Fulham vs Tottenham

 

FA Cup: Quarter-Final

 

 

Fulham V Tottenham Hotspur

 

Kick-Off: Saturday, 6^th March – 17:15 GMT

TV Coverage: ITV1

 

 

Fulham

 

FA Cup Odds: 14/1 Ladbrokes

  

Roy Hodgeson was said to have been chuffed to bits, well in as many words, with Fulham’s draw at Sunderland on Sunday after an enthralling week and an arduous month of February. Not only was Sunday’s trip to Sunderland a mere 72 hours after their gruelling and lengthy trip the Ukraine after beating Shakhtar Donestk in the Europa League but it was also their eighth fixture within a month, so to go up North to Tyneside and get anything from the game was an amazing achievement for what is still a small time Premiership club.

  

We mean to disrespect to anyone at the club when we claim Fulham are a small club as that is our honest view on the London side in comparison to what is a league growing in stature. Their squad is tiny compared to others, while their budget is nothing in comparison to the majority in the league, even those below them in the table which just goes to show either how far Fulham have come or that the Cottagers are punching well above their weight. We’d be more inclined to think the first as Fulham, under the wise know-how of a managerial great in Roy Hodgeson, have proven a tough cookie in recent season and are no longer a relegation threatened club. They are instead far more reliable in that their performances are more consistent and their end-of-season finishes are now more respectable.

  

The problem for Fulham, and it’s been an ever present one from the day they first joined the Premiership, is that their form on the road isn’t up to the standard required. In the early days, several years back now, Fulham were scraping through seasons by the skin of their teeth because of their superb home form. Years down the line and their home form is even better, leading to more potential honours and better player form. However, their away form is still as bad as ever so these home games are crucial in building up confidence ahead of tricky away fixtures, and with Fulham out on the road once again after this FA Cup affair, winning on Saturday is so important in building up ahead of steam, especially as their very next league fixture is away at Old Trafford against the Carling Cup winners, Manchester United.

  

I was astounded when I heard Fulham had played more competitive games thus far than the likes of the ‘Big Four’ which just highlights the fantastic job Roy Hodgeson and his team have done this season, as well as the tremendous form and fitness levels of the Fulham squad. However, while it will be nearly a week since they last played, you would have to feel this long, endurance testing season will take affect soon enough and an encounter with a pacey and exuberant Tottenham Hotspur side isn’t ideal. However, they’re fortunate enough in that they were drawn at home at Craven Cottage, a venue they’ve lost just three times at all season, so can a capacity crowd at the Cottagers push their side, whom have lost just one of their last eleven home games against Premiership opposition; including a 0-0 draw with Spurs, onto victory, one that would be rewarded with a Semi-Final date with Wembley.

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

FA Cup Odds: 5/1 BetFred

  

The strength in depth at Tottenham makes the club almost perfect for cup competition, and they’ve been proving that this season with a decent little run in the Carling Cup and this run in the FA Cup, one which is in jeopardy against a home orientated Fulham. However, unlike their London adversary’s, Tottenham do boast a win in their last game, one which could spark Spurs onto a memorable win at Craven Cottage, and it will need to be memorable if they are to overcome The Cottagers on their own patch.

  

Harry Redknapp was found bemoaning his teams injury problems after Tottenham’s hard-fought victory over Everton at the weekend; winning 2-1. It was actually a reality check for us in that even we have forgotten just how flooded the Tottenham physio room must be at the present time. While only a handful are certain to miss Saturday’s trip across London; Johnathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Carlo Cudicini, Redknapp has doubts over as many as nine first team players. David Bentley, Aaron Lennon and now Tom Huddlestone are all serious doubts for Saturday’s crunch fixtures, while Jermaine Jenas is a definite no-no. That injury room of theirs must be cluttered, and while they’re enjoying a bit of luck on the field, they could do with plenty more off it. 

