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Stoke’s injury issues in attack mean that Lamine Cisse is likely to continue playing through the middle and with an average of 1.78 fouls per 90, we can expect him to put himself about. The Frenchman is renowned at Stoke for his combative approach and having committed at least one foul in ten of his 11 starts for the club this season, he’s consistently being whistled by the officials.

Fulham’s central defensive pair of Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey will both be happy to mix it physically with Cisse and given that they’ve drawn 1.65 fouls per 90 between them this season, they’re clearly good at forcing infringements. The Cottagers last nine games have seen opposition forwards commit ten fouls between them and with Cisse’s reputation and the likelihood of him being starved of the ball, he has to go into our acca

It hasn’t quite happened for Emile Smith-Rowe at Fulham yet, having broken into and starred at times in an early iteration of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. He is yet to establish himself as a regular started after 18 months in West London, but his goal contribution record is still ok, a total of 14 direct contributions in 70 appearances.

He has started four games for Fulham in cup competitions this season, covering this bet in half of them, having scored against Middlesbrough in the last round, and against Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup back in September. In the league he has scored three times this campaign.

Stoke have the best defensive record in the Championship, having conceded just 29 goals in 32 games, but that has only been enough to carry them to 14th spot at present, due to their inefficiency in front of goal. They are winless in six games and if Fulham turn up they should be able to progress to round five.

Stoke do not arrive in great shape either, having failed to win any of their last six Championship matches. That run has seen them slip down to 14th in the standings, which represents a notable drop-off from earlier in the campaign. The Potters were as high as 2nd at the end of November, with promotion looking a realistic target at that stage. Since then, performances have steadily tailed off.

Their home form has been particularly underwhelming. Stoke have recorded six wins, three draws and six defeats from 15 Championship games at the bet365 Stadium, ranking 19th in the division for total points accumulated on home turf.

Fulham should be confident they can get the job done inside 90 minutes here, especially after making light work of Middlesbrough in the previous round. That tie finished 3-1, and the gulf in quality between the two sides was apparent.

That result is a worrying sign for the Potters, considering Middlesbrough are top of the Championship. Boro only registered eight fouls in that FA Cup tie against Fulham, but those infringements still translated to two yellow cards. Fulham are only drawing an average of 1.6 cards per game across all competitions this season, which is nothing to write home about, but the focus here is solely on the hosts.

The Potters were booked four times in the previous round against Coventry, highlighting their aggressive approach to defending. Stoke rank 5th for total yellow cards accrued in the Championship this season, and they have also picked up five red cards. No side in the division has been sent off more often, highlighting their lack of discipline.

Fulham are a cut above the level of opponents Stoke are used to facing, and this could be a tough afternoon for the Potters.

Tatsuki Seko has only accounted for three of Stoke’s yellow cards this season, despite making 31 Championship appearances. However, the Japan international is not one to shy away from a duel. He is averaging 1.44 fouls per 90 across all competitions, and that figure rises to 1.79 fouls per 90 when playing at the bet365 Stadium.

Operating in a defensive midfield role, Seko is tasked with breaking up play and protecting the backline. He racked up four fouls against Coventry in the previous round of the FA Cup, struggling at times to keep up in midfield.

Fulham are expected to dominate possession here, especially through central areas. Seko is likely to have plenty of defensive work to get through on Sunday afternoon as his side are likely going to have to endure sustained pressure from the Premier League side.

Since Samuel Chukwueze returned from AFCON, Kevin has fallen out of favour and has been limited to substitute appearances. However, Marco Silva has shown a tendency to rotate his side in cup competitions, and this fixture looks like an opportunity for the Brazilian to start on the wing.

Kevin was trusted to play the full 90 in the previous round of the FA Cup against Middlesbrough, and he delivered. The winger provided both a goal and an assist in that 3-1 win, and was heavily involved throughout, registering a total of seven shots. The 23-year-old is still building his confidence and should be looking forward to this matchup against another Championship opponent. 

Kevin is averaging 2.92 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, and Fulham’s expected dominance should allow him to see plenty of the ball in advanced areas once again.