Before The Whistle: Fulham v Luton Town

What a difference an international break makes.

The news on Thursday evening that Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed have signed new contracts was not only a bit of a surprise – it was a huge boost after what was a painful transfer window.

For Joao, it puts any doubts about his commitment, at least in the short term, to bed. And for Harrison, it’s a richly deserved acknowledgement of his impact at the club since he arrived in 2019.

The news couldn’t have come at a better time, with Luton arriving at Craven Cottage tomorrow. This is a strange game; it’s must-win, but it’s almost lose-lose. Win, and it’s expected, lose – and you’re relegation certs in the eyes of the uneducated. Throw in the fact that we won 7-0 in our last Cottage meeting, and the pressure is immense.

Ream and Diop were the preferred CB partnerships last time out against Man City, and with Ream rested for the USMNT’s second game of the break, you’d expect him to keep his place at the expense of Calvin Bassey.

Bassey’s Nigerian teammate Alex Iwobi is set to be involved; he’s been training at Motspur since his arrival and would hope to make an impact.

Joao will almost certainly slot straight back into the starting XI, giving us a wealth of options in the middle, despite Cairney’s injury.

Hopefully the lads can harness this unexpected injection of the feelgood factor and make it a day to remember as the club celebrates the life of former chairman Mohamed Al Fayed. You Whites.

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None

🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Fulham: ✅ ❌ ⬜ ❌ 
Luton: ❌ ❌ ❌  

⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Fulham: 50.6%
Draw: 26.6%
Luton: 22.8%

🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

May 22: Fulham 7-0 Luton
Dec 21: Luton 1-1 Fulham
Dec 19: Luton 1-1 Fulham
Oct 19: Fulham 3-2 Luton

🎙 NEW PODCAST: State Of Hatters

A look-ahead to the Luton game, plus a round-up of who did what on international duty.

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