There is at least an almost immediate chance for Fulham to put the pain of Danny Ings’ stoppage-time equaliser behind them when the Whites travel to Preston North End for tonight’s League Cup third round tie at Deepdale. Snatching a draw from the almost closed draw of victory was particularly galling given how Marco Silva’s side had dominated and then controlled the first London derby of the season, but a change of competition and opposition still eager to impress a new manager will likely offer some of Silva’s fringe players on opportunity to impress.
The Fulham boss has stressed the importance of a Cup run in the build-up to this fixture, emphasising how he feels his team has grown having reached the FA Cup quarter finals and then the last four of the League Cup in successive season. With Premier League points so precious, this competition offers an opportunity for a few of the next generation to shine. Josh King stole the show with a superb substitute appearance in the previous round at Birmingham and the talented teenager, who has since captain England’s under 18s at the prestigious Tournoi de Laforge, should get another chance to strut his stuff again. Martial Godo, excellent on loan just down the road at Wigan last season, could come into the manager’s thinking on the wing, but Silva has already hinted at preferring a first start for Reiss Nelson, whose cameo off the bench against West Ham was certainly eye-catching.
Silva made eleven changes at St. Andrew’s and his side had dispatched the Blues within fifteen minutes. One of those goalscorers, Jay Stansfield, is now permanently with City – and bagged a brace last night as his new employers beat Wrexham in the battle of League One’s big spenders last night – whilst the other, Raul Jimenez, found the net at the weekend having been preferred to Rodrigo Muniz. It will likely be another mix and match side from Silva with Ryan Sessegnon continuing his low key return to Fulham with another outing at left back and a second start for Spanish centre back Jorge Cuenca, perhaps this time alongside Issa Diop, who was dropped for the visit of former side to Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Preston have historically proven tough to beat at Deepdale – with Silva speaking on Monday about how tough they made it for his promotion-winning side three years ago. North End also embarrassed Scott Parker’s outfit two years previously and will be dangerous once more this evening – even if they have made an inauspicious side to the Championship campaign. Ryan Lowe was the season’s first managerial casualty, replaced by Paul Heckingbottom after an opening day defeat at the hands of Sheffield United. North End sit just a point above the relegation zone after Mads Frokjaer-Jensen’s goal secured a draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday, but they have taken a liking to Cup football following up an impressive home win over Sunderland in round one with a 5-0 hammering of Harrogate.
Heckingbottom his urged his squad to relish the chance to test themselves against top flight opposition and it remains to be seen how many changes he will make after a hard-fought battle at the Riverside on Saturday. Icelandic international Stefán Thórdarson missed the trip to Boro through illness but is available to start, whilst centre back Liam Lindsay returns from a ban. North End will be without former Manchester United centre forward Will Keane, who is still recovering from a hamstring niggle.
Nobody should consider this tie a walkover for the Whites and Silva’s side will need to match their hosts’ industry in order for their class to shine. They would do well to follow in the footsteps of two Fulham forwards who also shone at Deepdale in years gone by in the shape of Division Three promotion hero Mick Conroy and the consistently committed Brian McBride.
MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Benda; Castagne, R. Sessegnon, Diop, Cuenca; King, Reed; Wilson, Godo, Cairney; Muniz. Subs: Borto, Tete, Andersen, Berge, Traore, Nelson, Pereira, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.
