Fulham to seal Premier League promotion
Fulham meet Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final on Saturday May 26th. The two sides split their regular season meetings, and now, the clubs will compete in a game that will mean millions of pounds to the winner.
Fulham came from behind in their semifinal tie against Derby to seal a place in the final. Down 1-0 late in the second-leg, Fulham's teen sensation Ryan Sessegnon scored a dramatic equaliser. Minutes later, Denis Odoi's header sent the Cottagers to Wembley.
Aston Villa didn't have much difficult in their progression to the final. Steve Bruce's team ground out a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the first leg before finishing a 0-0 stalemate to earn a place at Wembley.
Slavisa Jokanovic's team have made a living on its possession-based attack. Fulham recorded the Championship's best possession rate at 57.9%. The Cottagers starved opponents of the ball as they bided their time before cutting through defences. Against Derby in the second leg, Fulham didn't worry or press hard for a goal. The team's possession and passing (83.1%, the highest in the Championship) broke down Derby's defence after a matter of time. Fulham are not a big team that will battle opponents in the air. So, Odoi's headed goal was a little uncharacteristic. The club was bottom of the Championship in aerials won with just 16.6 per game.
Bruce's Aston Villa were defensively sound throughout the season. The club gave up 42 goals, the third fewest in the league. John Terry and company were rock solid, but in their last meeting with Fulham in February, the Villains conceded twice in defeat. Bruce will hope to have Ahmed Elmohamady back in his starting XI for the final. The full-back missed out on the semifinals through injury. Elmohamady played 44 times during the season for Bruce and provided an important role for the club.
Aston Villa's slender 1-0 advantage over two legs with Middlesbrough should worry Bruce. The club was winless in their final two matches of the regular season, drawing with Derby before losing to Millwall. Aston Villa haven't completely recovered from those two matches and failed to get their attack into gear against Middlesbrough. Miles Jedinak's header was to thank for the club's progression to Wembly.
Jokanovic has a full-strength Fulham squad going into the final on May 26th. Compared to Aston Villa, Fulham play smooth, sexy attacking football; and it is that fluid attack that will win the Cottagers the match. Bruce did win the playoff final in 2016 with Hull, but this time around, he is playing a far more creative attacking side. Fulham will win the Championship playoff final and return to the Premier League once more.
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