Tomasz Radzinski's two goals and a man-of-the-match performance from Steed Malbranque helped Fulham breeze into the third round of the Carling Cup with a 4-1 win at Boston.

Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque returned from injury for his first game of the season

Radzinski's coolly-converted ninth-minute strike was just reward for a dynamic opening to the game from the visitors, before Malbranque - making his first start of the season after recovering from a groin injury - crowned a wonderful individual display shortly before the half-hour mark to make it 2-0.

For all Boston's spirit and endeavour, the gulf in class between the two sides was all too apparent all evening, and the Barclays Premiership side's progression through to the next stage of the competition was confirmed when Brian McBride struck after 34 minutes.

With the damage done, Fulham took their foot off the gas in the second half and Lee Beevers gave Boston fans something to cheer about with a firm header shortly after the hour mark.

However, any hopes of fairytale comeback were grounded by reality when Radzinski converted Malbranque's raking long pass into the back of the net after 69 minutes.

Although young defender Liam Rosenior was dismissed at the death for a second bookable offence, the victory will still give boss Chris Coleman something to smile about after a controversial week in his fledgling managerial career.

The tempestuous 1-1 draw at West Brom on Saturday sees the club facing a potential £250,000 fine and disciplinary charges brought against Coleman and striker Andrew Cole.

Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski gets his first goals for Fulham

A tricky tie against fiery League Two opposition could therefore not have come at a worse possible time. But to their credit, Fulham began purposefully and opened the scoring after just nine minutes.

A hopeful punt upfield was not dealt with by the Pilgrims' shaky rearguard and after the ball bounced twice inside the penalty area, Radzinski was left with the simple task of side-footing the ball into the back of the net 10 yards from goal.

Perhaps overawed by what manager Steve Evans described as the "biggest game in the club's history", Boston were left with a mountain to climb when the impish Malbranque made 2-0 after 28 minutes.

The Fulham midfielder profited from some intricate inter-play on the left flank before steering the ball towards goal. Goalkeeper Nathan Abbey reacted quickly to the danger, but somehow he managed to allow the ball to squirm through his grasp and into the back of the net.

Six minutes later, Fulham put the game out of Boston's reach when Rosenior found McBride in acres of space before letting fly with a thumping 19-yard drive which took a slight deflection before arrowing into top right corner of the goal.

Boston were in desperate need of a spark of creativity from Paul Gascoigne, but despite one or two neat touches, the former England international never ignited all game.

That said, Gascoigne and his team-mates picked up the tempo after the restart and valiantly reduced the arrears after 56 minutes - much to the delight of the York Street faithful.

Captain Paul Ellender flung over a precise outswinging delivery from the right flank which was greeted by Beevers' thumping header that soared into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Although the home side plugged away gamely, Boston's mini-revival was ended when Radzinski doubled his tally for the evening after superb work from Malbranque.

A minute after a tired Gascoigne was replaced by Simon Rusk, Malbranque - reminscent of the former England international in his pomp - snapped a lovely cross-field ball into the path of Radzinski who made no mistake with a crisp finish past Abbey.

However, an emphatic Fulham win was marred in injury-time when Rosenior was shown a second yellow card for diving inside Boston's 18-yard box.

Boston Utd Nathan Abbey, West, Beevers, Ellender, McCann, Gascoigne (Rusk 67), Bennett, Noble, Pitt (Thompson 80), Lee, Kirk (McManus 78).

Subs Not Used: Strong, Holland.

Booked: Kirk.

Goals: Beevers 56.

Fulham Crossley, Buari, Rehman, Goma, Green, Rosenior, Malbranque (Timlin 81), McKinlay, Boa Morte (John 71), McBride, Radzinski.

Subs Not Used: Flitney, Ehui, Watkins.

Sent Off: Rosenior (90,second yellow for simulation).

Booked: Rosenior(24,f), Green(30,f).

Goals: Radzinski 9, Malbranque 28, McBride 34, Radzinski 70.

Att: 5,373

Ref: R Oliver (W Midlands).