Match Preview
Sunderland vrs Fulham
FA Cup 4th Round Replay 22/23 at Stadium of Light
Wednesday 8th FGebruary 22/23 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
Live on BBC One
|
Fulham and Sunderland meet for their FA Cup fourth-round replay at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night following a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, .
The Championship side led for much of the first meeting, but Fulham flexed their Premier League muscles to force a deserved replay, courtesy of Tom Cairney's stunning solo effort.
Although Sunderland put up a decent fight, Fulham can count themselves unfortunate to have drawn the first meeting, having racked up more than 20 shots while enjoying almost 70% possession at the Cottage.
However, Marco Silva's men were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as the Championship side clung on to earn a replay on home soil.
Fulham made light work of Hull City in the third round, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory at the MKM Stadium, but Sunderland made the Premier League outfit work for their place in the competition.
The Cottagers head into the replay on the back of a well-earned goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, meaning that they occupy eighth place in the Premier League table – two points above ninth-placed Chelsea.
Having chalked up four consecutive Premier League wins after the World Cup break, Fulham look destined to enjoy top-flight football next season, so they can afford to throw everything at their FA Cup campaign.
With the backing of the Wearside faithful behind them, Sunderland will fancy their chances of pushing Fulham all the way once again, having given a good account of themselves in the previous meeting.
Jack Clarke put the Black Cats ahead inside six minutes at Craven Cottage, and the Championship outfit continued to create plenty of chances against their Premier League opponents, recording six shots on target.
That said, Tony Mowbray's men failed to build on their impressive performance against Fulham, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Millwall last time out, managing a solitary attempt on target at The Den.
As a result, Sunderland find themselves ninth in the Championship table – two points shy of the playoff places – having registered 11 wins, nine draws and nine losses in the league this season.
The two-time FA Cup winners last reached the fifth round during the 2013-14 campaign, with their most recent triumph coming all the way back in 1972-73, although they did get their hands on the EFL Trophy in 2020-21.
-
Sunderland won their last home game against Fulham, a 1-0 win back in December 2017 in the Championship under Chris Coleman.
-
This is Fulham's first FA Cup replay since 2014-15 at the fourth round stage, which was also against Sunderland. They lost 3-1 at home in the replay.
-
Fulham have been eliminated from seven of their last eight FA Cup fourth round ties, winning the other 4-1 at home against Hull City in 2016-17.
-
This is Sunderland's first appearance in the FA Cup fourth round since 2014-15, when they knocked out Fulham. The Black Cats haven't reached the fifth round when playing outside the Premier League since 2003-04.
5 Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has faced Premier League sides in five previous FA Cup ties across spells at West Brom, Middlesbrough and Blackburn and been eliminated from all five ties.
`
`