Aston Villa play host to Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday in what is one of the standout fixtures in the Championship this weekend.

The two clubs were two of the pre-season favourites for promotion after Steve Bruce added the likes of John Terry and Robert Snodgrass to his squad during the summer transfer window, while the West London side were expected to challenge again having finished in the play-offs last term.

However both made disappointing starts to the campaign but rather than panicking, Bruce and Jokanovic have turned their own side's fortunes around and the duo are now right in the promotion race as their teams lie seventh and ninth in the table respectively.

While the Midlands outfit are unbeaten in their six home league games this term, they could be in for a tough encounter against their visitors from the capital on Saturday.

Here are three reasons Villa will lose against Fulham…

Villa's record against promotion rivals

While Villa have recorded victories against the likes of Barnsley, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers in recent weeks, they just haven't done it against the sides that you would expect to be their promotion rivals at the end of the season.

Fulham are certainly one of those given impressive campaign last time out, and having already been beaten by Cardiff City, Reading and Wolves this season – as well as failing to beat Hull City or 10-man Middlesbrough at home – the Midlands outfit could be in for another disappointing day at the office.

Fulham's away form

While Fulham only have the 20th best record in the Championship when it comes to home form going into this weekend's fixtures, it is a completely different story on the road.

Seven points from six games on their own patch to date is far from impressive, but the fact that they have picked up 11 in the same number of matches on the road – the second best record in the division behind Wolves – shows what a force they can be on their travels, and Villa could easily fall foul to them on Saturday.

The return of Tom Cairney

The attacking midfielder was arguably the best player in the Championship last season, and one of the reasons Fulham have particularly struggled at home this term may well be because the influential 26-year-old has missed eight of their 12 league fixtures with a knee injury.

After missing six consecutive games, the Fulham captain returned as a half-time substitute in the 2-2 draw against Preston North End at Craven Cottage last weekend, helping the team come from 2-0 down to secure a point.

Cairney, who scored 12 goals and provided a further 11 assists in 45 Championship games during the 2016/17 campaign, is likely to be back in the starting line-up at Villa Park however, and that could be bad news for the hosts.

What do you think, Villa fans? Let us know below.