Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back after a torrid 7 days where they could not get rid of their away day blues and fell to damaging defeats against Liverpool and then Belgian side Gent. The 2-0 loss against Liverpool saw them relinquish their 2nd spot and the 1-0 defeat against Gent made sure that they have to prioritise now between the FA Cup and the Europa League and then navigate another important Premier League fixture in 3 days’ time after the Europa League game.
It will be a tough game for Spurs at Craven Cottage, with Fulham going into the game on the back of two home wins. This will also be the first time this season Tottenham will play away from home in the FA Cup and they just scraped through with a 4-3 win over Wycombe last time out. Meanwhile, Fulham had seen off Premier League team Hull City 4-1 in their last game.
The match is expected to be a tight one and surprisingly many people are backing Fulham to push the Lilywhites all the way with some going as far as predicting a Fulham win. Spurs need to be focused while Fulham will be confident of an upset.
TRIVIA
- The most recent FA Cup encounter – a fourth-round tie in 2011 – ended 4-0 to Fulham, their biggest win against Spurs.
- Tottenham have won their other five ties against Fulham in the FA Cup.
- They haven’t knocked out two Premier League sides in the same FA Cup campaign as a lower league team since 1998-99 when they beat Southampton and Villa while in the equivalent of League One.
- The Whites have won four successive home matches in all competitions, and their only defeat in 11 games at Craven Cottage came in the new year against Brighton.
- Spurs have only won two of their last 14 away matches, and none of the last four (W2, D6, L6).
- Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup on each of the last four occasions they have been drawn against London opposition: Fulham (2011), Chelsea (2012), Arsenal (2014) & Crystal Palace (2016).
- Tottenham have reached the fifth round for the second successive season. They last fared better in 2012 when they were beaten semi-finalists.
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
FULHAM (4-4-2)
Fulham have a fully-fit squad for Sunday’s FA Cup tie, with Tomas Kalas available after a hip problem. Former Tottenham youngster Ryan Fredericks is the only absentee as he must complete a three-match ban.
Button; Odoi, Madl, Ream, Malone; MMcDonald, Johansen, Aluko, Cairney; Aite, Martin
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Jan Vertonghen could be fit enough to return after missing six games with ankle ligament damage. Harry Kane suffered a minor knee injury in Thursday’s defeat at Gent and is unlikely to be involved.
Vorm; Trippier, Carter-Wickers, Wimmer, Davies; Dier, Winks; Sissoko, Son, Nkoudou; Janssen
BETTING ODDS
FULHAM- 3/1
DRAW- 11/4
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR- 19/20
