Summary

  • Fulham move into automatic promotion places

  • Cottagers go two points above Cardiff, who drop to third

  • Championship promotion race sure to go to final weekend

  • Sunderland already relegated to League One

  • Black Cats now guaranteed to finish bottom

  1. Team newspublished at 19:36 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Fulham v Sunderland (19:45 BST)

    Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic, whose side are 22 league games unbeaten, sees no reason to change a winning formula and names the same team for the fourth game running.

    Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Johansen, Cairney, Piazon, Mitrovic Sessegnon.

    Subs: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, De la Torre, Fonte, Kamara.

  2. 'I would prefer to swap and be second'published at 19:34 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Fulham v Sunderland (19:45 BST)

    Slavisa JokanovicImage source, Rex Features

    Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is under no illusions with the task ahead of them going into the final game of the season.

    His side can take a big step towards automatic promotion if they win tonight, as well as putting pressure on second-placed Cardiff City when they play tomorrow.

    "I'd prefer to change my position with Cardiff's. They are in a perfect moment, they are one point ahead of us," he said.

    "If it was possible, I would prefer to swap and be in second, and I'd prefer they were chasing us. That's not the case.

    "We must try and do our job. We can't think about what is going to happen later and if Cardiff are going to be under pressure or not. This is not under my control."

  3. The top of the Championship as it standspublished at 19:31 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Fulham v Sunderland (19:45 BST)

    Top of the ChampionshipImage source, BBC Sport

    Here's the sitch (that's how the cool kids say 'situation') at the Championship summit as kick-off in tonight's game approaches:

    • Wolves have already been promoted and wrapped up the Championship title
    • Both Fulham and Cardiff City are assured of at least a play-off place
    • If Fulham lose against Sunderland this evening, Cardiff will seal second place and automatic promotion to the Premier League if they beat Hull City tomorrow
    • If the Cottagers avoid defeat this evening, the battle for the final automatic promotion spot will go to the final day whatever the result when Cardiff take on Hull on Saturday
    • If Sunderland lose against Fulham, they are guaranteed to finish bottom
  4. Postpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Fulham v Sunderland (19:45 BST)

    Chris ColemanImage source, Rex Features

    There's a familiar face back in the building this evening.

    Chris Coleman, once a Fulham player and manager, is set to come up against his former employers for the first time since leaving Craven Cottage in 2007.

  5. Permutation stationpublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 27 April 2018

    Fulham v Sunderland (19:45 BST)

    Chris ColemanImage source, Rex Features

    Let me tell you, I am game for some complicated football mathematics.

    Last week's mathsfest involved Sunderland's relegation only being confirmed by the club on their Twitter account 22 minutes after full time, external in their defeat by Burton Albion. Now that's a football permutation headache I can get behind.

    Tonight my calculator might stay untouched as it's a bit more straightforward. Victory for Sunderland and their hopes of not finishing bottom of the Championship this season might look a little more likely.

    Meanwhile, a win for Fulham will lift them two points clear above second-placed Cardiff City and into the final automatic promotion place.

    A draw or defeat for the Cottagers will hot things up at the top of the table, however, as Neil Warnock's Bluebirds watch this evening's game with interest as their own promotion hopes hang in the balance.

    Kick-off's coming soon.