Match Preview Fulham vrs Ipswich Championship Match Day 21 1516 at Craven Cottage Tuesday 16th December 2015    KO: 19:45 Referee: Referee Trevor Kettle (Rutland)

Stuart Gray

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High-flying Ipswich travel to Craven Cottage looking to consolidate their place in the play-off positions, while Fulham Senior Coach Stuart Gray continues to find his feet in his new role.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss took over as the club's Senior Coach while the club continue to look for a new manager following the departure of Kit Symons and recorded a 2-2 draw with Brentford in his first game.

Gray is known for his defensive style of play and the Fulham hierarchy will be hoping he can shore up a defence that has conceded 35 goals already this season.

Ipswich, though, are performing well in the Championship after an indifferent start to the campaign and they find themselves occupying the final play-off place with 31 points.

The one thing that cost Kit Symons his job as Fulham manager was his side's inability to keep clean sheets, and that will be Stuart Gray's priority on the training pitch while he's in charge.

A defensive error and a set piece were their downfall against Brentford and with Daryl Murphy looking to cause trouble for the defence, they'll have to be at their best for this game.

The Fulham boss was dealt a further blow when James Husband returned to Middlesbrough on Monday but he will still expect an improved display from his back four against Ipswich.

While Fulham are languishing in mid-table, their strike force have been absolutely super this season with McCormack and Dembele both in double figures this season with 12 and 10 respectively.

Their link-up was at its best again last weekend as a terrific McCormack pass was latched onto by his strike partner for his side's second of the afternoon.

The duo are probably unfortunate to have a defence that has let them down on a number of occasions this season but they will go out again as the Cottagers' biggest threat on Tuesday.

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A recent resurgence has seen Ipswich climb back into the Play-Off places, although they had occupied top spot earlier in the season.

They go into Tuesday's match at Craven Cottage having lost just once in their last eight games, winning four times in that period, three of which arrived on their travels.

Their most recent outing saw them leave Milton Keynes with all three points.

After a slow start to the season for last seasons Championship top goal scorer, Daryl Murphy had a terrific November, scoring six goals in four games as the Tractor Boys jumped into the play-off places.

After two games without a goal, the Republic of Ireland international will be desperate to get back on the score sheet after his goal scoring exploits earned him the November Player of the Month award.

The club's joint top scorer could have a good afternoon against Fulham's fragile defence and he will hoping to add to his tally of 6 this season.

Head-to-head



• Fulham are winless in seven against Ipswich in league competition, losing five and drawing two.



• Fulham have won 0, drawn 2 and lost 1 of the last 3 stagings of this fixture, being outscored by their opponents by 3 goals to 2.



• Last season Ipswich beat Fulham 2-1 home and away.





Fulham




• Fulham are the Championship's top scorers (33) yet only Rotherham (36) have conceded more than them (35).



• The West Londoners have not won a league game in six attempts (D3 L3).



• Fulham have won 30%, drawn 35% and lost 35% of their last 20 home games.



• Fulham have conceded in 90% of their last 20 home games.



• Fulham last kept a clean sheet at home 7 games ago.



• Fulham have scored first in 40% of their last 20 home games.





Ipswich




• Daryl Murphy scored three times against Fulham last season as Ipswich won 2-1 in both meetings.



• The Tractor Boys could win four consecutive away league games for the first time since April 2004.



• Ipswich striker Brett Pitman has not been on the losing side when scoring in a game since August 2014, netting in 15 games since then (W13 D2).



• Ipswich have won 35%, drawn 15% and lost 50% of their last 20 away games.



• Ipswich have conceded in 80% of their last 20 away games.



• Ipswich last kept a clean sheet away from home 1 game ago.



• Ipswich have scored first in 55% of their last 20 away games.

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