 

In Tottenham’s last competitive outing, it was a tale of two halves as Tottenham dominated the opening 45 minutes with Everton, scoring two first half goals through a resurgent Pavlychenko and Luka Modric in what should have been far more for the home side. However, Tottenham clearly underestimated their opponents and their arrogance so nearly got the better of them as they fell asleep during the second half and could count themselves very lucky to have walked away from White Hart Lane with all the spoils after the visitors missed a host of chances. Spurs are due their bit of good luck, that little rub of the green, but they can ill-afford to think the football Gods will shine down on them forever as a similarly lacklustre effort at Craven Cottage this weekend would almost certainly see them punished.

  

Tottenham are a team full of confidence, however, and were they to emulate their first half performance against Everton, then they should go close. However, their second half no-show was a huge concern and it does cast awful memories of their shocking start to the game at Bolton in the previous round, with their sluggish start almost costing them dear. They did get away with it but they won’t against a clinical Fulham, so it’s imperative Harry Redknapp gets his starting eleven fired up for this clash right from the off. It’s a tough game for Spurs but it’s a draw they will certainly fancy themselves to get through providing they approach it in the right manner, with a professional attitude.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

 

This was probably the hardest of the four ties to weight up in that Fulham are tremendously strong at Craven Cottage while we don’t see Tottenham going out just yet. The only remaining outcome is a draw with Tottenham completing the job back at White Hart Lane in a replay. That doesn’t look a too bad punt in all fairness considering Tottenham have progressed via replays in the previous two rounds. Fulham, however, have had by far and away the easiest run of all the teams still standing, with Spurs being their first Premiership opposition of the competition thus far. Will Fulham crumble against their first real test of the tournament to date or will they leave to fight another day; by that of a win or a draw.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Fulham – 3.00 SkyBet

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Tottenham Hotspur – 2.40 PaddyPower

 

 

Fulham V Tottenham Hotspur

 

Saturday 26^th December (Boxing Day) – 13:00 GMT

 

 

Fulham

 

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: WDWDW

  

Fulham, arguably, have the toughest fixture period of the lot as they try to get into the spirit of things. After their clash with Tottenham on Saturday, Roy Hodgeson’s cottagers take on Chelsea. This after their emphatic success at the weekend over Manchester United. The champions of England. So, although the fixture list hasn’t been kind to them, Fulham have already made the best possible start and aim to make it two huge wins in quick succession as London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, pay them a 90 minute visit.

  

Fulham have struck up a bit of form ahead of the new year and are now unbeaten in five league encounters after their sensational display and victory over the current champions, Manchester United. Roy Hodgeson’s side were so organised in both defence and midfield that is was hard to believe who were the actual champions on the day. Fulham, quite literally, bossed the game from start to finish and really could of won by a much bigger margin than just 3-0. Damien Duff, a late signing over the summer, was a constant thorn for United down the right, while Bobby Zamora appears to have found new life up front and his superb holding up of the ball enabled Fulham to get forward in numbers and overhaul an exposed United defence. A tactical ploy which will have surely been plotted by Roy Hodgeson and he deserves most of the plaudits for Fulham’s weekend scalp.

  

Fulham have now lost just once in eleven league games, a 1-0 defeat at in form Birmingham City their only disappointing result in a strong three month spell for Fulham. Draws have cropped up a few times but not too many have scuppered their home form, with Fulham unbeaten at Craven Cottage in six outings, winning a magnificent five and drawing just the one. Since the beginning of October, only Bolton have left Craven Cottage with any pride still in tact after Bolton held Fulham to a 1-1 draw. Ivan Klasnic’s goal in that game is also the only goal that Fulham have conceded in four appearances at Craven Cottage, with clean sheets coming against Blackburn Rovers (3-0), Sunderland (1-0) and even Man Utd (3-0).

  

Fulham are a team brimming with confidence, not only because of their stunning result against Man Utd but also this fantastic run of form they’ve fought so hard to build up. The Cottagers will have plenty of momentum, especially playing at home in a venue they’ve won their last two in, so perhaps it’s a case of will Tottenham cause Fulham any problems rather than will Fulham close the supposed big gulf in class between the two sides. League wise, though, Fulham are still nine points behind Spurs.

