Before The Whistle: Fulham v Burnley

Could it be the battle of the young Chelsea loanee strikers this weekend?

OK, so it’s hardly the most titanic of tussles, but the signing of Armando Broja means we were once again active on transfer deadline day – and we once again have a number nine.

Burnley, meanwhile, signed David Datro Fofana midway through the window, and the 21-year-old provided an assist off the bench against Man City in midweek.

The Clarets might be second-bottom of the Premier League, but they’re 17th in the form table – with us a place below us in 18th. Six-pointer? You’d be arrogant to say it’s not. And that’s a problem. Because not only do Burnley have our number at Turf Moor – and they have done for 70 years – they also turned us over quite easily at the Cottage in December – but I’m sure we can all still remember that.

We’re in the middle of a bit of an injury crisis at the moment. Raul Jimenez and Issa Diop both came off injured against Everton on Tuesday – combine that with the fact that Harry Wilson is out with a shoulder issue sustained against Newcastle and Traore continues to be side-lined, and we’re stretched.

Willian will be forced to do another 90 this weekend, and veteran Tim Ream looks to be back int eh fold until Calvin Bassey returns, at the very least. And with the Super Eagles going so well in the AFCON, that could still be a while yet.

Everyone will have to dig deep if we’re to get our first three-point haul from Turf Moor since… well, ever – because when we last won there, in April 1951, it was just two points for a victory. Well, all runs must come to an end sometime, don’t they? You Whites.

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None

🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Fulham: ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ ⬜
Burnley: ❌ ✅ ❌ ❌ ⬜ ❌

⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Fulham: 36.4%
Draw: 29.9%
Burnley: 33.7%

🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

Dec 23: Fulham 0-2 Burnley
Feb 21: Burnley 1-1 Fulham
Jan 21: Fulham 0-3 Burnley
Jan 19: Burnley 2-1 Fulham

🎙 NEW PODCAST: Fulham’s Projectile Dysfunction

We look back at the 0-0 draw with Everton and examine where it leaves us going forward – not least to a bogey ground in Turf Moor on Saturday

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