Before The Whistle: Fulham v Newcastle United

Written by Drew Heatley on 20th September 2024

Is it a decent start to the Premier League for Fulham? Is it not? It’s hard to accurately gauge after four games, but let’s look at the facts. We’re unbeaten in three. We’ve conceded just four goals (albeit it a goal a game with no clean sheets) and we’re comfortably mid-table. It’ll do, right?

We have third-placed Newcastle this weekend, who – despite that lofty position – had a bit of a torrid summer and haven’t impressed hugely on the eye so far this term. But the eye doesn’t determine the Premier League table – so we’ve got to be careful.

We have an absolutely wretched record against the Magpies of late. We’ve lost seven of our last nine meetings, including the last six in a row. To make things even more bleak, we’ve scored just two goals in those games. You have to go back to March 2017 and Sess’s coming out party at St. James’ Park for our last three points.

Our returning starboy is likely to be on the bench on Saturday, despite his MOTM performance in the Carabao Cup (though I’m sure we’d all rather forget that night).

We’ll all be watching closely to see who Marco Silva selects in the nine. Rodrigo Muniz had the chance to bag a confidence-boosting goal or two in midweek, but failed to do so, so it’s likely Raul Jimenez will continue in the XI for now.

But the biggest question will be the make-up of our midfield trio and wingers. Sander Berge looms large over Sasa Lukic, but Pereira’s improved performance against West Ham will likely see him remain in the eight, while ESR continues to impress further up the pitch.

Reiss Nelson bagged on Tuesday and will be looking to muscle in on either wing, such is his versatility. It’s Alex Iwobi who should probably be most concerned by his former Arsenal teammate’s steady rise, but Saturday might come too early.

The season is still in its formative stages, and a win – no matter how unlikely given recent results – could catapult us into the top six. Then it becomes that little bit easier to judge our start. You Whites.