Fulham vs Oldham Predictions

It’s been a miserable return to the top flight for Fulham this season. Sunday’s hosts have already parted company with one manager, while their new boss is yet to really find the cure. The Cottagers find themselves four points short of safety and they come into this match having lost 4-1 last time out. A win against League Two opponents is a must.

It’s absolutely no secret that Fulham have found it very tough to come to grips with Premier League football, though this match presents the Cottagers with an excellent opportunity to build some confidence ahead of their next top-flight assignment. Oldham ply their trade in the fourth tier of English football, so if the hosts bring their best game, then they can treat their fans to a rare victory.

In the Premier League, defending has been a big problem for Fulham, though Claudio Ranieri’s men aren’t likely to be tested anywhere near as much by League Two opposition. Oldham are no mugs at their own level but going away to a top-tier side and causing serious problems is likely to be a step too far for the side that currently occupies 10^th place in their own division.

From an attacking point of view, the Cottagers haven’t been that poor, especially on their own patch. With players such as World Cup winner Andre Schurrle and promising winger Ryan Sessegnon in their ranks, they’re capable of creating chances, while in Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ranieri certainly has some firepower at his disposal. Sunday’s hosts are averaging a reasonable 1.54 expected goals for at home in the Premier League, which bodes well ahead of a match against inferior opposition.

Fulham may have struggled to score regular goals in recent Premier League matches, but they created plenty lately at home against Huddersfield. On that occasion, Ranieri’s men recorded 2.53 expected goals. If they can deliver a similar performance against an Oldham side that is unlikely to provide anywhere near the level of resistance that the Terriers did, then it would be a big surprise if the hosts didn’t run riot.

Oldham have delivered some reasonable defensive performances away from home in League Two this season, but they’ve also had a few shockers. For example, they recently conceded six goals away against Carlisle, while they also shipped three on the road to Stevenage.

All things considered, this is a massive opportunity for Fulham to give their fans something to cheer about and they’re expected to grab said opportunity with both hands. Against fourth division opposition, ‘Fulham to Score Over 2.5 Goals’ gets the nod. Having delivered some promising attacking efforts at home of late, Ranieri’s men can now start to find the net with regularity.