Fulham v Burnley predictions: Sean Dyche's men can relegate Cottagers

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Monday's Premier League contest between Fulham and Burnley.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Burnley
1pt 5-2 Coral, Ladbrokes

Team news

Fulham
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is available after being ineligible to face parent club Chelsea last week. Harrison Reed is back in contention but may have to settle for a place on the bench, while Tom Cairney and Terence Kongolo miss out again.

Burnley
Sean Dyche is confident Chris Wood will be fit. Robbie Brady and Kevin Long are the Clarets' only two confirmed absentees.

Match preview

The equation is simple at Craven Cottage on Monday night: if Fulham lose to Burnley then they will be relegated and the Clarets' top-flight status will be confirmed for another season.

With so much at stake a cagey clash seems likely but, as has been the case so often this term, Fulham could come up short.

Fulham are nine points adrift of the Clarets with four games remaining, so in all probability they will need to win on Monday as well as their final three fixtures to avoid relegation. That is a mammoth task when you consider they have won just five times in the league all season.

Only two of Fulham's victories have come at Craven Cottage and their current tally of nine home goals is one fewer than the lowest ever scored in a single Premier League campaign.

Scott Parker insists his side still believe they can beat the drop but having collected just a single point from their last six games, the most recent being last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, confidence is sure to be low.

Burnley haven't been much better of late but appear to have once again ground out enough points to continue their Premier League stay.

Sean Dyche's side were uncharacteristically lacklustre in last Monday's 2-1 home defeat to West Ham, allowing Michail Antonio to net both of the Hammers' goals from unmarked positions. In truth, the scoreline flattered Burnley, who, despite taking the lead, were second best throughout.

However, they do have cause to be optimistic. The Clarets' last away game resulted in a brilliant 4-0 win at Wolves and striker Chris Wood, who netted a hat-trick in that success, is arguably the Premier League's form striker.

Wood's injuries this season have been a contributing factor for Burnley's lowly position but he has scored seven times in as many Premier League games, including a penalty against the Hammers last time out.

The Kiwi limped off late on during that defeat but Clarets boss Dyche has been at pains to stress that his 11-goal frontman will be fit for the trip to Craven Cottage, a ground where Burnley have lost on eight of their last nine league visits.

Burnley did win on their last trip to the Cottage though, triumphing 3-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January. Both managers made wholesale changes for that game and the Premier League meeting at Turf Moor the following month may be a better indication of what will transpire on Monday night.

In a game that perhaps encapsulated Fulham's season, the Cottagers took the lead after 49 minutes, only to concede an equaliser three minutes later. Parker's men were the better side but again let their opponents off the hook in a 1-1 draw.

With Wood expected to be fit and firing and Fulham netting just once in their last three, the Cottagers' battle against the drop could reach its conclusion.

Key stat

Fulham have won just twice at home this season.

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