Fulham Coach Slavisa Jokanovic has been busy preparing his team for the arrival of what he called an aggressive Preston North End side on Saturday for a crucial match in the race to make the Play-Offs.
Preston are one point behind the Whites and have only lost once in their last 10 league games, but Fulham possess a game in hand over their combative opponents.
“It’s going to be a tough game, like all the Championship games,” said Jokanovic speaking at his Preston pre-game press conference.
“It’s a very aggressive team and they have one point less than what we have. They have done a great job and I am sure they will try and be aggressive and play up the pitch to try and press our build up.
“They will try and send long balls and be ready for second phases and play in our half too. I believe they will try and keep their shape and catch us in an offensive position.
“All these three parts to the game they do very well and we must be ready for everything. We must keep the ball in our possession, we must try and dominate them and get the territory and put them under stress and do everything to win the game."
“I believe they are a really competitive team and they are going to be organised, be aggressive and put us under some problems and try and win the game using the ways that they normally use.
“Our target is to play quality football, be successful and try and push hard for a more important target in the future and in the long term that is to get Fulham in the Premier League.”
On Thursday evening Jokanovic was present when Tom Cairney picked up the English Football League Player of the Year accolade at the London Football Awards, and he was very complimentary about his midfielder’s achievements.
“I was really satisfied to be part of this fantastic charity event," he stated. "It is very good news for Fulham and for Tom Cairney to win this award, he has shown that he has really improved.
“Tom has grown up with us and this Fulham team has grown up with him too and he has helped myself and my staff to play this style of football that we play.
“He is a very important part of our team in terms of the way we want to dominate the game. He is a player who can connect many successful passes, a player who is fighting with fantastic levels of confidence in himself, and who can score the goals and make assists in the position when he is asked to play as an offensive midfielder.
“He offers us many things and he offers the team many important things, he was awarded last night because he has made many positive steps in this last season.”