From the Press Box: Sessegnon in contention to play SW6 Derby

Jack Kelly updates us from Silva's pre-Derby presser.

The SW6 derby is always highly anticipated - and rightly so. The last three fixtures between has thrown up plenty of drama, controversy and talking points.

A comment on my latest TikTok filmed after the press conference this afternoon read: “SW6 Derby doesn’t exist.”

This bot couldn’t be more wrong. Every club has games that mean more to the fans than others. As I seem to recall, the away fans were singing many anti-Fulham songs at the Cottage in April during their 1-2 win. I think they care about this fixture more than your average neutral fan thinks.

After the madness of Sunday, Fulham will be fired up for this one for many reasons. Josh King may play no part in the Derby tomorrow evening, but no-one has forgotten the events that took place in the reverse fixture in August.

One player who may feature is Ryan Sessegnon. We were treated to some good news from Marco Silva to kick-off the presser.

“Same (team) news, apart from Sessegnon, who can be in contention for the game. No Tete, King and Muniz."

That’s a welcome boost given the versatile nature of Ryan’s game. With Jedi flying, we could see Sess feature at some point on either flank, a position Fulham are short in.

What I liked about today’s press conference, was that Silva, in an almost three-minute long answer, expressed essentially the same feelings as all the fans did after Sunday’s game, regarding Florian Wirtz’s controversial equaliser.

Having had time to look back at the images, Silva felt the goal should not have stood. An opinion that 99% of the footballing world also had. He confirmed that Fulham have not yet hard back from PGMOL, and I’m sure the club will patiently wait for some sort of explanation

“Now, I have more images, different tools. For me, I cannot believe how that goal was allowed, it was a clear offside. We are still waiting for feedback from the Premier League. Everyone had the same opinion, it was clear. It's much more than 5cm in my opinion”, said Silva.

“Against Palace at home, our goal from Smith Rowe was disallowed, it was not 5cm, probably half a nail of Chukwueze. The goal was disallowed, what's happened to this game? The tolerance was not spoken about then."

He’s bang on. It just further fuels the narrative that Fulham have been on the end of some shocking, shocking decisions this season. We now next play an opponent against whom one of the worst VAR decisions was made.

Silva said he believes at the end of the season, everything will balance itself out, which is a take I’ve peddled for years. I hope we get something go in our favour tomorrow, or better still, we outclass our opponents - enough to claim all three points.

I’m fired up, the fans are fired up, the players are fired up - and Silva is fired up for this one. Let’s leave everything out on the pitch and pray we get a Carlos Vinicius moment from Jonah Kusi-Asare.

Up the Fulham.