Fulham v Hull: Bottom club seek first league win without suspended Andersen

Two points from six games have left Fulham bottom of the Premier League, and their search for a first win continues against Hull without suspended defender Joachim Andersen. The hosts sit two points from safety before Saturday’s meeting at Craven Cottage.

Hull have seven more points and occupy eighth place, but they arrive with a winless run of their own stretching to five matches. Both sides have a sequence to break, with Fulham’s position giving theirs greater urgency.

Andersen’s suspension is one of three availability concerns for Fulham. Midfielder Hugo Larsson is out with a groin injury, while T. Cairney is questionable because of a knee problem.

The confirmed Fulham side lines up in a 4-2-3-1. Bernd Leno starts in goal behind Timothy Castagne, David Affengruber, Calvin Bassey and Antonee Robinson. Sander Berge and Shea Charles form the midfield pair, with Oscar Bobb, Josh King and Alex Iwobi supporting Gonzalo García.

Robinson also has a personal landmark within reach: he is one appearance short of 200 league appearances for Fulham. He starts in a defence missing Andersen as the hosts try to improve a record of two draws, four defeats and a goal difference of minus four.

Hull’s absence list runs to nine players. Charlie Hughes, Darko Gyabi and Nobel Mendy are out with groin injuries, while Eliot Matazo has a knee injury and Lucas Gourna-Douath a calf problem. Mendy had started four of Hull’s previous five matches.

The visitors are also without Ilyas Ansah because of a back injury, goalkeeper Jack Butland with an arm injury, Matt Targett with an ankle injury and Mohamed-Ali Cho with a muscle injury.

Konstantinos Tzolakis starts in goal in Hull’s confirmed 5-4-1. Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, John Egan, Lucas Herrington and Brooke Norton-Cuffy make up the defensive line. Mohamed Belloumi, Matt Crooks, Regan Slater and Sorba Thomas start across midfield, with Oli McBurnie leading the attack.

Crooks has an additional disciplinary consideration: he has four yellow cards and is one booking away from a one-match suspension.

Fulham’s latest league outing ended in a 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town. Before that, they took a point against Manchester United in a 1-1 home draw and held Liverpool to a goalless draw away. Those results account for their two points, but the first victory has yet to follow.

There is a scoring record to build on at Craven Cottage: Fulham have scored in each of their past five home matches. Hull, meanwhile, have conceded twice in three successive games, most recently drawing 2-2 with Everton.

Belloumi gives the visitors a productive attacking outlet. Fulham’s official preview credits him with five goal contributions in six games and describes Hull as having the Premier League’s lowest possession rate. Their direct approach presents a different test for a home side still seeking its first league win.

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirović has warned against reading too much into Fulham’s league position. He says his players must perform at their maximum against opponents he believes have created plenty of chances. Hull are also targeting their first league victory at Craven Cottage in five years.

Kickoff is at 15:00 BST on Saturday 17 October at Craven Cottage, in Week 7 of the 2026/27 Premier League season. For Fulham, the immediate task is to turn home goals into a first league victory and begin closing the two-point gap to safety.

Questions

How far are Fulham from safety?

Fulham are bottom of the Premier League with two points from six matches, two points from safety.

Why is Joachim Andersen missing against Hull?

Andersen is suspended. David Affengruber and Calvin Bassey are named in Fulham’s confirmed starting defence.

What milestone is Antonee Robinson approaching?

Robinson is one appearance short of 200 league appearances for Fulham and is named in the starting lineup against Hull.