FA Cup quarter-finals preview: Fulham v Crystal Palace, Brighton v Forest
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Vying for a place in European competition, Fulham are having a fine season. Yet Marco Silva’s side could arguably be doing even better.
The Cottagers held Arsenal and Liverpool to draws in back-to-back weeks, the 2-2 against Liverpool coming at Anfield. That’s surely not a fluke, but Fulham have also dropped points at home against relegation-bound Southampton and Ipswich.
Clearly a capable side, but also prone to slip-ups that seem avoidable, it’s tough to have total confidence in the west London team. But maybe a similar argument could be levelled at Crystal Palace.
In their league meetings this season, Fulham won 2-0 at Selhurst Park back in November – with the Eagles winning the return fixture at Craven Cottage in February by the same scoreline.
Palace are in fine form, too. Though they started the season slowly, Oliver Glasner’s side has won six of their last eight league games.
That run includes a win against Man Utd at Old Trafford – okay, fair enough, not such a grand feat these days – and a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa last month.
But Fulham themselves have five wins from their last eight, including victories against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and most recently Tottenham. The truth is, these two sides look well-matched. It’s tough to come out decisively in favour of either team to win Saturday’s quarter-final.
Jean-Philippe Mateta may play some role for Palace in this weekend’s clash, having fallen victim to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts’ extremely rash challenge during the fifth round tie.
Mateta needed 25 stitches to his left ear following the encounter; the Frenchman will wear a special mask to protect the ear when he returns.
But whether or not the striker makes an appearance here, the smart bet could be to back the draw. It wouldn’t be a surprise if these two sides can’t be separated after 90 minutes, and the draw is a 9/4 shot.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest
Brighton have never won the FA Cup, coming closest in 1983 when they were beaten in a replayed final with Man Utd, losing 4-0; the initial match had ended 2-2 after extra time.
As for Nottingham Forest, they’ve lifted this trophy twice, but not since 1959. Yes, Nuno Espirito Santo could achieve what Brian Clough failed to during his time with the Tricky Trees.
Forest are having an extraordinary season, and perhaps the most memorable game of their league campaign was when they swatted Brighton aside 7-0 back in February.
That result should certainly give the Nottingham side some confidence as they prepare for this match. But it’s surely also instilled a burning desire in Brighton to avenge that humbling, too.
The Seagulls have won four of their last five league games. The exception was a 2-2 draw to Man City at the Etihad that Fabian Hurzeler’s team could well have won.
This quarter-final is unlikely to serve up the glut of goals that the last meeting between these two sides provided. It surely won’t be so one-sided either, but I’m leaning more towards the hosts taking the win here.
Brighton haven’t lost a game since the defeat at the City Ground back in early February. With home advantage, the Seagulls can see off a Forest side that have lost two of their last three away games (against Newcastle and Fulham – they won the third, against Ipswich). Forest will also be without prolific striker Chris Wood, who misses this game with a hip injury.
Brighton are 4/5 to take victory in 90 minutes.
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