Fulham at Manchester United - FA Cup 5th Round

Fulham face the one team that seems to have their number for the third time this season. Manchester United will host Fulham for the 5th Round of of the FA Cup. The game will be on ESPN+ with kickoff Sunday at 11:30am EST.

Fulham has clearly been a better team than Manchester United this season with a nine point gap between the two in the league with just 11 matches to go. However, Fulham has been beaten twice in close matches due to fluky winning goals for United. Then there is the FA Cup history between these two. Fulham hasn't beaten Manchester United in the FA Cup since 1908. While none of us remember that day, we would all probably like to forget the FA Cup Quarterfinal matchup with United two years ago. It was the worst day I've ever had as a Fulham fan. Worse than any relegation. I was so embarrassed by the way the team collapsed with three red cards (one was for Silva) when they were so close to a semi-final appearance at Wembley. It was essentially how the Mitrovic era ended at Fulham when an extended suspension saw him out for a good chunk of the remaining season. That first season up under Silva had gone a lot like this season to that point (except that season we beat the teams below us rather than the other way around) so there is a cloud hanging over this that it could all go south again.

It is hard to know what Fulham will do in this match. Even the line up is a bit of a question. Do they go with a five at the back setup that worked against Wolves and some other teams? Or do they revert back to the standard formation that looked amazing against Forest and terrible against Palace (a lineup that has also failed to find success against United twice earlier this season). Smith Rowe has started in the 10 role in the previous United matches, so maybe at least try something different there. This team has the quality to beat Manchester United, it is just a matter of if they will bring it.

I try to remind myself that regardless of what happens on Sunday, this has been a fantastic season for Fulham - one of the best ever. I'm a little greedy though, and would like a little bit more by finally getting a deserved win over United.

 

But don’t forget that before these last two flukey Man U wins, Fulham pulled the great double Nigerian at Old Trafford last February.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/videos/5964eb5e-e666-410b-b6f7-c771732e55e8

Who’s to say that they can’t do it again?

 

Let’s go to the quarters!

 

After two losses in the games we dominated, we win the one where we play down to their level. Funny, but happy to take it. Worried about Traore's knee. Looks like we're playing Crystal Palace in the quarters. Payback time.