Fulham’s on-off flirting with a push for the European places faces a searching examination on the south coast this afternoon as Marco Silva’s side, fresh from their fantastic FA Cup penalty shoot-out success at Old Trafford, take on Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium. The Seagulls are flying, having knocked Newcastle United out of the FA Cup after extra time, last weekend and stitched together five wins in a row to sit a place and a point above the Whites in eighth.
The fantastic Fabian Hurzeler has continued the sterling work of Graham Potter and Roberto di Zerbi thus proving how adept Albion’s meticulous succession planning, spearheaded by Tony Bloom and Paul Barber, has been. The story of a side that were slumming it with Fulham in Division Three less than three decades ago, with no home ground and an uncertain future, is incredible and has several chapters ahead of it. Hurzeler, a superb selection to take over from di Zerbi, utterly outwitted Enza Maresca to spark their three-game winning streak that has Brighton eyeing up even more European football.
The intelligent American-born, German coach has a headache at right back this afternoon with Joel Veltman ruled out with a foot problem and Tariq Lamptey serving a suspension having been sent off at St. James’ Park. That could see the versatility of Jack Hinshelwood or Matts Wieffer tested as Albion lack another experienced, senior option in such a specialist position. Matt O’Riley, who came through the ranks at Motspur Park, could line up against the Whites in midfield after shaking off a stomach bug but Brighton will definitely miss the likes of Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner, Lewis Dunk and Igor Julio are all injured. Totemic Japanese winger Karou Mitoma, scorer of a sensational goal against Chelsea, is fit to play following the cramp that curtailed his contribution during the dramatic win over the Geordies.
Albion are in superb form since being thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest last month, winning three league games in a row for the first time since September 2023. A first Premier League win over the Whites would see Albion win four top-flight fixtures in succession for the first time in 44 years, with the in-form Danny Welbeck just a goal away from overtaking Pascal Gross as the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer. Fulham will also need to watch the lively Joao Pedro, who has scored in his last two top-tier outings.
Silva’s side have the third best away record in the division and need just eleven points from their last eleven league games to beat Roy Hodgson’s club record Premier League points tally, but you sense the target might have shifted to trying to qualify for Europe. It is crucial that the Cottagers kept their feet on the ground, following the euphoria of last weekend’s win over Manchester United, as they head into a tricky run of league fixtures. The Whites will need to do without the steadiness of Sasa Lukic in the engine room this afternoon, with the Serbian midfielder suspended following a harsh tenth booking of the season in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Silva does at least have a whole host of potential replacements with Harrison Reed fit again, but the experienced Tom Cairney and young Josh King also available.
Adama Traore will have a late fitness test after coming off injured early in the second half at Old Trafford and, if the Spanish winger is unable to play, it could be opportunity for Ryan Sessegnon to start his second league game in a row after his remarkable first-minute goal at Molineux ten days ago or offer Willian a first start of his second spell at Craven Cottage. Fulham will need to hold their own in midfield and remain diligent defensively, but they will likely look to be more dominant than in their last two previous visits to the AMEX, when a late winner from Manor Solomon stole all three points in 2023 and then a fine equaliser for Joao Palhinha secured a share of the spoils last season.
**MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1):** Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Reed, Berge; Iwobi, R. Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Jimenez. **Subs:** Benda, Cuenca, Diop, King, Cairney, Godo, Willian, Pereira, Muniz.