Fulham vs Southampton
FA Cup action returns to Craven Cottage on Sunday when Fulham host Championship side Southampton in a fascinating clash.
The Saints will pose the Cottagers some serious questions as they arrive in West London in fine form, while Fulham have serious aspirations of earning European football. The Premier League side made it this far by beating Championship club Stoke City 2-1, while the Saints beat Leicester City 2-1 to reach the fifth round
The Cottagers hosted West Ham United in a Premier League clash on Wednesday and suffered a hugely frustrating 1-0 defeat …meanwhile Southampton had a week off since they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 last Saturday.
The visitors will arrive at the Cottage in numbers and they will sing their anthem ‘oh when the Saints go marching in’ come what may. I expect Southampton to put up a strong fight, but their hosts are an established top flight side and that makes them hot favourites on Sunday.
Talking Points
Fulham search for momentum
Head coach Marco Silva has ambitions for the Cottagers; to begin with he aims to better last season’s 11th place and finish in the top half of the table. Currently in tenth position the target is a European place and a top eight spot might well be enough.
The Cottagers have been playing some superb football this season and all they need to do is find consistency for the remainder of the campaign; losing to West Ham after three consecutive wins. Silva has a talented squad and a core of players he can rely on. In the attacking department Mexican striker Raul Jimenez is having a fine season with eight goals and three assists in the Premier League, while attacking midfielder Harry Wilson is having the best campaign of his career with nine league goals and six assists already. And Silva added to his firepower in January with the signing of Oscar Bobb from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.
Wilson scored in Fulham’s win over Tottenham Hotspur last week with winger Alex Iwobi grabbing the second, but he missed out on the match against West Ham and may well be rested or on the bench when the Fulham meet the Saints, with Samuel Chukwueze set to deputise. Brazil striker Rodrigo Muniz may also step in for Jimenez, while centre back Joachim Anderson is fit again.
The FA Cup 2026 betting odds back the Cottagers to make a quarter final place at least, and Silva will have a strong team prepared for the visit of the in-form Saints.
Eckert is the Saints’ saviour
Following relegation from the Premier League last term Southampton appointed Will Still as manager; but it didn’t work out for the former Lens boss and he was dismissed in November, with the team in 21st place with just two wins from 13 games and staring at a second consecutive relegation battle. 33-year-old coach Tonda Eckert was promoted from his U21 roll and, with a win percentage of 58 per cent, he has turned the Saints into genuine promotion contenders. They are unbeaten in nine games, with seven wins and two draws and Southampton are certainly on the charge, up to seventh place in the Championship table, with the best current form of the leading group.
The Saints are skippered by Jack Stephens alongside Taylor Harwood Bellis in central defence and while top scorer Adam Armstrong has transferred to Premier League bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, Canadian winger Cyle Larin has joined on loan from Real Mallorca.
And 29-year-old attacking midfielder Finn Aziz is sure to feature heavily in the FA Cup 2026 highlights on Sunday, he has nine goals and six assists in the league and will relish the chance to show what he can do against a Premier League defence.
History
Fulham were the FA Cup runners up in 1975, losing the final to West Ham United, while the Saints have been three times runners up, as well as winning the famous old trophy in 1976, amazingly as a second tier club beating the mighty Manchester United.
The head-to-head results between Fulham and Southampton are at seven wins each with eight draws from the 22 most recent meetings; while at Craven Cottage it stands at five wins to three in Fulham’s favour, with three draws.
The last time they met in April Fulham took a 2-1 win away from St Mary’s while at Craven Cottage the two clubs played out a goalless draw last season. And in terms of recent form the Saints have won five and drawn one of their last six matches while Fulham have lost three and won three.
Betting Tip
Fulham are the hot favourites to win this clash, at SBOTOP odds of 1.55, with the Saints at 5.15 and the Draw at 4.20 and I think the visitors will compete well; but the Cottagers’ Premier League quality should shine through.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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