibitively-short prices on offer for a goal-heavy game, it might be worth instead venturing in to the Anytime Goalscorer markets.

Aleksandar Mitrovic understandably hogs the top of the betting having scored 13 goals in his past 13 outings but a better value angle might be to support Ryan Sessegnon opening the scoring at 10/3.

The Championship Player of the Season leads Fulham's scoring charts with 15 goals, scored first at Millwall last week, whilst his last two strikes at Craven Cottage against Aston Villa and Wolves have also broken the deadlock.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Fulham to win 'to nil' @ 5/4 in Fulham v Sunderland 

Back Ryan Sessegnon to score first @ 10/3 in Fulham v Sunderland