| AXA F.A. Cup Round 04 - Sunday January 26, 2003 |
| Fulham |
(0) 3-0 (0) |
Charlton |
Fulham's campaign began back in early July, when many of their peers were still sunning themselves in exotic climes. They drew 0-0 with FC Haka in the first leg of their InterToto Cup second-round tie, and after the FA Cup fifth round has been completed next month they will have played in 19 knockout matches — another half a season in league terms. Such a liking for sudden-death competition is serving them well.
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Fulham Manager Jean Tigana happy to be scoring goals |
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Fatigue does not appear to be a problem, to judge from their efficient defeat of Charlton Athletic at Loftus Road yesterday, and survival in the Barclaycard Premiership should be assured with another couple of victories. They may not have a home to call their own, with the future of Craven Cottage in the lap of the gods, but they have adapted with reasonable fortitude to life on the road.
The future of Jean Tigana, the Fulham manager, is none too clear, though. His contract expires at the end of the season and there are few indications as to whether he and Mohamed Al Fayed, the chairman, will continue their love-in or part company. If Tigana does go, an FA Cup Final appearance in Cardiff would seem an appropriate farewell after three seasons of bringing a touch of culture to West London.
Fulham reached the Cup semi-finals last season, losing to Chelsea at Villa Park, and with the Premiership not exactly overendowed with representatives in the last 16 this time around, a repeat run is possible. Charlton were brushed aside in a mildly entertaining fourth-round tie, a display that pleased Tigana yet still left him rueful. “I just wish we could show the same form in the league,” he said.
A busy first half threatened much but delivered little. Sven-Göran Eriksson, the omnipresent England head coach, will have made few notes, mental or otherwise. At least Scott Parker, the Charlton midfield player, hurried and scurried enough to enhance his growing reputation. Enough, perhaps, to earn a call-up against Australia at Upton Park on February 12.
Parker produced the highlight of the half, running full pelt to the left-hand byline and crossing cleverly with the outside of his right boot. Luke Young rushed in at the far post but directed his header straight at Maik Taylor.
Three minutes later, Taylor fumbled a cross from Jason Euell and Richard Rufus had a clear sight of goal. However, the defender’s attempt bore all the hallmarks of a clearance as it flew high over the crossbar and into the stand.
Sean Davis, another young England hopeful, did his cause no harm, either. He bases his game more on short passing than non-stop running but is as effective as Parker and possesses a bit more guile, too. With Steed Malbranque and Sylvain Legwinski ably supporting Davis, the Fulham midfield can prove a handful.
Maybe not until the second half yesterday, but once Davis and Co had got going Charlton had no answer. Malbranque, scorer of a hat-trick, took the plaudits and man-of-the-match honours, but the wriggling surges of Luis Boa Morte and Steve Marlet were similarly decisive.
Charlton capitulated, a rare occurrence and all the more worrying because of it. Also worrying was that their manager viewed it differently. Alan Curbishley felt that his side had deserved better. “I thought that the scoreline flattered Fulham,” he said. “The lads gave everything and it was only when the second goal went in that they they seemed to think ‘that’s it’.”
Fulham, playing their 41st match of the season, went ahead in the 59th minute. Boa Morte sprinted across the pitch and released Malbranque, who rifled a shot past Kiely. Six minutes later, Luke Young fouled Boa Morte on the edge of the Charlton area — Paul Durkin, the referee, ruled that it was inside — and Malbranque, with a penalty, again beat Kiely.
Charlton should have reduced the gap. Shaun Bartlett had a free header saved by Taylor and Martin Djetou cleared off the line from Parker. The tiniest sliver of hope had disappeared, heads went down and another spot kick from Malbranque, after Mark Fish had clambered on to Facundo Sava and been sent off, sealed their exit.
Fulham (4-4-2): M Taylor 5 — M Djetou 5 (sub: Z Knight, 85min), A Melville 5, A Goma 6, J Harley 5 — S Malbranque 7 (sub: B Goldbaek, 88), S Legwinski 6, S Davis 7, L Boa Morte 6 — S Marlet 5, F Sava 5. Substitutes not used: M Herrera, J Inamoto, E Hammond
Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): D Kiely 5 — L Young 4 (sub: J Fortune, 72), R Rufus 5, M Fish 5 — R Kishishev 4, S Parker 7 (sub: M Svensson, 77), J Euell 5, C Jensen 5 (sub: C Bart-Williams, 72), P Konchesky 5 — J Johansson 4, S Bartlett 4. Substitutes not used: P Rachubka, C Powell. Booked: Jensen, Young, Konchesky. Sent off: Fish
Shots on target: (h) 5 (a) 4. Fouls: (h) 14 (a) 16. Offsides: (h) 1 (a) 5
Referee: P Durkin 6.Fulham brush Charlton aside - The Times by Russell Kempson
| AXA F.A. Cup Round 04 - Sunday January 26, 2003 |
| Fulham |
(0) 3-0 (0) |
Charlton |
Fulham's campaign began back in early July, when many of their peers were still sunning themselves in exotic climes. They drew 0-0 with FC Haka in the first leg of their InterToto Cup second-round tie, and after the FA Cup fifth round has been completed next month they will have played in 19 knockout matches — another half a season in league terms. Such a liking for sudden-death competition is serving them well.
