Fulham’s home form for the remainder of the season will no doubt decide whether the Whites are able to stay up this season. Tonight’s match against Leicester will provide a good test for the squad who have shown signs of improvement and competitiveness in both of the matches under new manager Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian has just a single injury concern after second half substitute Floyd Ayite picked up an injury in the SW6 derby on Sunday. Tonight’s game will be the first time Ranieri has been able to pick from a virtually fully fit first-team squad since he took over and it will be interesting to see who starts in midfield. The drafting in of Stefan Johansen to midfield after Andre Schurrle pulled out on the eve of the Chelsea game didn’t really work and you would expect the German World Cup winner to regain his place in the starting line-up. Who fills one of the deep-lying holding midfield slot is a fascinating question. Kevin McDonald hasn’t had much of a look in or late, whilst Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa marked his return to training with a long-range screamer.
The revelation in recent weeks has been the form of Calum Chambers. So abject just a few weeks ago at right back in the devastating defeat to Cardiff, the Arsenal loanee has returned as an all-conquering defensive midfielder. Slavisa Jokanovic played him there at Anfield where Chambers added a bit of much-needed bite to a previously rather feeble Fulham midfield and he has gone on since then. His performance at Stamford Bridge was by far his best in a Fulham shirt – it was just unfortunate that the clearest chances fell his way on a day when the Whites were in the derby for long periods but couldn’t find a goal.
Tonight’s visitors Leicester have a few injury concerns of their own. England World Cup hero Harry Maguire and Rachid Ghezzal will reportedly not be travelling down to London for the game, whilst star striker Jamie Vardy could be facing a late fitness test. The Foxes will be looking for their second victory in the space of four days at the expense of Ranieri, who guided them to that shock league title win in the 2015-16 season. With Leicester proving hard to beat as of late and us trying to adapt to Ranieri’s way of football, I full expect a tough game tonight. I do however expect to see goals and I am hoping Aleksander Mitrovic can be the difference between the two sides.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Leicester City
