Fulham’s day of destiny is fast approaching.
A trip to St Andrews, to take on Birmingham City, could see the Cottagers automatically promoted to the Premier League, or see them face the lottery of the play-offs, a system that broke our hearts last time out.
Sat here in the editorial chair, I’ve assembled all those lucky charms I hope will affect the result including a four-leaved clover, a lucky rabbits foot plus other bits and pieces.
But, does luck really play a part or is it all down to fate?
Ahead of the game, we’ve had a dabble in the world of statistics to see if we can really expect to get a win, against Birmingham City, that may, if results go our way, see the Cottagers promoted.
Here’s what we’ve uncovered;
• It is an eternity since Fulham last completed a Football League double over Birmingham, you have to go back as far as the 1952 / 1953 season.
Not a good omen!
• Birmingham City haven’t lost on the final day of the league season in any of the last 6 Championship campaigns, drawing 3 and winning 3 fixtures.
Not a good omen!
• The last 3 Championship games in which the Birmingham City manager, Garry Monk, has managed teams against Fulham, have all ended 1-1.
Not a good omen!
• Fulham enter the fixture on a run of 23 games unbeaten in the Championship, winning 18 and drawing 5, it is the longest current run of any side in the top four tiers of English football.
A good omen!
• When it comes to goals scored, Birmingham don’t fare well, their top-scorer is Sam Gallagher, with a miserly 6. When it comes to the other members of the squad 12 different players have scored, both these statistics are a Championship low.
A good omen!
• The last time Birmingham City won back-to-back league matches against Fulham was way back in 1991.
A good omen!
COYW’s