Pre-match Report: Fulham

Coming off of a decisive win over Small Heath Alliance, Aston Villa are back at it against an in-form Fulham side which will not be easy.

Steve Bruce has said at his pre-match press conference that Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish are both doubts ahead of the match.

While the loss of two major players for Aston Villa may cause some alarm bells, there are players in the squad who may be able to surprise a few supporters. Andre Green has been itching to get his name back into the starting eleven for Villa, and the injury to Adomah may allow that to happen.

Joshua Onomah will also most likely feature, replacing Grealish as an attacking central midfielder.

Fulham have been on an impressive run over the last five games, winning four games and drawing once.

Not quite as an impressive form as Villa have these days, but it’s still nothing to shake a stick at.

Fulham have attacking options that are able to score all over the pitch. Of the five strikers that Fulham have in or around the first team set-up, those five strikers have scored 17 goals combined.

Aboubakar Kamara has the most goal out of the bunch with 7 goals from the striker position. Ryan Sessegnon has moulded himself into a formidable left-wing player and has 11 goals to his name this campaign.

Sessegnon should be watched as Fulham’s danger man, and the defense of Aston Villa must keep close tabs on him all over the pitch.

Fulham are currently 5th on the Championship table with 52 points from 31 games played. While Fulham are undoubtedly playing for a play-off position in this stage of the season, the gap between fifth position and ninth position is only separated by four points.

There is no question that this game is very important to where Fulham will land on the table, as defeating opposition in a better table position usually counts for a lot more than just points acquired.

The Cottagers have found themselves a rewarding formation at the hands of their manager Slaviša Jokanović, and it seems as if the players are really buying into the belief that they can finish in a promising playoff spot.

After dispatching Birmingham City 2-0 at Villa Park, Aston Villa now sit in the 2nd automatic promotion spot. While Derby County sit right behind Villa by one single point, there has been a real buzz around Villa lately and not only in the Championship.

Odds for Villa to go back into the Premier League are at an all-season high and the reasons could not be more obvious. The players in Claret & Blue seem to have a newfound belief that they can really help get this massive club back to where it belongs.

Whether it be by tactic, camaraderie, or blind luck, Steve Bruce really has Aston Villa firing on all cylinders.

There are fifteen games left to be played in the EFL Championship season and if Aston Villa can keep up their entertaining form and drop points at a minimum, there is no logical reason why they won’t find themselves in the Premier League next season.

On Bruce

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has had a rough go over the past few weeks, dealing with a multitude of personal problems.

Bruce has lauded the support he has received in his trying times by supporters of all different football clubs and personalities.

While football may seem like a fickle business sometimes, it’s nice to see that Steve has received well-wishes and support from fans and supporters from across England and the world in general.

It really is a testament to how well respected Steve Bruce is and Aston Villa are a better club to have a man like him leading the charge.