Fulham welcome Leeds United to Craven Cottage in an all Premier League encounter in Fifth Round of 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory would see Fulham qualify for the Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2009-10 season, whilst Leeds are chasing their first appearance beyond this stage in 20 years.
Team News
Fulham will have Joao Palhinha available because his two-match ban applies to league fixtures only, after he picked up his tenth booking of the season in their 1-1 draw against Wolves last weekend.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (hamstring) is set to return after missing the Cottagers’ last two matches but Tom Cairney (ankle) is a doubt.
Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) remain absent.
Leeds could again be without defender, Liam Cooper who isn’t ready for regular first-team action following an unspecified injury.
Pascal Struijk (concussion), Adam Forshaw (hip), Archie Gray (toe) Luis Sinsterra (hamstring), Rodrigo (ankle) and Stuart Dallas (thigh) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Fulham host Leeds at Craven Cottage in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday 28 February, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Fulham’s first meeting against Leeds in the FA Cup.
- Leeds have won each of their two previous visits to Fulham in all cup competitions, winning 2-0 in September 1969, then on penalties after 0-0 draw in September 2021 which both came in League Cup.
- Four of the last five draws between these two teams in all competitions have finished in a 1-1 result.
- Two of Fulham’s six FA Cup goals this season have been scored by Layvin Kurzawa, who found the net in their Third Round away win at Hull then Fourth Round replay win at Sunderland.
- Leeds are yet to keep a clean sheet in this season’s FA Cup (W2, D1).
Prediction
Despite missing Mitrovic in their last two matches, Fulham have done well to avoid defeat especially in their 1-1 draw against Wolves last weekend where their performance was scrappy, albeit saved by Manor Solomon’s third strike in three games.
I therefore would like to see Marco Silva’s Cottagers come out and show more of the solidness which served them well in their smash-and-grab at Brighton, because they surely can’t afford to repeat Friday’s sloppy performance which felt pretty messy with limited creative attacking quality.
Leeds meanwhile have a new manager in Javi Gracia but their end product issues still remain a concern after wasting a host of attacks against Southampton, yet there are positives in how well they defended plus looked in their attacking intensity and movement.
Gracia’s priority though is securing another season of Premier League survival so I do expect some changes from the visitors, whereas Fulham can afford a free go at this season’s FA Cup given their strong league position.
With those factors in mind, I am going for a home win but if Fulham put in another messy display and Leeds score early before defending stubbornly, it wouldn’t be a shock if they snatch this and continue their strong cup record at Craven Cottage.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Leeds
Result: Fulham 2-0 Leeds
Leave a Reply