Fulham vs Chelsea: West London Derby Clash Sure to End In Goal Fest
Saturday 10th September - 12.30
At this stage of the season, six games in, most Premier League betting enthusiasts would have predicted that more than two points would separate these West London rivals.
An even greater percentage of football fans would have expected Thomas Tuchel to still be managing the Blues by mid-September, but the German’s sacking is perhaps less of a surprise when you take into account the history of the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Cottagers Make Strong Start
At the start of the season, Marco Silva’s side were certainly one that got a lot of betting action when it comes to sides that many were expecting to fight the drop. Thus far, the Craven Cottage side have given a very good account of themselves, even more so when you consider their early season fixture list.
Silva’s side have already faced Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, and though they only collected a single point from these games, they arguably deserved much more. Perhaps more importantly, Fulham picked up points from the likes of Wolves, Brentford and Brighton, and their total of eight points from six games is a healthy one.
A lot of the burden for this season rests on the shoulders of Serbian forward Aleksandr Mitrovic, and he’s definitely taken the pressure well. The former Newcastle United man has six goals from six starts and will be keen to face Chelsea’s back-line, which hasn’t exactly shone this season.
At the heart of Fulham’s defence, Silva can rely on American Tim Ream to put in a shift, and there Marco Silva’s side includes a spine that is very much capable of dealing with what the Premier League has to throw at them, and the Portuguese boss will want to see his supporting cast provide ample support.
It will still be a massive task to keep Fulham in the Premier League, but after six games, it seems it’s an achievement that seems far more plausible than when the season first got underway. The longer the club keeps itself well clear of the relegation zone, the better the morale in the dressing room, which will be key in 2022/23.
Chelsea Make Knee-Jerk Decision
Former Borussia Dortmund and PSG coach Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League within a few months of arriving at Stamford Bridge and has also led Chelsea to Super Cup and World Club Cup successes.
Last season he got the Blues to two cup finals and a healthy third-place spot in the Premier League, but six games into the new season, new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly elected to fire the experienced manager.
What makes the decision even more bizarre is that it comes days after the club spent a fortune in the summer transfer market, and they must now start the hunt for an able replacement.
By all accounts, the man most likely to take the job is Brighton’s Graham Potter, and that appointment would be a wise one, but only if he’s given the time to bed in and make a difference, which isn’t usually the way Chelsea treats their managers.
Boehly essentially took a page out of Roman Abramovich’s managerial management style, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few weeks.
Chelsea aren’t having a great season but not an appalling one either. They sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, and it’s been reported that the decision to fire Tuchel was made prior to their Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
It seems unlikely that Chelsea will have a new manager in place before the weekend, and as such, they’ll take to the field with a cloud of uncertainty, and that could play into Fulham’s hands.
Best Bets
Back Fulham to Pull Off Derby Win - 16/5
Now is the right time for Silva to face their local rivals, and Boyle Sports are offering nice odds on a home win, and it’s a bet worth taking. Fulham have taken seven points from nine at home and will have no fears of facing this Chelsea side.
The last time Fulham beat Chelsea was way back in 2006, but this may be the best chance the Cottagers have had to replicate that success.
They also offer a tempting 19/10 on a penalty being awarded, which may be worth a flutter.
