Swansea City vs Fulham tips

Top Six Contenders Clash

After a busy midweek schedule, the Championship returns on Saturday with a huge clash in the playoff chase. Both Swansea and Fulham sat in the top five after their midweek results, but the pair go head to head this week in search of vital points towards their push for the Premier League.

However, Fulham were pre-season contenders for the top flight, while Swansea are a surprise package in the promotion race. There’s certainly a gulf in ability and squad depth despite their similar positions. Will those two vital factors tell following a busy week for both sides?

Dip for the Swans

While the home side remain in the chase for the top six, but there are signs that they are running out of steam. the Swans have had massive problems in front of their own fans, having lost three of their last four at home ahead of this meeting with Fulham. Their playoff push is now relying on their strong away record, but will their form at the Liberty haunt them here?

The hosts have major issues up front, with the goals drying up for them at home. While Swansea have scored 11 goals in nine home matches, they’ve hit only three across their last six. The Welsh side create plenty of chances here, but they are too wasteful. They’ve converted just 8% of their attempts at home, while Fulham on the road have conceded just 7% of the shots they’ve faced.

When you combine that defensive record with the league’s top scorer – 13-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic – is points to danger for the Welsh side this week.

Fulham Can Punish Swans’ Form

That poor run from the Swans should cost them in this clash. The Cottagers have found their feet in recent weeks, with three straight wins behind them in the league. They’ve managed to climb into the mix for the playoffs as a result, but that’s all we really expected from a side as talented as Fulham’s. The visitors come here with a strong side and that makes them worthy favourites.

Meanwhile, the way Swansea have fared of late suggests they’ll have a tough time here. They have won just twice in eight, while they are now winless in three following their midweek draw with Huddersfield. However, it’s the hosts’ record at the Liberty which worries us the most, while that makes Fulham look like the side to back here.

Fulham’s away games this season have been quite tight, just 25% saw over 2.5 goals scored. I can see this one being quite low scoring, while Swansea’s form suggests it will be close. The Welsh side have lost by a single goal in 75% of their defeats in the league this season, while Fulham are fresh from a 1-0 victory at Birmingham. Following the Swans’ low scoring home form, i expect this one to go the same way, so a 1-0 away win is our correct score pick here.