Fulham's Premier League survival hopes hinge on their home match against Hull City this Saturday. The Cottagers are rooted to the bottom of the standings with only two points from their opening six games, making the fixture at Craven Cottage a critical one. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa has stressed the importance of the game, with his team needing to improve their goal minutes, having scored all six of their league goals this season in the second half of matches.
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic acknowledged the challenge ahead but insisted his side are ready. "We had a good recovery and a short week for us, but now they're all ready for Saturday," he said. Jakirovic described Fulham as having been unlucky in some games this season and noted that every head coach, including Arbeloa, is under pressure. He expects a tight contest, stating his team can play 50-50 games against Fulham despite not being favourites.
Fulham's form shows one win in their last five matches, a sequence that includes a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich last time out. They have scored six goals but conceded ten, leaving them with a negative goal difference and 16 points adrift of the leaders. The team's stats reflect a struggle for consistency, particularly in converting chances. After this match, Fulham's next fixture is a daunting trip to face league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, a fact that only amplifies the need for points now.
Hull City's outlook
Jakirovic has a full squad to choose from, with players like Hidemasa Morita and Matt Targett available. Mohamed Belloumi has returned from international duty with some fatigue, which the coach described as normal. Hull, sitting in eighth place, have shown more resilience and will look to exploit Fulham's defensive vulnerabilities.
Fulham's attacking options
For Fulham, Joe Gelhardt remains a key option. The 24-year-old scored against Everton and netted 15 goals last season, though Arbeloa has noted a lack of rhythm after the forward missed pre-season with injury. Another forward, Oli McBurnie, is yet to score in his six appearances for Hull this term, but Jakirovic believes a goal will come if chances are created for the 30-year-old Scotland international. The availability of all players will be confirmed on the injuries page ahead of kick-off.
The match kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday at Craven Cottage. Fulham's last home game was a 1-1 draw with Manchester United, and they will be desperate to improve on that result. The immediate focus is squarely on securing three points to climb off the foot of the table, with all future fixtures looking more manageable if they can secure a vital home victory.
More detail at bbc.com
