The FA Cup bared its giant-killing teeth last weekend, going some way to restoring the reputation of a competition tarnished by too many boring all-Premier League encounters between not quite full-strength sides playing not quite fully committed football in front of nowhere near full houses.
Thank goodness for Millwall, MK Dons, Luton, Brentford, Leeds and Oldham. That's a sentiment which might be echoed at the FA, though the marketing types at their Wembley HQ may well hope the minnows are long gone before the final - Oldham against Millwall wouldn't sell in Dubai.
I have vague memories of Kevin Keegan in the 1974 FA Cup final (and David Coleman's commentary line "Newcastle were undressed!"), but West Ham against Fulham in 1975 was the first final I really watched properly.
Fulham were the minnows, a second-tier team captained by former England skipper Alan Mullery. Another former England captain was the story though; Bobby Moore was playing in the white of Fulham against the claret and blue of his beloved West Ham.
It was Bobby's last game at Wembley but there was to be no fairytale, with West Ham winning 2-0. But there was a famous photo - Moore and Mullery arm in arm, sweaty and smiling as West Ham celebrated with the cup in the far distance. They might have lost the game, but both those ageing warriors knew that such days would not come round for them again. Can it really be nearly 40 years ago?
Both clubs fell to Manchester United in this season's FA Cup, and I doubt that this league meeting of west and east London will still be talked about in four decades time, but I suppose you never know.
Neither team are exactly flying right now; in their last 10 league and cup matches Fulham have just two wins and West Ham only one. Neither can yet afford to be impervious to the scramble for points involving those below them, so a victory for either would be warmly welcomed.
There, did it - a Fulham preview without mentioning Dimitar Berbatov. Doh!
Head-to-head
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Fulham have only won two of their 17 Premier League meetings with West Ham (W2, D5, L10).
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The Hammers have won six of their eight Premier League games away to Fulham (W6, D1, L1).
Fulham
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Fulham are the only team yet to win a Premier League London derby this season (D2, L3).
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Martin Jol's men have won two of their last 15 league games (W2, D6, L7).
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They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine league matches.
West Ham
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The Hammers have claimed eight points from the last 33 available, and have lost five of their previous six away league games (D1, L5).
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Sam Allardyce's men have scored six away league goals this season, fewer than any other Premier League side. Stoke (eight) are the only other side not yet in double figures.
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They have only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 league games.