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Daily Fulham- FA Cup dream stays alive as the holders are sent packing
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Gavin looks back on a nervy but ultimately rewarding day for Fulham as they secured their passage into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
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Transcript
Fulham's Historic FA Cup Victory Celebration
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work work Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, bringing you daily coverage and content from all your Premier League sides, along with a dose of women's football.
00:00:20
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffell, and it's the start of a new week, it's the start of a new month, and that month has started in the best possible fashion, as Fulham have defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup for the first time since 1908.
00:00:32
Speaker
It wasn't pretty, it certainly wasn't stress-free, but they've done it and they've secured their passage into the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons and I'm here to relive it all.
Motivation from Past Defeats
00:00:44
Speaker
Was there an element of revenge on the mind coming into this game given what had happened two seasons ago, given that disaster where Fulham let it slip, didn't they? 90 seconds, two minutes of absolute chaos where Fulham...
00:00:57
Speaker
were in the ascendancy, had control of the game, and then it just got away from them. And I think there would have been a lot of disappointment in the Fulham camp after that game. Undoubtedly, have been a lot disappointment in the Fulham camp. And there's still a lot of players at the club that took part in that game um nearly two years ago. So maybe was revenge on their mind. It certainly would have been something that hurt them, and they wouldn't have wanted to experience something like that again. So...
00:01:21
Speaker
Maybe not the element of revenge, but certainly wanting to make amends for the two defeats to Manchester United this season. We know the problems Manchester United have had, the difficulties they've had, so if they had walked away from this one having been beaten three times by them, that would have been such a
Fulham's Strategic Lineup and Formation
00:01:38
Speaker
disappointment. There was some conjecture surrounding team coming into this game.
00:01:42
Speaker
How strong would Marco Silva look to play it? Well, I think That was answered pretty emphatically in midweek given the changes he'd made for that league game. The fact that he had rested some of his big guns, some of his players that have played every single game in the league from the season.
00:01:57
Speaker
um So we saw Robinson, we saw Bassey, we saw Ewolby come back into the fold having started on the bench in midweek. And the other question was, would they stick with that five at the back that worked against Wolves?
00:02:10
Speaker
Maybe some people feeling that they might look to match Manchester United up, who also play five at the back. That's the way Amrind will always play. Marco Silva went back to his four at the back. They tried and trusted the method, the system that I feel works best for Fulham. Unfortunate for Ryan Sesson after having an impact scoring that goal in midweek.
00:02:29
Speaker
to miss out but no room for sentimentality after the multiple changes in the previous two rounds Fulham were pretty much as strong as you you would like Bernd Leno was back in goal Rodrigo Meniz was leading the line he kept his place in the side after that impressive showing from a personal standpoint against Wolves as for United it was probably a welcome break from the league despite the fact that they had won in midweek we know their league form has been atrocious so bit of knockout football ah hasn't been too bad for them in recent times has it and we know having won it last season they would have been keen to hold on to that trophy and in amongst the disappointment that's gone on this season couple of changes for them we knew dorgu you knew about him he was suspended so he was replaced by masraoui dalos switching over to left play that wing back role the other change was ericsson coming in for alejandro ganacho united bench was uh
00:03:23
Speaker
Quite weak. There was only seven players on it. Some youngsters in there as well. We know they've been hampered by their injuries this season. Eriksen, he played in a more advanced position with Bruno Fernandes a bit deeper.
Manchester United's Early Pressure
00:03:34
Speaker
No chances early on in the game. was noticeable how Fulham were looking to attack from the right when given the opportunity. Trier was seeing a lot more of the ball than will be, for instance.
00:03:46
Speaker
The first shot on target comes for United and it's from Bruno Fernandes. It's crossfield diagonal from De Ligt. He plays it over to Dalo on the left. He tries to whip a cross in for Xerxes. It goes over his head.
00:03:59
Speaker
Possession is recycled and Bruno gets a shot away from him about 20 yards. It's stinger for li for Leno but it's a comfortable enough save. And for the first 15 or 20 minutes I felt United, they started pretty well. it Closing down well.
00:04:11
Speaker
Staying tight to Meniz, not giving him time, not giving him space. Another chance comes for shortly after. It's for Hoyland. Ericsson this time drifts out to the left. He puts a low cross in and Hoyland. He manages to get in front of Bassey but flashes over.
