All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Fulham vs Derby County – Match Preview

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Fulham vs Derby County – Match Preview – The international break gave time for both teams to reflect on their defeats just before it, Fulham losing 2-0 to Wolves and Derby County surprisingly getting beat 4-2 at home to Reading. However, before that, there was a very different trend in form for the two teams, one undefeated in seven and one winless in five.

After finishing in the play-offs last time around, The Cottagers were tipped to have another strong showing this term, but Slavisa Jokanvoic’s Fulham have not picked up a victory since September 29th.

Three defeats in that period have seen the London club fall to 17th in The Championship, but such as the nature of the division, they are nearly as close to Aston Villa in the play-offs as they are to Birmingham City in the relegation zone. In fact, there are just eight points between Middlesbrough in 5th and Hull City in 20th, so a run of form could easily see Fulham back in contention.

Vydra has been in good form for Derby so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Derby County, as previously mentioned, were on a tremendous hot streak that had seen four consecutive victories and no defeats in seven – form that rocketed Gary Rowett’s team into the play-off places.

Jaap Stam’s Reading spoiled the party before the international break however, as The Royals came and turned The Rams over at Pride Park. That defeat allowed Aston Villa to creep ahead of Derby into 6th, but with a game in hand on all the teams above them, The Rams will still be feeling positive and confident of beating Fulham to continue their upward momentum.

Derby’s last two visits to Craven Cottage have resulted in both teams sharing the points and as Fulham have drawn five of their eight home games so far this season, it might well just happen again.

Ryan Sessegnon is attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch

Despite playing in England’s second-tier, Ryan Sessegnon is already a name known throughout the higher reaches of the game due to his constant links with some major clubs, such as Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. The left-back (who can also play in left-midfield), is already surprisingly making a name for himself as a goal-scorer.

The 17-year-old has six in his 41 appearances for Fulham to date but more remarkably, finished as the Golden Boot winner at the u19 European Championships with England in the summer – a tournament the Young Lions went on to win for the first time in history. Watch this space.

 

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Preston North End vs Bolton – Match Preview

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Preston North End vs Bolton – Match Preview – The international break signifies its end with a return to club football action as Preston North End attempt to get out of their rotten slump with a game at Deepdale against a Bolton Wanderers side with a new lease of life.

Completely uncharacteristically for teams in The Championship, generally as things stand these two sides have had rather predictable seasons. Preston are a decent, if unspectacular side and Bolton have struggled upon gaining promotion from League One last term.

However, despite a large gap between the two teams in the table, the form table makes for an otherwise surprising viewing – Preston, who had only lost one of their opening 11 Championship matches, have now lost the last four in a row and have sunk into the bottom half, in 14th position.

Barkhuizen has scored three goals so far for Preston Photo Credit: skysports.com

This run of form is a far cry from what inspired manager Alex Neil, who came in at the beginning of the campaign, to state (at the end of October) that promotion is an achievable goal for his club this year.

In contrasting fortunes, recently, Phil Parkinson’s Bolton have recovered from their woeful start back to life in England’s second-tier and unbeaten in their last five games – a 2-1 victory over Norwich City just before the international break took The Trotters off the foot of the table.

Madine has scored 4 goals for Bolton so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

To put it into context, Bolton had not won a single game in their first 11, losing a massive nine of those in the process. Two wins from the next five have seen a real turnaround and the former Premier League team are now just two points away from exiting the relegation zone and have the momentum to continue the push up the table.

Due to The Lilywhite’s poor form, and Bolton’s own struggles this season both sides can and will view this game as an ideal opportunity to secure some vital points.

 

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Germany vs France – Friendly – Match Preview

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Germany vs France – Friendly – Match Preview – An absolute blockbuster international friendly is in store as World Champions Germany clash with European Championships runners-up France in Cologne.

Joachim Low’s Germany will be seeking revenge for the Euro 2016 semi-final exit at the hands of France, an Antonine Greizmann brace sending the hosts to the final in the massive 2-0 win.

Die Mannschaft have been their usual relentless selves since that crushing defeat, remaining undefeated in their last 20 games after cruising through their World Cup qualification group.

An uninspiring 0-0 draw with an unusually young England team left a lot to be desired, and a victory over one of the favourites in Russia next year will re-establish Germany as top dogs, if they weren’t already.

Werner (right) is likely to lead the attack against France Photo Credit: skysports.com

France’s road to Russia was also relatively trouble-free, topping a group that included Sweden and a lacklustre Netherlands before beginning their preparations with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wales on Friday night – Griezmann and Giroud the goal-scorers on this occasion.

Didier Deschamps has been given a new contract until 2020, and many French supporters are questioning the decision. This has only seen to ramp up the pressure on delivering results, losing to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final was seen as a disappointment and with such an outstanding squad at his disposal success at the World Cup is imperative.

Like European rivals Germany, imposing themselves by beating one of the planet’s best teams could go a long way in obtaining positive momentum heading into next year’s showpiece stage.

Griezmann scored in the last friendly over Wales Photo Credit: skysports.com

It is not often a team can say they have won their previous matches against Germany, but in Les Blues case, it is true – the 2-0 mentioned above and a win by the same score-line in a 2015 friendly. Even rarer is France’s ability to say they have won their last two fixtures away to Germany too, 2-1 in 2012 and 3-0 in 2003.

There is an array of world-class talent on display and this will be an unmissable match where two of the true heavyweights of European and world football battle for superiority.

Team News

The German media’s new golden boy Timo Werner could be set to start up front again as Low looks to address an area of his side that has plagued him in recent years. Sami Khedira, Bernd Leno, Lars Stindl and Mario Gotze could also feature after being left on the bench against England. Notable is the fact the majority of the squad play in the native Bundesliga and that even without stalwarts such as Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng just how strong the team still is.

With the vast attacking options available to Deschamps, players like Nabil Fekir, Anthony Martial and Alexandre Lacazette could be rotated in to the side.
Barcelona’s Lucas Digne, PSG’s Adrien Rabiot and Tottenham Hotspur’s Moussa Sissoko are all players that further signify France’s strength in depth that are hoping to get some game-time.

 

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