If I asked you for a few words to describe Fulham and their style of play, I’d imagine you’d say something along the lines of solid, hard to beat, and organised, but their clean sheet record over the last few seasons tells a different story.

Fulham have failed to keep a clean sheet across their last 11 matches across all competitions, seeing BTTS in nine of these matches. This isn’t anything new. Fulham only kept five clean sheets across their 38 Premier League matches last term - only the three relegated sides kept fewer shutouts than Marco Silva’s side.

Fulham definitely are a competitive side, but I wouldn’t back them to keep a clean sheet at the moment, given their recent record and the fact that this has been going on for a few seasons. It’s not the case that Fulham are conceding two or three goals a game, but they lack the security to keep opposition sides out - in those 11 games without a clean sheet, they’ve only conceded more than once in four of them.

BTTS landed when these sides met earlier in the season, with Fulham running out 2-1 winners on that occasion. Tottenham simply have to win here and come into this clash having seen BTTS in three of their last five matches across all competitions - setting the stage for goals at both ends. 

It is usually quite common for sides that are battling at the bottom of the table to end up near the top of the foul and card rankings, and Tottenham are no different, with Igor Tudor’s side being deeply frustrated at times this term.

Tottenham have picked up 68 yellow cards across their 27 Premier League matches this term (2.51 per game) - more than any other side in the division. They picked up two cards against Arsenal last time out, and I can see them being prone to frustration again in this clash against a Fulham side that should smell blood.

Tottenham picked up three yellow cards from 11 fouls when the sides met earlier in the season, and a similar card count should be in frame for the meeting at Craven Cottage. The fact that this is a London rivalry as well should turn the temperature up enough for Tottenham to walk away from the contest with at least two cautions.

Wilson has been Fulham’s standout player this season and currently ranks as Fulham’s joint top scorer in the Premier League with eight goals to his name. 

He’s achieved this goal tally from 56 shots across his 24 Premier League starts (2.49 per 90), which is already more shots than he managed across the entirety of last term (43). 21 of these efforts have found the target, working out to an average of 0.93 shots on target per 90.

Wilson had two shots and scored when these sides met earlier in the season, with that strike coming from distance. This seems to be a common occurrence with Wilson; he’s always willing to take on more speculative efforts, with 24 of his shots coming from outside of the box this season.

Wilson is also on free kicks for Fulham, which can offer him another route to the target in this clash. I back him to continue the strong form he’s shown all season for Fulham and find the target at least once in this crucial game for Tottenham in particular.

Xavi Simons has been improving week by week in the Premier League after a slow start to the campaign. This is normal for players who come from foreign leagues, and Simons now looks a bit better suited to the pace and intensity of the division.

Simons has had 2+ shots in four of his last five Premier League appearances, except Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat against Arsenal last time out - a side who are the best team in the league when it comes to limiting the amount of shots the opposition can get away.

Simons has managed 3+ shots in two of these games, and I think this recent shot record is a good example of how his confidence has improved over the last few weeks. It doesn’t help Simons that Tottenham find themselves in a relegation battle, but he can continue his strong shot record here.

Simons has had 32 shots across his 16 starts in the Premier League this season (1.96 per 90), and managed two shots in a 30-minute cameo off the bench when the sides met earlier in the season.

Jimenez was one of my favourite strikers in the league when he was at Wolves, and I’m really happy to see him doing well again this season. He’s netted eight goals for Fulham in the Premier League this season, making the Mexican Fulham’s joint top scorer in the league alongside Harry Wilson.

He comes into this game having netted a brace against Sunderland last time out, which should give him plenty of confidence to try and find the back of the net again. 

I always like backing strikers for goals or shots on target when they are coming off the back of a strong display - I think more so than other positions, a striker is a role that is heavily reliant on the confidence of the player, so Jimenez coming into this game in goalscoring form is a massive motivating factor. 

Jimenez has found the back of the net against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa this season so he is used to being an effective player against the (supposedly) elite sides in the division. The Tottenham backline looks very low on confidence, and I can see them giving up chances to Fulham and Jimenez pretty regularly.

I’ve always thought that Gallagher is a much more effective player when he plays higher up the pitch. I don’t think his skillset is particularly useful in build-up as he’s not polished enough on the ball to progress the ball through the thirds, but his energy and ability to arrive into the box make him a solid option further up the pitch.

Igor Tudor gave us a small insight into how he will look to set up this Tottenham side in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal last week. It looks like Tottenham will be moving to a 3-4-3 shape, and I think it’s likely that Gallagher will be operating just ahead of a midfield pairing of Sarr and Bissouma, who are more suited to those roles.

Gallagher has already shown small signs of getting involved in the final third with five shots across his six Premier League appearances, seeing two of these find the target. He’s also registered an assist for Tottenham in his brief appearances so far, and registered 12 goal contributions when he was last in the Premier League with Chelsea, five of these being goals.

Bissouma picked up a card in Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal last time out and looks like he’ll be the player tasked with the main defensive duties in the middle of the park for Tottenham here.

Bissouma’s Tottenham career hasn’t really gone to plan, with the player repeatedly falling out with coaches and players, and even being suspended at times for his off-field antics. 

He’s started just four games in the Premier League this season, picking up two yellow cards across these games. As is often the case when a new manager comes through the door, he’s got a new lease of life under Tudor, who looks to be a fan of the former Brighton man, seeing as he put him straight in the starting lineup for that North London Derby clash.