00:04:24
Speaker
It was a tough start to the game for Fulham. Felt like in the two meetings this season they've lacked maybe a bit of intensity. I don't think it was necessarily the intensity that was the issue for the start they made but it was just sloppiness. Maybe there was some nerves in the team.
00:04:37
Speaker
ah There was a lot giveaways, maybe lack of communication at times. Fulham weren't getting into their passing groove into their passing game and It was just very bitty, all that all a bit sloppy. And after that initial 15, 20 minutes of decent United play, not that it was anything great, they went back to their old ways and they were giving it away and they were sloppy on the ball as well. and Half an hour gone and Fulham still hadn't managed to fashion a chance on goal. And Dahmer, I felt coming into the swing, he'd be licking his lips at the prospect maybe of coming up against Dallow. But every time he got the ball, he tried to come inside on his left foot and rather than go on the outside, take him on.
00:05:14
Speaker
And at every cross he came in was lacking quality. he was generally headed away. There's a chance for Fulham. Finally, and it comes, I think, 37 minutes in. Lukic, he goes into the box.
00:05:26
Speaker
Nobody follows him. Nobody tracks his run. There's a Wobbe. He chips a ball into him, but he gets his header all wrong and United escape. There's chance after that for United. Fernandes, this time, he's on the left. He puts a cross in at pace.
00:05:37
Speaker
Xerxes attempts flick but it ends up going wide and at this point despite Manchester United having one or two opportunities nothing much to speak of and you have that old saying that in boxing or combat sports styles make fights well The two styles here certainly wasn't meshing and given what we'd seen in the previous two games, which were low-key affairs, not entertaining at all, this was more of the same, unfortunately. Very slow laboured possession, passes, I said, constantly being misplaced.
00:06:11
Speaker
And as you think the half is just meandering, petering along, going to go in at half-time, nil-nil, you wonder what the managers are going to say to fire their
Fulham Takes the Lead
00:06:20
Speaker
teams up. Well, that all changes because Fulham going front on the stroke of half-time, the perfect time to score a goal, it comes from a corner. And we know Manchester United, they've had their difficulties in defending corners this season. I think they lead the way. They lead the way in terms of Premier League sides conceding goals from corners. And It's no different here. And it's a Pereira delivery, which Moniz gets the first contact to.
00:06:41
Speaker
And it's not a particularly great header. He heads it down. He nods it on. And he goes into an area. And there's Bassi that nods it in past Onana. If you can remember back to the goal they scored in this tie a couple of years ago,
00:06:55
Speaker
It's uncanny how similar, how identical it is. Again, that was from Pereira, which gets flicked on and Mitrovic sticks it away at at the sort of back post. And this was exactly exactly the same. and Fulham have struggled from corners this season the themselves. I think they scored a couple recently, so the stats aren't quite as bad as what they were for the majority the season.
00:07:15
Speaker
They're able to exploit Manchester United's vulnerabilities from from defending corners and they go in with that 1-0 advantage. Calvin Bassie nodding in his second goal in the space of a couple of weeks. and You wonder if that changes the team talk for Marco Silva.
00:07:28
Speaker
wonder what he would have said at half-time because he can't have been happy. He can't have been happy with the way the game was panning out and and progressing and the way Fulham were playing. Not that Manchester United were offering a massive threat, but I'm sure he would have wanted to impose his style, his game plan on Manchester United, take it to them and get on the front foot. But we weren't seeing that. it was certainly limited in what we were seeing from Fulham in an attacking capacity. But hey, who cares that they went into half-time with that goal advantage. and As for Amrim, more questions are asked. And again, they've gone in behind. I think it's the sixth game in a row you all competitions where they've conceded the first goal and backs are against the wall. They've got to fight back once
Injuries and Tactical Changes
00:08:08
Speaker
again.
00:08:08
Speaker
We come on to the action in the second half and there's an immediate foray forward for Fulham and it comes through when Darmotore, this is the first time I can actually remember he's gone on the outside of Darlow, attempts to get cross and it goes out for a corner.
00:08:21
Speaker
But during that time, he's actually holding his knees, clutching his knees. So you wonder if there's a bit of ah bit of an injury situation he carries on you think nothing major and he's able to carry on with the game but that's not the case as he goes down again a couple of minutes later he sits on the ground and Fulham is forced into a change and it's not a change Marco Sobo would have wanted to make this is an area that's caused him a bit of concern of late given the injuries and You certainly won't want to add to that in this position, especially given the form Traore has shown in recent weeks.
