Everton v Fulham: Visitors to maintain FA Cup fourth round love
Published:Fulham may dread their visits to Goodison Park in the league, but it is a different story in the FA Cup and they can take advantage of Everton’s defensive headache to move into the fifth round.
Not since 1959 have Fulham taken even a league point from Goodison Park, losing on all of their last 18 visits.
However, they have never been knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton and have won on two of their four away meetings.
Fulham tend to fare well once overcoming the third round obstacle in the FA Cup, progressing through the fourth round on the last ten occasions that they have reached this stage.
Their chances of doing so again are given a major boost by Everton’s lengthy injury list, which includes regular first-choice central defensive pairing Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka.
David Moyes is even considering whether to employ Tony Hibbert as an emergency central defender or stick with youngster Shane Duffy, who has stepped in ably in recent weeks.
Fulham are having no problem scoring of late as Clint Dempsey’s hat-trick inspired them to a 5-2 success over Newcastle in their last game and it is a big 14/5 that they beat Everton.
Meanwhile, Dempsey may appeal at 8/1 to open the scoring.
Everton have struggled at home in the FA Cup in the last few seasons, being dumped out the competition at Goodison Park in four of the last five campaigns.
But in general Fulham are bad travellers and so they may be the best opposition to visit in order to improve upon this run.
Everton’s odds are 1/1 to beat Fulham, while the draw can be backed at 23/10 which will mean a replay is needed to separate the pair in the FA Cup for a fourth time from five ties.
