'Not good at all' - Fulham star admits Craven Cottage pet peeve

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has admitted the one thing he can't stand about Craven Cottage on the latest episode of BBC Sounds' Footballers' Football Podcast.

The 33-year-old has replaced Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson on the podcast, which is hosted alongside West Ham forward Michail Antonio and radio presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams.

On the latest episode, the players discussed the level of trash-talking that happens between players in the box during set plays and the conversation led to Cairney admitting the one thing he can't stand about the Cottage - which he has called home ever since arriving at Fulham from Blackburn Rovers in 2015.

The midfielder said: "It's harder than you think! If you hit the first man you feel you've let everyone down. If it's the 90th minute and you're losing 2-1 and have a corner, there's pressure on that. You might just kick it high for safety.

"It's more difficult than people think, especially at the Cottage you have two steps! The Cottage is not good for corners, not good at all."

Antonio, who also takes corner kicks from time to time, agreed with Cairney and also shared his dislike for having to take the set plays at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United. Antonio said: "Pitches where it slopes down, it's the worst! You can’t generate anything and need to do a one-step, sometimes it's not enough. You've got to run up for it to flatten out and then kick the ball. It's a madness."

The two podcast presenters of course face one another on Sunday afternoon when Fulham travel across the capital to take on West Ham at the London Stadium. Marco Silva will be hoping for a repeat of when the two sides last met, which saw his team emerge 5-0 victors on the banks of the Thames in December.

Cairney said: "I know our head-to-head hasn't been great over the last few years but the last result and performance we had this season against West Ham was very good. It was 5-0. That was a good day at the office. I'm looking forward to it, it'll be a good game.

"West Ham are in good form we need a result after the last three without a win. Hopefully, they are a bit tired from Thursday night."