00:08:52
Speaker
So he can no longer continue. You think the obvious change is to get Willian on and either he plays out on right or Iwobi goes over to the right. But no, it's actually Emile Smith-Rowe. Emile Smith-Rowe is back from injury, missed the game in midweek, carrying a bit of a knock from that Crystal Palace game. But he's back in the fold.
00:09:09
Speaker
And I suppose you wonder how Fulham will then shuffle it around. Will Iwobi go over to the right? And that's exactly what happens. So Smith-Rowe comes on, he goes over to the left, Iwobi goes over to the right. In terms of the other dugout, well, Amrim's had enough. these Five or ten minutes has gone in the second half and nothing much has really changed.
00:09:26
Speaker
There's no real openings, no opportunities for Manchester United. It's followed a similar sort of pattern from the first half. Lack of quality, lack of ingenuity, lack of flair. So, Garnaccio comes on as he looks for Manchester United to find a way of getting back into the game.
00:09:42
Speaker
At the same time, i don't think Fulham had necessarily picked it up from the first half. Play was still a bit slow and measured. We know the emphasis was more on Manchester United. The onus was more on them to attack, given the fact that they're behind, given the fact that they're the home side.
00:09:55
Speaker
But Fulham, I just felt, could have been a bit quicker in their tempo. There is a chance for Emile Smith-Rowe not long after he's come on. Robinson, who had been quiet in the first half, but he gets forward this time. He's bombing down the left side.
00:10:07
Speaker
cuts it back to Maniz, who lays it it off in the path of Emile Smith-Rowe and opens up for him on his right foot. He gets a low shot away, and Inanna, he has to sprawl to save it, to prevent it from going in his bottom right corner. He manages to keep hold of it before Maniz can get there as well for the rebound.
00:10:26
Speaker
Hoyland, he just had that one shot, one opportunity in the first half. A man low on confidence coming into this one. 17 games without a goal. So they're looking for a difference. They're looking for a spark. So they bring on the youngster Obi to take his place.
00:10:40
Speaker
So a bit of youth coming on there on the other end of the spectrum. bit of experience coming on as Casemiro comes on to replace Christian Eriksen. Almost a moment for Andreas Pereira. It's a long ball up upfield. It's a flick on from the knees.
00:10:53
Speaker
Pereira's he's up against lindelaf Lindelof. Lindelof, who's just come on as well. He came on at the same time. He's going actually come on for Yoro. Lindelof does just enough to not allow Pereira time to get a shot off. And there's the lick covering. He slides in to put it out for a corner.
Post-Match Tension: Extra Time and Penalties
00:11:11
Speaker
Manchester United still haven't fashioned much but they get their equalising goal. The first real bit of quality they've shown in the game and it comes from Bruno Fernandes. Garnaccio's come on and he's offered something a little bit different trying to stretch the Fulham defence.
00:11:26
Speaker
He plays a ball from the left to Dallo who pulls it back. Not quite sure if he's looking ferandes for Fernandes or he's just playing it into an area. Either way it finds its way to Fernandes and he hits one first time on his left foot.
00:11:39
Speaker
Goes through Anderson's legs and nestles in the bottom right corner and you've got to hold your hands up and say it's a quality finish by a very talented player. It's one one and you start to feel the worst from that point on. You think, ah, here we here we go again. It's the same old, same old, isn't it? Fulham are going to end up losing after being in front.
00:11:58
Speaker
going the inevitable Manchester United. Scrappy, lucky, fluky win against Fulham. But you've got to pick yourselves up, haven't you? It was a lot of bittiness in the second half. lot of stoppages in play. Quite scrappy.
00:12:09
Speaker
Almost a chance for Maneuse. It will be flights one up there for Maneuse. He gets a first touch on it almost brings it down beautifully. Almost Berbataev-esque touch. Won't quite fall for him, though, to get a shot off. He's up against the lick to Maguire. Maguire kicks it out for a corner.