 

 

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: DDLWW

  

A double from Peter Crouch against Blackburn Rovers gave Spurs a quick fire double themselves after beating Manchester City three days earlier. That was two very big wins but it wasn’t enough to overhaul an on song Aston Villa in fourth position. However, the race is far from over, just warming up in fact, and a win at Craven Cottage could be enough to leapfrog Aston Villa in that elusive fourth place providing Villa slip up elsewhere.

  

Tottenham appear to be back to their glorious best but Spurs, this season anyway, have a tendency to suddenly go off the boil when you least expect it. However, although Harry Redknapp has come a cropper against some of the smallest teams in the league, losing to both Stoke City and Wolves at home, he hasn’t had too many problems getting his squad fired up for the big encounters, and, surprising as it is, a trip to Fulham is now a big encounter, and Spurs better be aware of this. They are facing a team fresh off a success over Man Utd, a team that beat Spurs 3-1 earlier on in the season, so any complacency will be punished.

  

Peter Crouch claimed all the plaudits with his double at Ewood Park in a game Tottenham had to work damn hard for all three points. It was far from a walk in the park. In fact, it was probably the hardest Spurs have had to work for a victory all season, which just goes to show how far Tottenham have come as they’ve never been battlers, that’s for sure. Another surprising positive about Tottenham’s play last Saturday was their immense defending. Michael Dawson was a rock at the back, blocking anything that was targeted at a usually ‘sketchy’ Gomes. If Dawson carries on like this then an England call up wouldn’t be out of the question. While if Tottenham continue to defend like they are then they shouldn’t have too many problems at least mounting a challenge on the top four spots.

  

Tottenham have now won back-to-back games in the league but that run is made more impressive by two successive clean sheets. The latter, the 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, was their first away shut out of the season, so that should stand the defence, which has had it’s fair share of critics in recent seasons, in good stead ahead of what will be an extremely tough outings for Harry Redknapp & Co. Still, Spurs are showing are the signs of a top four team at present but, like we said earlier, Tottenham do have a terrible knack of straying and a defeat at Craven Cottage wouldn’t surprise us in the slightest after a solid run of form.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

 

Fulham W: 3 Tottenham Hotspur W: 3 Draw: 4

  

It’s been impossible to split the two meetings, although Fulham will be the confident of the two sides heading into this fixture in the knowledge that they didn’t suffer defeat in this fixture at home nor away at White Hart Lane. The Cottagers beat Tottenham 2-1 at Crane Cottage whilst the pair played out a goalless draw in the reverse fixture.

  

A crucial statistic is that Fulham have never lost at home to Tottenham since their arrival to the Premiership back in 2002, winning five and drawing two. Fulham have, though, been held to draws in two of the previous three encounters at Craven Cottage. Also, there has never been a goalless game at Craven Cottage between the two, so hopefully we will be treated to some goals.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Fulham – 2.90 Boylesports

 

Fulham get the nod from us as they were nothing short of outstanding last weekend against a depleted Man Utd. Spurs, to their credit, put in a battling performance in their weekend encounter against Blackburn. Their workmanlike display earned them all three points and they’ll be very confident after two straight victories. However, Spurs turn ‘hot and cold’ too much for liking and preference is for a more consistent Fulham side, one we can’t see losing on Saturday if they put in a similar performance to the one we were treated to last weekend..

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Fulham – 2.90 Boylesports

Draw – 3.50 SkyBet

Tottenham Hotspur – 2.63 VCbet

 

 

Fancy a challenge?! – Tottenham have scored at least once in each of their last three away fixtures, whereas Fulham have managed at least one goal in their previous six home encounters. So will both manage to get on the score sheet in Saturday’s contest at Craven Cottage.

 

Yes – 1.75 BlueSquare

No – 2.25 Coral

 

Our challenge pick – Yes!

 

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For those of you who fancy yourself against Matt, feel free to send us your challenge selection and those who do beat Matt will get a mention on the related preview. There is no actual prize up for grabs… just bragging rights?!

 

Send us your challenge pick to: challenge@soccerbetting.info