Fulham vs. Leeds Betting Tips: Two data-driven picks for the early kick-off

Fulham take on Leeds in Saturday’s early match.  This is a crucial match for the visitors in the fight against the drop and Scott Thornton is on hand with his best bets. 

Fulham were competing for European places up until a run of five defeats put them out of the race. Despite the poor run, the season will be deemed as an overwhelming success for Marco Silva’s team. This is the first season back in the top-flight and the threat of relegation never really loomed. 

They made it to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but it was the events that unfolded in the latter stages of that game that were their undoing. Fulham beat Everton last weekend to end their losing run but many think that the Fulham players could be already on their holidays with very little to play for in the league.  Leeds relegation rivals will certainly hope that isn’t the case

Leeds have been comprehensively beaten in their last two matches. They lost 5-1 to Spurs before being hammered 6-1 by Liverpool. Javi Garcia has the unenviable task of picking his players up and getting them prepared for what will be a massive few weeks for Leeds United. The club's future in the Premier League will almost certainly be decided but their next three results. 

Mitrovic remains suspended for this one. He is Fulham’s top scorer and has been a big miss in recent weeks. Kurzwawa, Kebano and James are also ruled out for the home side. Adams and Dallas are definitely out for Leeds. While Patrick Bamford is unlikely to start.

Clean sheets have been hard to come by for Leeds. They have conceded in nine of their last ten matches with their opponents averaging 2.4 goals per game over that period. Javi Garcia’s team have also proven themselves to be capable of finding the net. They have scored in their last six league matches. They will view this game as an opportunity to pick up some vital points ahead of their matches with fellow relegation candidates.

Fulham are also without a clean sheet in their last six matches.  During that run they are conceding 2.17 goals per game. Marco Silva’s players haven’t been electric in front of goal but they should be able to fashion a couple of good opportunities against this fragile Leeds’ defence. When these teams met earlier in the league earlier this season there were five goals as Fulham won 3-2.

Cards for the visitors is also an appealing angle here. Leeds are averaging 2.53 cards per game across their 15 Premier League away matches (only Fulham have seen more). This cards angle has landed in eight of their last nine away matches in the league. The desperate situation they find themselves in should also contribute to a higher card count.

For our longer odds bet we are also backing goals and cards in this one. There have been four goals or more in five of Leeds’ last six matches and an early goal for either side could see this one open up.

Peter Bankes is in charge of this one and he ranks highly amongst the Premier League referees in terms of cards. His average of 4.38 cards per game is well above the league average of 3.81 cards. This one has the potential to spill over due to its importance for Leeds.