Preview: Blackpool vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Fulham will look to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship standings when they face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a couple of good results on the road, Blackpool are still searching for their first victory since promotion from the third tier.

Match preview

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While some sections of Fulham supporters would have had reservations about the appointment of Marco Silva, the Portuguese has taken just six matches to eradicate each of those doubts.

Five successive wins in all competitions have generated nothing but positivity at Craven Cottage, club officials helping matters by bringing in Nathaniel Chalobah as a replacement for Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa.

The remainder of Fulham's star men have all remained at the club, only increasing expectations regarding an immediate return to the Premier League.

Nevertheless, their 3-0 demolition of rivals Stoke City before the international break suggested that Fulham will relish the target which will be on their backs this season.

Despite the performances of Fabio Carvalho dominating the headlines, Aleksandar Mitrovic has already contributed four goals and two assists in the second tier.

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On the back of shipping 10 goals in their last five games in all competitions, Blackpool boss Neil Critchley would have certainly preferred different opponents this weekend.

That said, the comeback draw at Bournemouth is still relatively fresh in the memory, the performance giving reasons for supporters of the Tangerines to be optimistic about their future.

Another wave of new signings will need time to settle to life in the North-West, but Critchley can have no complaints regarding the options that he has at his disposal.

While Blackpool failed to record a point at home before the international break, their last league fixture at Bloomfield Road came back on August 17.

Team News

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Blackpool will be without defender Callum Connolly after the right-back was sent off in the defeat at Millwall.

Dujon Sterling or Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel will come in for their debut, while Kevin Stewart will be considered for a recall after his 23-minute cameo at The Den.

Despite playing 86 minutes for Northern Ireland on Wednesday night, Shane Lavery should keep his place in attack.

Harry Wilson is expected to miss out for Fulham after being withdrawn during the first half of Wales' draw with Estonia, while Antonee Robinson is unlikely to be considered as a result of representing the United States on Wednesday night.

Joe Bryan and Ivan Cavaleiro are in line to feature from the start, but Chalobah and Domingos Quina could begin the game on the substitutes' bench.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Maxwell; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Garbutt; Bowler, James, Dougall, Anderson; Yates, Lavery

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Odoi, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan; Onomah, Seri; Cavaleiro, Carvalho, Cordova-Reid; Mitrovic

We say: Blackpool 0-2 Fulham

With several players having been away on international duty, Fulham may not look as fresh as they did during August. Nevertheless, the Cottagers should have more than enough quality to negotiate the contest in the North-West.