Fulham might be the Championship's pass masters but Alan Irvine senses Norwich City is in the mood to halt another of the play-off contenders.
City's inconsistent streak was summed up perfectly with a heavy defeat at top six outfit Huddersfield followed a few days later by a 7-1 hammering of Reading at Carrow Road.
Irvine expects the Whites to offer stiffer resistance, as they proved in the reverse fixture earlier this season in roaring back to earn a point at Craven Cottage.
'They are a very good. A really talented team,' he said. 'I believe the team with the most possession in the league over the course of the season. They have creative players in the middle of the park and two full backs who bomb forward time after time after time. They get a lot of players in and around your box and lads who can open you up with a pass or a dribble, plus a number of goals at the top end. They have their weaknesses, like other teams, and we aim to be able to cope with those strengths and exploit the weaknesses.
'That 2-2 at their place was the classic game of two halves. I thought we were very good in the first half and I can remember how Alex (Neil) was talking to the players at half-time and the things he warned them of and unfortunately we made a huge contribution to the first Fulham goal. We allowed them back into the game. That was disappointing. They were by far the best team in the second half but we gave them a leg up and created our own problems.'
Irvine admits comparisons with Huddersfield's high tempo, high energy approach are not wide of the mark.
'They are very much on the front foot so in that respect you can compare with Huddersfield in many ways,' he said. 'Probably Huddersfield have been more consistent over the course of a season. Fulham have had some results which would have surprised you but also disappointed you on occasion.At their best they are capable of beating anyone in the league.
'This is a really difficult place to come. Hopefully the manner of the win over Reading showed anyone that as far as we are concerned the season is not finished. The players have a point to prove but I would be very, very surprised if anyone came here expecting us not to interested or up for it.'
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