Fulham duo Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen celebrate
Fulham duo Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen celebrate

Fulham v Sunderland: Free Sky Bet Championship preview and betting tips


Nick Hext has a 19/5 headline selection for Fulham's clash at home to Sunderland in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night.

Sky Bet Championship recommended bets

1pt Half-Time/Full-Time - Draw/Fulham at 19/5

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record.


Fulham v Sunderland (Sky Sports Main Event, 1945 BST)

There's 16/1 available if you fancy Sunderland to claim their second win of the season against Fulham on Friday night.

I'm not going for the already-relegated Black Cats to spring a surprise and end the 22-match unbeaten run of the Cottagers in the Sky Bet Championship, which started following a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light back on December 16, 2017.

Sunderland's relegation to League One was confirmed last weekend following a 2-1 defeat at home to Burton. Boss Chris Coleman has now looked to the future by introducing youngsters Bali Mumba, Luke Molyneux, Elliot Embleton and Ethan Robson to his squad for the trip south to Craven Cottage.

Mumba is delighted by his introduction to the first-team ranks as Coleman revealed the 16-year-old was able to sit out double biology on Thursday.

Taking on Fulham provides a great football education for Sunderland's prospects and they are lining up against a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

A draw will see the Cottagers move ahead of Cardiff, who take on Hull at 1500 BST on Saturday, and into the automatic promotion places on goal difference.

Victory puts Slavisa Jokanovic's men to a temporary two-point advantage over the Bluebirds with only a trip to Birmingham on the last day of the season to follow.

Slavisa Jokanovic

I'm backing Fulham for the expected three-point haul on Friday and I like the 19/5 available for the Cottagers to win after being level at the break.

The Craven Cottage outfit have claimed five of their previous six victories after being held to a draw at half-time, while Sunderland have only behind at the break in two of their last 11 outings.

Coleman's side could disintegrate and fall to a heavy defeat but I'm backing their recent run of only two defeats in six games to lead to some sort of spirited showing in London.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in their previous three matches on the road, including an impressive 4-1 victory at play-off dwellers Derby, but this is too tough of a task to extend that run.

Fulham will win but expect a few nerves with so much at stake for the hosts at Craven Cottage.

Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Sunderland (Sky Bet's odds: 17/2)

Best bet: Half-Time/Full-Time - Draw/Fulham at 19/5

Alternative: Most goals to be scored in the second half at evens

Preview posted at 1830 BST on 26/04/18

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