Fulham host League One side AFC Wimbledon in a London derby on Thursday night in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
The Cottagers are still adapting to life under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and enter this game just 72 hours after a break-neck opening Premier League clash against rivals Chelsea which ended 3-2 in the visitors’ favour.
Despite defeat, there was plenty of positives from a Fulham perspective with new players bedding in and a new style under Arbeloa evident, even at this early juncture in the campaign. Chelsea took the lead inside 30 seconds after the hosts conceded possession cheaply but the Cottagers were never out of the contest and put up a spirited display in arguably the most entertaining fixture in the Premier League’s opening weekend.
Reflecting on his debut outing the Spaniard said: “Obviously conceding so early against Chelsea in those circumstances (self-inflicted) isn’t easy but, when we started to control the second balls, we started to control the game and play in the opposite half. Ideally, we want to dominate with the ball and control the counter-attacks, while attacking and creating chances.
“Obviously it wasn’t the best start” but added “I don’t know how many other teams will be able to dominate Chelsea like we did.”
It seems likely Arbeloa will rotate his squad for the meeting with the League One Dons. Shea Charles, a recent £30m acquisition from Championship side Southampton, could be one of the beneficiaries of a switch in personnel. Charles came on for the final quarter of the match on Monday but could be plunged in from the start against Wimbledon.
As for the Dons, they face a tough task after what’s been an indifferent start so far. Johnnie Jackson’s side have yet to score a goal in the league, with one point from a possible six. In the cups, they did get past Newport County in the first round of the Carabao Cup but only thanks to a penalty shoot-out win after the tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. In the EFL Trophy they suffered the opposite fate after drawing 1-1 with Leyton Orient, losing on spot-kicks on that occasion.
Jackson says he is buzzing for Thursday’s encounter and a chance to test themselves against the big boys.
“I can’t wait for it Thursday,” he said, following last weekend’s goalless draw at home to Reading. “It was exciting here today and it’s great the more we can take down there Thursday night. I hope the fans enjoy that experience and let’s take a big crowd down there.”
Kick-off on Thursday is 8pm, by which time these teams will know who their projected opponents are as the draw for round three takes place on Wednesday night.
