The FA Cup Third Round continues today, Saturday, January 10, 2026, as Fulham welcomes Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough to Craven Cottage. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
Fulham enters the tie in peak form, currently enjoying a five-match unbeaten run that has catapulted them into the Premier League's top half. For Middlesbrough, managed by Kim Hellberg, this is a chance to prove their top-flight credentials as they sit comfortably in the Championship's automatic promotion spots.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET
Venue: Craven Cottage, London
Referee: Lewis Smith
Broadcast: Saturday 3pm Blackout (UK), ESPN+ (US)
The Storyline: Fulham’s Fortress vs. Boro’s Ambition
Fulham: Riding the Derby High
Marco Silva’s side is currently one of the most in-form teams in the country. They arrive at this fixture fresh from a massive 2–1 win over Chelsea in midweek and a resilient 2–2 draw with Liverpool last weekend. With the club already out of the Carabao Cup, Silva has made it clear that the FA Cup is their primary target for silverware this season. The Cottagers have turned Craven Cottage into a fortress, earning the majority of their points at home and remaining undefeated in their last seven meetings against Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough: The Promotion Push
Boro travel to London in 2nd place in the Championship, bolstered by a dominant 4–0 victory over Southampton in their last outing. That win ended a mini-slump and reaffirmed their status as one of the most dangerous attacking sides outside the Premier League. However, history is against them; Middlesbrough has failed to beat Fulham in over five years and has struggled to progress past the third round recently.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Fulham Team News
International Duty: Fulham is without the trio of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze, who are all competing in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Injury Ward: Kenny Tete (thigh), Josh King (knee), and Rodrigo Muniz (thigh) remain sidelined.
Key Man: Harry Wilson has been in sensational form, scoring in back-to-back matches, including the winner against Chelsea.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Leno; Diop, Andersen, Cuenca; Castagne, Lukić, Cairney, Robinson; Smith Rowe, Wilson; Jiménez.
Middlesbrough Team News
Defensive Crisis: Boro is missing several key defenders, including Alex Bangura, Callum Brittain, Darragh Lenihan, and George Edmundson.
Doubt: Midfielder Riley McGree is fighting to be fit following a hamstring issue.
Star Man: Morgan Whittaker arrives with high confidence after netting a brace against Southampton.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Brynn; Ayling, Malanda, Targett, Browne; Hackney, Morris, Whittaker; Silvera, Burgzorg, Conway.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Historical Dominance: Fulham is unbeaten in their last 7 meetings with Middlesbrough (4 wins, 3 draws).
The "Second Half" Factor: Over 0.5 goals have been scored in the second half of 21 of Fulham’s last 22 matches.
Clean Sheet Struggle: Middlesbrough has kept only one clean sheet in their last five outings.
FA Cup Record: Fulham has not been knocked out in the third round since 2019.
Tactical Analysis: Elite Quality vs. High-Octane Attack
Fulham’s success under Marco Silva has been built on tactical flexibility and a highly effective home press. With Emile Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson providing creative flair behind Raúl Jiménez, Fulham will look to exploit Boro’s injury-hit defense early.
Middlesbrough, however, is not a team that sits back. Hellberg’s side leads the Championship in possession and corner counts. They will look to use the pace of Morgan Whittaker to catch Fulham on the break, hoping that a more open "cup game" tempo will play into their hands.
Match Prediction
While Middlesbrough is a Premier League team in waiting, the gap in quality and Fulham's current momentum at Craven Cottage is hard to ignore. Expect a competitive game, but Fulham's home form should see them through.
Final Score Prediction: Fulham 2–0 Middlesbrough
