Fulham’s fine win at Everton last Saturday ended both a miserable run of five dismal defeats in all competitions and the 69 year wait for a victory at Goodison Park in front of the fans. Even Marco Silva had to watch from up above, having been stripped of his touchline privileges following his part in the Manchester United meltdown that has generated so many column inches. The Portuguese head coach left matters in the capability hands of the much more mellow Luis Boa Morte (a couple of decades does change a man, it turns down) and the Whites now welcome a listing Leeds to Craven Cottage this afternoon with their confidence refreshed.

Silva does have a significant conundrum to solve. Carlos Vinicus, whose credentials as a top flight centre forward certainly divide opinion, was dropped after Fulham’s failure to find the net against West Ham in favour of Dan James. This generated several quizzical looks in the corner of the Bullens Road where the travelling fans were piling in as the teams were announced but it turned out to a masterstroke. James played a vital part in two of the goals before clinching the win himself but the Welsh wizard can’t play against his parent club – which leaves Silva with something of a dilemma. Does he turn back to Vinicius, who has scored exclusively in local derbies for Fulham, or try Bobby Decordova-Reid as a false nine: something which didn’t really work at Brighton?

Silva’s return to the sideline is a bit of a good news as it means that the Football Association’s attempt to extend the bans meted out to the Fulham boss and Mitrovic were unsuccessful. The win at Goodison Park was only their third in nine games without the Serbian striker, who will be missing until the trip to Southampton in mid-May. They head into this meeting with Javi Gracia’s side having already beaten Leeds twice this season, although as both Silva and Willian admitted earlier this week, there was an element of fortune about those two successes. The Cottagers showed great grit to come from behind and win a five-goal thriller at Elland Road in October and Leeds created plenty of chances in the FA Cup tie in February that was settled by two stunning strikes from Joao Palhinha and Manor Solomon. A win over Gracia’s side this afternoon would give the Whites a first league double over Leeds since 1960, when Jack Taylor returned to Yorkshire from QPR and promptly took United down.

There’s no doubting the fact that there are a few storm clouds over Elland Road at the moment. Leeds start the day just two points above the relegation zone, having lost 5-1 at home to Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace and then 6-1 against Liverpool in quick succession. Their away form is even more troubling. Leeds have won just twice in fifteen away Premier League trips this season – keeping a single clean sheet – and have let in sixteen goals in four games so far this month. Max Wober may return to plug a few of the gaps, but the continued absence of Tyler Adams in midfield and the underrated Stuart Dallas is a massive double blow. Gracia is likely to make a late decision on the fitness of former Chelsea forward Patrick Bamford, who has been struggling with a calf complaint.

But Leeds are nothing if not unpredictable and they will want to respond to two horrible hammerings in the past six days. They have lost all five of their league trips to London this season, but they faced with a similar record in 2021 Marcelo Bielsa’s side won 2-1 at Craven Cottage to deal a hammer blow to Fulham’s survival hopes. Gracia, whose record has been uneven since he was drafted in following the sacking of Marsch, does at least have plenty of attacking talented to pick from. Jack Harrison has been a thorn in Fulham’s side in previous years, whilst Wilfried Gnonto’s sublime start since signing from Zurich has seen him fast-tracked into the Italian senior set-up. Even Luis Sinisterra has found the net twice in his last three outings doubling his tally from his first fourteen appearances.

There’s no way this will be a walkover and, for all the valid criticisms of the ticket pricing strategy adopted at the behest of Shahid Khan, the home fans will need to whip an atmosphere to match the magnificent and vocal support that Leeds receive wherever they play. Silva is eyeing the 53-point haul achieved by Roy Hodgson’s superb 2008/2009 side as he seeks to make more history in SW6 – and the Whites will need some fortune to fall their way in the absence of the talimsanic Mitrovic if they are to reach that mark.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed; Wilson, Willian, Pereira; Vinicius. Subs: Rodak, Duffy, Adarabioyo, Cedric Soares, Lukic, Cairney, Decordova-Reid, Solomon, Kebano.