Fulham are in serious danger of being demoted to the Championship at the end of the season. The Cottagers are in second-to-last place with just 17 points through 26 matches, and they are eight points from safety with a third of the year left to play. Getting demoted right before the new television contract is set to kick in would deal the club a crushing blow, and it would probably take some time for them to make it back to the Premier League. That’s why they can no longer settle for draws and must go for a win against West Ham United this week.
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EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
West Ham United -120
Fulham +305
Draw +273
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
West Ham have no such concerns. The Hammers might only be nine points clear of the drop, but they are in 10th place and there are a lot of teams that need to make up a decent amount of ground on them before they feel worried. They have achieved the results they need in recent weeks, drawing at home against Liverpool and on the road against Crystal Palace to stay at the front of the middle of the pack.
The Cottagers have just one win in their last six matches, but to be fair to the club, three of those defeats came at the hands of Big Six opponents. That has been a silver lining, as Fulham now only have to play three more Big Six clubs the rest of the year, and they will have an easier time against middle of the pack teams. Their one win was a 4-2 win over Brighton, where they shook off a 2-0 halftime deficit to storm back with four second half goals.
Key Injuries
Injuries continue to hit West Ham hard. The Hammers will not have Carlos Sanchez, Winston Reid, or Andriy Yarmolenko for the rest of the season, and Jack Wilshere will be out for another two months. Manual Lanzini and Fabian Balbuena Gonzalez are both listed as questionable for this one, while Samir Nasri is doubtful.
Alfie Mawson is a long-term injury for the side of Fulham, but manager Claudio Ranieri believes he will return at some point this season. Marcus Bettinelli will miss the match and has no timetable to return after undergoing knee surgery, and Havard Nordtveit is listed as probable.
Player to Watch
Lukasz Fabianski has had a fantastic first season with West Ham. The former Arsenal and Swansea City man has been the busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League this campaign, making 101 saves in 26 matches, and he has been a big reason why the Hammers are safe. Even though his defense has had some issues, he has stood tall, and he is likely to earn himself a deserved raise.
Previous Meeting
Fabianski was great in posting a clean sheet in West Ham’s 2-0 win over Fulham in mid-December. He stonewalled Aboubakar Kamara, and the Hammers put on the clamps after goals from Michail Antonio and Robert Snodgrass in the first half. West Ham would love a repeat performance.
Prop Bet – Under 2.5 Goals +110
Given West Ham’s injury situation and position in the table, they are largely content to rely on Fabianski. The Hammers have scored just two goals in their last four Premier League tilts, and they will probably play a more defensive style given Fulham’s penchant for bombing forward.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I think the draw is a likely option here, even though it’s not what the Cottagers need. West Ham are playing more defensively, and the goal is to just get points.
English Premier League Odds: Fulham 1, West Ham United 1
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