Parker: We’ll give Spurs a run for their money
SCOTT PARKER is fully expecting the memories to come flooding back when Fulham welcome Tottenham to Craven Cottage this afternoon.
But the midfielder is determined the Emirates FA Cup fifth round tie will be far more than just a trip down memory lane.
When Parker left West Ham in 2011, he spent two years at White Hart Lane – becoming an instant fans’ favourite in north London and being named Spurs’ Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.
The 36-year-old has returned to face his former club with Fulham twice since, with the Cottagers slipping to 2-1 and 3-1 defeats en route to relegation from the Premier League.
Yet with Slavisa Jokanovic’s troops already taking a topflight scalp this term by demolishing Hull City 4-1 in their fourth round clash, Parker is hopeful it could be third time lucky for him against Spurs.
“I’m very much looking forward to it,” said Parker.
“It’s my old club, so it’s always good to see familiar faces and they’re a very good side, with a fantastic manager.
“I have some fond memories of playing at Spurs, it was a good time for me.
“We go in there as underdogs but they’re coming here after a Thursday night game, and they go again the following Thursday so I don’t know how Mauricio Pochettino’s going to view it and how he’s going to use his squad. “But we beat a Premier League side here in the last round and we’re pretty confident, so I’m sure we’ll give a good account of ourselves.” Both sides were in action in midweek, but while Spurs slipped to a disheartening 1-0 Europa League defeat away to Gent, Fulham edged past Nottingham Forest 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers are moving themselves within striking distance of the play-offs, eighth in the table and six points behind sixthplaced Sheffield Wednesday ahead of this weekend's action. And Parker is eyeing momentum in order to make a late charge in the Championship’s top six, and that includes keeping the good vibes going with a positive FA Cup display. “We’re going to have to put a run together,” added Parker. “We have the FA Cup and then we go into another couple of games in the space of a week, so we’ve got to put a run together. “What’s good at the moment is that we’re not playing great, certainly not the best we’ve played, and we’re still getting results. That’s pleasing.” With Spurs currently third in the Premier League table, Fulham’s task to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2010 is certainly not a simple one.
And adding to their problems is the expected return of Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen – who has recovered from the ankle ligament damage he picked up against West Brom in mid-January.
Fulham have won four consecutive home games in all competitions, scoring 12 times in the process, and will need that sort of form to breach the defensive line of Vertonghen and co.
Parker says the squad are eagerly anticipating today’s clash but he agrees with the perennial narrative that the FA Cup has lost some of its magic in recent years.
“I was brought up on the FA Cup final – it was something, when I was growing up, which was a whole day thing,” explained Parker.
“I remember waking up early in the morning and you were literally watching the teams getting on the bus and coming out of the hotel it was a massive thing!
“I suppose over the years it has lost that little bit of spark really.
“It’s a real shame but that’s the world we are in today – it’s very different to when I was growing up.”