Fulham vs Crystal Palace predictions: Eagles should soar high at Craven Cottage
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- Crystal Palace have won five consecutive away games
- Fulham have won only two of their last five assignments in all competitions
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace draw no bet
Two sides with ambitions of finishing in the top half of the Premier League at the very least clash on Saturday as Fulham host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The London clubs are both edging closer to a rare shot at silverware, with Fulham having beaten Manchester United on penalties at Old Trafford in the fifth round, while Palace sank Millwall 3-1.
The ear injury sustained by Jean-Philippe Mateta following a rash challenge from Liam Roberts was the big talking point of Palace's quarter-final but Mateta has since been cleared to feature in this match.
And he will be determined to help the Eagles replicate their 2-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League back in February.
Team news
Fulham will welcome back industrious midfielder Sasa Lukic, who has served a two-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Kenny Tete, Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson, however, remain out for the Cottagers.
Mateta has been cleared to feature for Crystal Palace for the first time since his horrific ear injury against Millwall.
But Joel Ward, Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are unavailable for the visitors.
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The stats
Crystal Palace have won each of their last five competitive away fixtures, prevailing 2-0 in each of those contests.
Indeed, the Eagles have lost only three games on the road in this season's Premier League.
Fulham have won just two of their last five matches in all competitions and that run began with a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Prediction
At first glance, this is a really tough one to call with both sides undoubtedly hungry for silverware and in comfortable positions in the Premier League.
But Mateta's return for Palace, regardless of whether he starts, is a big boost and they represent value in the draw-no-bet market.
Oliver Glasner's team have looked good of late following a slow start to the season and they have been especially disciplined on their travels, winning five successive away games 2-0 in all competitions.
They even kept themselves warm when not playing in the Premier League a fortnight ago with a 1-0 win away to HamKam in a friendly in Marbella.
The fact Palace ran out 2-0 winners away to Fulham in February, denying the Cottagers a single shot on target, should not be underestimated and Palace can get over the line.
Fulham can be tough opponents at Craven Cottage but they lost to Palace last month, Brighton this month and needed penalties to see off a lacklustre Manchester United in the fifth round, so they are far from nailed-on to win this contest.
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