Fulham manager Scott Parker admits that Bristol City shouldn't be underestimated despite their poor recent run of form in the Championship.
The Robins found themselves within touching distance of the top-two under a month ago, but four matches without a victory has seen Lee Johnson's side slip to 7th in the standings, two points behind sixth-placed Preston North End.
As for the Whites, they've responded excellently to going three games without winning by dispatching both Swansea City and Preston North End at Craven Cottage in recent weeks - and the Fulham boss is hoping to continue their revival at Ashton Gate on Saturday lunchtime.
Parker told Fulham's official website: "Think you’re always wary in that sense, but at the same time I think you realise what you’re going into, and obviously they are on a bit of a bad run of form.
“But in saying that, they’re also a team that can put runs together, like they did at the beginning and in the middle of the season.
“We understand we’re going up against a wounded animal here and we need to keep pushing as hard as we can, silence the crowd a little bit, and keep going from where we’ve been leaving off over the last few weeks.
Bristol City were victorious at Craven Cottage earlier in the campaign and Parker is expecting another difficult test this weekend.
He continued: "They did a number on us in the home game and obviously beat us 2-1. I thought we played very well on the day and I remember having a penalty not given late on.
“They’re a good side. They’ve navigated this division, been in and around it for a long time. They understand what’s needed, and although they’re going through a little bit of a tough patch at the moment, we realise the challenge ahead that faces us going to their place.
“It will be a tough game, but our away form over a course of games has been very good, and we’ll go there hoping to get as many points as we can.”
The Verdict
When you're chasing a side like Leeds United at this stage in the campaign, you know they'll give you chances to make up points. And with Fulham travelling to Elland Road a week on Wednesday, it's crucial that Scott Parker's men don't let the current gap of five points get any bigger by the time they arrive in South Yorkshire.
But despite their recent form - which includes defeats against West Brom and Leeds United - Bristol City are always dangerous opponents, although their awful home form of late suggests that Parker's men will have every opportunity of putting the pressure on the top-two in the early kick-off with what would be a huge victory.