With Fulham’s incredible resurgence
in the late 1990’s, progression in the F.A Cup is no longer the
impossible dream that it was for much of the last 10 –15 years.
Last seasons brave 5th round exit at Old Trafford was Fulham’s best
run in the competition since we actually reached the Final in 1975.
A victory against Wimbledon on Saturday
will equal that achievement, and with the Champions of Europe otherwise
engaged, this could be a vintage year for the Whites, 25 years on
from their one and only Wembley appearance.
Fulhams’s home form has been exceptional
over the last couple of seasons and one look at the statistics below
shows that unlike the old days, no team relishes a trip to SW6.
Record at
Craven Cottage
(since August 1998 – all games included except Auto
Windscreens shield)
| Played |
44
|
| Won |
31
|
| Drawn |
10
|
| Lost |
3
|
| For |
79
|
| Against |
26
|
| Clean
Sheets |
25
|
2nd Division Luton (the only side
to win at Craven Cottage last season) almost pulled off a shock
at Craven Cottage in Round 3, but a quick fire Barry Hayles brace
settled the replayed tie at Kenilworth Road, to set up this winnable
4th round London derby.
Undoubtedly the Dons will be a tough
nut to crack. Having started the campaign slowly under the eccentric
Egil Olsen, Wimbledon have become extremely difficult to beat (losing
just 6 Premiership games so far this campaign - the same as Chelsea),
but like Fulham they are prone to drawing too many games. Arguably,
Wimbledon have assembled their best squad of players ever, with
the likes of Cort and Euell fulfilling their early potential, and
the likes of Gayle, Hartson, Thatcher and Sullivan highly sought
after talents. But as Bolton showed in the Worthington Cup Wimbledon
may still be susceptible to an upset, if that is how a Fulham victory
would be described.
With difficult away trips to Leicester
and Man City beckoning, a morale boosting victory would be the order
of the day. However I just get the feeling that the Dons will be
a tougher proposition than both Southampton and Spurs who have crashed
out of Cup competitions at the Cottage in recent times. A draw looks
the most likely outcome.