00:12:23
Speaker
and for the first time in the whole game the game has started to get stretched started to open up for the final 20 minutes final 15 minutes maybe both sides trying to find the winner to avoid going to extra time and penalties ganacho was the outball he was an outlet for manches sch night manchester united manchester united were trying to get forward to his feet as quickly as possible almost an opening for him he gets past a couple of full-on defenders but a tame shot straight at burnt leno perera tries to bend one in from 20 yards that goes over fulham a pro win for a late winner still lack of quality in the game but if you were at least a neutral watching this game if you felt there was a direction the game was going in and that either side was looking more likely to win it you probably would have said fulham there's eight minutes added on and fulham make a couple of changes to get the experience heads of jimenez and william
00:13:14
Speaker
coming on They come and to replace Pereira and Muniz. As for Willian, you're hoping for no more handballs on the line given what had happened two years ago. Smith Rowe, he'd already had a chance which Inanna had to be alert to make a save earlier on. Well, in stoppage time, he has another chance and he's set up by Iwobi. He's in the D and this falls to him on his right foot. He tries to whip one into the bottom corner. Inanna, he makes a good save. The ball bounces just in front of him, but he gets the palm of his right hand to it.
00:13:44
Speaker
And it goes out, goes out to safety. At the other hand, there's chances for Manchester United to get a winner. And it comes to the young lad, Obi, who's come on as substitute. There's a ball bouncing in the box.
00:13:55
Speaker
Bassey, he tries not to foul his young opponent, but instead he lets him slip away. And it opens up for Obi. ah He just drags his shot a bit wide, lacking a little bit composure there.
00:14:06
Speaker
Almost another chance for Garnaccio at the death after neat play from Xerxes. Long ball up to Garnaccio. He's able to control it, but can't get clean enough connection on it. after pressure from castagna and there's one final chance at the end big chance forced to obi his chest down from delict obi he's got the goal in front of him leno's advancing and just under the bit of pressure from burnt leno he puts it wide and then the final whistle goes it finishes one one We go into extra time and potentially penalties.
00:14:39
Speaker
And I will talk you through the action in extra time in just a moment. But before I do that, let me tell you a little bit about our sponsors. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:14:52
Speaker
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00:15:04
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastle. So how are the nerves at this point? How's the heart rate going into extra time? Is there that sense, that inevitability that it's just going to go the way so many games have gone between these so two sides that it's just going end up going to Manchester United? Are they going to luck their way to another win over Fulham?
00:15:25
Speaker
We know they've managed to find a way of getting wins in this competition the last couple of seasons. United by hook or by crook. Earlier on in the season, that penalty shootout win against Arsenal. There was their game last season against Coventry in the semi-finals. So somehow they do find a way. And also an extra time. It begs the question, what type of game are you going to expect? What type of 30 minutes?
00:15:45
Speaker
Often extra time. It's quite cagey, isn't it? There's a lot of fatigue. Players going down at cramp. The only memorable extra time... ah It's probably that World Cup final between Argentina and France, the last one, which is an amazing extra time, wasn't You didn't didn't want that to go to penalties. You just wanted them to keep playing.
00:16:01
Speaker
But generally speaking, extra time can be a bit of a bore. Would both teams try their utmost to get the winner in extra time or were they content enough to go to penalties?
00:16:12
Speaker
There's early bit of possession for Fulham in extra time, but the first chance is for you United. that It's a long ball up again into the path of Ganacho. but he's forced wide and flashes shot wide into the side netting. Another change for Fulham, Harrison Reid comes on for Sasolukic.
00:16:28
Speaker
And right at the end of the first half of extra time, there's a chance that falls again to the youngster, Obi. Jimenez, he's dispossessed. He's about halfway in the Manchester United half.
00:16:40
Speaker
United get the ball forward to Obi and he forces Leno into a really good save. Obi gets a shot away with his right foot. Looks to tuck it into the bottom corner. But there's Leno, big left hand to Fulham's rescue.
00:16:52
Speaker
Final 15 to go. Final change for Fulham. Ryan Sessignon comes on for Alex Iwobi. and possibly, surprisingly, he goes out, plays on the right side. Willian stays on the left.
00:17:04
Speaker
Sessegnon, who scored a midweek, had a very accomplished performance against Wolves, and he's been impressive in his cup games this season, hasn't he? So he comes off the bench, and there's still time for him to make an impact, and there's a chance for him almost straight away.
00:17:15
Speaker
Willian spreads the ball over to him. He shifts it from his right foot onto his favoured left to fashion a shooting opportunity, and he forces Inanna into a save at his near post. one final moment, one final chance for Fulham possibly to get that elusive winner.
