Despite finishing in 6th place in the Championship, Fulham have been made favourites to come through the play-offs.
Fulham are one of the form teams in the Championship and they will take on Reading over two-legs for the right to make it to the final.
“The table says they are favourites and we are going to try to surprise them. We must be ready,” said Fulham boss Jokanovic.
“It’s going to be a tough two games for us and for them too. We are confident and believe we can play good football and win.”
But the bookmakers are now taking anything for granted, and despite Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Hudderfield Town finishing above them – it is Jokanovic’s men who lead the market.
.@Jokanovic's Fulham end the league season in the play-offs, with their attacking style yielding some stunning stats. #FFC pic.twitter.com/BMZlNpthi6
— 6Pointer (@6Pointer) May 7, 2017
BetVictor’s Head of ante post Football Michael Triffitt explained why they are list Fulham as the favourites.
“Fulham rounded off an impressive season with a 2-1 win at playoff rivals Sheffield Wednesday and now head into those as the form team in the section. Scoring for fun, the Cottagers are 15/8 favourites despite still finishing lowest of the quartet and look very much the team to beat.
“They face Reading in the semi final who are outsiders at 4/1 but will be buoyed by a 4-2 success at Burton to increase confidence that has been shaken of late. Sheffield Wednesday are favourites to progress past Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield and can be backed at 5/2 to book a return to the Premier League with Town maybe beginning to start feeling the effects of a long season in which they perhaps overachieved, available at 3/1.
“On current form expect to see a Fulham v Wednesday final with Fulham securing the last promotion place but as we all well know with playoff football, anything goes and surprises and twists ‘n’ turns are the nature of these occasions.”
The play-offs in the Championship begin this Saturday with Fulham hosting Reading.
We spoke to our Football Insider Graeme Bailey about Fulham’s chances and he is a big fan of The Cottagers.
“I have been saying it for most of the season that there is not a better footballing team that Fulham in this division, and in Tom Cairney for me they have the best player in the Championship – on their day they really are a joy to behold and I think they are the ones to beat,” Bailey told TheGamblingTimes.com.
“It won’t be easy, it never is in the play-offs – but Jokanovic won’t be changing his style or ethos, he has proved himself to be a brilliant manager, and if he can get Fulham up from where he took-over – that would be a genuine top-class achievement.”