Fulham will be desperate to bounce back from their brutal Brighton defeat when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Craven Cottage this afternoon for an intriguing London derby. Marco Silva’s side have shown commendable bouncebackability (credit to crazy Iain Dowie) several times this season and will fancy their chances of propelling Ange Postecoglou closer to revolving door fitted in place of a manger’s office by Daniel Levy, but the Whites have been far too generous hosts when mid-table outfits (and worse) have visited SW6 this season.
Spurs have been a stuttering shambles during Postecoglou’s second season at the helm but remain in with a shot of lifting silverware after Thursday’s stirring second leg comeback against AZ Alkmaar kept them alive in the Europa League. Fulham arguably offered a portent of what was to come with their adventurous display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December, but their failure to take the lead having dominated the first half allowed Brennan Johnson to burgle an opener. Silva’s side showed real resilience to dominate a second half where captain Tom Cairney curled in a excellent equaliser before being sent off – and there was justifiable disappointment that the ten men came away with only a share of the spoils.
Tottenham won only one of their next ten league matches, with eight defeats ending the affable Australian’s honeymoon with the fans. Spurs did fight back from 2-0 down to salvage a point against fellow European contenders Bournemouth last week and there are signs that a significant injury list is easing. Kevin Danso will miss out with a hamstring, whilst the absences of Richarlison and the devastating Dejan Kulusevski have been keenly felt in the final third. James Maddison will want to make a point to Thomas Tuchel after being omitted from the new England coach’s squad for the start of the World Cup qualifiers, while former Fulham full back Djed Spence has been one of the few bright spots of a forgettable Tottenham campaign.
Silva has significant selection headaches of his own after Fulham were beaten at the death on the south coast last week. Sam Barrott’s decision to avoid a penalty for Joao Pedro’s theatrical tumble across Harrison Reed as the Worthing-born midfielder sought to clear was questionable enough, until it came to light that Jack Hinshelwood had blocked off Calvin Bassey from an offside position before Jan Paul van Hecke beaded Albion level. Adama Traore has returned to training after limping off at Old Trafford, but using him from the start would place more pressure on the winger’s fragile body. Alex Iwobi was outstanding on the right at the AMEX – and should continue there this afternoon.
The Fulham head coach will eventually have to decide which of Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira fits into his first choice midfield, because it is clear that the two can’t play together. Reed probably blotted his copy book in Brighton but remains the best option to replace the suspended Sasa Lukic, with Josh King and Tom Cairney waiting to offer engine room energy from the bench. I’d be tempted to play Emile Smith Rowe in the number ten role, with the rejuvanted Ryan Sessegnon requested to roam from his natural left wing role against his former employers but Silva probably won’t pick an eleven quite as radical as that.
Spurs, for all their woes, have weapons that can seriously hurt the very best defences – which is why their struggles under an intelligent coach have proven so surprising. Dominic Solanke was a smart signing, but Son has struggled to hit the heights of previous years, with Johnson beginning to pop up with goals and assists that he always promised for Nottingham Forest and Wales. This will likely be a tight affair, but Fulham can’t afford to be passive at home – they must dictate the tempo, the play and look to sweep Spurs aside from the outset.
MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Reed, Berge; Iwobi, R. Sessegnon, Smith Rowe; Jimenez. Subs: Benda, Cuenca, Andersen, Cairney, King, Pereira, Traore, Willian, Muniz.
