Boro's resurgence to continue at Fulham
Fulham host in-form Middlesbrough in the Friday night Championship match-up. Will Boro be able to continue their recent run at one of the division’s high-flyers? Have a read of our preview here:
Fulham not quite there
Fulham have had a really good season but because West Brom and Leeds are doing so well, it has gone a little unnoticed. Scott Parker has been showing he can cut it at a club with big ambitions, in the most competitive league in world football.
The Championship is a ruthless cauldron of fallen giants, hopeless wannabes and ambitious dreamers. It can chew you up and spit you out faster than a cheap washing machine gets through socks.
Fulham’s rise up the divisions seems a long time ago, and indeed, in relative terms it was but they have to believe their rightful place is in the Premier League and most of their players should be plying their trade at the top level.
Parker has got to find a way of making them more consistent. Apart from a run of four straight wins in November, the campaign has been littered with some untimely defeats which is why they are not quite up there with the Baggies or Bielsa’s Leeds.
They will find a resurgent Boro a tough test but will still be considered favourites to take all three points on Friday following an important, albeit, slender victory over Hull last weekend.
They couldn’t, could they?
There were some genuine discussions about whether Middlesbrough should sack Jonathan Woodgate back in November and those dissenting voices had a point. The club had only won twice in 17 games prior to a late November victory over Barnsley.
Since then they have won six in the last 10 and lost just twice in twelve. This form has seen Boro climb to within eight points of the play-offs. That is still a tall order but four wins in the last five including away wins at Preston and West Brom, have got fans believing again.
This trip to Fulham and an away game at Brentford in the next four matches could be season-defining but Middlesbrough no longer have to concern themselves with a relegation battle and the jury that was out on Woodgate may have to stay adjourned for a little while longer yet.
Fulham v Middlesbrough betting tip
Fulham are the clear favourites to win on Friday and that is no surprise given their league position but Boro’s recent form has us willing to back them in a double chance win or draw at odds of 5/6 with betfair.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
Fulham just sneaked victory here with a 1-0 win