Analysis: Michael Dawson on the promoted teams - Fulham

As we count the hours to the start of the Premier League this weekend, we turned to Michael Dawson, our legendary former defender and occasional captain between 2005-2014, for his insight into the three teams promoted from the Championship who we will face in 2020/21 - Fulham, West Brom and champions Leeds United.

Ever-popular, ‘Daws’, who proudly led us to a 1-0 win against Milan in the San Siro in the Champions League in 2011, knows the Championship inside-out having played 67 times for Hull and Forest in the last three seasons.

For part one of this three-part series, Michael gives his verdict on Fulham...

Fulham

Managed by Michael’s former Spurs team-mate Scott Parker, Fulham beat Brentford in the play-off final at Wembley in August to make a swift return to the Premier League, following relegation in 2018/19.

Daws: “To be relegated from the Premier League and bounce straight back is a huge achievement, so full credit to Fulham. You could see in Scotty’s post-match interview at Wembley the sheer relief. We’re all delighted for Scott and his staff - Matty Wells, Rob Burch (all ex-Spurs) - and promotion in Scott’s first year in management, that’s a massive achievement for him, a young manager who got his opportunity at Fulham.

“As a team they pass the ball, Scotty’s drilled that into them, they keep possession, stay patient and when a team has the strike force they have - Mitrovic, Reid, Knockaert, Cavaleiro - they will cause problems, mixed in with the creativity of someone like Josh Onomah, who was also at Spurs and has done well.

“They were fancied early in the season last year, and you could see from the interviews at the end of the play-off that they were under pressure, simply because of the squad they have. They did it in the end, and I’ve had that experience with Hull, it’s a great, great feeling. As I said, they are a possession team and I’m sure that won’t change now they are back in the Premier League because that’s how Scotty wants to play.”

One to watch

Daws: “Tom Cairney is a decent player, Harrison Reed, who they picked up on loan from Southampton last season and have now signed, he really impressed sitting in front of the back four. So, Cairney, Joe Bryan is a good full-back, Mitrovic scores goals, Cavaleiro and Knockaert in the wider areas - all good players. They have experience in there, players who have been promoted before and played in the Premier League and I’m sure Scotty will look to strengthen again.”