After their opening day defeat to newly-promoted Barnsley, Fulham will be desperate to bounce-back this weekend when they welcome Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers to Craven Cottage.

Scott Parker will not be feeling the pressure just yet but a couple of further disappointing results could change that, especially considering the level of player that has been signed in the summer.

Ivan Cavaleiro and Anthony Knockaert have been added to bring some serious menace to the club's wide areas whilst Bobby Reid, Harrison Reed and Josh Onomah will really strengthen the South-West Londoners in various other roles.

Blackburn too will arrive at the Cottage with something to prove however, having also been beaten on the opening day - a 2-1 defeat to Charlton at Ewood Park.

So, for what already feels like an important match for Fulham, how will Parker set his side up?

This is what we expect...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ad_pod ]

On the whole, it would be rash to completely overhaul his squad from the opening day, not matter how much they underperformed.

Although changes are certainly needed.

In defence, expect Joe Bryan, Alfie Mawson and Denis Odoi to retain their places but with the latter moving centrally to replace the injured Maxime Le Marchand. This will leave Cyrus Christie free to come in at right-back and add some more attacking flare to the home-side's flanks.

Moving into midfield. The duo of Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen struggled to offer much in the way of protection to their back-four at Oakwell, so it is likely that new boy Harry Arter will be thrown in from the start in place of Johansen to add that little bit more bite and defensive endeavour.

The front-four picks itself really. It was a surprise to see Anthony Knockaert start on the bench last weekend so expect him to come in on the right in place of the innefective Aboubakar Kamara.

But other than that, expect Tom Cairney to remain behind Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro to continue on the left.

And with the likes of Josh Onomah, Bobby Reid and Harrison Reed available from the bench, Parker will have plenty of scope to change things if he needs to.