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Fulham Manager Jean Tigana happy to be scoring goals |
|
|
Fatigue does not appear to be a problem, to judge from their efficient defeat of Charlton Athletic at Loftus Road yesterday, and survival in the Barclaycard Premiership should be assured with another couple of victories. They may not have a home to call their own, with the future of Craven Cottage in the lap of the gods, but they have adapted with reasonable fortitude to life on the road.
The future of Jean Tigana, the Fulham manager, is none too clear, though. His contract expires at the end of the season and there are few indications as to whether he and Mohamed Al Fayed, the chairman, will continue their love-in or part company. If Tigana does go, an FA Cup Final appearance in Cardiff would seem an appropriate farewell after three seasons of bringing a touch of culture to West London.
Fulham reached the Cup semi-finals last season, losing to Chelsea at Villa Park, and with the Premiership not exactly overendowed with representatives in the last 16 this time around, a repeat run is possible. Charlton were brushed aside in a mildly entertaining fourth-round tie, a display that pleased Tigana yet still left him rueful. “I just wish we could show the same form in the league,” he said.
A busy first half threatened much but delivered little. Sven-Göran Eriksson, the omnipresent England head coach, will have made few notes, mental or otherwise. At least Scott Parker, the Charlton midfield player, hurried and scurried enough to enhance his growing reputation. Enough, perhaps, to earn a call-up against Australia at Upton Park on February 12.
Parker produced the highlight of the half, running full pelt to the left-hand byline and crossing cleverly with the outside of his right boot. Luke Young rushed in at the far post but directed his header straight at Maik Taylor.
Three minutes later, Taylor fumbled a cross from Jason Euell and Richard Rufus had a clear sight of goal. However, the defender’s attempt bore all the hallmarks of a clearance as it flew high over the crossbar and into the stand.
Sean Davis, another young England hopeful, did his cause no harm, either. He bases his game more on short passing than non-stop running but is as effective as Parker and possesses a bit more guile, too. With Steed Malbranque and Sylvain Legwinski ably supporting Davis, the Fulham midfield can prove a handful.
Maybe not until the second half yesterday, but once Davis and Co had got going Charlton had no answer. Malbranque, scorer of a hat-trick, took the plaudits and man-of-the-match honours, but the wriggling surges of Luis Boa Morte and Steve Marlet were similarly decisive.
Charlton capitulated, a rare occurrence and all the more worrying because of it. Also worrying was that their manager viewed it differently. Alan Curbishley felt that his side had deserved better. “I thought that the scoreline flattered Fulham,” he said. “The lads gave everything and it was only when the second goal went in that they they seemed to think ‘that’s it’.”
Fulham, playing their 41st match of the season, went ahead in the 59th minute. Boa Morte sprinted across the pitch and released Malbranque, who rifled a shot past Kiely. Six minutes later, Luke Young fouled Boa Morte on the edge of the Charlton area — Paul Durkin, the referee, ruled that it was inside — and Malbranque, with a penalty, again beat Kiely.
Charlton should have reduced the gap. Shaun Bartlett had a free header saved by Taylor and Martin Djetou cleared off the line from Parker. The tiniest sliver of hope had disappeared, heads went down and another spot kick from Malbranque, after Mark Fish had clambered on to Facundo Sava and been sent off, sealed their exit.
Fulham (4-4-2): M Taylor 5 — M Djetou 5 (sub: Z Knight, 85min), A Melville 5, A Goma 6, J Harley 5 — S Malbranque 7 (sub: B Goldbaek, 88), S Legwinski 6, S Davis 7, L Boa Morte 6 — S Marlet 5, F Sava 5. Substitutes not used: M Herrera, J Inamoto, E Hammond
Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): D Kiely 5 — L Young 4 (sub: J Fortune, 72), R Rufus 5, M Fish 5 — R Kishishev 4, S Parker 7 (sub: M Svensson, 77), J Euell 5, C Jensen 5 (sub: C Bart-Williams, 72), P Konchesky 5 — J Johansson 4, S Bartlett 4. Substitutes not used: P Rachubka, C Powell. Booked: Jensen, Young, Konchesky. Sent off: Fish
Shots on target: (h) 5 (a) 4. Fouls: (h) 14 (a) 16. Offsides: (h) 1 (a) 5
Referee: P Durkin 6.