00:17:32
Speaker
Free kick on the edge of box. Willian standing over it. Is this his moment of glory? Is this the way the script's been written? That redemption from two years ago? Well, not quite.
00:17:42
Speaker
Not yet anyway. This is there a free kick which he just put straight into the hands of Anana. And we're going to penalties. It's well and truly squeaky bum time.
Penalty Triumph and Historic Win
00:17:52
Speaker
It's often said, isn't it, in penalties how it can be a lottery.
00:17:55
Speaker
Not sure I wholeheartedly agree with that. Manchester United have the slight advantage that the fact that the penalties were being taken at the Stretford end. But what i go back to in terms of fact the fact that whether it's a lottery or not is first and foremost, you want your best goalkeeper for the penalty shootout.
00:18:13
Speaker
We saw earlier on in the season Fulham's shootout against Preston in the Carabao Cup. Stephen Bender was on for that shootout and he couldn't get near any of the Preston penalties. So I think you certainly felt a bit more comfortable with Leno.
00:18:24
Speaker
being in the net, he could at least make a save or two. Manchester United were looking to replicate that um win over Arsenal, backing up with another win on penalties. Fulham trying to overcome that defeat to Preston in the Carabao Cup. 16-15 was it on penalties? I mean, you know, penalty shoot can be stressful at the best of times. If this had gone to 31-32 penalties, i mean...
00:18:48
Speaker
Yeah, think that would have been ah there would have been absolute torture, wouldn't it? So the penalty shootout begins Manchester United the first to take their penalties. Bruno Fernandes, a regular penalty taker, he steps up.
00:18:59
Speaker
He puts it away with assurance. And Fulham at this point, they do have players on that have pedigree in scoring penalties. Jimenez and Willian have both got 100% records from the spot for them. They step up and they score. Sander Berger's scored as well.
00:19:13
Speaker
Dallo and Casemiro have scored to go along with Bruno's initial penalty. And they're all emphatic penalties. Both of the good goalkeepers can get nowhere near them. They've either dived the wrong way or there's just too much power on it.
00:19:25
Speaker
Sander Berger's one in particular. I'm not one for saying what's a good penalty or what's not because generally commentators will always say a penalty is a good penalty if it ends it up in the net. on the flip side if a penalty saved they'll always say a terrible penny it was an interesting one on the weekend i was actually i was actually watching uh the bomb of wolves penalty shootout and uh i can't remember who the wolves player was the mis that missed it he stepped up and hit the bar and it was mark schwartz former fulham goalkeeper on commentary and he actually said that was a brilliant penalty apart from the fact he missed it well it wasn't a brilliant penalty was it anyway that's me going off on a bit of a tangent and so let's get back to it so
00:19:59
Speaker
It's 3-0 in a penalty shootout. And next up is Victor Lindelof. They're trying to put Manchester United into a 4-3 lead. But he misses Leno, who had dived the wrong way for the previous three penalties. This time, he dives the right way.
00:20:11
Speaker
There's not enough power on the penalty from Lindelof. It's not in the corner. And it's a comfortable height for Ben Leno. He makes the save. So at this point, Fulham are in command if they can score the next one. Anthony Robinson steps forward.
00:20:22
Speaker
Bit of surprise to see Anthony Robinson stepping up to take the penalty, given the fact one or two hadn't stepped up at this moment. thought maybe Emile Smith-Rowe or Ryan Session would have been in front of him in terms of the pecking order. and Of course, you don't know how they think things through in penalty shooters. I would always suggest...
00:20:38
Speaker
get your best penalty takers to take the penalties first. I think there was a situation a few seasons ago, I can't remember whether it for Portugal or Man United or Real Madrid, where Cristiano Ronaldo was set to be the fifth penalty taker. And course, he wants the glory, doesn't he? yeah As he likes to have, but sir he didn't even get a chance to take a penalty because they'd already lost because they'd missed their penalties before him. So...
00:20:58
Speaker
I don't think you want to make that mistake. So Robinson steps up. Surprise to me, but he scores. And then it's ah up to Manchester United. They have to score to force Fulham into another take to win.
00:21:09
Speaker
It's Joshua Zerkes. He steps up and he misses. Leno saves. This time he dives to his left. Again, similar to the Lindelof penalty and the fact that it isn't quite in the corner. Goes for placement instead of power, but isn't able to put it in the corner.
