This time next week the butterflies will be fluttering like mad in our stomachs as we head towards Wembley for what is the biggest match Fulham will have played for many a year when they take on Aston Villa for a place in the Premier League.
Although Fulham finished five points ahead of Aston Villa it counts for nothing in what is described as the fixture with the richest financial prize available in sport going to the winner.
As the game approaches we’re going to up our coverage of what should be a unique event and one we’re hoping will be, for all the right reasons, a memorable one for Fulham supporters.
In this article, we’re going to briefly feature three Aston Villa players we feel spell the most danger when it comes to Fulham achieving their goal.
The first of the trio is Jack Grealish, a player who has come back from some troubled times to flourish under the guidance of Steve Bruce. Still just 22-years-of-age, Grealish will present a threat with his skills, powerful running and an eye for producing defence-splitting passes. Although Grealish doesn’t get as many goals as his manager would like him to, Slavisa Jokanovic will need to ensure he isn’t allowed to dominate the midfield area of the pitch creating chances for others.
The second of the trio is Robert Snodgrass. A Scottish international, Snodgrass has seen his career take an upward turn after joining Aston Villa on loan from West Ham. Signed by the Hammers from Hull City, things didn’t work out for Snodgrass in East London, but Steve Bruce has got the best out of a player he had under his wing when both were at Hull City. Fulham will need to be aware of Snodgrass’ set-piece ball delivery skills.
The third of the trio is the old war-horse, John Terry. Although Terry’s advancing age has seen his defensive abilities wane, he still remains a formidable organiser of a defence and his leadership skills stand him head-and-shoulders above most others. Aston Villa will be banking on John’s experience to stabilise their ambitions on what could be a nervous occasion for some of the younger members of the team. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how Mitrovic gets on against Terry and his central defensive partner, James Chester.
COYW’s