Preston North End are set to host top-flight opposition in Fulham to try and progress into the next round of the League Cup.
Paul Heckingbotton will face a familiar opponent in Fulham in their League Cup third-round clash at home. The current preston boss did face the Cottagers last season once when he was Sheffield United boss, with Marco Silva getting the win in a 3-1 result then.
Preston North End have enrured a mixed start to their season, and while it is still early days in the campaign, there is pressure on Heckingbottom’s shoulders already. They have barely laid a glove on their opponents this term while languishing in 20th place in the Championship table.
Last season, they saw their quest to finish in the playoff places suffer a blow following five defeats in their previous five games of the season that saw Preston finish tenth. This time around, they have had the League Cup as an outlet to give their fans something to cheer, with wins over fellow Championship side Sunderland and then League Two opposition Harrogate Town. On paper, they are not expected to beat top-flight side Fulham.
Meanwhile, Fulham has had a mixed-bag start to their domestic campaign as they ended the weekend conceding a late draw against West Ham when they were leading for most parts of the game. Overall, they began their campaign with a late defeat to Manchester United and have since won against Leicester City while managing consecutive draws against Ipswich Town and West Ham United.
Marco Silva will want to see some continued run of results that would propel the side into a top ten range, and this shiort term target is undoubtedly achievable at this moment. However, there are some tough fixtures ahead in the league, and the cup is something the Cottagers boss will hope to have a deep run in.
Fulham beat League One side Birmingham City in the second round of the League Cup, and Silva will see the Preston clash as a favourable fixture in the context of progressing. The Cottagers will enter the game as favourites to go through the next round, as Silva would likely use this contest as a chance to give minutes to his fringe stars.
Team News & Tactics
Preston North End
Paul Heckingbottom is likely to field his most robust lineup for this clash against Fulham because, unlike their top-flight counterparts, they have too much to gain from progression in the competition. While retaining the 4-2-3-1 shape, Preston North End are not about to plan on sitting back and defending the Cottagers’ attack.
As of now, there are no actual injury or fitness concerns with the squad, meaning the manager will have a full complement of players to choose from. Freddie Woodman will remain between the sticks for Preston with the support of a back four consisting of Brad Potts, Jack Whatmough, Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes.
Heckingbottom will keep faith with his midfield paring of Benjamin Whiteman and Ali Mccann in the middle of the park. Sam Greenwood, who scored a brace in the second-round clash, will continue to keep his place on the left wing, while Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Josh Bowler will complete the setup behind central striker Emil Riis Jakobsen.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Potts, Whatmough, Storey, Hughes; Whiteman, McCann; Bowler, Frokjaer-Jensen, Greenwood; Riis
Fulham
Unlike Paul Heckingbottom, Marco Silva is likely to shuffle his pack ahead of the cup clash, as this is an excellent chance to get minutes into the legs of his fringe players. The Fulham boss is keen to see how these other stars are performing, which would allow his regular starters a rest ahead of next weekend’s action.
Carlos Vinicius is the only visible absentee from the Fulham squad, although deputy striker Raul Jimenez scored when starting against West Ham United as he started ahead of Rodrigo Muniz. Steven Benda should come in for first-choice stopper Bernd Leno, while Issa Diop and Jorge Cuenca could replace Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey in the central defensive pairing.
Similarly, Kevin Tete and Antonee Robinson could see some rest, as Timothy Castagne and summer arrival Ryan Sessegnon could take their places. Sander Berge and Harrison Reed are the candidates to sit in the central midfield berths.
Tom Cairney is likely to play the advanced role in this setup. Silva is expected to keep hold of Adama Traore on the right wing, while Reiss Nelson could be set for his full debut for Fulham on the left-hand side of the attack as Rodrigo Muniz leads the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Benda; Castagne, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Berge, Reed; Traore, Cairney, Nelson; Muniz
Key Stats
- Preston North End have won their first two games of the League Cup without conceding a goal.
- Preston North End are 20th in the Championship table.
- Fulham are undefeated in ten of their last 11 matches against Preston North End in all competitions.
- Fulham’s last meeting with Preston North End saw the Cottagers win with a 3-1 scoreline.
Player to Watch
Reiss Nelson
Nelson had a fantastic cameo against West Ham United at the weekend, which did leave a lasting impression on the fans. The Cottagers faithful will be eager to see him more in action, as the Arsenal loanee did provide a different option on the wing with his directness.
The game against Preston North End will offer an excellent chance for Nelson to showcase he can perform at the highest levels and also let him shoehorn himself into Silva’s thinking ahead of next weekend. The manager is expected to start him and will hope for a top-draw performance.
Prediction
Preston North End 0-3 Fulham
Preston North End might have had their luck in the opening two games of the League Cup. But their campaign might come to an end when they meet top-flight opposition. While there is always the odd chance of a big upset, Preston North End barely have the quality to match Fulham’s B-team.
Marco Silva, on the other hand, will be eager and hungry for his fringe stars to put on a show and give him a selection headache ahead of next weekend. He might get his wish, as the Cottagers are well placed to record a big victory away at the Championship side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Silva and his charges.