00:21:22
Speaker
Desolation for Zerkes. It's funny how things happen in football, how things change and and turn around. He was the hero, wasn't he on match day one, the opening day of the season. He comes off the bench, scores that winner for Manchester United.
00:21:34
Speaker
Late heartbreak for Fulham. And here he is. He's the villain of the piece. There always is a villain in the piece in the penalty shoot. It's unfortunate, isn't it? you You don't envy the players in those situations. But someone's always going to miss a penalty.
00:21:47
Speaker
He misses his penalty. His head's in his hands. And there's jubilation. Players come rushing up to celebrate with Bernd Leno and Fulham are through. 4-3 on penalties.
00:21:58
Speaker
They are into the next round. They've beaten Manchester United in an FA Cup tie for the first time in 117 years. And I will give my final thoughts and reflections on that in the final part.
00:22:12
Speaker
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00:22:32
Speaker
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00:22:43
Speaker
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Looking Ahead: Future Prospects
00:22:52
Speaker
was it? At least from the neutral's perspective. It did slightly open up towards the end of the second half and there were chances for both sides in extra time to possibly win it before penalties.
00:23:01
Speaker
But it wasn't the greatest showing and from either side. We knew United coming into the game lacking confidence given their league position, given their league form, how they've been all season. That was an opportunity for them to take advantage of that and make amends for the disappointments against them earlier in the season in the league and It's fair to say Fulham, they weren't at their best. We know their away form's been good coming into this, but they weren't necessarily able to play the football they would have liked. There was probably a bit of nerves. It's a big occasion. Let's not forget, I'm going to Old Trafford, a stadium of that grandeur in the last 16 of their FA Cup. It's still a big tie, and some of the players probably recognise what an opportunity it is this season, given some of the sides that have been knocked out. So maybe that plays a part in the game.
00:23:41
Speaker
But Fulham got over the line, didn't they? And it's about time they had that bit of luck against Manchester United because it seems every time they play them, Manchester United always find a way to win, don't they? So for Fulham to win in a penalty shootout, didn't have a lot of luck early on in the season in that shootout against Preston. But finally, the luck was certainly on their side and they managed to get the win and they progress into the next round of the cup. And it's a big priority now, isn't it?
00:24:05
Speaker
Marco Silva playing his strongest available XI signals his intent. We've reached this stage where I think all clubs now will feel like they have a genuine opportunity. Every side left in the quarterfinals, maybe with the exception of Preston, have a feeling that why can't this be our year? The only one of the so-called bigger sides left in the draw, you would say, would be Manchester City. And they would be favourites, but this isn't the Manchester City that's been that different beast than Pep Guardiola with all the winning football that's gone with that in the last few seasons, how they've been such a dominant force. and very difficult to play against. We've seen they are beatable, even in the previous round against Plymouth.
00:24:40
Speaker
That was more nerve-wracking than many City fans would have expected.
Quarterfinals Draw: Fulham vs Crystal Palace
00:24:43
Speaker
So there's an opportunity for a number of clubs this season having similar sort of seasons. The likes of Bournemouth and Brighton, along with Fulham, who have aspirations, designs on getting into Europe via their league position.
00:24:54
Speaker
We don't know at this stage how many teams are going to go into Europe next season. Could go down to five for the Champions League. That has a knock-on effect for positions, places in Europe via the Europa League or the Europa Conference League. And all those teams will have their eyes set on that. So there's a lot to play for for the remainder of season. And that's exciting, isn't it? The Fulham go into the last couple of months of the season. They are fighting on multiple fronts, not only to get into Europe via the league, but to potentially lift silverware for the first time ever.
00:25:23
Speaker
And yes, it's Yes, that is correct before you Intertotal Cup lovers try to correct me. 50 years since the last final in the FA Cup for them. Their only final, so what better way would it be to mark that anniversary than by getting their way back to an FA Cup final? And who knows? They've got every chance. We know the draw now. Manchester City, despite what I've just said about them,
00:25:44
Speaker
you probably would have wanted to avoid them in the quarterfinals, given some of the other teams left in the competition. We know that Fulham will be at home in the next round. They take on Crystal Palace. And I think it's a good draw for both of those sides, to be honest. Both of those sides will go into that quarterfinal generally thinking, if we play to our potential, then there's no reason why we can't get to the semifinals.
