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As Fulham prepare for their second Championship play-off semi-finals in three years, Prost International sought the views of fans about their prospects.
Alan Drewett Jr is a regular contributor to the respected fansite and podcast, Fulham Focus.
Matt Boisclair, Jonny Mac, Done Love, Matthew Bakdwin, Morgan Calton, Matt Domm and others present the podcast, the most recent edition of which, looking back on their 1-1 draw at Wigan, you can download here.
The fansite has a team of five writers not including Drewett himself who occasionally contributes.
Ahead of the two legged semi-final against Cardiff, which will send one side to Wembley for a play-off final, and end the other club’s season, Drewett spoke to Prost International and began by revealing a guilty secret which the others on FF surely won’t under any circumstances hold against him:
“Before the season started, I actually predicted Leeds and West Brom to gain promotion through automatics and Cardiff to get promoted via the play offs.
“I hope I am not proved a football genius.”
Having confessed, he turned his mind to the upcoming challenge and how much of an indicator form will be. Cardiff have won three straight matches while Fulham are unbeaten in seven. The sides last met at Craven Cottage as recently as July 10, with Fulham winning 2-0.
Drewett sees a a few potential indicators there:
“In the play offs, I think it is fair to say form somewhat goes out of the window. Having taken four points off Cardiff this season, I am confident we can beat them over the course of two legs. The most recent game at the cottage was a 2-0 victory but in all honesty, it could have been four or five.
“I am hoping that will have an effect on the Cardiff players but it could also have the adverse effect and make them hungrier to set the record straight.
“We seem to have developed a playing rivalry with the Welsh club, we got promoted together two seasons together and got relegated together last season.”
Fulhams fans are known for many things, most of them good, but large degrees of undiluted confidence are rare.
“I have not been confident all season of our chances of promotion due to the fact our style of football is too slow and lethargic at times.
“After the return of football after the pandemic put everything on a halt, with two defeats against Brentford and Leeds. Since then, we have gone undefeated and started to look better as a unit. Looking at the other three teams competing in the play offs, the only team I am most concerned about would be Swansea.
“I feel the recent failure of Brentford to win automatic promotion will see them struggle to overcome a determined Swansea side who overcame a five goal overhaul at the expense of Nottingham Forest who I really was expecting to face.
“I do feel because we don’t concede many goals, the play off structure may work in our favour.
“Am I confident? Well .. perhaps. Do I think we will go up? Yes.”
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In some ways, the three month break benefited Fulham.
One positive since the restart is the re-emergence of defensive midfielder Harrison Reed from injury. That was predicted. The unpredictable other bonus was the new and amazingly improved form of Neeskens Kebano.
Drewett thinks this could be a difference maker:
“Since the return of football, Kebano has been given more of a chance under Scott Parker to showcase how good he is.
“I have been really impressed with him and as it looks like we may be without Ivan Cavaleiro, he could be a huge factor in our play off campaign.
“He has scored three goals in his last two games and has established himself as a set piece specialist. He’s not afraid to take risks with the ball at feet and his willingness to run with the ball will certainly help us create more chances.
“As a team over the course of 46 games, we simply have not created enough chances. The impact of Kebano can certainly be an added bonus for Parker and Fulham.”
Drewett mentioned that rivalry where the two clubs seem to be perennially at the same end of the same division.
More flip than flop. Neeskens Kebano’s late from has been a bonus for the Cottagers
Photo: Fulhamfc.com
There is a difference though. Whereas Fulham have had to rely on play-offs, Cardiff City’s two promotions to the EPL have come by dint of finishing in the top two.
That means however, that City have less experience at the upcoming format, while many of Fulham’s current staff went through the two legs with Derby and the final against Aston Villa in 2018.
That might matter according to some but Drewett points out that it actually didn’t the last time Fulham went into the play-offs:
“We still have the core of players from that season so they know what it is about and they know what they have to do.
“That season we beat Aston Villa at Wembley, everyone tipped them to beat us due to that experience but we defied the odds so it may not make too much difference. I’m not counting on it.
“If we manage to get through to the final, then it is 90 minutes of football where anything can happen.
“However I am confident with the quality we have in our side, it will be enough to be playing Premier League football next season.”
Coming tomorrow: Prost International owner Steve Clare looks at Fulham’s chances, and previews of Brentford v Swansea.
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