'Three points on Saturday ... then Newcastle will be worried' - Fulham gear up for huge relegation clash with Sheffield United

The rock-bottom Blades will go into the game at Craven Cottage 14 points from safety at the foot of the Premier League, while their hosts find themselves six shy of fourth-from-bottom Newcastle United in 18th place.

Ahead of the six-pointer on the banks of the Thames, we’ve spoken to Fulham reporter Scott Trotter, of Football.London, for the inside track on Scott Parker’s men.

Let’s take a look at what he’s had to say about the Cottagers.

What have you made of Fulham's season so far?

After the initial start it's felt like close but not quite for much of it.

The Cottagers have produced some great results with wins over Everton and Leicester but on the whole have produced good performances in defeat and a lot of draws.

The win over Everton felt huge with Josh Maja making an impact on his first start for the club. Goals are what Fulham need and what they haven't offered enough of.

Burnley was a step back from the trip to Goodison Park but it allowed Scott Parker's side to get closer to Newcastle.

Who have been the stand-out performers for the Cottagers and their main threats?

With Josh Maja's goalscoring and Ademola Lookman's ability on the ball it's easy to consider them the threats but Fulham's players of the season have probably been Harrison Reed and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

Former Southampton midfielder Reed embodies so much of what has been good about Fulham and covers every blade of grass, not unlike his boss.

The 26-year-old has really grown into the season and is offering more than just his ability to disrupt the opposition.

De Cordova-Reid has been deployed as a wing-back for much of the season and is possibly a victim of his versatility.

Nevertheless he has an uncanny ability for finding the right spaces and is Fulham's top scorer for a reason.

Do you think they will stay up?

It would feel a lot to say that right now but they're in contention.

Three points on Saturday ... then Newcastle will be worried.

I believe the Whites will put themselves in contention but Callum Wilson's injury certainly made the gap to Newcastle seem smaller than what it was.

What did supporters make of the club's business during the January transfer window?

There was frustration with the lack of it given the club's position and waiting for deadline day to sign a striker certainly had it's critics.

If Josh Maja can deliver, under more pressure than Parker would perhaps like to put on him, then all will be forgiven.

Two goals against Everton is a good start.

Despite battling relegation, what do fans think of Scott Parker?

It's quite a conflicting issue.

There's a great deal of respect for Parker's approach and honesty with the Cottagers' situation. His staff have also shown a great ability to help develop and improve players this season but give the way the season has developed there have been issues.

Even during the promotion season there was criticism that Fulham's displays were often sterile and without invention.

There was understanding from supporters that in the Premier League things would be difficult but so often the Cottagers struggle to generate clear-cut attacking opportunities inside the box and their play in the final third is limited.

For many I think this was a familiar feeling and when you draw so many games it's an obvious area to point to.

He has had a great deal of credit for putting a team many wrote off after the first day of the season against Arsenal, to one that is more willing to fight in his own mould however.

What style of football (or system) should United expect to come up against?

Much of Fulham's solidity derived from playing with three central defenders, however with so many draws the Whites have entered the stage of the season where three points has to be the priority rather than simply allowing themselves to stay in games.

With that Parker has adusted his system play with four defenders, with a solid base of Mario Lemina and Harrison Reed. Will Parker see the clash with the Blade as an opportunity to make use of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa?

That will be interesting to see because the Cameroon international perhaps has more quality than anyone else in the squad.

The change in system has also benefited from Maja providing an actual forward to start up front which will hopefully offer Fulham a focal point to overcome their attacking struggles too.

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