Fulham have fluffed it before - they know they need to finish the job

Having bungled automatic promotion once, Fulham are anxious to finish the job against Preston on Tuesday and avoid a transfer trolley-dash that has blighted their last two Premier League campaigns.

Their last promotions in 2018 and 2020 came through the play-offs, which meant less time to recruit players and then subsequent relegations, first under Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri and then Scott Parker.

Playing catch-up two years ago, they were forced to sign three loan players on deadline day: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Joachim Andersen and Toisin Adarabioyo. They proved useful players but by the time they clicked, Fulham were already bottom and in trouble with only one point from their opening six matches. This time, the club believe they have the right manager in Marco Silva and have already scouted far and wide with the target of swooping quickly for six new signings.

The only missing piece of the jigsaw is confirming their Premier League status. It could have been achieved on Good Friday but they blew a half-time lead against Derby and lost 2-1 — their third defeat in five games.

It won’t matter should Nottingham Forest lose to West Brom on Monday or Fulham secure three points at Craven Cottage the following evening. 

Video: David Moyes says West Ham are in a really good position (Mirror)

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But another stumble would