Fulham have the class to gain automatic promotion, but their early consistency could cost them again.
Over the last two seasons, Fulham have shown they have the potential to be a Premier League side.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s men beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and similarly last season saw off Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town home and away.
And yet Fulham have never seriously challenged for automatic promotion from the Championship, with their inconsistent displays early in the campaign costing them two years running.
There is no doubt that the London side are the best team in the division when they are on form – Wolves can attest to that.
And, as a year ago, Fulham have been a joy to watch from the start of February onwards, thrilling neutrals with their wonderful attacking play.
But, again like last year, it is surely too late for an automatic promotion push, with the Whites eight points behind second-placed Cardiff City with just 12 games remaining.
In fact, Fulham could actually suffer for a relatively kind run-in, as the clash with Derby County on Saturday is their only opportunity now to take points off a fellow top-six side.
Instead, Jokanovic’s side must settle for the play-offs and need to hope that they do not burn out in May as they did last term.
Fulham have shown they can beat any team in the second tier and so they should have no problem with the play-offs. It is time to prove that point.
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