Match Preview
Fulham vrs Leeds United
FA Cup 5th Round 22/23 at Craven Cottage
Tuesday 28th February 2023 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Live on BBC One
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Fulham stretched their unbeaten run to six matches when they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Wolves in the league on Friday night; Pablo Sarabia sent the visitors ahead in the first half, but Marco Silva's side secured a share of the spoils courtesy of Manor Solomon's third goal in as many matches.
The result has left the Cottagers in sixth position in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with the team enjoying a brilliant campaign thus far.
Fulham's focus is undoubtedly the Premier League, and it would be some story if Silva could lead the team to a European finish, but they also have the chance to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The West London club have never won the FA Cup, with their best performance in the competition coming in 1974-75, when they reached the final before losing to West Ham United.
Fulham have already beaten Leeds this season, recording a 3-2 victory in the Premier League back in October, which ended a run of four straight losses to the Whites in all competitions.
Leeds, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Southampton, with Junior Firpo netting the only goal of the contest to secure a vital three points in Javi Gracia's first game at the helm.
T
he result moved the team out of the relegation zone and into 17th, but they are just one point clear of 18th-placed Everton and still face a huge battle to stay in England's top flight this term.
Leeds have overcome Cardiff City and Accrington Stanley to reach this round of the FA Cup, while Fulham have beaten Hull City and Sunderland.
Unlike Fulham, though, the Whites have previously won the FA Cup, lifting the trophy in 1972 by recording a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the final, with Allan Clarke netting the only goal of the contest.
Gracia has been brought to the club to keep them in the Premier League this season, but the team are just one win away from the final eight of a major cup competition, and the match could provide opportunities for a number of players looking to impress their new head coach.
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