Former Man City graduate Tosin Adarabioyo plots how Fulham can spring FA Cup upset

Fulham will approach their FA Cup clash with Manchester City with a fearless attitude, buoyed by their free-scoring form in the Championship.

That is according to Cottagers defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who is hoping to use his inside knowledge of how Pep Guardiola works coupled with Fulham's fine record this season under Marco Silva to cause a fourth round upset.

Adarabioyo came through the ranks at City from 2003, making seven senior appearances before joining Fulham permanently in 2020. Now 24, Adarabioyo faced City twice last season in the Premier League, but couldn't help his new side from relegation. This year, under new manager Silva, Fulham are on course from an immediate return to the top flight.

With 74 goals scored in just 28 games, Fulham have a five points lead at the top of the Championship with a game in hand, with recent wins of 7-0, 6-2, 6-2 and 3-2 in January.

Speaking to the Independent, Adarabioyo said: “We’re going to go and play how we play. We keep our identity. We know it’s Manchester City, and they generally have so much of the ball, but we want to try and play our game also.”

"It’s not strange [to return to the Etihad]. It’s just another game, a big game. It’ll be nice to go back and see everyone there but it is just a game."

Having spent time training and playing under Guardiola, Adarabioyo can use his knowledge of how City draw teams in to inform how Fulham will try and defend strongly as a unit.

He added: “They are a great team. They try and drag you all over the pitch. They take you to one side, and then take you to other side, until they overload you and space is vacated. You just have to keep concentration, especially as a defender, to not vacate those spaces.

“It’s a whole team job, though.