Manchester United v Fulham Match Result
On the one hand, the fact that Manchester United have won home and away against Fulham this season in the Premier League would support the fact that they are favourites to claim a victory in this FA Cup encounter. The Red Devils also have home advantage although some punters will be wary of backing a team who have won just five of their thirteen games on home soil this term.
United sit a lowly fifteenth in the Premier League table, with the team having a difficult February which started with a 2-0 home reverse against Crystal Palace, while a 2-1 win over Leicester was followed by a 1-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They also trailed 2-0 at Goodison Park last Saturday before finding a way to draw the game, although they were played off the park in the opening exchanges of that clash.
Therefore, the odds implying a 45% chance of a United victory in normal time look too short considering they face a Fulham side who have avoided defeat in 75% of away games this term. At the time of writing, Marco Silva’s side have nine more points than their opponents, with the London side recently claiming wins over Newcastle, Wigan and Nottingham Forest before a recent home reverse against Crystal Palace.
Perhaps it’s worth considering the visitors on the Double Chance market, with Fulham having drawn 2-2 at Anfield in December. They have also recorded a victory at Stamford Bridge this season, with the team’s style of play better suited to being on the road. They also had the better of United in that recent top-flight encounter at the Cottage and the visitors scored with their only shot on target.
Goals Under/Over
Over 2.5 Goals is actually trading at a shorter price than Under 2.5 Goals despite the low-scoring nature of the two previous encounters. A late Joshua Zirkzee goal saw Manchester United claim an August victory in a clash where the Red Devils had five shots on target, with Fulham having two by contrast.
On 26 January, United won by the same scoreline despite only having one shot on target, with Lisandro Martinez bagging another late winner after Fulham had three shots registered on goal. Perhaps the fact that this clash is in the FA Cup will lead to a more open encounter, with thirty-two goals scored in twelve Fulham away games this term.
There have also been forty-one goals registered in fourteen Fulham home clashes, while there have been thirty-nine goals scored in thirteen Manchester United home encounters. We are leaning towards the Unders considering that the previous matches have seen the teams cancel each other out.
BTTS
The bookies think that BTTS Yes is a more likely outcome than Over 2.5 Goals and that’s partially because the former selection covers a 1-1 scoreline. It’s a match which has to be decided on the day, with that meaning that both sides might go on the front foot in a clash which is winner takes all. This is a competition where both sides will feel as though they have a reasonable chance of making it to Wembley.
The BTTS Yes option is regarded as having a 60% likelihood, with some customers looking to combine this selection with one of the teams to win. A Fulham win and BTTS Yes looks particularly attractive and the visitors will be confident of maintaining their solid away form and combining this with both teams to find the net.
Before a 2-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace, the previous three Fulham encounters had finished in a BTTS Yes outcome. There was also a run of games from Boxing Day to the middle of January where there were five consecutive BTTS Yes matches, with this outcome potentially more likely considering that neither side will want to contemplate extra-time and penalties.
First Goalscorer
Rodrigo Muniz has had a relatively difficult season in front of goal, although the Brazilian followed up a goal at St James’ Park with a brace away to Wigan in the previous round of the FA Cup. The forward has seven for the season and there’s also the prospect of Raul Jimenez appearing in the starting line-up, with the Mexican having a respectable twelve goals although his rate has slowed down in the past few games.
Alex Iwobi scored a brace at West Ham in a recent away game and Emil Smith Rowe also has the potential to score in this game, with Joachim Andersen posing a threat from set pieces and it’s worth noting how defensively poor Manchester United actually are when it comes to corners and free-kicks.
As for Manchester United, there hasn’t been a particularly reliable source of goals, with this being part of the reason why the Red Devils are languishing in fifteenth. Rasmus Hojlund has struggled in front of goal and can’t be a too reliable option, with Bruno Fernandes a potentially reliable option from set pieces and he’s also on penalties.