Fulham will be looking to consolidate their place in the top 10 of the Premier League when they play host to Leeds United at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, are seeking to bounce back from successive heavy defeats as they bid to steer themselves away from the hotly-contested relegation battle.
Match preview
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Fulham ended a run of five successive defeats in all competitions, including four straight Premier League losses, when they secured a 3-1 top-flight victory away against Everton last weekend.
Harrison Reed's 22nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Dwight McNeil 10 minutes before the interval, but second-half strikes from Harry Wilson and Daniel James helped the Cottagers take away maximum points from Goodison Park.
Fulham's hopes of securing a European place for next season are slim as they currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and seven points behind seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, who have a game in hand. Nevertheless, Marco Silva's side are exceeding expectations this term and securing a top-10 spot would represent a respectable finish for last season's Championship title winners.
The Cottagers enter Saturday's encounter after losing their last two home matches without scoring against Arsenal and West Ham United, but they can be confident of success against Leeds having already beaten them twice this season, with a 3-2 top-flight win at Elland Road in October followed by a 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round success on home soil in February.
Silva and co will be looking to register their first league double over the West Yorkshire side since 1959-60, and a victory is also required if they wish to build positive momentum ahead of a tricky run of fixtures against in-form Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.
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Eight days after suffering a humbling 5-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, Leeds were dealt another disappointing blow in their quest to avoid the drop when they were thrashed 6-1 on home soil by Liverpool on Monday night.
Trailing 2-0 at half time, the Elland Road faithful were given hope when Luis Sinisterra pulled one back less than two minutes after the interval, but three goals within the space of 12 minutes put the Reds back in control before Darwin Nunez completed the rout with a sixth for the visitors in added time.
Leeds now have the worst defensive record in the Premier League so far this season having conceded a total of 60 goals from their 31 matches, shipping a third of their top-flight goals (20) across their last six matches.
The Whites remain embroiled in a relegation scrap as they currently sit 16th in the table, just two points above the bottom three, and Javi Gracia has urged his side to "improve as quick as possible" if they are to pull away from danger.
However, success on the road could prove challenging this weekend having only picked up nine of their 29 points this season away from home, while they have lost all five of their Premier League matches in London this term, conceding 16 goals in the process.
Team News
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Fulham striker and top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic will serve the fourth of his eight-game suspension this weekend and will not be available for selection until May 13.
The Cottagers are also without injured duo Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) and Layvin Kurzawa (knee), while Daniel James – on loan from Leeds – is ineligible to face his parent club.
The absence of James will likely see Carlos Vinicius lead the line, while Wilson could retain his place on the right flank ahead of Bobby Decordova-Reid and Manor Solomon.
As for Leeds, Tyler Adams (thigh) and Stuart Dallas (thigh) both remain sidelined through injury, while injury-prone striker Patrick Bamford sustained a calf issue in the defeat to Liverpool and is a doubt for Saturday.
Gracia is sure to ponder changes, particularly in defence, following the last two performances, with captain Liam Cooper, Maximilian Wober and Luke Ayling all looking to force their way back into the starting lineup.
Midfielder Adam Forshaw will be looking to start his first Leeds game since December at the expense of either Marc Roca or Weston McKennie, while Sinisterra – who limped off with a lower leg issue against Liverpool – should be fit to continue on the left flank ahead of Wilfried Gnonto.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Ream, Tosin, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Vinicius
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Wober, Firpo; McKennie, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Rodrigo
We say: Fulham 2-1 Leeds United
While Leeds have had no problems finding the net in recent weeks, scoring in each of their last six matches, defensive frailties have ultimately led to their downfall and they cannot afford another woeful showing at the back if they are to turn their fortunes around heading down the home straight.
However, the Whites have already struggled in two meetings with Fulham this term and we believe that the hosts, who managed to cope well without the presence of Mitrovic last time out, will come out on top once again at Craven Cottage.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
