Match Preview
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 02 at Wembley
Saturday 18th August 2018 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
|
Fulham lost to Crystal Palace last weekend but return to Wembley with good memories having been promoted as Championship play-off winners last season.
"It's a great opportunity," said manager Slavisa Jokanovic. "We have fought for the opportunity to play against teams like Spurs."
We know it's a tough game, in this year at this stadium only City and Juventus won against them but for another side it's a great opportunity for us to test our possibility against one of the top English and European teams.
It's amazing and great challenge ahead of us and we will try do our best and try be competitive and fight for the points.
Mauricio Pochettino has called for a positive outlook as Tottenham start a longer-than-expected run at Wembley with their Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday.
The London derby against the newly-promoted Cottagers was meant to be Tottenham's only scheduled match at Wembley this season.
However, it was announced this week that the opening of their new stadium has been delayed until at least October over safety concerns.
"We need to be all together," said Spurs boss Pochettino. "Our fans understand it's a massive, huge project that will be forever for them and for the club and it's not possible for different things that happen, it's not in our hands. The most import thing is to be positive."
Spurs, who won at Newcastle on the opening day, initially struggled at Wembley last season as they lost to Chelsea and drew with Burnley and Swansea.
However, they did adapt to life at the national stadium and finished the campaign strongly at home.
-
Tottenham have won eight of the last nine Premier League meetings between the sides, losing the other.
-
Fulham's last Premier League win over Spurs was at White Hart Lane, a 1-0 victory in March 2013 thanks to a goal from Dimitar Berbatov.
-
The Cottagers have won just two of their 24 top-flight away matches against Spurs (D6, L16).
-
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 FA Cup win at Craven Cottage the last time the teams met in February 2017.
-
This is Fulham's third game at Wembley. They lost 2-0 to West Ham in the 1975 FA Cup final and beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Championship play-off final in May.
-
It's also Fulham's 1,000th match in the English top flight.
-
They could begin a top-flight campaign with back-to-back defeats for the first time since 1967.
-
Fulham have conceded in each of their last 18 Premier League away games.
-
Their last Premier League goal was scored by Dutchman Chris David in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in May 2014.
-
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored and provided an assist in both of his Premier League appearances against Spurs. He was also sent off in his last game against them - a 5-1 win for Newcastle in May 2016.
-
Tottenham have lost just two of their last 38 home league games (W30, D6) - last season's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea and 3-1 loss versus Manchester City.
-
Spurs haven't won their opening two league games since the 2014-15 season.
-
They are unbeaten in 36 Premier League fixtures against newly-promoted teams (W33, D3), since a 1-0 defeat at QPR in April 2012.
-
Harry Kane hasn't scored a Premier League goal in August despite playing 14 games and attempting 46 shots.
-
Kane has scored five goals in his last 13 Premier League London derbies, having previously netted 17 times in 16 derby fixtures.
-
Jan Vertonghen's goal against Newcastle last weekend was his first in 161 Premier League games.