Fulham v Sheffield United: Cottagers to dodge disaster

Michael Lintorn
03 February 2014

Steve Sidwell has played in all bar one of Fulham's home games

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Michael Lintorn is forecasting victory for Fulham as two sides in dismal form clash at Craven Cottage...

"The most compelling argument for backing the Cottagers is that Sheffield United are awful travellers, triumphing once in 14 League One attempts all season."

Best Bet: Back Fulham to win @ 1.715/7

Fulham v Sheffield United, Tuesday 19:45, ITV4, Match Odds: Fulham 1.715/7, Sheffield United 5.95/1, The Draw 4.03/1

Good news for fed-up Fulham and Sheffield United fans: as this meeting is a fourth round FA Cup replay, only iffy weather or floodlight failure can deny one team a rare chance to celebrate come full time.

Fulham slumped to the bottom of the Premier League for the first time this season after Saturday's 0-3 home defeat to Southampton, their fourth league reverse on the spin and eighth in 11 games since Rene Meulensteen replaced Martin Jol. They are 1.511/2 relegation favourites.

Sheffield United meanwhile haven't experienced the lift off that they may have anticipated upon hiring Nigel Clough in October, their own 0-3 weekend reverse at Crewe shunting them to second bottom in League One, rendering a third demotion in eight years a genuine concern.

Both clubs enjoyed their sole win since New Year's Day in the third round, but who is more likely to deliver a second in this televised tie? Well, Fulham appear great value at 1.715/7 given that, for all their struggles, they remain 47 rungs higher up the Football League ladder than Sheffield United.

They put out a strong side in their last replay against Norwich and were rewarded with a convincing 3-0 victory that lifted morale. The greater competition for places provided by their deadline day business should incentivise those picked, even if that didn't transpire against Southampton.

The most compelling argument for backing the Cottagers is that Sheffield United - despite their third round win at Aston Villa - are awful travellers, triumphing once in 14 League One attempts all season. Their ten defeats include each of the last three.

Fulham's home form has dropped off this term, yet they tend to produce when expected to, beating three of the teams within eight points of them in the Premier League and sinking Everton and Norwich at Craven Cottage in the cups.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

The other deficiency that these underachieving clubs share is an aversion to clean sheets, with Fulham's three in 24 league matches admirably rivalled by Sheffield United's four in 27.

In both instances, it isn't just a failure to shut opponents out holding them back, but the regularity with which they concede. Both the west Londoners and Blades have been breached at least twice in their last four league fixtures - a sure sign of over 2.5 goal potential

Best Bet: Back Fulham to win @ 1.715/7
Other Recommended Bet: Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.9420/21

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