Fulham play host to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon looking to extend their winning streak in all competitions to three matches.
As for Blackburn, they travel to Craven Cottage without a victory in six games and boss Gary Bowyer is under pressure to move the club away from the drop zone in the Championship.
Fulham
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After no win in their opening four league games, frustration had started to grow at Craven Cottage, but a victory just before the international break has changed the mood at the West London outfit.
Three points at struggling Rotherham United isn't a result that should act as a benchmark for the rest of the campaign, but it could represent a much-needed catalyst heading into a busy few weeks, and Symons will be targeting a place in the top half of the table by the end of the month.
The club has also been boosted by the defensive additions of Richard Stearman and Ryan Fredericks. They may have to bide their time before gaining a place in the starting lineup but Fulham are now strong in that department.
The same can be said further up the pitch too. The team have scored in every game in all competitions this season, including six strikes in the last two fixtures, with record signing Ross McCormack finding the back of the net in both games.
Fulham have plenty of reason to be full of belief heading into Sunday's fixture, but they need to capitalise on the poor form of their opponents. The foundations have been laid and a solid-looking squad has been put together, but they now must find results to give themselves the best chance of promotion.
Recent form: DLLDW
Recent form (all competitions): WLLDWW
Blackburn Rovers
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Last month, Bowyer seemed destined for the sack at Ewood Park after reports emerged that he had been relieved of his duties with Rovers having failed to register a win in their opening five games.
However, the 44-year-old survived, but after overseeing the club's uninspiring draw with local rivals Bolton Wanderers, he will be aware that results must change for the better during the next few weeks.
Transfer embargoes and the loss of key players have hindered Bowyer's attempts to build on their eighth-place finish last season, but he can at least still call upon Jordan Rhodes, who at one point was being targeted by Middlesbrough for a fee of around £13m.
It was bold of the North-West outfit to turn down such a high offer but after losing Rudy Gestede, they may have felt as though they had no choice. The former Huddersfield Town forward needs to find his form, though, with no goals being scored in three appearances.
However, the Scot requires help from other areas of the pitch. Rovers will expect 20 goals out of him this season, but his teammates need to contribute too. The question is, have they got the quality to not only provide goals from other areas of the pitch, but last the distance over the course of what will inevitably be a physically demanding campaign?
Recent form: LDDLD
Recent form (all competitions): LLDDLD
Team News
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Fulham have both Stearman and Fredericks available for Sunday's clash, but the defensive duo may have to be content with a place on the bench after their new side emerged victorious at The New York Stadium two weeks ago.
Cauley Woodrow could be preferred to Moussa Dembele in attack, while Tom Cairney will line up against his former club.
Blackburn will need to replace Modou Barrow on the substitutes' bench after the winger was recalled to parent club Swansea City.
Danny Guthrie and Bengali-Fode Koita could earn a start after coming off the bench against Bolton last time out.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Lonergan, Richards, Ream, Burn, Husband, Cairney, Tunnicliffe, O'Hara, Pringle, McCormack, Woodrow
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Raya, Henley, Duffy, Hanley, Spurr, Conway, Lowe, Guthrie, Marshall, Delfouneso, Rhodes
Head To Head
Blackburn have been triumphant in almost half of the 42 previous meetings between the two sides, with Rovers claiming 20 wins and Fulham just the 13.
The former Premier League champions have also won the last three matches, as well as putting together a four-game undefeated streak.
Fulham also possess a poor record against Blackburn in front of their own fans, with just three successes being recorded in their last 10 attempts.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Fulham 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn may be without a victory this season but they have shown recently that they are capable of keeping it tight in defence. However, with the hosts beginning to look a solid outfit under Symons, we are backing Fulham to run out narrow winners in West London.
Darren Plant