00:26:04
Speaker
You're one game away from Wembley now. There's a lot of players at Crystal Palace, lot of players at Fulham. They might not have that opportunity again. Who knows? This isn't something that's going to come around every year. Fulham will be wanting to exactly play revenge. They got a bit of revenge on Manchester United for the two losses. And I guess he who has the last laugh laughs loudest. And those two league defeats are forgotten somewhat.
00:26:27
Speaker
And if Fulham can get a result against Crystal Palace in the next round, that that will go some way to eradicating that performance out of everyone's mind that we saw a couple of weeks ago. We know Crystal Palace are good away from home, so it's probably a draw that suits them playing away from home.
00:26:42
Speaker
Equally, Fulham probably would have preferred it away from home themselves, given the fact that they won 2-0 earlier in the season at Selhurst Park. But it's something to look forward to, isn't it? So that will come around pretty quickly towards the end of the March.
00:26:53
Speaker
Don't know what date just yet, but when it does get announced, make sure to mark that in your diary. It'll be something to really look forward to. And I think Marco Silva spoke afterwards when he learned of the draw, when he learned that they were going to be taken on Crystal Palace. He said that he wanted to recreate that same feeling that they had in the Carabao Cup last season when they played Liverpool over two legs and wants to generate that sort of atmosphere again.
00:27:17
Speaker
That will hopefully give a boost to Fulham and give them a good chance of progression into the next round. And I think now at this stage... You're going to see every team play the strongest team. You're not going to see mixing and matching. i think that game comes before a league game. There's a set of midweek fixtures. I think they might have Arsenal in the midweek game.
00:27:35
Speaker
We saw Adama Traore come off. Hopefully there's not much in that. We'll find out in the coming days. But the last thing they could do with is an injury to someone in the wide areas.
00:27:47
Speaker
with the long-term absences of Rhys Nelson and Harry Wilson. So you don't want Adama Troy Roy to add to that, especially given the form we've seen from him recently. He looks like he's returning to his best. If he is injured, then that'll ask questions of the squad.
00:28:01
Speaker
Willian, his fitness levels. i think it was quite interesting, actually, that Willian didn't come on to replace him, and he opted for Smith-Rowen again. Maybe that just tells that Willian still, at this moment, isn't quite match fit enough to play more than...
00:28:14
Speaker
20 minutes, half an hour. Ryan Sasson maybe will be someone that you can look at in playing in that position as well, given his showings in the Cup and that goal he got against Wolves. But we go into the last couple of months now, they're still in the FA Cup and they still have that dream of lifting their first piece of silverware.
00:28:30
Speaker
Just a quick word on Manchester United, where their problems, their travails, they continue, don't they? Bit of light relief for them coming into this one playing in a cup competition. We know how good they can be in one-off games and how they have a knack of getting through.
00:28:43
Speaker
They've got good recent pedigree in this competition, haven't reached a final in the last two seasons. So all their eggs are now in the Europa League basket to save what's been a sorry season. If they can somehow backdoor their way to winning a trophy there and getting into the Champions League, then...
00:28:58
Speaker
You don't look at things in such a negative light because at least the season will end with some sort of success. I know they're one of the favourites for the Europa League, but you wouldn't back them with any great degree of confidence. But the final word has to go to Fulham. A momentous day, historic day, first win in the FA Cup against Manchester United for 117 years.
00:29:18
Speaker
And they're making a bit of a habit of this, aren't they, this season? and They just won at Wolves for the first time in 40 years, won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in, think, 46 years. so there's something special in this group of players that marco silvers assembled for them to be able to pull off results that they've struggled to get before and who knows what the rest of the season holds next on the agenda is ah return to premier league action they take on brighton side brighton side off the back of a good result in the cup just like fulham winning away at newcastle and they're both having in similar seasons but for now we'll
00:29:51
Speaker
And things basking in the glory of Fulham's triumph in the FA Cup. Three games away. Three games away potentially from lifting their first piece of major silverware. That'll just about wrap things up for today's FA Cup recap of that encounter, that last 16 tie at Old Trafford.
00:30:08
Speaker
Next up, as I said, is Brighton and focus and attention will soon turn to that. And I will be back next time with all the build-up. So all that's left to say is thanks again for listening and tune in next time as the countdown to Brighton begins.
00:30:23
Speaker
See you all then. Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.