Fulham vs Newcastle tips and predictions: Cottagers eye first win in historically goal-mad cup clash
Raul Jimenez
Saturday’s showcase FA Cup fixture takes place at Craven Cottage as Fulham welcome Newcastle at the unusual time of 1900 (GMT).
Think of all the different fixtures we have seen in the FA Cup across the 153 years of the competition’s existence.
Of all the thousands of games, Fulham against Newcastle is a fixture which boasts the second highest goals per game average.
In four meetings between the two clubs, there have been a total of 24 goals – with 20 of them scored by Newcastle alone.
That all sounds rather exciting, though there is one small caveat.
The first two encounters between the clubs in the FA Cup took place before World War One, while the other two were played during the early stages of the Vietnam War. For those of you who slept through GCSE History, that’s a long blooming time ago.
Question is, can we expect another goal-mad display six decades on from their last FA Cup meeting?
Strangely enough, the answer is yes. Newcastle have won just two of their last 10 matches across all competitions, with the Magpies sturggling to keep teams out.
Fulham are not exempt from goal-mouth action. Their last seven fixtures at Craven Cottage have produced a total of 23 goals – that’s an average of 3.2 per game.
Considering Newcastle are in woeful form and Fulham are yet to win a major trophy in their history, expect both teams to take this tie seriously.
From a betting perspective, we’re backing the goal-mad trend to continue in this fixture. Over 3.5 goals and both teams to ripple the net is the way to go.
Team news
Fulham are still without the injured Adama Traore.
Newcastle, on the other hand, are missing Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Nick Pope, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy and Callum Wilson.
Key stats
- Fulham have never beaten Newcastle in the FA Cup in four attempts
- Newcastle have lost their last seven FA Cup matches against Premier League opposition
- Fulham have conceded at least four goals in all of their four defeats against Newcastle in the FA Cup
- Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has never won an FA Cup match against Premier League opposition in nine attempts
