Fulham are in the third round of the FA Cup on Thursday as they face Watford at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva’s side are top of the Premier League table beyond the halfway mark but have only been disappointed by claiming a point against Ipswich last time out.
However, the Cottagers have proved difficult for the top flight this term, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the teams dropping points on the west Londoners.
They have usually bowed out in the fourth round of the competition in recent years, with their previous defeat at this early stage coming in 2019.
Watford have an excellent record against their upcoming opponents, but head into Thursday’s cup tie in pretty miserable form, having initially made a strong start to the Championship season. The Hornets have dropped to ninth after losing four of their previous five games.
They’ve also had plenty of trouble in the third round since losing to Manchester City in the final in 2019.
Behold 90 minutes guide for Fulham against Watford in the third round of the FA Cup.
Fulham vs Watford H2H Results (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Fulham |
Watford |
|---|---|
|
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich – 01/05/25 |
Watford 1-2 Sheffield United – 01/04/25 |
|
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth – 29/12/24 |
QPR 3-1 Watford – 01/01/25 |
|
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 26/12/24 |
Watford 1-2 Cardiff – 29/12/24 |
|
Fulham 0-0 Southampton – 22/12/24 |
Watford 2-1 Portsmouth – 26/12/24 |
|
Liverpool 2-2 Fulham – 14/12/24 |
Burnley 2-1 Watford- 21/12/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra – not televised |
|
United States |
ESPN+, ESPN App |
|
Canada |
Sportsnet NowSportsnet EastSportsnet OntarioSportsnet PacificSportsnet WestSportsnet Now Plus |
Silva is bound to reshuffle his pack from Sunday’s draw with Ipswich. Raul Jimenez, who salvaged a point for the Cottagers, is among those expected to be rested.
Silva has Rodrigo Muniz as back-up, who has so far failed to capitalize on his 2023/24 campaign. He will want to get on the score sheet here.
Reiss Nelson and Kenny Tete won’t return until February at the earliest due to their respective hamstring and knee injuries, but Sander Berge has a chance to return from an ankle problem on Thursday. Harrison Reed remains on the sidelines.
Fulham predicted line-up against Watford (4-2-3-1): Leno? Chestnut, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Pereira, Lukic? Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.
Watford are without starting goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann for an extended period with an ankle ligament injury, so Jonathan Bond should get the nod between the sticks for the predictable.
There is likely to be less rotation from the visitors compared to their hosts, but there will certainly be some shuffling from manager Tom Cleverley. Experienced trio Moussa Sissoko, Ryan Porteous and Tom Ince could all slot into Watford’s 3-5-2, while Vakoun Issouf Bayo could be added up top.
Kevin Keben is out but Tom Dele-Bashiru could be in contention having recovered from a knee injury.
Watford predicted line-up against Fulham (3-5-2): Bond? Porteous, Pollock, Sierralta; Andrews, Kayembe, Sissoko, Louza, Ngakia? Come on, Baa.
Watford’s miserable run of form does not bode well going into Thursday’s game, with Fulham having lost just twice at the Cottage in the Premier League this season. While European football is a possibility, Silva will undoubtedly take this competition seriously.
The FA Cup gives the Hornets some respite from the relentless action of the Championship, and they should be aggressive here. Fulham’s potential reshuffle opens the door and the return of Watford’s seasoned professionals will help them face superior opposition.
This can be a back and forth cup tie that the Premier League side escapes from.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Watford
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2025-01-09 00:00:00
