Fulham vs Crystal Palace: FA Cup Quarter Final Preview

Fulham: Recent Form & Team News

Fulham head into this crucial fixture with momentum on their side after overcoming a challenging encounter against Manchester United in the previous round. Their impressive penalty shootout victory at Old Trafford, following a 1-1 draw, saw Bernd Leno emerge as the hero, denying both Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee from the spot.

Although Marco Silva's men have earned the tag of dark horses in the FA Cup, the historical record has not been kind. Fulham have lost each of their last four quarter-final appearances, with the most recent setback occurring against Tottenham Hotspur in 2002.

The Cottagers, currently enjoying a solid run of form with six wins from their last eight matches, will be motivated by their recent 2-0 triumph over Tottenham, courtesy of goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon. However, one glaring issue remains – their inconsistency at home. Remarkably, Fulham are yet to secure consecutive home victories across all competitions this season.

Injury News:

• Sasa Lukic returns from a two-game suspension, providing a significant boost to Fulham’s midfield.
• Kenny Tete (knee), Harry Wilson (foot), and Reiss Nelson (thigh) remain sidelined, with Nelson ruled out for the rest of the season.
• Andreas Pereira, the leading chance creator in this season’s FA Cup with 18, is expected to play a crucial role in Fulham’s attacking setup.

Crystal Palace: Recent Form & Team News

Crystal Palace arrive at Craven Cottage on the back of a strong run of form, having won four matches in a row across all competitions. Their FA Cup journey has been marked by an impressive 3-1 win over Millwall, although the contest was marred by a nasty injury to striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Manager Oliver Glasner will be pleased to have Mateta back in contention for this quarter-final clash, with the Frenchman cleared to play despite his distressing ear injury. Palace continued their resurgence before the international break with a narrow 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, courtesy of a brilliant moment from Ismaila Sarr.

The Eagles also possess a strong record at Craven Cottage, remaining unbeaten in their last six visits to Fulham, including a 2-0 victory earlier this year. With their away form holding steady and confidence high, Palace will be optimistic about securing a spot in the final four.

Injury News:

• Jean-Philippe Mateta has recovered from his injury and is set to feature.
• Joel Ward (calf), Cheick Doucoure (knee), and Chadi Riad (knee) are all ruled out.
• Will Hughes is available despite serving a Premier League suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

Head-to-Head Record & Stats

• Fulham have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup in each of their last four appearances.
• Palace have enjoyed better fortune, winning four of their last five quarter-final matches in the competition.
• Fulham have not beaten Crystal Palace at home since January 1, 2005.
• Palace are unbeaten in their last six away games against Fulham.

What to Expect

This London derby offers plenty of intrigue, with Fulham aiming to make a rare appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals and Crystal Palace seeking to continue their strong run of form. The home side will need to overcome their inconsistent home performances, while Palace’s resilience and solid away record will provide a stern challenge.

The return of key players, such as Sasa Lukic for Fulham and Jean-Philippe Mateta for Palace, adds further spice to this encounter. With both teams eyeing a place in the semi-finals, fans can expect a fiercely competitive affair at Craven Cottage.