Fulham will be desperate to turn their performances into points when they welcome Hull City to Craven Cottage on Saturday, with Álvaro Arbeloa’s side still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season.
The Cottagers have collected just two points from their opening six league matches, leaving them at the bottom of the table. Their latest setback came at Ipswich Town, where they conceded twice late on to suffer a 2-1 defeat. The result continued a worrying pattern, with Fulham having dropped eight points from winning positions this season.
That inability to see out matches has become a central concern for Arbeloa. Fulham have shown they can compete during spells of games, but their challenge is to maintain control when opponents increase the pressure in the closing stages.
Reflecting on the Ipswich defeat, Arbeloa said:
“It wasn’t easy. It was another game that we were controlling and then we conceded two goals, similar against Man United.”
The Fulham head coach believes his players must continue to trust their approach rather than become cautious when a first league win appears within reach. He explained that the team’s response to pressure, particularly late in matches, will be crucial to changing their fortunes.
“I know we are not in an easy situation, but we need to stay true to our ideas and keep doing the things that put us in front.”
Arbeloa also praised his players’ commitment in training and said they were focused on the challenge ahead. With supporters still waiting to celebrate a league victory, he made their importance clear:
“The only thing we are thinking about is to get the victory for them.”
Hull arrive in London after a 2-2 draw with Everton, a result that demonstrated their ability to trouble established Premier League opposition. Although the Tigers have not recorded a victory since 29 August, their performances have offered encouragement following a difficult opening schedule that included matches against Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic has warned that Fulham should not be judged solely on their position in the table. He believes the hosts have been unfortunate in several matches and expects a difficult contest at Craven Cottage.
“They have been unlucky with some games,” Jakirovic said.
The Hull boss also rejected the suggestion that his side should be considered favourites, emphasising the importance of tactical discipline and energy.
“Every head coach is under pressure. We have to play a good game there and have good energy. I will not say we are favourites, we can play 50-50 games.”
One of Hull’s main attacking threats is Mohamed Belloumi, who has contributed to five goals in six league appearances. The Algerian winger was rested initially against Everton after experiencing fatigue following international duty, but came off the bench to score the equaliser.
Jakirovic said it was understandable that Belloumi needed time to recover and highlighted the options available to him in attack. Joe Gelhardt also found the net against Everton, although the manager noted that the forward was still rebuilding his match sharpness after missing pre-season through injury.
Those attacking options could be important against a Fulham defence that has struggled to protect leads. Hull will hope to exploit any uncertainty in the closing stages, while the hosts must find a way to remain composed if they take the lead.
Fulham have received some positive team news ahead of the fixture, with Antonee Robinson set to return to the squad. However, Hugo Larsson is a doubt because of a groin problem.
“We have a small problem with Hugo and his groin,” Arbeloa said. “We will have to check after the training session but I’m not sure he will be available for tomorrow. All of the other players are fit and available tomorrow.”
Hull have their own selection concerns. Record signing Nobel Mendy is expected to be sidelined for around two weeks with a groin injury, while former Fulham defender Matt Targett is unavailable with an ankle problem. Mohamed-Ali Cho, Lucas Gourna-Douath, Charlie Hughes and Jack Butland are also listed as unavailable in Fulham’s latest match preview.
The stakes are significant for both teams. Fulham need to turn promising spells into a complete performance and secure the first league win that has so far eluded them. Hull, meanwhile, will look to build on their draw with Everton and take advantage of the pressure surrounding their opponents.
With Arbeloa urging his players to remain faithful to their approach and Jakirovic preparing his side to compete without fear, Saturday’s encounter could hinge on which team handles the decisive moments more effectively.
