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SunSport |
Accrington 1 Fulham 3
FULHAM booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round despite a battling performance from 10-man Accrington Stanley.
Having enjoyed the better of the opening stages at the Crown Ground, Stanley fell behind in the 21st minute when Erik Nevland fired in from close range.
The League Two minnows then equalised within four minutes as top scorer Michael Symes tucked away his 14th goal of the season.
But the key moment of the match came when Darran Kempson was sent off after bringing down Zoltan Gera before half time.
Second-half strikes from Damien Duff and Gera sealed victory for Fulham as the Premier League team made the most of their man advantage.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said: "I don't think we adapted very well to the conditions in the beginning of the game.
"But all credit to Accrington for the magnificent show they put up."
Hodgson had named a strong side making only three changes from the team that lost 2-0 at Blackburn last weekend.
Andy Johnson was missing with a knee injury so Nevland started up front, while Bjorn Helge Riise and Toni Kallio were also brought into the first XI.
Accrington boss John Coleman kept faith in the same team that had beaten Gillingham on Tuesday in the third round.
The lowest ranked side still in the competition knew that a giant-killing would earn them a place in the fifth round for the first time in their history.
The League Two side started well, with Stanley top-scorer Michael Symes rifling in an effort in the ninth minute from 25 yards which Mark Schwarzer did well to tip around the post.
Five minutes later James Ryan met a bouncing ball with a volley but did not have the power to cause Schwarzer problems and the Australian made a comfortable save.
Stanley appeared to be making a mockery of the 70 places between themselves and Fulham, but for all their endeavour, it was the Cottagers who then took the lead in the 21st minute.
Damien Duff sent in a corner which Zoltan Gera flicked on and Nevland finished from point blank range.
Accrington were back in it within four minutes though, as Symes pounced after a goal-mouth scramble to draw things level once more.
It was nothing more than the Reds deserved, with Robert Grant bringing another save out of Schwarzer shortly after the half-hour mark.
But while they took the match to half-time with the scores level, trouble struck when defender Darran Kempson was shown a red card after going in from behind on Gera.
Stanley emerged for the second half looking determined that Fulham's man advantage was not going to ruin their day.
The hosts did their best to maintain the tempo and almost took the lead in the 52nd minute when Grant connected first-time with Ryan's cross, only to see his volley flash across Schwarzer and wide.
But the Cottagers were settling into a rhythm, and after he just failed to find a finishing touch to a neat passing move, Duff popped up again in the 58th minute to put Fulham 2-1 in front.
The goal was lucky though, with the Irishman sending a weak effort skidding across the mud that Dean Bouzanis could not prevent from bobbling over the line.
Nevland then unleashed a fierce shot at Bouzanis from inside the box which was tipped over the bar, and Aaron Hughes could not get his header on target from the corner that followed.
Stanley were looking increasingly weary and it came as no surprise when Fulham extended their lead with 11 minutes to go.
Riise broke clear on the right and provided the cross for Gera, who had no trouble meeting it first time and sending it past the helpless Bouzanis.
Speaking after the match, Accrington boss John Coleman said: "I am disappointed with the result and with the three goals we conceded.
"I thought we were the better team until they scored their second goal, but once we went down to 10 men we got a bit disjointed.
"They hadn't been anywhere near our goal until they scored that first goal, and that was disappointing, (coming) from a set play when we had worked on it.
"The second one was from a set play as well and that could have been stopped.
"But we have played them off the park in the first half and it is a bit of a travesty that we only went in (at half-time) level."
Accrington Stanley: Bouzanis, Lees, Kempson, Edwards, Winnard, McConville (Kee 63), Ryan, Procter, Miles (Joyce 85), Symes, Grant.
Subs Not Used: Dunbavin, Turner, Mullin, Murphy, Gary King.
Sent Off: Kempson (42).
Booked: Kempson.
Goals: Symes 25.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Kallio (Elm 56), Gera (Davies 84), Murphy, Baird, Duff (Dikgacoi 68), Nevland, Riise.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Kamara, Smalling, Greening.
Booked: Baird, Gera.
Goals: Nevland 21, Duff 59, Gera 80.
Att: 3,712
Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Source .