Stoke City will host Fulham at the bet365 Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with a spot in the FA Cup fifth round up for grabs.
Stoke City have been quite poor in recent weeks, and they have failed to pick up a single victory in their last six matches across all competitions ahead fo the game vs Fulham. This will be a massive challenge for the Potters, and it will be interesting to see if they can get the job done at home. The fans will certainly expect a strong reaction from the players.
On the other hand, Fulham in poor form. Marco Silva’s men have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions. The West London outfit were in impressive form not so long ago, and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly.
On paper, the Cottagers are the better team, and they have done well against Stoke City in recent matches. They have picked up three consecutive wins against the Potters. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Stoke City
Bosun Lawal is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Viktor Johansson, Junior Tchamadeu, Lewis Baker, Robert Bozenik, Sam Gallagher, Divin Mubama, Ato Ampah, and Gavin Bazunu are all ruled out.
Stoke City will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Fulham, with Tommy Simkin in goal. Maksym Talovierov and Aaron Cresswell will start at full-back and aim to protect the defensive unit. Ashley Phillips and captain Ben Wilmot will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Tatsuki Seko and Ben Pearson will look to break up the opposition attack and win the ball back for their team. They will also look to shield the back four with their exploits in the middle of the park.
Million Manhoef and Sorba Thomas will start on the flanks and look to create opportunities for their teammates during transitions. Tomas Rigo will be deployed in the attacking midfield role and will look to link the midfield to the attack. Finally, Lamine Cisse will lead the line for Stoke City vs Fulham on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Simkin; Talovierov, Phillips, Wilmot, Cresswell; Seko, Pearson; Manhoef, Rigo, Thomas; Cisse
Fulham
Key midfielders Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic remain on the sidelines for the visitors. Fulham will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Stoke City, with Bernd Leno in goal.
Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to help the team both defensively and in the final third. Joachim Andersen will pair up alongside Jorge Cuenca at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Sander Berge and Harrison Reed will add defensive cover and physicality in the middle of the park. They will look to win the ball back for their side and help Fulham dominate the midfield contest.
Emile Smith Rowe will start as the attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third. Kevin and Harry Wilson will start on the flanks, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Finally, Raul Jimenez will spearhead the Fulham attack vs Stoke City on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Berge, Reed; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Kevin; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Stoke City are without a win in their last six matches in all competitions.
- Fulham are without a win in four of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Both teams have picked up three wins each from the last six meetings between themselves. 17 goals have been scored in the last six matches between the two teams.
- Stoke have progressed from five of their seven FA Cup fourth round ties played on home soil this century, though they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Cardiff City in this round last season at the bet365 Stadium after a 3-3 draw.
- Fulham will be looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the second consecutive season, last achieving that feat in three seasons in a row between 2008/09 and 2010/11.
Player to Watch
Harry Wilson
The Fulham attacker has been in spectacular form in recent weeks, and he is our key player to watch out for. Wilson will look to create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net as well. It will be interesting to see whether he can maintain his impressive form and help his team progress to the next round of the competition.
The West London outfit will depend on him to make a defining impact in the final third. Stoke City will look to shut out the opposition, and they will need Wilson’s ingenuity in the attack.
Prediction
Stoke City 1-2 Fulham
Neither side is in particularly good form, and this is likely to be a close contest. Both teams will be desperate for a victory, and they are likely to find the back of the net. It is unlikely to be a defensive affair.
The two teams have been quite poor recently, and they will look to outscore each other. Fulham have more quality in attack and should be able to edge this one. A narrow win for the Premier League side is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Marco Silva and his charges.
