Fulham plotting TV fright-night for Premier League promotion rivals Cardiff

Kevin McDonald knows Cardiff players will be put through the mill watching Fulham play Sunderland.

He tuned in for just 20 minutes when Cardiff played Derby on Tuesday before the stress became too much and the Fulham midfielder switched over to Liverpool versus Roma.

McDonald occasionally flicked back to check the score and, by the final whistle, Cardiff’s 3-1 defeat had opened the door in the race for the Premier League. Fulham are one point behind second-placed Cardiff with two games left, so victory at Craven Cottage will move them above the Welsh side.

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and his players are sure to be watching the game from their hotel prior to their game at Hull on Saturday and a Fulham win would ramp up the pressure.

"We know what it is like sitting in a hotel on Friday night, so they will be watching,” said McDonald.

“There is nothing else to do. They will be watching and hoping Sunderland do them a favour, so it is up to us to get three points.

“If we win they will have an added bit of pressure when they play. I watched the first 20 minutes of their game on Tuesday but my head was going watching it and I was getting a bit stressed, and my missus was as well, so we turned it over and watched Liverpool and tried to relax. It is nice result for us and a disappointing one for them.

“It is still in their hands but, of course, it was a boost for us.”

Fulham are unbeaten in 22 matches and could not have asked for better opponents than a Sunderland side who were relegated last weekend.

McDonald said: “We have got to win two games to have any chance. Cardiff are the team leading. They are ahead and know if they win two games they are in the Premier League.

“We have just got to win and hope. They are still well in control and have done well through the season. It is up to them to continue doing that.

“The main thing is we get the two wins. If they drop points, then we are there to capitalise. If not then we will be kicking ourselves if they drop points.

“A win on Friday puts pressure on them, but nothing changes on their part. They are professionals and Neil Warnock will know what to do to calm the players down. The main thing is that we do our job, give ourselves that chance and then see how they deal with it. It is still a big ask for us, but we will see.”

If Fulham beat Sunderland, the fight for automatic promotion goes to the final day, when Slavisa Jokanovic’s side are at Birmingham and Cardiff entertain Reading.

“That would be a big day for everyone, but we are just looking at Sunderland,” said McDonald. “Everyone dreams of playing in the Premier League. It is the best league in the world.

“We are not there yet, but we are close. We will do everything we possibly can to get there. It sounds wrong, but I expect Sunderland to have a bit of a lift after they were relegated. Going down to League One is not good for their club and I am sure their manager will get them going.

“But it is all about us, how we apply ourselves and how much we want it.”