A spot in the FA Cup fourth round will be up for grabs when Fulham and Watford clash at Craven Cottage in the third round on Thursday.
The 2024/25 FA Cup resumes this week with the third round as Premier League clubs enter this season’s competition. Fulham vs Watford will be the most eye-catching game on Thursday, with the two clubs locking horns at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva continues to wield his influence at Fulham, with the West London club going from strength to strength under the tutelage of the Portuguese tactician. While the Cottagers have failed to win six of their last eight games, their last defeat came in November, with the West London club earning creditable results against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
On the other hand, Watford’s recent results have been dreadful, with the away side heading into Thursday’s FA Cup clash on the back of three successive defeats. That has left the Hornets’ promotion bid in tatters, dropping them from the playoff spots to ninth in the EFL Championship standings. Tom Cleverley will hope his team can turn it around in the FA Cup.
The most recent match between Fulham and Watford at Craven Cottage ended in a 1-1 draw in September 2018. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Marco Silva has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Fulham manager might be bereft of the services of only three first-team players vs Watford on Thursday.
Sander Berge is closing in on returning to action after recovering from an ankle injury, although he might require a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Kenny Tete (knee), Harrison Reed (knee), and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Bernd Leno will take his spot between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Watford on Thursday. The backline should feature Timothy Castagne, Issa Diop, Jorge Cuenca, and Ryan Sessegnon.
As for the midfield unit, Sasa Lukic should pair up with Andreas Pereira in the double pivot, with Tom Cairney being a backup option on the bench. Emile Smith Rowe should make his first start since returning from injury, reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Rodrigo Muniz will likely lead the line for Fulham against Watford, with Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Pereira, Lukic; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz
Watford
Unlike his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Tom Cleverley has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The Watford manager will be without two first-team players on Thursday.
Daniel Bachmann is the latest absentee after picking up an ankle injury this past weekend against Sheffield United. The Austrian goalkeeper has joined Tom Dele-Bashiru on the sidelines, although the 25-year-old is closing in on returning from a knee injury.
Jonathan Bond will replace Bachmann between the sticks, with Watford lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Thursday. However, Cleverley will make a few rotations due to the effects of the fixture pile-up in the festive period. The central defensive unit should feature Ryan Porteous, Mattie Pollock, and Francisco Sierralta.
Ryan Andrews and Yasser Larouci will be the two wing-backs. The duo will provide width in the final third while supporting the centre-backs during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, Moussa Sissoko should return to partner Edo Kayembe and Festy Ebosele. Finally, Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Kwadwo Baah will be the two strikers.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Bond; Porteous, Pollock, Sierralta; Andrews, Kayembe, Sissoko, Ebosele, Larouci; Bayo, Baah
Key Stats
- Thursday’s clash will be the fourth FA Cup tie between Watford and Fulham. The previous three meetings in 1932, 1983 and 2005 needed a replay to determine a winner. Both sides have won one of the two prior matches in the third round.
- Fulham have failed to win their last six competitive games vs Watford (D3 L3), conceding 14 goals during that time.
- Watford have progressed from only one of their last five FA Cup third-round ties, although that came courtesy of a 2-1 win over Chesterfield last season.
- Fulham have progressed from 13 of their 16 most recent FA Cup third-round matches, including the five most recent ties.
- Fulham have progressed from their last four FA Cup ties against teams from a lower division since a 2-1 home defeat to Oldham Athletic in January 2019.
Player to Watch
Andreas Pereira
Rodrigo Muniz was a viable candidate for this section as he looks to make a mark amid uncertainties surrounding his future at Fulham. However, we have picked Andreas Pereira as the Player to Watch.
Like Muniz, Pereira faces an uncertain future at Craven Cottage amid his links with Palmeiras. So, as a possible return to Brazil beckons, the 29-year-old playmaker will hope to bow out on a high if the deal sees the light of day. In addition, Pereira will be the creative force for the home side this week.
Prediction
Fulham 3-1 Watford
Fulham might have a dreadful recent winless streak against Watford, but those results are from a time of instability at the West London club. In addition, the Hornets have a horrendous record on their travels this season, losing eight of their 12 EFL Championship matches on the road.
So, while the away should give the Cottagers a run for their money, they might not have enough quality to get the better of the hosts. Rodrigo Muniz should make his mark in the final third, with Alex Iwobi also producing the goods. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Marco Silva and his charges.
