Fulham V Notts County Betting: Sunday, 14th February (FA Cup)

Fulham V Notts County

Sunday, 14^th February – 15:00 GMT

Fulham

FA Cup Outright Odds: 14/1 Boylesports

Fulham will have been the more happier of the teams left in the competition after they drew the lowest ranked team left in League Two’s Notts County. However, the Cottagers will need to be on guard as their opponents gave Wigan a torrid time in the previous round and Roy Hodgeson will be doing his utmost this week to avoid any lack of respect or arrogance from his players as this is far from a foregone conclusion.

At the end of the day, Fulham are the strong favourites to progress and they should do so without too many scares. However, its this ‘should win’ aurora that could be their downfall if the players don’t apply themselves in the right way by not showing their opponents enough respect. So long as Fulham play their A game, which they generally do when at Craven Cottage, then Fulham should be a relatively safe bet on Sunday baring some world class heroics from their opponents.  

After a dreadful month of January, Fulham have climbed back on the winning track with two wins from their last three league games after beating Burnley at home on Tuesday night. Fulham were largely untroubled in that clash and were worthy 2-0 winners on the night. That was their second win in succession Craven Cottage after beating Portsmouth there a fortnight ago. Whilst on the topic of Fulham’s home form; Craven Cottage has been a mini-fortress for Fulham this season and the fact they’ve lost just once their in ten league outings just highlights how a strong a side they are on home soil.

After a tough start to the new year, failing to pick up a single point in January, things are beginning to look up once again for Fulham after two wins and a draw in February. Their home form is as strong as ever, and when you consider that only Arsenal & Chelsea have beaten them their this season, surely they are as close to a sure thing as there is, although, let’s not forget that this is the FA Cup – A competition were absolutely anything can, and often does, happen!

Notts County

FA Cup Outright Odds: 400/1 SportingBet

Notts County were punching above their weight in the last round when they took on Wigan Athletic but gave the supposedly superior team a good going over. Now, though, they take on a more solid outfit in Fulham at an equally solid venue for the Cottagers at Craven Cottage. The task looks huge if you ask me but they’ll be confident of their chances after their two stunning displays against Wigan and will feel anything is still possible as the romance of the FA Cup takes Notts County under its wing.

Notts County are the lowest ranked team left in the competition, with The Magpies currently 7^th in League Two. It was hard to split them apart from Wigan in their home game with the Latics in which they drew 2-2 despite holding a 2-0 lead at one point. Perhaps the players got too excited then and was why they relinquished a two goal lead and what appeared to be their ticket into the fifth round. However, they showed great character and nerve to earn a sublime win at The DW stadium despite spending most of the game on the back foot. They defied the odds that day in a game very few gave them hope and they’ll set out to do the exact same this Sunday.

Notts County’s form heading into this exciting adventure was looking extremely strong after four straight wins in the league stretching from the end of December to early February. However, their 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday night came at just the wrong time as it put the brakes on their winning momentum. However, the players could quite easily be forgiven for having one or both eyes on this fixture and their best could yet be to come. They do have some wily individuals that could cause the Fulham some problems, Lee Hughes in particular who has scored 19 goals in 24 appearances for the club this season, and Ben Davies who is known to be lethal from set-plays and a decent crosser of the ball.

We know Notts County do have the scalp of Wigan Athletic under their belts and they will be hungry for more blood, but this looks a step too far for Dave Kevan and his team, especially as they aren’t the most consistent of teams. Every single player will need to be on top form and that’s a big ask. If they can somehow grab an early lead then perhaps the unthinkable is possible, but if Fulham make the breakthrough then we feel it will be curtains for County.

How they got here?

Fulham

Beat Swindon Town 1-0 (H)

Beat Accrington Stanley 3-1 (A)

Notts County

Beat Forest Green 2-0 (H)

Drew Wigan Athletic 2-2 (H)

Beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 (A)

Match Verdict: Fulham to WIN – 1.53 Bet365

Fulham should have too much class for the League Two side as Notts County’s FA Cup adventure comes to an inevitable end. The Cottagers have been a force to be reckoned with at home this season and it would be the shock of the round, in my honest opinion, were Fulham to fall foul to County on Sunday. We expect a spirited display from the away side, and they will get their chances to shine, but we fancy Fulham to have more and the better of the chances and you would have more confidence in the Fulham forwards, even Bobby Zamora, sticking them away. Sorry, but there’s nothing to see here!

Match Odds:

Fulham – 1.53 Bet365

Draw – 4.30 SkyBet

Notts County – 7.00 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Fulham to WIN to NIL – 2.38 Bet365