Fulham fans wary ahead of Sheffield United clash

Fulham fans cheer at the end of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Fulham at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 26, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Both sides will fancy their chances when Fulham host Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. Two of the lowest scoring teams collide at Craven Cottage, but there will be chances of seeing plenty of goals due to the error prone defences on display.

Marco Silva’s team have been largely inconsistent this season, and at home they don’t have a great record having only scored once.

Since United’s late defeat against Tottenham Hotspur they haven’t been the same team. They looked timid and out of their depth against Newcastle which showed in the 8-0 scoreline. Last time out at the London stadium, the Blades barely laid a glove on West Ham in a 2-0 defeat.

Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades are the only team without a win in the Premier League, many feel they have to get something out of this next fixture, and Fulham fans are in fact wary of United.

Opposition fans

Roy’s view:

“Make no mistake, we are a budget team and we punch above in this league sometimes and we know our limitations so we buckle down and go again Saturday against Sheffield.”

“The main thing for the Sheff Utd game is that we must match their fight and effort. This will be a real battle, and they will see this as a big chance of a win. We must be up for it.”

“I would imagine teams like SHU and other lower table teams looking for points have to be happy to be playing FFC at this time and see an FFC tilt as a means to garnering points. I just want to see a good performance by the boys this Saturday.  I don’t mind losses as long as the lads put in a solid shift, which was absolutely not the case v CHE.  It will be a tough game for FFC, in my view.  I’ll be happy with the narrowest of wins v SHU, but we need 3 points!!!”

“Can we finally admit we are not capable of playing out from the back? Leno needs to kick it long and not f**k about at the back. Sheff Utd will press hard on Saturday, do it again and its suicide.”

Stats

Fulham has secured victories in both of their Premier League home games against Sheffield United, triumphing in 2006/07 and 2020/21, both with 1-0 scorelines.

However, Sheffield United emerged victorious in both of their most recent league encounters with Fulham during the 2021/22 campaign. This marks their first three consecutive wins against the Cottagers since the period between 1985 and 1988. [BBC]

My opinion 

As alluded to in my match preview, this is one of very few games where Sheffield United can come out on top in the midfield battle.

If I was a Fulham fan, the concerning figures this campaign are the lack of goals scored (five), and the high number of errors being committed which are either leading to a shot on target or a goal. And they have conceded three penalties already [SofaScore].

The Blades need all the help they can get to find their first win – Fulham might just give them that on Saturday. United can claim three points on Saturday and score a couple of goals along the way.