Match Preview
Manchester City vrs Fulham
FA Cup 4th Rnd 19/20 at Etihad Stadium.
Sunday 26th January 2020 KO: 13:00
Referee:
Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
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Daniel Lewis at Sports Mole
Manchester City continue their defence of the FA Cup with a fourth-round tie at home to Championship promotion chasers Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
Fulham pulled off an upset by knocking out Aston Villa in the last round, but they have lost their last eight matches against City in all competitions.
City have lacked consistency in the Premier League this term but have been as ruthless as ever in the domestic cup competitions.
Pep Guardiola's men lifted the EFL Cup and FA Cup last season, as well as the Premier League, and are on course to retain both cups.
Having opened up a 3-1 first-leg lead over Manchester United in the EFL Cup, focus now turns to the visit of Fulham on Sunday and Guardiola has indicated he will field a strong XI.
The domestic cups and Champions League will take on added importance for the Citizens in the remaining months of the campaign due to their patchy league form, which has seen them all but relinquish their grip on the title.
Following Thursday night's 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool now have a 16-point lead with a game in hand still to play, leaving City to battle it out for second place.
A 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace aside, City's form over the past month has been impressive as they have won six of their last seven games in all competitions.
That includes a 4-1 win over Port Vale in round three, with four different goalscorers registering at the Etihad Stadium to make it seven FA Cup wins in a row for City.
Fulham are the latest side with aspirations of stopping the reigning English champions, and they have already eliminated one Premier League club in Aston Villa this season.
Not since 2002-03 have they knocked out two top-flight sides in the same FA Cup campaign, however, and Scott Parker's charges enter the match on the back of a disappointing goalless draw at Charlton Athletic in midweek.
The Cottagers' failure to find a way through at The Valley means they remain three points adrift of the automatic promotion spots after playing a game more than the top two.
Earning a place in the Premier League remains the top priority for Parker, but this trip to the Etihad Stadium will be seen as a welcome distraction and a chance to pull off a massive upset.
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Manchester City last faced Fulham in the FA Cup in 1914 - a 2-0 home win at Hyde Road.
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City have won the past eight meetings in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 23-3.
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They are undefeated in 14 matches against Fulham (W11, D3).
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Fulham's past three wins against City have all come away from home in the Premier League, in April 2009, April 2008 and April 2006.
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Fulham have lost just once in eight matches in all competitions.
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However, they have won only once in five away games (D2, L2)
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Fulham have not conceded a goal since the third-round win against Aston Villa, keeping three clean sheets.
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The Cottagers last made the fifth round in 2011, going on to lose 1-0 at home to in an all-Premier League clash.
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Manchester City have won 10 of their past 12 games in all competitions. Their only defeat during that run came at Wolves in the Premier League on 27 December.
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City have lost only once in 12 home games (W9, D2).
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They have won all five FA Cup home matches under Pep Guardiola by an aggregate score of 25-3.
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Since joining City in 2011-12, Sergio Aguero has scored a competition-high 19 FA Cup goals.